Pillion buffeting

[GrantR]

Hi guys.....I picked up my new 1200GS TE on my last leave from Azerbaijan....love the bike so far and did 2000 miles in 2 weeks. Had a few days touring the North of Scotland with my partner on the back. She mentioned a few times that she got quite a lot of buffeting around her head when we were going a bit faster. Has anyone else had this complaint from pillions and if so have any cures been found. I've been looking at higher screens....not sure if that would be a solution?
We are back in the UK in 3 weeks and planning a week away on the bike so it would be good if I could get a solution so that we both enjoy the trip.

 

[notadrop]

Hi
I don't have the new TE but when I used to get pillion buffeting (1150 & 1200GSA) it was a case of trying the screen from sloping back to moving it up until it wasn't a problem. Don't know if it will work for you but it can't hurt to try...unless it is a known issue with the TE screen of course!

Paul

 

[dave hendy]

Hi there

I have the same bike and haven't had any issues with buffeting, I am 5ft 9 and my wife is 5ft 8 and I always ride with my screen in the lowest position. This may not provide the best protection but being used to naked bikes this is fine for me! So I would try different adjustments before going down the route of a Different screen?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[B00001]

Hi guys.....I picked up my new 1200GS TE on my last leave from Azerbaijan....love the bike so far and did 2000 miles in 2 weeks. Had a few days touring the North of Scotland with my partner on the back. She mentioned a few times that she got quite a lot of buffeting around her head when we were going a bit faster. Has anyone else had this complaint from pillions and if so have any cures been found. I've been looking at higher screens....not sure if that would be a solution?
We are back in the UK in 3 weeks and planning a week away on the bike so it would be good if I could get a solution so that we both enjoy the trip.

Same complaint from my passenger as well. I have tried the adjustment of the stock screen from low to high. Makes no difference to her. The pillion does sit quite a bit higher. I am not willing to put some gigantic shield on though.

 

[Jumblemo]

It's easy to criticise the bike and it's design, but have you considered that it may be a fault or flaw with the pillion?
Are they being to sensitive, perhaps they are too tall, or their technique is incorrect? If in doubt have you considered trying with a different pillion and if necessary getting your current one replaced with a superior version?

Alternatively are you sure the fault is not with you, the rider. Is your shape causing turbulence? Have you tried winglets on your jacket?

Let's face it, this is a BMW, chances are, it's you who's doing it wrong.

 

[Bendy toy]

The hexhead GSA barn door screen was awful for pillion. Slightly better with taller front mounts but never good.
The only screen I have had on any bike that does not bash the poor pillion's head about is the GS with Givi airflow and Tobinators or similar front screen mounts. The screen is as low as possible at main side mounts. Any lower would rub on the beak.
I am 5'8" (pillions my brother & mrs) are much the same.

The new GS can't be "that" much different - similar riding position and seat heights.

 

[batman1]

Just got back from touring the west coast of Scotland with pillion and no buffeting issues at all, infact we have both chatted about how good the aerodynamics are compared with previous bikes, rider 5-9 passenger 5-3.

 

[GrantR]

Thanks for the feeedback guys.
The problem may be the that Debs is only about an inch shorter than me at 5'8. Never had any problems on my K1300 and went some crazy speeds on it 2 up. Same with my Speed Triple or KTM 990 Adv in the Middle East but none of them had the difference in height between the 2 seats that the GS does. I need to check if the seat is at the low or high setting....that may help to cure the problem.

 

[batman1]

Passenger does sit fairly high as my pillion can see my speedo...eek!.

I don't think that you can adjust the rear seat height Grant.

 

[GrantR]

Batman....sorry I meant the riders seat not the pillion....maybe if I was a little higher it wouldn't be so bad.

 

[Troppo]

Have you considered a different pillion?

 

[GrantR]

I did....but then I realised that I'm 62 and she is 42, beautiful and shapely ...... so maybe I will just stick with the one I have got

 

[Troppo]

Ha!

For sure!