Wind Noise and Buffeting solution summary

[deaninkl]

F104, I've had pretty much the same experience, nothing I've done to the screen (ive added a laminar lip and winglets) work as well as good ear protection. Unfortunately I cant get custom made plugs where I live but find correctly fitted (thats very important, you have to role them in your fingers and push them firmly into the ear canal so the foam then expands to fill the space) 3M plugs work well and are relatively cheap.

 

[robfin]

The problem of Wind on a GS..!!

I have a 07 1200GS and am now satisfied with the wind/bufferting/helmet noise issues with the slight changes made, however if I had wanted a completely wind protected ride I would have gone for an RT or I would use the car..!!

Height 6.3

Leg 33

Helmet BMW System 4


Seat setting high\low High front/low back (takes a little weight off arms)

Screen used MRA Vario
Screen setting Mid

Tobinators fitted yes or no No

Winglets fitted yes or no No
Satisfaction with solution on Noise and Buffetting

Acceptable

I find that there is far less wind/bufferting with this set up than there was on my previous 1150GS fitted with a high screen and corbin seat.

Hope this info is of use.

Regards

robfin

 

[PC1]

Hi, 05 GS, seat on high & normal screen. Arai helmet 5'11" why is it quieter with visor in up position? Visor down terrible noise.

 

[Owen Snell]

Hi, 05 GS, seat on high & normal screen. Arai helmet 5'11" why is it quieter with visor in up position? Visor down terrible noise.

How is the visor adjustment on your Arai? When I bought mine the guy in the shop made a big deal of setting it all up, but I soon found that the visor was not sealing at all, which not only made it noisy but also prone to misting.

The Arai UK web site has a video demonstration of how to adjust, if you need it, and once properly sealed the wind noise drops considerably.

 

[Pipster]

6ft

Two legs

Seat setting high (can't get low to fit properly)

Ditched rubbish standard screen in favour of a Wunderlich Flowjet
Screen setting about in the middle of the small amount of adjustability offered

No Tobinators but I did try a set when I had the standard screen - gave up eventually.

Whats winglets?

Satisfaction with solution on Noise and Buffetting: Fantastic solution it was pretty good with no screen at all but I thought it was better to have a small flyscreen to protect the instruments and offer a little wind-blast protection at high speeds.

+1 Take the screen off and the buffetting and noise will be no more ...Just back from the Skye weekend with Kev c he has just fitted one of these looks great ...he's loves it ...

 

[PC1]

Thanks for the video link, just watched it and will try and adjust visor. Will do this when I don't need to use the helmet as any thing that looks that simple is bound to cause me a problem. Will probably mean I will be with out helmet for a couple of days while wait for new visor.

 

[Owen Snell]

Thanks for the video link, just watched it and will try and adjust visor. Will do this when I don't need to use the helmet as any thing that looks that simple is bound to cause me a problem. Will probably mean I will be with out helmet for a couple of days while wait for new visor.

I always have trouble getting the visor back in, but you can't really break anything faffing about with this for a while. Like you said, take a bit of time and care and don't rush, then it works fine.

Slack off the small screw on the helmet catch before you start, as it may need to be re-positioned once the visor is adjusted.

The best way to support the helmet is on a nice soft cushion, so it doesn't move about. Push down hard when doing up the retaining screws so it sits properly on the seals and then check the seal like they show you.

Once adjusted correctly, the catch really clicks home and holds the visor down securely.

 

[wozzap]

Part ex it for a car

 

[jonesai]

Forget faffing around with different screens and settings etc - as I have done in the past.Invest in ultimate ear plugs.I have just bought some and they are brilliant. Almost silence when riding the bike.A faint background thrum of the engine and gentle wind noise. A much more pleasant riding experience.
Can't even hear a sparrow fart.

 

[Owen Snell]

Height 6'4"

Leg 36"

Seat setting high

Screen used:

Option 1 - Standard screen with laminar lip. This moved the buffeting upwards to the top of my helmet, but buffeting was still uncomfortable with the screen in any position.

Option 2 - Cee Baileys screen, used, from fellow tosser. Much better, probably not high enough for a quiet ride, but airflow over helmet now reasonably smooth. Just done 650 mostly motorway miles in 2 days of travelling and not suffering at all. Must get ear plugs though. Use top position on this screen.

No Tobinators or Winglets

Some additional information.

I made an extension piece for the Cee Baileys screen just after I fitted it from some 3 mm polycarbonate I have lying around. The replacement screen was so much better than the standard / standard with Laminar Lip that I never got around to fitting the extension to try it out.

The CB is +3" over standard height. My ideal height from their web site would be +4", not sure if this is with high or low seat setting, mine being high. I added 3" and then 4.5" height to the CB screen (making + 6" and +7.5" respectively) and the noise decreased dramatically with both settings, screen in top position. At +7.5" the height of the screen was just starting to get into my line of vision, so + 6" is probaby optimal.

The other issue with the bigger screen is reduced ventilation when the weather is warm. Removing the airflow completely makes for a quiet ride, but also reduces forced ventilation through the helmet vents. With this in mind, it may be a better option to keep the CB screen at +3" with smooth airflow and use ear plugs.

CB Screen at + 6" is approx. £200 from the UK agent.

 

[deaninkl]

Forget faffing around with different screens and settings etc - as I have done in the past.Invest in ultimate ear plugs.I have just bought some and they are brilliant. Almost silence when riding the bike.A faint background thrum of the engine and gentle wind noise. A much more pleasant riding experience.
Can't even hear a sparrow fart.

Jonesai, can you tell me what Ultimate product you bought? did you need a fitting?

I completely agree that the best noise reducing tool is an earplug, at the moment I can only get the normal foam ones here in Malaysia/Singapore, so I was wondering if any of the altimate range can be bought without the sizing and fitting I undersatand is needed for their top of the line stuff?

thanks,
Dean in kl

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

I think you do need fitting for ultimate earplugs, certainly for the moulded ones. Check their website. LINK.

I have a couple of sets of moulded earplugs, including some Ultimate monitors, and they are really impresive. But I don't think the sound reduction is spectactularly mote than rolled foam earplugs, especially if you can get the foam ones right into your ear while they expand.

Where moulded earplugs really win is the speed of fitting and all-day comfort. (Plus, with the monitors, great sound quality from MP3 player.)

On the screen question, I think one hting that is obvious is that are so many variables. Not least of these is expectation. I rode my brother's Bandit 1250 the other day and while there was no buffetting and fairly quiet "clean wind" noise, the wind nearly took my head off at even reasonable speeds. But I used to ride naked bikes, so must have felt it was acceptable at the time. Getting back onto the GS was a revelation again - a bit of bumping, some different windnoise, but a gazillion times better than no screen!

I do like the look of that flowjet thingy, though...

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Height: 6'

Leg: One

Seat setting high\low: High

Screen used: Standard Vanilla GS or none
Screen setting: Low

Tobinators fitted yes or no: No

Winglets fitted yes or no: No

Satisfaction with solution on Noise and Buffetting No Screen:

Fantastic solution

Satisfaction with solution on Noise and Buffetting Vanilla screen:

Fine with ear plugs. Never suffered buffetting

I have never owned a bike with a screen (let alone a fairing) before the GS and am much more comfortable with 'proper' airflow over my bonce. The screen only goes on in the winter to keep some of the cr@p off me in shitty weather.

Andres

 

[deaninkl]

Robin, thanks for the earplug info. When I can get them I use 3M foam plugs, and when they are inserted correcly they are excelent and cheap, but it often takes a couple of stops and a refit to get it right. I don't have a problem with buffeting only the wind noise.

I too use to ride open bikes and fast, I think its partly age.... i don't remember it bothering me when I was younger but now being a middle aged tosser I guess I'm getting pedantic.....

 

[F104]

I've got the Ultimateear ones too since September. Pricey, but excellent ear plugs. First time i tried them on the bike i had to look at the tacho to see if the engine started. But after some time you get used to this incredible noise reduction. Another advantage is they fit correctly every time. I've used foam plugs for years, and they don't fit the same all the time.
Actually I have the Monitors. They have tiny but great sounding speakers inside. I enjoyed listening to these on my hifi, let alone on the bike. Worked extremely well for a few weeks, but unfortunately one side started developping problems. The're in the mail back to Ultimateear to see what the problem is.