I wonder if I install a vent in my windshield if it would stop the buffeting

[NJtony]

I wonder if I install a vent in my windshield if it would stop the buffeting

I was reading that someone installed a vent in their windshield to help with the negative pressure caused by the windshield.

The bike has a lot of buffeting and I tried a tank lift, and DK wings with no luck. What do you guys think?

 

[JTJersey]

After experimenting with the (many) adjustments available on my Memphis Shades Batwing fairing and windshield I've eliminated pretty much all direct wind on my upper body and head. I don't mean to say it's like being inside a car, I can still feel a breeze on my face, but not an annoying blast of air that knocks my glasses all over the place and wears me out after a couple of hours as before. I found I had to adjust the fairing 3/4 of the way forward which tightens the gap at the headlight and raises the windshield. Tried the 5" shield, but still got too much buffeting. The 9" shield was way to tall. The 7" was just right. Sounds like Goldilocks. Is there possibly any adjustments on your setup that could change the wind flow?

 

[NJtony]

I had a fairing and did not like it , the view was not good for me ( too short for it) ?.

I had another bike before this and it had a vent in it and never felt buffeting . The buffeting was so bad it is making me not wanting to ride the bike.

The air is coming up from where the lower windshield and turn signal lights are and the air from the top of the windshield is about 6 inches from the top of my head.

The vent is only about $27 and I am not afraid to cut the windshield . This is my last option ,the ride is not fun when your head is going back and forth and seeing double.

I have the fork wings , but, it is getting too warm to put them on .

 

[cScjhb]

I have a Cee-Bailey Windscreen on my trike. It has a permanent nacelle opening. (It is always open). I do not experience much wind buffeting at all. And the odd times I have ridden in the rain were no problem. Lots more water coming over and around the screen than through the vent. Reducing the negative air pressure in the riders' bubble helps a lot..... Jim

 

[rhino 2]

I had a fairing and did not like it , the view was not good for me ( too short for it) ?.

I had another bike before this and it had a vent in it and never felt buffeting . The buffeting was so bad it is making me not wanting to ride the bike.

The air is coming up from where the lower windshield and turn signal lights are and the air from the top of the windshield is about 6 inches from the top of my head.

The vent is only about $27 and I am not afraid to cut the windshield . This is my last option ,the ride is not fun when your head is going back and forth and seeing double.

I have the fork wings , but, it is getting too warm to put them on .

I know this sounds to easy… Have you tried a different helmet for local rides I only use a half helmet if I get on the highway with that helmet the the wind try’s lift it up! With my full face helmets (modular ) no problems…

 

[hydraglide]

I know this sounds to easy… Have you tried a different helmet for local rides I only use a half helmet if I get on the highway with that helmet the the wind try’s lift it up! With my full face helmets (modular ) no problems…

My experience is EXACTLY the same as yours, Bob. Half helmet, even without the visor, nasty buffeting. Full face modular, all is fine. Problem for me is I prefer the half helmet when the weather is nice.

I’m in the process this week in adding Fork Fangs along with a set of Love Jug plus the Harley CoolFan. Details of my my journey to minimize or eliminate the buffeting are in a separate post (After 48 years on two wheels…) if interested in keeping up on my trials.

 

[JTJersey]

I had a fairing and did not like it , the view was not good for me ( too short for it) ?.

I had another bike before this and it had a vent in it and never felt buffeting . The buffeting was so bad it is making me not wanting to ride the bike.

The air is coming up from where the lower windshield and turn signal lights are and the air from the top of the windshield is about 6 inches from the top of my head.

The vent is only about $27 and I am not afraid to cut the windshield . This is my last option ,the ride is not fun when your head is going back and forth and seeing double.

I have the fork wings , but, it is getting too warm to put them on .

Could you reply with a picture of your setup? It may help work out the problem.

 

[NJtony]

Sorry for the avatar I can get it correct with that picture . (darn windows 10)

I do wear a full helmet . So this is the plan I have. I am going to cut in a vent.

​

 

[Hobbieman10]

Sorry for the avatar I can get it correct with that picture . (darn windows 10)

I do wear a full helmet . So this is the plan I have. I am going to cut in a vent. View attachment 107677​

Have you looked at trying the tinted road King shield with a vent already installed? I believe it is for the special. But google it before you start cutting.

 

[Hobbieman10]

I was reading that someone installed a vent in their windshield to help with the negative pressure caused by the windshield.

The bike has a lot of buffeting and I tried a tank lift, and DK wings with no luck. What do you guys think?

I just put these, JESCustoms wind deflector’s on my 16 Freewheeler and boy do they work as advertised. Best $122 bucks I’ve spent on this bike. I had just bought the 20” windshield, not much help. At 70+mph almost blinded by buffeting. Thought maybe go back to half helmet. Nope, didn’t help at all. I had eve bought a small wind deflector that clamps to the top of the 16” windshield. Wow, did that thing suck. But, really, these work almost a good as when I rode my Different FLHT’s with fangs, side deflector’s and short windscreen. Hope this might help.

Jack B.

 

[My Turn]

Yes the Jes fangs are the only thing that made a significant improvement in buffeting for me, great product.

 

[Blueraven]

I was reading that someone installed a vent in their windshield to help with the negative pressure caused by the windshield.The bike has a lot of buffeting and I tried a tank lift, and DK wings with no luck. What do you guys think?

I’m kind of surprised that you put on the tank lift and DK wings before trying the fangs.

Unless I’m mistaken the fangs are the most often reported fix for buffering issues.

I’d try the fangs before I cut the windshield.

Yes the Jes fangs are the only thing that made a significant improvement in buffeting for me, great product.

I don’t seem to have much if any buffering on my Freewheeler but I do have a Klockwerks 20” Billboard Flare shield which likely is the reason.

I’ve read a lot of positive reviews on the JES fangs and think they are certainly worth a try if buffering is an issue.

I had a very bad buffering issue on my Heritage and the fangs cured that.

 

[1dn5up]

I’ve got fangs , tank wings , tank lift , center fork baffle and a partridge in a pear tree !

 

[RKplus10]

Tony, it’s been a couple of weeks. Did you cut in the vent? Don’t keep me in suspense. I’d like to hear about your results.

 

[priell3]

If I wanted to eliminate the wind, I take my car.

 

[rhino 2]

If I wanted to eliminate the wind, I take my car.

….

 

[RKplus10]

Clever response, but no one mentioned eliminating wind. It was about reducing the buffeting that some riders experience. Sharing ideas and helping others learn is what it’s all about.

 

[NJtony]

Yes I cut the vent in last weekend and took a ride. It helped a little. I can go 55-60 no problem but, if I go past 60 I get the buffeting. ( I like going around 70 MPH )

On a separate note: When I hold my hand raised next to my shoulders about 4-5 inches from it the wind pushes air on my gloves ( I don't like the gloves tight on my wrists)

. When I move my hand near my shoulder the glove is sucked forward toward the windshield. So I still have some negative pressure to deal with.

Going to install the fork Fangs to see if they work.

Yes I will post pictures in a few days.

 

[NJtony]

RK plus10

It is not about eliminating the wind, it is about redirecting the wind.

This weekend I will be installing the fork fangs, ( still working) with some pictures and report on the redirection on the wind with all the things I will have done .



1.5 tank lift

Tank Wings

removed Fairing installed a windshield

Tilted the windshield back

vent in windshield

fork fangs

The only thing that made a difference was the vent (so far)

The tank wings from (DK) did not seem to help with the buffeting , it may help throw the air toward the motor when installed at a 45 degree angle

The 1.5 tank lift (DK) only make a better view of the speedometer and easy cleaning of the top of the motor (no noticeable difference in the air flow but may help with cooling the motor.

Removing the Fairing and installing a windshield changed the flow of the air a little. I did notice my hands got more wind on them

The vent made a big change to the air. I don't know if it would be better to install it higher (Harley installs it higher then where I did.)

Hopefully the fangs will help the deflect the air getting pushed up from the tank . That is where the air catches my helmet.

 

[Old Road Dog]

I have DK Custom cooling wings and they seem to reduce the wind coming up from the tank area about 60%. I also for the first time this year, ditched my beloved Bell half helmet in favor of a Biker Lids beanie helmet. Bingo! Very little head bobble. Everyone is different and no combination of solutions will work for everybody. Its experimentation that will get you where its comfortable- or at least tolerable.

 

[RKplus10]

Thanks Tony, and sorry for the confusion. I was directing my “eliminating wind” comment to the two posts previous to mine. Your posts have all been informative.

 

[NJtony]

Well no buffeting even at 85 MPH

Also the heat from the right side by the leg , Its gone . I will write a better explanation in a few hours. I wrote the darn thing only to loose it twice..

 

[NJtony]

OK this is the third time to write this;



The fangs worked . The tilt on the windshield with the vent (open all the way) and the fangs did the trick. One thing to note , the vent was closed and pressure opened the vent all the way while testing. And there was an added bonus with the DK wings and tank lift.

The buffeting is gone. I tried to see how fast I could go to see if there was any buffeting. I went on the Garden State Parkway where the speed average is around 80 MPH plus, I went plus , I got to 85 MPH and not any buffeting.

The wind is now down under my arms, and I feel a little more wind on the lower part of my legs. My glove no longer was getting sucked toward the windshield. No negative pressure by my head and the air goes over my head from the windshield .

Now the bonus: You know the heat on your right leg coming from the engine, well it was gone too. I thought I was imagining it. So I checked it at 25-30 MPH and it was gone. I am thinking the fangs moved the air outward and the normal negative pressure (air) was grabbed by the 45 degree air wings (I think the 1.5 tank lift helped) ,and diverted the wind down ward, I know this sounds crazy , but I did have the heat before I installed the fangs.

So the fangs really do work with the wings (for me) and they might be throwing more air to the rear of the engine. I have no way of testing this maybe someone could test this with a wind tunnel some day.

This may or may not work for you , but it sure worked for me. Thank you for the likes and thank you's. Tony

One other thing , I have a new windows 11 computer. Sorry for the pictures tilted the wrong way , I can not seem to get them to load correctly. That is why I wrote this 3 times I lost the other 2 trying to correct the pictures.

 

[Notgrownup]

Glad you got it figured out for your ride. The wind turbulence sucks when it hits you wrong.. I too found the balance with different things on both my bikes.

 

[NJtony]

Just an FYI on the heat on the right side

The dreaded right side heat : I did get it moved, I felt some heat on my right calf. So I did move the air downward with the air wings. If I move my foot forward an inch or two I don't feel the heat . If I put my feet on the foot extensions , I feel the heat on my right leg. It must have something to do with redirecting the air when I stick my legs out. Just to let you all know.

PS: What do the stars mean?