Many H-D wind screens cause buffeting at higher speeds. That's because most screens for Sportsters are rather flat and sit straight up on the bike with minimal lean. Buffeting just kind of bounces your head around a bit, blurring you vision at times -- and after several hours of that, I get a headache. I am experiencing this with even the better H-D Touring windscreen.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this, or wind screen products that don't exhibit a lot of buffeting? Thanks.
Rich

This may not make sense, but I experienced the buffeting you describe when I installed quick detatch compact wind screen. Not expecting any differance, I got modular HJC at HD with HD logo. Buffeting is actually mild now and not bothersome at all. My helmet before that was open face HJC. I'm 5'8" and maybe I'm just lucky this worked for me.

I have the standard height HD quick Detach windshield. I was able to reduce the buffeting by tilting the bottom of the shield out wards. All that was required were 2 chrome brackets between the bottom shield mount screw and the lower clamps.

SEMJPM

I have the standard height HD quick Detach windshield. I was able to reduce the buffeting by tilting the bottom of the shield out wards. All that was required were 2 chrome brackets between the bottom shield mount screw and the lower clamps.

SEMJPM
I also have the standard HD windshield. I've been wanting to do that also. Where did you find the brackets?

As far as buffeting my Shoei RF1000 works pretty well for me. I'm 5'8" with a 30 1/2" inseam.

I have a Memphis Shade, detachable. I had awful buffeting with the 2.2 gal peanut tank on. No amount of adjusting of screen helped. With 3.3 peanut, it was better, doesn't let as much air up between my legs and tank. Found best was with screen as low as I could get it and leaned back as far as possible. Have worn 3/4 HJC helmet with face shield till now. I know the helmet and face shield made the buffeting worse cause my mustache would blow up behind the shield. Just tried a HJC full face with flip up chin, probably like Handyman tried. Really helped a Lot. Doesn't trap the air thats coming up by the tank. I can live with it now.

I have the standard height HD quick Detach windshield. I was able to reduce the buffeting by tilting the bottom of the shield out wards. All that was required were 2 chrome brackets between the bottom shield mount screw and the lower clamps.

SEMJPM
Please post some photos. I can handle it for a while, but in July I am doing an 8-day trip. I need to resolve this before then.

I use a detachable sport windshield which generates some turbulence but not excessive. But I was thinking of switching to the touring windshield, http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444184394 3&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302290539&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302290539&bmUID=1142953185658&bmLocale=en_US for an upcoming trip to Oklahoma. Anyone have this one on their bike?

I use a detachable sport windshield which generates some turbulence but not excessive. But I was thinking of switching to the touring windshield, http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444184394 3&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302290539&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302290539&bmUID=1142953185658&bmLocale=en_US for an upcoming trip to Oklahoma. Anyone have this one on their bike?
This is the one I have and I love it. Turbulence is not an issue.

I had the same problem with my Memphis Shades. I was scooting down the road one day and just for the hell of it I put my feet up on the turn signals. Guess what the buffeting stopped. I then made some deflectors for the bottom of the windshield and that took care of 90% of the problem. The next time you are riding, hold your hand about chest high with your palm down. You will feel the air coming up from the bottom and I imagine it will decrease the buffeting. It took me a while, but I finally figured out the problem is the air coming up from the bottom that is causing the problem.

I'll try and get some pics up. The brackets are basically the same piece of sheet metal that form the lower strap on small clamps ( 1.5" long, hole at each end) that you can get for a few bucks at Ace hardware. That is what I used to test the idea then I bought small chrome hanger straps and chrome hardware from JP Cycles.

SEMJPM

Windshields are strange things. I started out with a Memphas Street shield. This is a sport shield that mounts on the handlebars. Buffeting wasn't bad, but a side wind would blow me all over the road.
Next I got a HD quick detach. This is a much bigger shield, and clamps to the downtubes with no adjustment. Buffeting about the same (little), but absolutely no impact from side winds. Oveall a vast improvement.
I have a Custom with the 4.5 tank. I was getting quite a lot of wind off of the tank. It would hit my chest and come right up into my face. I installed some softail chrome lowers, they bolt (after drilling) right to the shield brackets. This completely solved the wind off the tank problem. Overall this is a very comfortable touring arrangement.

I have a Custom with the 4.5 tank. I was getting quite a lot of wind off of the tank. It would hit my chest and come right up into my face. I installed some softail chrome lowers, they bolt (after drilling) right to the shield brackets. This completely solved the wind off the tank problem. Overall this is a very comfortable touring arrangement.
Ben, would you happen to have some pics of your softail lowers mod that you could share with us? Sounds great. Which model H-D quick detach windscreen are you running? Thanks.
Rich

Sometimes just moving them 3/8" makes all the difference in the world. Before giving up and buying another windshield always try moving it around even if it will only move very little. I bought a smaller sheild and thought it was just to small to do much, ended up moving it a few times and findly hit a sweet spot. Theres also a company that sell a trim that you put on the edge of a windsheild that makes the air raise by 2 to 3 inchs. I used it on a windshield were the wind was hitting me about nose level and with the trim it just cleared the top of my head.

Hi.

The problem I find with most windshields is that there like riding with a phonebooth in front of you, killing your milage and power.

This was my solusion, like most solusions, it is a compromise between ride and comfort.
I ma a "Form follows Funtion" type, I don't care how it looks as long as it works. This windscreen helped the bike ride smoother, got rid of a speed wobble at.....well above the posted speed limit(Not that i ride that fast pre-say) and keeps the wind off my body, leaving my shoulders, arms and top of my head in the wind. I am,m 6'2" so a shorter rider head would be completely out of the wind.\I shpuld point out that even with my head(I wear a full face) partly in the wind, I have never got buffeting.

And it does look better in person, and I get all kinds of positive comments on it.
If you would like one for your, it is the short windshreen made by Harley for the V-rod.
I can get you the part number later tonight, as i am at work, ans the book is at home.

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_0068_edited.jpg

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_0069_edited.jpg

..http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_0069_edited.jpg
Is the the H-D brand of saddlebage supports on your bike?

I've been looking for a photo to see how low they hang.

Is the rear part of support out as far as the front? i.e. outside the shock absorber.

This is the one I have and I love it. Turbulence is not an issue.
Did you find in necessary to relocate your turn signals?

Did you find in necessary to relocate your turn signals?

This is the Harley quick-detach...

Great shield....

http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/565/Roxy_Oct.jpg

Another vote for the HD quick detach shield. I am 5'6" and do not experience buffeting on the standard height shield-I definitely experienced the 'head shake' on the compact version, tho'.
http://xlforum.net/photopost/data/500/medium/sissy1.jpg

Kim

I have the HD "Sport" non-detachable shield. It's about the smallest they offer & I picked it b/c I thought the bigger ones would ruin the narrow look of my bike. I'm only 5'4" but I had to futz around with it a lot to stop the buffeting (one day I went on a 2-hour ride and came home with a big honkin' migraine headache). In the end what worked best was to change the angle of it as much as the stock hardware allowed--I tilted the bottom forward and the top back. Problem solved!

I have the HD "Sport" non-detachable shield. It's about the smallest they offer & I picked it b/c I thought the bigger ones would ruin the narrow look of my bike. I'm only 5'4" but I had to futz around with it a lot to stop the buffeting (one day I went on a 2-hour ride and came home with a big honkin' migraine headache). In the end what worked best was to change the angle of it as much as the stock hardware allowed--I tilted the bottom forward and the top back. Problem solved!

I had one of those too! (Actually, I still have it around)

Decent shield, but it doesn't really compare to the quick detach I have now....

I have the standard size quick detach windshield and I love it.

noticed theres one of the HD quick detach shields in the classified on this site :smoke

Is the the H-D brand of saddlebage supports on your bike?

I've been looking for a photo to see how low they hang.

Is the rear part of support out as far as the front? i.e. outside the shock absorber.

I have an extra set for sale in the classifides. The set I have is not flat.

Some people say this works well. http://www.jacksflaps.com/info.html

Best wind screen for Sportster touring?

I took a 5 day trip with my dad last August, 1,500 miles. I bought a Memphis Shades windshiled before the trip. Don't remember the model but it is the largest they offer. It's what Memphis Shades recommended for what I wanted the windshield to do which was to offer protection. Style points were secondary to me. I only install it for long rides or in bad weather. It's easily removed when you want to look pretty. No buffeting at all with this one. Functioned just as well as the windshield on mt dad's Road King.


6347

I have the HD sport quick detach windshield. It works fine for me. I'm 5' 4" with a 29 inch inseam. The windshield is tilted back towards me a little though and hits me right under the nose. I wear a half helmet and haven't had any wind buffeting. I haven't taken any long trips yet, but have done close to 400 miles in a day and the windshield does a great job. We are planning a camping/riding trip to the Grand Canyon in May...so we will see how it works on some long rides!

>>Quote:
>>Originally Posted by famousperson
>>This is the one I have and I love it. Turbulence is not an issue.

>Did you find in necessary to relocate your turn signals?

No, the turn signals are in their stock position.

Its interesting that so many people like their standard quick detach - I have one and am looking for something else. What I've found is that your height has a lot to do with what works for you. I'm 6'2", and I get pretty good (bad) buffeting from that windshield on the highway. Around town is fine, but my head and FF helmet are bouncing around when I hit 60mph.

Any taller riders have good success with other shields? I too am planning a trip for early summer, and would love to find some more protection at highway speeds.

Its interesting that so many people like their standard quick detach - I have one and am looking for something else. What I've found is that your height has a lot to do with what works for you. I'm 6'2", and I get pretty good (bad) buffeting from that windshield on the highway. Around town is fine, but my head and FF helmet are bouncing around when I hit 60mph.

Any taller riders have good success with other shields? I too am planning a trip for early summer, and would love to find some more protection at highway speeds.
Do you use the same detacheable hardware the Super Sport QD uses?

If so, we could swap.

I am wanting a smaller windshield....

I have an extra set for sale in the classifides. The set I have is not flat.
What does "is not flat" mean?

I have the H-D QR windshield. It worked fine, with no buffeting.
Trouble was, it was too tall--I had to peer through it unless I sat
up at 'attention'.
So I trimmed an inch and a half off the top, keeping the same overall
shape. Now I can see over it good. It's the perfect height.
Except now I'm feeling this buffeting at 50-60 mph, mostly around my
chin. The only place to hide is with chin to tank.
So I'm kinda bummed out....

RE; BigBen's softail lowers... I thought I was the only one who had done that! Just goes to show, there are few truly original ideas, just really good ones. Below are the most recent pics of mine. I will take close ups of the mounting, and the "dress up" items I used to disguise the extra holes, if I get a chance some time soon. After I added mine, the chin buffeting became very minimal, even at speeds in excess of 75 mph. Mounting involved drilling one extra hole in each lower, adding a 3/4 in. chrome spacer and longer bolts at each mounting clamp, and poof! The coolest part is, if you want a totally different look or ride style, you pop 4 quick clamps and the whole shield and lowers set comes off together, in a matter of seconds. I am 6'3" and this works great for me. I found the buffeting was from wind coming up off my knees, not the tank, and the lowers re-direct this outward just enough to make a world of difference. There are a couple slightly different styles of lowers (aka "deflectors" in HD catalog I believe), but all should be just as easily adaptable.

Is the the H-D brand of saddlebage supports on your bike?

I've been looking for a photo to see how low they hang.

Is the rear part of support out as far as the front? i.e. outside the shock absorber.

Hi Dusty,

Yes, these are the haley brackets.
Yes they are level at the bottom half.

I think helmet styles can make a difference too. I have two 3/4 helmets and one of them seems to buffet more than the other.

Modular/ flip up made the differance for me. Buffeting is mild now. I got the HJC/ HD. You can save $50 or more on non Harley edition. It's also convenient for brief stops like gassing up or whatever. Just flip the front up and get some air or talk, smoke etc... Warm weather riding: flip just the shield out 2 or 3 notches for extra venting.
I have the quick detatch compact windshield.

Its interesting that so many people like their standard quick detach - I have one and am looking for something else. What I've found is that your height has a lot to do with what works for you. I'm 6'2", and I get pretty good (bad) buffeting from that windshield on the highway. Around town is fine, but my head and FF helmet are bouncing around when I hit 60mph.

Any taller riders have good success with other shields? I too am planning a trip for early summer, and would love to find some more protection at highway speeds.

Geekrider - I'm 6' with a 31" inseam so I sit pretty tall. I have the Memphis Shades El Paso 19". I'm still fiddling (haven't really put my mind to it, as I'm mostly a backroad rider) but my current setup is good up to about 65, and not unbearable as fast as I've been willing to go (and in fiddling I had unbearable at 55).

The sweet spot is somewhere closer to as-upright-as-possible than as-far-back-as-possible, although I haven't tried lowering the whole thing as suggested in this thread.

I was torn between Xena's memphis wndshield that she had wrote in a thread way back and the HD detachable full windshield.....I went with the HD full and love it...I took it off the other day and wanted to see had my ride felt without the windshield on....needless to say I put that !!!:censor back on.Call me a puss:censor or whatever....I dont like the wind pressure at 80 mph....
The HD pops on and off in seconds and I had no head shakes with it on...

Geekrider - I'm 6' with a 31" inseam so I sit pretty tall. I have the Memphis Shades El Paso 19". I'm still fiddling (haven't really put my mind to it, as I'm mostly a backroad rider) but my current setup is good up to about 65, and not unbearable as fast as I've been willing to go (and in fiddling I had unbearable at 55).

The sweet spot is somewhere closer to as-upright-as-possible than as-far-back-as-possible, although I haven't tried lowering the whole thing as suggested in this thread.

I had been thinking about trying a Memphis Shades next. Is it pretty adjustable, for height/tilt? I'm switching to mini-apes soon, so I'll be sitting even more upright probably. Is it the El Paso that also comes in a 21", or is that a different one?

The "Sportshield" line is pretty adjustable for tilt, certainly enough to have "bad" positions at both extremes for me. The height is adjustable only by locating the brackets - because of the headlight cutout, there really isn't a lot of wiggle room.

The 19" is the taller El Paso - I think it's the tallest in that line - you'd have to go to the "Fats" or "Slim" for 21" height.

For reference: I installed a H-D Quick Detach Standard on my bike today and went out for a 100 mi. plus ride (mixed country, canyon and freeway, with 20 mph wind). In a word, impressive. I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam and sit tall on the bike (Sundowner, 10" mini-apes, and shocks at max preload). The top of the shield comes up to the bottom of the face shield on my HJC SY-Max modular, which means I'm looking over the windshield. I experienced no buffeting and the bike was solid, even passing big rigs at 80 mph or so. I've also got an H-D Sport shield (4-point windshield/fork mount) and a Windvest) and this wind screen puts them both to shame (particularly in the windy weather we have around here). I've been trying to find the right combination for long distance touring and, for me, this is it.

I've had good luck with National's Plexifairing 3. Little buffetting, warm in New England winters and quick disconnect.

...I dont like the wind pressure at 80 mph....
The HD pops on and off in seconds and I had no head shakes with it on...
I had a Super Sport windshield since day one.

now, the buffeting is getting to me. So, when riding highway speeds for less than 350 miles/day and dry weather, I take it off. It is gind of fun, but tiring.

I am going to try to fabricate plexiglass/Lexan lowers on the windshield and try again. Got to set something working before my 9-day trip in July.

I have a Standard Height quick detach and it works wonderfully.

I am 5"10 and my jeans are 32" inseam.

You could also try my latest invention.....1960's Wixom fairing with a FL windshield on an XL.

http://befree.homestead.com/files/2006_4_8_178.jpg needs painted yet.

Here's an interesting option for those of us experiencing buffeting over the top of the windscreen. Saw it in "Rider" magazine. Anyone try the "Lip" by Laminar: http://www.laminarlip.com/cruiser.htm

They offer "Universal" sizes (bottom of page) that look like they would fit the various H-D detachable windscreens.

The LIP for the Honda Helix should fit the Super Sport H-D windshield they told me, however I have balked at spending more money on a windshield that I may replace.

That sounds like a good idea, I've got some scrap bits of stainless about, I'll make a set up and try that out.:clap Incidently I'm 5'2" and cut my screen down by 1.5", so that I could see over it! It was ok when it's dry but was grotty when wet!:(

I have the standard height HD quick Detach windshield. I was able to reduce the buffeting by tilting the bottom of the shield out wards. All that was required were 2 chrome brackets between the bottom shield mount screw and the lower clamps.

SEMJPM

i have the quick disconnect windshield. semjpm, could you post some pics of the mods you are talking about?!?!?!?