Windshield HEIGHT advice

[ablumny]

Ive read the current threads on the subject but i am lost. I am 5' 10.5" tall. I cut my factory shield down to 17" above the bottom of the gas cap area. At that height i was looking above the shield which is what i want. However the buffeting was terrible.

 

So I contacted ClearView and they were great about pre-sales support. I ordered the shortest version which is 19" above the same point. We thought that since their shield leans back Id still see over it. However it didnt work out that way. The bigger problem was the buffeting wasn't reduced enough for me. The recurve helped but not enough. Let me say, the ClearView folks are top notch. Although we couldn't get to a solution, they took great care of me.

 

SO, here I am asking for advice. I want to look over the shield and I want as little buffeting as possible. If this sounds familiar and you've found a solution PLEASE share! and thx......

[s allen]

a lot of times the buffeting is coming from the wind moving from under the fairing. This was a big issue for me when I had my Nomad. To solve that problem I put larger wind deflectors out on the front forks. I'm running with a stock windsheild on my Venture and have no buffeting at all. I am however looking thru the windshield and at first did not like that. have gotten used to it now. You may want to check to see where the wind is coming from that is causing the buffeting. I'll bet its coming from under.

[hillrider]

Think about Buddy Rich's knee wind blockers. They made a whopping difference in the buffeting on my bike.

[ablumny]

Thanks. I did put a set of the knee wind blockers on and they made a big difference on my legs but the buffeting is definitely coming over the top. My head is bouncing around pretty badly

[dynodon]

I have seen a style of windshield that has what I would call a "flip" at the top that curves away from the rider. Like a spoiler on a car.

 

This would allow the shield to be short enough to see over while still maybe pushing the wind over your helmet.

 

Also, can you look at how far back you sit? If you move or add a backrest, would it help you sit a touch closer, still in comfort and miss the buffeting?

 

Finally, have you tried different helmets?

 

I have used a nolan open face that I liked, but it always had buffeting. Without changing anything but the helmet, I got rid of my buffeting. I went with a Shark Evoline modular. This helmet, for some reason has no buffeting, either with the chin bar down or back. Best helmet I hAve had to date. Also the least air under the chin or face shield. It is heavy, but that has absolutely not been a problem for me so far.

 

Try some different helmets, you might find a solution there?

[bugfish69]

I went to a shorter shield this summer after getting tired of looking through the tall shield in bad weather. After a few trips I noticed I had buffeting at high speeds and put on this windshield trim. It stopped almost all of it. I am happy with it.

 

Another benefit is it blocks the rain from pushing up and over the shield and blowing right in my face.

 

They have a money back guarantee so you really can't lose.

 

Also, if you want to save a few bucks you can by 2nd hand or remnent edging for a better price. This is what I did and I could see no cosmetic indication that it was 2nd hand.

 

http://www.saeng.com/product.php?id=581&category=80

[hig4s]

Thanks. I did put a set of the knee wind blockers on and they made a big difference on my legs but the buffeting is definitely coming over the top. My head is bouncing around pretty badly

 

From my point of view, the only real solution is a taller screen and live with looking through it. I didn't have much buffeting issues with the stock screen but my wife did, I added the tallest Clearview and now she is happy. I don't mind looking through the clearview, the water runs off it much better in the rain than it did on the stock shield.

 

Of course if Yamaha would get their act together and put an electrically adjustable screen like the ones on most other touring and sport-touring bikes, it wouldn't be an issue.

[CMIKE]

I would love to have a shorter windsheild but I am pretty afraid of the buffeting. I rode a little Vstar 650 and installed a windshield on it in the lower position so I could just see over it...It buffeted so bad my glasses virbrated and it made it hard to see.

 

I do not understand how some folks have the buffeting and some do not...you see a lot of shorter windshields on the RSV.

 

What gives?

or better yet..

WHY?

[Rockdoc]

I think the extra bit on the rim of the windshield is called a 'Laminar lip' I fitted one on my old Pan European and it made an enormous difference, even my pillion got a better ride. I ordered mine from the states and the back up was excellent. I too do not like looking through the screen and at night its positively lethal in bad weather. I have not tried a 'lip' on my RSV yet but it almost completely stopped the buffeting on my Pan so who knows it might work. Just google laminarlip.com and check them out, a Gen 2 lip will cost about $84.

[Bobby G]

You might also try the 13" screen from ShowChrome. I am right at 6' tall, and can see over the top just fine. It's about 4" wider at the base then the stock screen - 31" in total, and I get no buffeting at all. I'll never go back to the stock screen. Here are some pics:

[Shamue]

take 1/2" ribbon about 10" long tape them all around and under the faring, around the side covers and crank it up to hiway speed. You'll see where the buffetting is coming from. This works. It could be the visor on your helmet is catching the air and making it seem worse. I have done this on a lot of my bikes before I start modifying or cutting up good parts.

Good luck.

Edited December 12, 2009 by Shamue
forgot to include

[Mariner Fan]

From my point of view, the only real solution is a taller screen and live with looking through it. I didn't have much buffeting issues with the stock screen but my wife did, I added the tallest Clearview and now she is happy. I don't mind looking through the clearview, the water runs off it much better in the rain than it did on the stock shield.

 

Of course if Yamaha would get their act together and put an electrically adjustable screen like the ones on most other touring and sport-touring bikes, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

I have the XXL Clearview and the buffeting is gone. I can still see over the shield if I sit at attention.

 

Sounds like you just need to get a taller windscreen.

[seabeetom]

You might also try the 13" screen from ShowChrome. I am right at 6' tall, and can see over the top just fine. It's about 4" wider at the base then the stock screen - 31" in total, and I get no buffeting at all. I'll never go back to the stock screen. Here are some pics:

 

Put the same one on my 08RSV. Can see over the top if I have to. Fog and rain sometimes requires it. Have noticed more buffeting than with original shield. Use chrome door edging from auto parts store for windshield trim, keeps rain from coming over top and adds a touch of bling.

[nbowersock]

My 08 RSTD came with a VERY cutdown windscreen (7+ inches shorter). When I first rode it with a half helmet there was no issue with buffeting. As the temperature dropped I switched to a full-face. BIG problem! Anything over 65 mph and my head got knocked around so bad I couldn't focus. I bought a used stock windscreen from ebay and BOOM, problem solved, though I do look thru the top of the windscreen. If I strain, I can see over it (I am 5' 11").

So I guess my point is two-fold: check your helmet type, and consider looking through the windscreen.

 

HTH

Nico

[N3FOL]

Not much of an advice here but as far as my windshield is concerned, I love the OEM size. Summer or Winter, bad weather, etc. I still prefer the protection of the shield. At 5'5", I look through the windshield and I always wear a FF helmet. Protection from the cold wind in winter (rode to work today) and protection from all the bug splats is very important to me.

[aharbi]

After repeatedly purchasing windshields for my other bikes (7 windshields in all, including the laminar lip) I had a pretty good idea what I wanted on the RSV. I wanted a full windshield for wind/rain/weather protection with no buffeting on a heavy bike meant to chew up mile after mile for days on end. The only way I could see to do this was to surrender to the fact I would have to look thru it instead of my original intention of looking over it and ducking behind it for the protection. I'm glad I did. The only difference I have found is either looking thru the rain on my FF helmet shield or thru the rain on the windshield. All around I'm more comfortable riding behind the full OEM shield. In fact after Christmas I'm ordering a taller/wider ClearView (with vent).

 

ps, where can I get the Buddy Rich's knee wind blockers I've done several google searches and don't get any hits except this thread.

Edited December 17, 2009 by aharbi

[hig4s]

 

ps, where can I get the Buddy Rich's knee wind blockers I've done several google searches and don't get any hits except this thread.

 

Just do a search for user name BuddyRich and then PM him.

[ablumny]

Im back! A lot happaned in my world since Dec. Thank you for all the great feedback! As the riding season re-approaches I'm back to this problem. Im thinking the ShowChrome shield makes sense but one that I'll just have to look through. Im looking into an F4 shield or going back to a ClearView shield as well...now that I have given in to the idea of looking through rather then over....

 

thx again.

[SilvrT]

Question for those of you who've purchased a Clearview. Has anyone cut theirs down after you purchased it? Any issues with that or is it as simple as cutting down a stock windshield?

 

Reason I ask is I'm close to ordering a Clearview but I don't want to order the shortest one in case I don't like the height...thought being I'll order the tallest and then cut it down if I so decide. I cut my stock down by 2.5" and it was a very easy process but I also want to ensure that the wife gets ample protection / minimal buffeting.

[awsmsrv]

Question for those of you who've purchased a Clearview. Has anyone cut theirs down after you purchased it? Any issues with that or is it as simple as cutting down a stock windshield?

 

Reason I ask is I'm close to ordering a Clearview but I don't want to order the shortest one in case I don't like the height...thought being I'll order the tallest and then cut it down if I so decide. I cut my stock down by 2.5" and it was a very easy process but I also want to ensure that the wife gets ample protection / minimal buffeting.

Yes, I cut my short Clearview down 1.5". Now I look over it. I prefer that, even if I do get a wee bit more buffetting. It's also about 5" wider.

[mabeline]

SilvrT I also did the same thing. I'm pretty tall in the saddle ( 6' 6'') and I was just looking over the edge with a stock shield. So I cut mine done an inch, then the buffeting drove me nuts. I ordered a stock height clearview with a vent, thinking I was getting the buffeting from the air coming back around from behind. Anyway if the shield is a little to high I might put on a set of leveling links. They're suppost to kick your butt up about an inch.

 

Conrad

[jfoster]

SilverT, I had my clearview cut down with no problems last year.

 

Something to consider bout the tallest clearview is it will hurt your fuel mileage and performance. Like pushing a sheet of plywood down the road.

 

Not sure bout the ventures, but the RSTD's or atleast mine has alot of wind that comes up around the side of the fuel tank which creates some buffeting. If you hold your hands in front of your knees you can really feel the air pushing up. To fix that problem, I modified a set of buddy's knee protectors and attached them to the side of the fuel tank with 3m tape and they work pretty good. Seabee ingenuity!!!

 

It was either that or sell it...I had all I could take.

[ablumny]

I thought one of the key features of the Clearview shields was the "rebend" of the shield at the top to direct air up and around the rider better. They call it the "upper recurve". Im imaging cutting off the top affects that ?

[Seaking]

SilverT, I had my clearview cut down with no problems last year.

 

Something to consider bout the tallest clearview is it will hurt your fuel mileage and performance. Like pushing a sheet of plywood down the road.

 

Not sure bout the ventures, but the RSTD's or atleast mine has alot of wind that comes up around the side of the fuel tank which creates some buffeting. If you hold your hands in front of your knees you can really feel the air pushing up. To fix that problem, I modified a set of buddy's knee protectors and attached them to the side of the fuel tank with 3m tape and they work pretty good. Seabee ingenuity!!!

 

It was either that or sell it...I had all I could take.

 

I found the same with the clearview TALL - Wide windscreen.. horrible highway mileage.. HUGE penalty.. such that I wouldn't do long road trips with it on.. Great for local rides in the cold weather.. but nah.. the medium height windshields where you can see JUST above it is probably best one to get. The wind pops over your head to reduce buffeting and you won't be blinded by junk on the screen at night in the rain..

 

I have the Buddy Deflectors on my bike, installed where prescribed and wotta difference THOSE make for the over all wind up under the glasses.. I don't know what they will be like in the heat but in the cool, they do make quite the difference..

[SilvrT]

A lot of interesting comments re: buffeting ... I really don't notice any (at least not to the point of it being bothersome) and I've had my RSV up to over 100mph. Mind you, when I'm riding near a large vehicle such as a truck with a covered box or a transport, yes, then there is buffeting but that's gonna happen. Cross winds or head winds also cause additional buffeting but again, to me that's only "normal" and I don't think much about it. Nina sits quite high as she's almost as tall as I am so she does bear the brunt of the wind and does notice a fair amount of buffeting but she never says much about it.

 

I'm hoping to reduce that some for her by replacing the w/s so I think I'll probably order the medium height Clearview. I don't mind looking thru it as most of the time we're not riding in crappy weather or at night. For those few times we do, I just "live with it" and sit up straighter, strech my neck and look over the top.