The only problem was the buffeting on the motorway!

[MerrickCampbell]

OK so I just had a great long weekend in Luxembourg

It was only 360miles for me door to door (in Vianden) and to get to the tunnel and then another 150 or so miles the other side meant using all motorway to get us to the nice roads in the fastest possible way. So all was good and I want to get one of those trips in every month now!!err how do I sell that one at home?

Anyway I know the screen on the new LC is a big improvement on my previous TC for buffeting (and its the better bike once there than my mate's RT) but I do find that something has got to change. It isn't nice 150 miles of constant buffeting (say around 80/85 miles an hour) for knocking on two hours.

The three days in and around Vianden were sublime only one short heavy downpour so I have no complaints of course.

The only thing I regret not doing was winding the screen down to its lowest setting! so I'll be trying that of course.Any thoughts from those who have experienced similar?

Of course I may pop down to the Dealer on May 16th and see if the RS is a solution

Thanks for any help

Merrick

ps one initial thought is to look at Z technics V Stream after market screen.

 

[Fanum]

Whatever you do, ignore anyone who tells you to get 'a bigger screen'

The problem is NOT the size of the screen, it's the airflow around and under it.....

I did a long post with pics and airflows and allsorts ages ago, but I can't find it

An MRA screen (or anything with a slot low down to allow airflow underneath, or even just a venturi slot or NACA ducts cut into your screen, or a set of Tobinators which creates the same effect by raising the bottom screen lip) is the answer, NOT a bigger screen

GOOD INFO LINKY

NACA ducts:

 

[Rockred]

I had the same problem with my tc, and then fitted a Givi 330, problem solved. Like you I would like a better screen for my wet head ,Fanum is right ,something along the lines of the 330 , but for the wet head would work.

 

[Andy_E]

I've just bought an MRA Vario X-creen - similar to the middle one in Fanum's picture - for my GSA. I get some buffeting in all but the lowest screen position (where I just get wind blast in the chest), hope to fit it tomorrow and have a play over the weekend. I'll post my thoughts on it next week - or put it up for sale!

 

[Fanum]

I've just bought an MRA Vario X-creen - similar to the middle one in Fanum's picture - for my GSA. I get some buffeting in all but the lowest screen position (where I just get wind blast in the chest), hope to fit it tomorrow and have a play over the weekend. I'll post my thoughts on it next week - or put it up for sale!

Playing with it is key......find a bit of dual carriageway and sit at 60, 70 and 80.
Adjust the screen up or (counter intuitively), right down and repeat.

Airflow UNDER the front lip of the screen makes a barrier up behind it, and can even out any flow into a smooth layer over the top of your helmet, even if deliberately letting more air IN to your bubble doesn't initially make sense

 

[Andy_E]

Playing with it is key......find a bit of dual carriageway and sit at 60, 70 and 80.
Adjust the screen up or (counter intuitively, right down) and repeat.

Airflow UNDER the front lip of the screen makes a barrier up behind it, and can even out any flow into a smooth layer over the top of your helmet, even if deliberately letting more air IN to your bubble doesn't initially make sense

Thanks for the comments, I had a similar conversation with the supplier before ordering it and I've got a few hundred miles to do this weekend to suss it out

 

[Phatcat]

I'm suffering from buffeting on my TC . I have fitted a 330 screen and winglets , and although better , the buffeting is still bad on motorway runs . I've just resigned myself to the fact I'm not going to get it ant better so just live with it , but it really is tiring on long runs.
I spoke to Alan Jeffries salesman about it , he just laughed and told me to buy an RT !!

 

[sven]

[SUB][/SUB]The Puig screen + Cymarc braces works better than the CalSci screen on my old RT I'm very impressed

 

[Fanum]

I'm suffering from buffeting on my TC . I have fitted a 330 screen and winglets , and although better , the buffeting is still bad on motorway runs . I've just resigned myself to the fact I'm not going to get it ant better so just live with it , but it really is tiring on long runs.
I spoke to Alan Jeffries salesman about it , he just laughed and told me to buy an RT !!

Do some reading on 'NACA Ducts'

There's no 'magic' solution to airflow, as everyone sits differently, has a different profile and so on, but you can nearly ALWAYS get better air flow and hence less buffeting.

Laminar lips, NACA ducts, Venturi effects, Tobinators, winglets and/or a bit of creativity....Even a 1cm pile of penny washers under the leading lip of a screen over the bolts...I've seen that almost completely cure the buffeting one guy was suffering from, just by forcing a curtain of air up the back side of his screen

Don't give up, and treat the laughter of a sales guy who then says that you need to buy an RT for exactly what it's worth

 

[oddshapedballs]

I've always found that zero buffeting is only achieved if you keep head and shoulders IN clear air, sure the wind noise is increased so earplugs are a must, and it does take a little getting used to, but I found that fitting a set of tobinators to the stock screen on my TC and having the screen at it's most laid down position cures all buffeting. It's a trade off between losing some protection in rain and wind vs no tiring helmet buffeting.

I do regular 5-6 hour trips for work and haven't had an issue since adopting the head IN the air approach.

 

[Phatcat]

It really does appear to be trial and error , I will just have to persevere . I absolutely love everything about my GS except this frustrating issue.
I tend to adopt the clean air approach , and have the 330 on its lowest setting, that is the best position I've found.
Thanks for the info Fanum , I'll have a read up now.

 

[Bendy toy]

There will always be more turbulence on motorways because of the other traffic. On a windy day you can even get buffeted by traffic on the other side.
On my hexhead Adv I use a 330 with Wunderlich Vario front mounts. They are about 1/3 the length of Tobinators.
My screen is set high at front and low at back. At private road speeds it's best with top screen slid right down. Near middle suits be most of the time.
It's. A LOT better than the Adv screen but not as solid so screen extenders will flap about.
MRA "can" be good but can also be worse than useless.. I liked the CBR 600 with MRA but the standard bike was neither noisy or buffeting (head is in smooth air) but if you ride at sensible speeds your neck & wrists really suffer.
The MRA for Yamaha Division 900 was horrible. #1 medium flips are (almost) always bad and #2 the variable angle spoiler just increased the barn door wall effect. It caused bad buffeting and no less noise than the standard blade.
The Givi creates a jet of air to help fill the low pressure space around rider's head. Only issue for me is the top sliding part could be wider.
I've used it with and without winglets. They make no difference to head turbulence but do reduce fluttering under arms. Take than off for summer.

 

[Bendy toy]

Does anyone know of any active ear buds that can cancel noise at speed but not leave you feeling bunged up and cut off at low speeds.

 

[GSTourer]

Have a full English instead, the buffeting on the motorway has never been that good!!

Sorry!

 

[jags]

Does anyone know of any active ear buds that can cancel noise at speed but not leave you feeling bunged up and cut off at low speeds.

try cens electronic ear plugs, made to measure. used a lot by clay pigeon shooters. only snag is the price.

 

[JulesDive]

I recently purchased the Givi touring screen for my 1200GS LC TE.
Its made a big difference on motorways and dual carriageways... Almost no buffeting.
As others have said, somewhat counter intuitively, it can provide better protection when not at its "highest" setting.
I think this is because the screen gets a bit more vertical as it is wound down from its tallest position ?
Anyway, its a big step forward for me compared to the standard screen.
I am 5ft 10ins tall if that helps.
And I always wear ear plugs on any journey of more than 10 or 20 miles to preserve my hearing.
Even an expensive helmet (eg. schuberth) still creates a very loud wind noise at high speeds.
Hope that helps ! Jules.

 

[JulesDive]

Earplugs that I purchased were "made to measure" from Ultimate Hearing Protection Systems.
They are passive, moulded ear plugs. Not active.
But very good fit and comfortable for long days of riding.
Probably do slightly better than halving the wind noise.
Better than the foam plugs I used previously (but then they are a lot more expensive).
Jules.

 

[matchbox]

Seems to be some confusion between 'buffeting' and wind noise!

 

[Col]

I have a 330 and winglets on my 08 GS and I am also frustrated at fairly severe buffeting around 70 - 80mph no matter what way I sit the screen. I did however find that changing helmets dramatically changed this. I prefer to wear my Shark Evoline 2 for normal riding as it is great having a flip over stylee although with the front down and locked in it buffets terrible. For any kind of long dual carriageway or motorway riding then I wear my old full face Arai which is much better and is much less tiring.. Also, the Arai is much less weight on my bonce too which is less tiring on long CW work.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Here's eleven and a half minutes of your life you will never get back