Buffeting

[Tanker2]

I posted this on the "Strom Trooper" forum and thought I'd share it here as well...

There are so many threads about V-Strom windshield issues I can't read them all so I don't know if this has been addressed or not but thought I'd share something that I tried that seemed to help me. I've got an '06 DL650 and using the stock screen in all three positions there was buffeting although it wasn't quite as bad at the highest position. I noticed that with the screen at the high position there was a large gap beneath the screen and, indeed, a huge amount of wind is scooped in under and to the sides of the screen and shoots up behind the screen and with the vacuum created behind it, contributes to the turbulence. I stuffed an old tee shirt into the opening and Eureka! It worked! Until I can find a better solution I picked up a pack of dark colored 2 1/4" foam rubber insulation at Wal Mart, stuffed it under the screen and trimmed it about 7-8" up each side. I also shimmed the bottom two windshield mounting bracket screws to tilt the screen back a little more. I wont say all buffeting has been completely eliminated but it's definitely been reduced..A lot! I feel a lot of the problem has to do with how far the screen is from the rider. If some creative aftermarket company could make an adapter to move the screen back a couple of inches a lot of these problems could be solved.

[stp1971]

Hmmm,, a thought to ponder.

Although I did buy a Shoei RF1000 helmet the other day and the buffetting is not as bad as it was with the HJC helmet I have.

[Tanker2]

Originally Posted by stp1971

Hmmm,, a thought to ponder.

Although I did buy a Shoei RF1000 helmet the other day and the buffetting is not as bad as it was with the HJC helmet I have.

I also wear a new Shoei RF1000 which replaced a very old Shoei RF700. Plugging that gap has done more to reduce buffeting than anything else I've tried and I think a lot of it was not necessarily from over the screen but from the sides. Raise the screen to its highest, go 75 mph and move your hand around to find the blasts of wind and you'll find as much from the underneath and sides as anywhere else. Deflecting that further to the outside makes a big difference.

[stp1971]

I will definitely try closing that hole up. Wonder what the purpose of it is anyways???

[Rickster]

I have a habit of stuffing my gloves in there when I stop, and on the ocasions that I have forgotten, and left my gloves there, the buffeting seemed worse to me.
I also have my shield tilted back, but I run my shield in the lowest position.
From all the posts I've read on this problem, there doesn't seem to be any (one) solution that works for everyone.

Sean (STP1971) After our conversation yesterday, I had a chance to try an RF1000. It worked fine up to about 75 mph, as all helmets seem to, but after that, it just kept getting worse as the speed increased. I guess I'll spend my money on a new shield rather than a new helmet, I think I'll try the M.P. Cycle shield next. I should be able to get it befort the Dragon trip. I'll give you a report there, and if it seems like it's working for me, you can try my bike, and see if it works for you to.

[stp1971]

Cool!!!!! Let us know. I think if I was to make a five foot tall shield that wraps over the rider and passenger I might be able to stop the buffeting. So many options and no good choices it seems like.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by stp1971

Cool!!!!! Let us know. I think if I was to make a five foot tall shield that wraps over the rider and passenger I might be able to stop the buffeting. So many options and no good choices it seems like.

Just take the V Strom badge off the tank, and put it on your car.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by stp1971

I will definitely try closing that hole up. Wonder what the purpose of it is anyways???

If ever there was a statement that needed to be moved to the "Out of Context" thread!!!!

Sean. The holes are to reduce the vacuum behind the windscreen. At one point, Suzuki engineers seemed to think this worked. Maybe for 5'7" dudes....I dunno!!

[Tanker2]

Originally Posted by intimid8er

If ever there was a statement that needed to be moved to the "Out of Context" thread!!!!

Sean. The holes are to reduce the vacuum behind the windscreen. At one point, Suzuki engineers seemed to think this worked. Maybe for 5'7" dudes....I dunno!!

I'm not sure what "holes" you're referring to but I was talking about the offset from the screen to the front of the dashboard cowling. At the highest setting, the gap is huge, the wind coming from under it is accelerated with a venturi effect (look at the "scoop" on the front of the fairing directly under the bottom of the screen) and, in my opinion, assaults you with different windspeeds from under the screen, over the screen and from the sides creating turbulance. For me, plugging that gap and deflecting it more to the sides leaves only the wind coming from over the top along with the natural vacuum which is, at least, more consistant and steady. While riding in rain the day before I tried this I noticed water droplets being sucked from around my chest toward the back of the screen then blown upward. That takes a whirlwind..no wonder the buffeting was slapping my helmet around! It may just be my imagination but I also think plugging that opening has contributed to more stable handling at higher speeds.

[stp1971]

I will definitely try it out next time I get to ride it. Right now it is sitting until after the ride in June so I can get all the practice possible for the the trip on the LC.

[trailbuster30]

I personally noticed this exact same phenomenon back in '04 when I purchased my weeStrom and the first item I fabricated for my bike was a Lexan shield/shelf that to this day is still affixed to my Strom. It's very similar to a dash shelf only that the rear portion of it curves up to deflect the air flow from beneath the stock windscreen. It also protrudes out the sides a bit since, when the windscreen is raised to the highest position, the heart-shape that it has allows alot of air to enter around the sides. I sold a few of them but really didn't pursue it further, reason being as was said elsewhere here, what will seem to work for one person won't work for another. The buffeting issue is a very personal thing and windscreens and wind deflectors are not a black-&-white issue. Recently I've been considering re-introducing it simply as a dash shelf which is a function of it that cannot be denied with maybe the wind deflecting ability of it, which was it's original purpose, as an added bonus if it works that way for some of the people who purchase it. I can't post a photo of it here since I have web tv but I'm including a couple of photos on my homepage for a while. I use the two velcro patches on the shelf to hold my radio or a small camera.

Dan

http://community-2.webtv.net/CHERDAN...omAccessories/

[stp1971]

Well that is interesting. I like the backrest ideas. I will play around witht the air flow thing some more. Sure wish it was a one fix for all.

[inspiron]

I've got a totally naked bike, and I put a small windscreen on it to protect the instrument panel (it was taking a number of bug hits and is a PITA to clean). The result is that I have some serious buffeting above 100mph, but no problems below that speed. My lid is a Shoei (somewhat older model), and is normally very stable.

I have simply accepted the fact that that I have a speed limit of about 100mph (at about 180 kmh to be exact), rather than the 135mph speed that the bike is capable of. It hasn't been a problem ...

FWIW, I live in Switzerland, just south of the German border. There are stretches of the German Autobahn where there is no posted speed limit (just a recommended speed of 130kmh/80mph). With the appropriate traffic and weather conditions, I *may* legally ride faster than 100mph.