Wednesday 27 June 2018

In search of quiet air

For my first few riding decades (Yes, it’s been that long.) I rode naked, so to speak, with no windscreen blocking the wind and rain. I did have a 1/2 fairing on my RD350LC, but that hardly counts as a windshield as it was definitely more cosmetic than functional. But on all my other bikes it was just me, meeting the wind and bugs head-on.

Then, 10 years ago, my first Harley came with a windscreen and I finally realized what I had been missing all that time. Long rides weren’t nearly as exhausting, fewer bugs met their fates on my face, and a sore neck and shoulders weren’t the automatic result of a day in the saddle. But it also had a downside. The wind flowing around/over/under the windshield created a turbulence resulting in helmet buffeting which, in the extreme, created its own issues like blurred vision and headaches from the constant shaking. This condition is certainly not unknown to riders and so we are always looking for solutions to minimize, or at least reduce, the effects.

One option, which reportedly does work, is to have a reverse curve at the top lip of the shield, thus lifting the turbulent air up and over the rider’s helmet. That’s the theory anyway; the physics involved are beyond my understanding. But I’ve read enough reviews to at least give it a try, so my Klock Werks Flare Billboard Windshield arrived today in the post. Twenty minutes later it was installed and ready for a test run. Just about the same time as the rain hit, so that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Klock Werks

I have high expectations that this windshield will give me a bubble of quiet air, so I hope I’m not to be disappointed.

6 comments:

  1. I'm eagerly awaiting the test results on this one.

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    1. Scott - So far I'm loving it. Only 100 miles or so and no heavy crosswinds or headwinds, but it seems to be working just as I'd hoped.

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  2. Hope it works out well for you David. I went down the reverse route. My fully-faired bikes in past decades inevitably caused immoderate behaviour. The last two have been nakeds with largely ornamental flyscreens. Being out in the elements feels more involving without the need for excessive speed :-) . Got to agree that riding like that is more tiring though.

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    1. Geoff - I think it depends a lot on the riding position. Never noticed it as a problem on my Nortons or any of the café bikes, but the sit-up-and-beg riding position on a cruiser just tires me out in no time. Of course age may be a factor as well, although I'm loath to admit it. :)

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  3. So did you find quiet? I've got various small screens that for the most part just 'unload' my trunk. For the first time ever, I've added an auxiliary on the Himalaya, partly because I was curious but mostly because it was an online auction $20 item. So far, I'm quite sure I like it.

    Both scooters offer far more protection than the motorcycles do and that's OK.

    Hope that you found the coverage you were after!

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    Replies
    1. Coop,

      I think I've found just what I need. I'm liking it more and more each day.

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