Wind buffeting - I had no idea

[Philbie]

Yesterday i rode a cruiser style bike for the first time.

Really enjoyed it, but I learnt something very interesting.

I had no idea just how noisy the wind buffeting really was on my RT until i rode a naked bike again....

I just thought it was my helmet shape, and even bought a new sport integral to try something a little quieter. I even had ear plugs made too.

Now, I know just how quiet my helmet really is (brilliant) but it's really put me off my RT. It was so quiet on the cruiser i didn't even need ear plugs at 110km/h

anyone else know how it feels? or am i alone here......

I'm not keen on the wind on my chest for really long periods of time, but I think I could change bikes it was just that much more relaxing. No amount of adjusting of the screen worked, but I tried standing on the pegs, and had a similar feel, Surely the RT fairing isn't that bad?

Any suggestions?

[johno]

I always found my RT to be the quietest bike I have ever ridden.
I could ride with the visor up, and no buffeting at all.
I am 5ft11" tall.
I test rode the R1200GS when I still had my RT, and found it very uncomfortable.
Rode one the other week, and compared to my R, it was fantastic.
Interested to know what sort of cruiser you rode.

[Philbie]

i am 6'4 so i would think that the difference in size may have everything to do with it.

I rode a Triumph America and Triumph Speedmaster

[m49512]

Sorry, no suggestions...I like the naked. You didn't, perchance, try the Speed Triple, now did you????

[hirsty]

I thought that was 'the deal':

Naked bike = cleaner, quieter air, but wind at speed hits you in the chest & gives you a bicep/shoulder workout

Tourer bike = unruffled body, but noise & buffeting at head level (unless very 'lucky' elusive combo of height / screen / helmet / earplugs etc)

Sports bike (with double bubble) = best of both, but with added backache & leg cramps and no hard luggage.

[Philbie]

I thought that was 'the deal':

Naked bike = cleaner, quieter air, but wind at speed hits you in the chest & gives you a bicep/shoulder workout

Tourer bike = unruffled body, but noise & buffeting at head level (unless very 'lucky' elusive combo of height / screen / helmet / earplugs etc)

Sports bike (with double bubble) = best of both, but with added backache & leg cramps and no hard luggage.

I think you hit the nail on the head with this comment...

[hirsty]

Or try riding under 60mph at all times

[fnfalman]

Yesterday i rode a cruiser style bike for the first time.

Really enjoyed it, but I learnt something very interesting.

I had no idea just how noisy the wind buffeting really was on my RT until i rode a naked bike again....

I just thought it was my helmet shape, and even bought a new sport integral to try something a little quieter. I even had ear plugs made too.

Now, I know just how quiet my helmet really is (brilliant) but it's really put me off my RT. It was so quiet on the cruiser i didn't even need ear plugs at 110km/h

anyone else know how it feels? or am i alone here......

I'm not keen on the wind on my chest for really long periods of time, but I think I could change bikes it was just that much more relaxing. No amount of adjusting of the screen worked, but I tried standing on the pegs, and had a similar feel, Surely the RT fairing isn't that bad?

Any suggestions?

If I were to want a nice, quiet ride, I'd take my car.

[DJ Downunder]

I rode all day yesterday (see pics in the Great Rides section)...I had no screen other than a small wind deflector that takes the wind off my chest.

I had no buffeting at all...and was so quiet with clean air hitting my helmet...Maybe I'm just used to it...or you big screen guys are not used to it..

DJ

[Philbie]

DJ - i can relate, I love the clean air hitting the helmet, but not the chest.. as I found on the cruiser with my sport integral, was as quiet as a mouse.

I might have to catch up when next in melb, with my bike and see if you notice it too, I'm also curious in the difference of the r1150r to the rt.

[DJ Downunder]

Phil...That would be great to catch up...you are welcome to take my bike for a spin and see what you think.

DJ

[scottybooj]

dj, i just think that the air must be 'smoother' and flow in a different direction downunder!

[kjax909]

Maybe look into either a taller aftermarket windscreen for your RT or install a laminar lip (you can google that). I have the BMW touring screen on my 1150R and it was incredibly loud until I got a laminar lip (I'm only 6'1" though).

[tonyff]

I'm new to the bike, but am also shocked at how loud the wind can be. I did look up the laminar lip and am intrigued. Has anyone else used this? How easy is it to install/take off.

I'm only 5'4" and would have thought this would have been the one area that my height would offer some advantage. No such luck.

[desmophil]

An interesting subject this screen/no screen thing. I am six foot and 90 kilos and have been swapping between no screen, the standard (in Aust. on an 04 R) sport screen and an Eagle Screens touring screen made in Western Australia.

With the sport screen fitted and angle steepened a few degrees, I taped 18 bits of woollen yarn (about 110mm. long) to the screen, indicators, clutch & brake fluid resevoirs, instruments, tank and oil cooler covers. I noted the movement of the yarn at speeds up to 140 kph.

Interestingly, the air flow over the tank and oil cooler covers is completely laminar. That is, the yarn sat right against the surface of the tank and covers with no turbulance at all, and definitely no flow upwards towards the helmet area. The area behind the screen and around the instruments and ignition switch showed little sign of turbulence.

At any speed, the air hitting the centre of the screen and being forced over the top lip of the screen towards the rider caused little upward deviation of the air flow above the screen. It would seem that the improvement caused by tilting the screen forward is caused by the resulting increase in height rather than the increased slope of the screen.

All other yarn flow indicators simply 'flowed' straight back against the direction of travel.

In general I think "hirsty" (posted on 16 April 07) has it sussed. The touring screen allows ones torso to be more relaxed but the buffeting at the visor is very irrritating and tiring for a six footer. The sport screen will do for me unless it gets too cold during winter.

[KHaynes]

Philbie,
You must be a touch taller than me. I suffer no buffetting at all on the RT The helmet is very quiet with the screen up. I'm using a BMW Sportintegral.
The RT with the screen down is a different story. The air is no longer travelling horizontally but is directed upwards by the screen.
I can certainly agree that the helmet is much quieter on a naked bike than it is riding with the RT screen down.

[DJ Downunder]

Welcome aboard desmophil.

I'm over 6' and also about 90 kilos..and I found that the standard fly/speedster screen that comes on the RR down under was not good at freeway speeds and at some speeds buffeted pretty bad...but it does look good..IMO

This is what I have (see pic below) it's from a 650GS..btw where abouts in Oz are you..you are welcome to have a go on my bike and see for yourself how quite it is and how it still stops the wind hitting you in the chest..I think the wind hits about shoulder level and leaves the helmet in clean wind.

As Karl would say..good for you for doing the experiment (with the wind thingies)..you must have done some yachting in your past.

DJ

[desmophil]

G'day DJ,

I am not really a newie I just contribute so infrequently that I forgot my password. I'm on the Sunshine Coast in Qld.

At anything over 80 kph, with the fly/sport/speedster screen angled up a few degrees, the wind hits my helmet just below the visor depending how bad my posture is. With the screen in standard position I find that when at terribly illegal speeds (theoretically of course) the wind hits just below the helmet and tries to lift it off my head.

Although I generally dislike the appearance of large screens the Eagle touring screen doesn't look too bad and is good in many respects - except for the very tiring buffeting at the visor. For a shorter rider it may be a good choice. But there are so many variables I think you just have to find out for yourself. As it is said - the lessons of life are always learned the hard (expensive) way.

[DJ Downunder]

If you've been around a while you might remember Dean..or Dean-O..

When he had his R1150R he had the standard BMW fly/speedster screen and he cut it down so that it just covered the instuments..a little like mine.

He thought that worked well..so that might be worth trying..just a thought.

DJ

[Philbie]

Philbie,
You must be a touch taller than me. I suffer no buffetting at all on the RT The helmet is very quiet with the screen up. I'm using a BMW Sportintegral.
The RT with the screen down is a different story. The air is no longer travelling horizontally but is directed upwards by the screen.
I can certainly agree that the helmet is much quieter on a naked bike than it is riding with the RT screen down.

I have both a Shoei and a sport integral which i have just bought. I wanted a system 5, but found it didn't fit my head! Harold over at Moto one chucked a sport integral on my head and it fit like a glove, Needless to say i went home with it.

I actually had no idea just how quiet the sport integral really was until i took a Triumph Speedmaster for a ride to try the "cruiser" type bikes out. I was so amazed at just how quiet the whole ride was, I did the same circuit on the RT and did another one on the Speedmaster.....I am just shocked at the noise level differences, so much so that it made me think twice about the RT!!! I started having second thoughts about it and wondered if going over to the speedmaster would be a more relaxing and enjoyable ride. I found at 110kph the wind hitting my chest was not comfy, but thats another story.

I haven't given that idea up, but after the test ride, coming home was a let down noise wise, but i found the suspension on the RT just like a lounge chair after the speedmaster. That it go me thinking about the screen and how i might be able to achieve the same quiet air flow i had earlier.

I am at a crossroad at the moment, I don't do any touring, my biggest rides are a half day, and comfort and enjoyment seem more important than ever - I have a soft spot for a noisy exhaust , hate wind on the chest, but love the clean air at the helmet level.

maybe an R should have been the answer......the plot thickens.