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Roadster Windshield

6K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  DocT 
#1 ·
I finally got around to mounting my roadster windshield today. I took it out for a 5 mile test ride, and the buffeting is horrible. I don't know if this thing is usable. Maybe my expectations are a bit off. I don't know, but honestly I hated it. I have never had a windshield before. So tell me is this normal? I've read that some other people also had a buffeting issue as well, and I'm wondering if Triumph screwed up the design of this thing.
 
#3 ·
I have the mid-height screen. The bike I demoed came with the Roadster, which buffeted unacceptably. They swapped the big screen out for the shorty screen and I felt that it buffeted exactly the same as the big one. The salesman told me that he hated the Roadster but loved the mid, and being about my size he assured me that I would love it too. So they traded the Roadster screen off of the SE that I bought and replaced it with the mid-sized screen. It buffeted the same as the others.

In searching the internet for a solution or to see if others had the same problem I came across triumphrat.net. I joined the conversation in this thread.

http://www.triumphrat.net/cruisers-thunderbird/122075-windshields.html

There is a lot of good information here regarding people's experiences with windshields as well as some good theoretical information as to what causes and what fixes buffeting. As you will see, I came up with a solution that works about 90% for me.

I'm still pissed that the bike makers aren't making any attempt to address this. In the 21st century it is inescusable that we are still suffering from this problem.
 
#4 ·
Thanks Stratofaster. I'll take a good look at the link you posted. I must have missed it in my search somehow. For the time being I took the windshield off. I will really only need it for long rides, so for my day to day riding it can sit at home.
 
#5 ·
I've come to believe that buffeting is more the norm unless you are willing to ride a full fairing bike or install a batwing. I have the Roadster screen and I get buffetting that starts around 60 mph.

The screen on the Bonneville I had a few years back had zero buffeting, but was a small screen, i.e., it just reduced the wind on the core of your body. This was fine with me, but I don't have the bike anymore, don't know the manufacturer and when I go to the Bonne forum for suggestions, it seems they struggle with this as well.

My son has a FJR and he struggles with buffeting...

National Cycle now makes a Switchblade adapter for the Tbird and has screens of all sized for it. I'm hopeful that one might give me the experience I had with my Bonne. I'm thinking their smaller Deflector screen might work.
 
#7 ·
I've got the roadster screen on my SE. I got the bike two days ago and, like you, I took it out and rode about 5 miles with my full faced Nolan helmet on. The noise and buffeting was too much to bear. So I came home and swapped out the Nolan for my open faced Shoei helmet and took another ride. Still way too windy but not noisy. So I came home and put on the old plastic face shield (you know, the kind that snap on the open faced helmets) and took it out again. Finally, I had a set-up that worked. I'm 6'1" and look completely over the roadster screen. But the face shield on my helmet seems to block the air coming over the screen. I had little buffeting until about 65mph. Then it started to get a little crazy, but I probably spend 95% of my time at speeds under that so I think that is my solution for now. I think the bottom line is that sometimes a change in helmet or helmet design could make a big difference. Hope this helps.
 
#9 ·
Windscreen

There is no such thing as the perfect windscreen. I have three different styles of helmets and they all feel and behave differently with my Roadster screen. Side winds, different vehicles that you may be following, head and tail winds all have play a role in buffeting we feel .

I am 6'3' and like some wind on me better than a fairing setup with no wind. My tall Roadster screen fits me just right at 50mph or 115mph.
 
#10 ·
Gone with the Wind (1939)

There is no such thing as the perfect windscreen. I have three different styles of helmets and they all feel and behave differently with my Roadster screen. Side winds, different vehicles that you may be following, head and tail winds all have play a role in buffeting we feel .

I am 6'3' and like some wind on me better than a fairing setup with no wind. My tall Roadster screen fits me just right at 50mph or 115mph.
I have the wide windscreen stock on the Thunderbird SE and am 6'5" tall. It works fine for me. I DID have to try three different helmets and am fairly comfortable, even on longer rides, with the stock screen. I agree that with no fairing specifically to control and direct wind, you may have to play with the height and width of a windscreen, but don't forget checking out a helmet or two in the process. The windscreen that comes with the Thunderbird SE A1 works fine for me at any reasonable speed. I agree to that some wind is kind of nice, but not your head bouncing around like Builder the Bobber. Pun intended.
 
#11 ·
Obviously, everyone experiences buffeting differently and to different degrees. This underscores the need for adjustability in any windscreen. All three Triumph windscreens buffet intolerably for me, and my solution is to adjust the angle a bit. Many after-market screens are adjustable for angle, and the OEM Triumph screens should be so equipped. :mad:
 
#12 ·
I just traded up to a tbird from a Vulcan 500 with a National Cycle screen. I do get considerable more turbulence on the tbird. I tried scooting up a little on the seat, and that seemed to help. I'm 5'11'', so I was able to comfortably scoot up a bit. I also

Has anyone installed Triumph's lower air deflector kit? Did it do any good? The deflectors don't look all that big.
 
#14 ·
The SE comes with the lowers installed on the same locking bracket as the windshield. At 65 mph in a strong headwind I get some buffeting but it's manageable. Now a strong crosswind gust from 4 and 8 o'clock tends to move the bike over a bit if I'm not prepared for it.

The lowers are not big in surface area, but they seem to work well. In my first rain (very light) my knees remained dry. From the top of my boots down got a bit damp. It might be different in heavier precipitation.

I'm planning to pull the windshield off when I am on vacation at the end of the month to see how she does without it.

My question is which is worse, buffeting windshields, or full body blasts without one?

56R
 
#15 ·
Roadster Screen

When I had a test ride the bike had no screen, wind against the chest at 70 was enough to be tiring if it was a longer run.

Also wind pressure stretched my arms against shoulders when accelerating hard.

When I ordered by Thunderbird it came with the Roadster Screen, this took away all the wind pressure I felt on the test bike as you would expect.

Now the problem is buffeting and wind noise. For now I prefer the buffeting, but would like to reduce it somehow.
 
#16 ·
Im totaly the oposite I had a screen once on my VN900 took months to get it to not feel like some gremlin smashing me on the side of the head with a hammer after 50mph. Finally made some big big lowers and that cured it to some extent .

Was fine until I got the bird and decided I didnt want to ruin the look of the bike with a screen. Now I find I like the wind in my face . The air is clean as I have the headlite cowl on the front and that delivers pure clean air and a riders backrest so I am not hanging on for grim death at highway speeds 90mph plus. I find this the best compromise for me . Yeah in winter it would be nice to have some protection but that just isnt going to happen . No screen will ever be able to provide the protection and comfort a full fairing will. And who wants to look like a gimp with one of those on their bike . Where's mr Lopez lol?
 
#17 ·
Thanks for the info. I've got a set of lowers on my old bike (that I was hoping to have sold by now...) that I'm going to try on my tbird. They are old and a bit scratched up, but at least I'll be able to test it out. I'll post an update later.
 
#18 ·
I guess I'm not alone in removing that terrible fairing. I bought my 2010 Thunderbird SE for long touring. I wanted my girlfriend to have a backrest. My VFR for one person is so much more comfortable. Lockable Hard luggage to boot...Triumph?????

I really do enjoy my Thunderbird, but I may be waiting forever for an upgrade to luggage and a Fairing. Even the tail rack is not long enough for a full bag.

Thanks for your post about the flyscreen info. I thought about picking one up but now I guess I will pass. I was hoping the flyscreen would dump the air out at about neck level,like my VFR.
 
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