Buffeting badly

[Yelwoh]

I went on the highway on my rocket cruiser. The buffeting was really bad. Is there a way to stop some of this? I have a tourer model with the windshield and lower wind deflectors.

[Fortynineten]

Get rid of all the plastic on the front go naked and catch flies in your teeth. I regularly travel at 70-80 MPH for prolonged periods with no major problems. I find handlebar mounted screens noisey and a pain. The only effective way to stop helmet noise and buffeting is to buy a bike with a purpose designed fairing that does not rely on being attached to the bars to interfere with steering. :-)

[vonbonds]

I have a Clearview GT25 screen with the Triumph lowers. My bike has very little buffeting...I am 6'1". I had the Triumph screen which isn't nearly as good for me....your mileage may vary.

[iandel]

G'day,

When I had my test ride on an RIII it was a standard with the Summer Screen. I felt no buffeting and great wind protection. So I got that screen for the RIII Classic which I bought. However, it was un-rideable because of buffeting at highway speeds so I swapped it for the larger Touring screen. This was better but still buffetted badly.

I then got the lowers. They helped but it was still not good. I then added a Laminar Lip. It also helped but the buffeting at 80mph (70mph on the Interstate into a 10mph headwind :wink: ) still made it very uncomfortable. The Laminar Lip also had problems with attachment.

I then purchased a 25" Clearview (you need a Triumph screen to for the hardware to use this screen) and the buffeting stopped.

However, whith each of these steps in the screen journey I tried leaning forward and scrunching down a little and the buffeting would decrease dramatically, if not stop altogether.

I took the screen off the other day to see what it was like without it. Up to 60mph it was very pleasant, although noticably colder when the temperature dropped below 50F. At "Interstate" speeds I had to hang on or be blown off. It was very tiring, even after a few minutes. I leaned forward and scrunched down a little and virtually all the wind drag ceased. Acceleration also seemed better without the screen.

My conclusion is that the higher seat and the swept back bars on the Classic put me in a position which creates much more wind drag and disturbance than the the lower seat and slightly leaning forward position on the standard RIII. So the very things which make the bike more comfortable for touring actually make the bike less comfortable from a buffeting and wind perspective.

Therefore make sure that you test ride a Classic if that is the one you want to buy.

[dougl]

The stock Triumph roadster screen has cutouts on the bottom sides. This adds to the problem. I replaced this screen with a Clearviewshields.com screen. I'm 5' 10" and I got it 1" higher than stock, which allows me to look over the shield. The Clearviews are 1" wider on each side and don't have cutouts on the bottom sides. This shield is better than stock for buffeting but still not great. I then put the Triumph lower air deflectors on and this works pretty well. I don't think you can do better - perhaps a Corbin faring ($1200).

I also tried a Windvest - 18" high by 16" wide. They are supposed to be super aerodynamic. Nice around town but lots of noise and buffeting at 70+ mph. I got rid of that.

Wind isn't a big deal with a full helmet but I like to wear a shorty in summer - wind noise can be a bit much.

[vonbonds]

On 2007-04-03 09:36, dougl wrote:
The Clearviews are 1" wider on each side and don't have cutouts on the bottom sides.

You can request Clearview cut the bottom of the screen like the stock roadster screen. I did that and use the Triumph lowers with my GT25 screen.

[RidinSunshine]

The buffeting was discussed quite some time ago. Differant captains found differant things to work. I think alot depends on your height and how you sit the bike. Some said the lower deflectors worked great however, they have a bad side to them. They hold engine heat. Some have tried differant windshields. Some (my Honey Bear, included) have found that the Corbin fairing with an appropriate wind screen works great. My honey bear bought the fairing and installed a 16" wind screen with it. Says a 14" would probaly work also, but don't go any shorter. But it will depend on your height and how you sit the saddle as to which one would work best for you.

[sbljr]

On 2007-04-03 11:30, RidinSunshine wrote:
...you sit the bike. Some said the lower deflectors worked great however, they have a bad side to them. They hold engine heat...

I have the lower deflectors and have never noticed any heat problem since I put them on. Does this occur while stopped in hot weather or while moving down the road? Are you sure it's the deflectors causing it?

[dougl]

On 2007-04-03 10:32, vonbonds wrote:
You can request Clearview cut the bottom of the screen like the stock roadster screen. I did that and use the Triumph lowers with my GT25 screen.

Don't the cutouts produce more turbulence? The tops of my deflectors are behind the Clearview shield and overlap with the bottom of the shield by about an inch.

[SoccerRef]

What buffeting? cruise at 70-120plus on the I-10 no problem, no windshield just the bike, on long trips (within Florida) I leave the helmet at home above 100mph the helmet is a pain in the arse.