Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Screen woes

If you kind folks would indulge me for a moment whilst I ask a really dumb question I'd be really greatfull!

So I just fitted a American style Touring screen to my 07 America. Nice tall one with a metal reinforcement frame. 4mm thick and from a good well reviewed source. But when I ride turbulent air coming over the top hits my helmet right in the visor and causes my lid to vibrate so visiously I can't see anything.

Now I initially thought it was just my height but having now tried a dart fly screen with none I the issues I'm thinking it's my fitting somehow.

Any ideas?

Could have been your height in relation to the height of the screen?

My buddy has two windshields for his Harley: a taller one for long trips and a shorter one for general cruising. I've ridden his bike with both screens on, and for some reason the airflow hits me right in the eyes with the taller screen but I have no problems with the shorter one. I can feel the airflow on my chest with the shorter one. He's four inches taller than me and doesn't get hit in the eyes with the taller sheild; says he feels the airflow around his neck.

very likley your height in relation to the height of the screen as said, one reason i stay with the lower shields, take the wind off my chest etc but head still mostly above the screen, also with mine (Triumph summer shield) i find the air gets buffeted right on top off my lid and just blows over.

Take the visor on your helmet off?

Its just such a turbulent air flow. Can I at least clean the flow up somehow?

Dan, when you're sittin' on the bike, is the very top of the windshield at eye-level to the horizon, and is the angle of the windshield mounted just barely more upright than the angle of your forks?

Ya see, I have a Memphis Shades Fat, and that's exactly how I mount it when I use it(which is seldom), and the airflow at speed juuuuuust barely brushed the very top of my helmet, and thus I've never have had any problem at all with helmet buffeting.

(...but of course, all windshields will have their own airflow properties, and so as they say, "Your results may vary")

Don't forget the lowers. I tried a few different shields before I added lowers and now it's much better.

From another thread, I wrote...

Once you put on a windscreen it changes wind dynamics for the rider. Suddenly there is huge potential for buffeting... a condition that occurs when wind from below the windshield travels up and beats against the rider's head, causing the head to rattle. It can be quite violent. By adding lowers that wind is blocked which in turn either reduces or eliminates buffeting.

There are many variables which can and do play a part in making the rider more/most comfortable. But let me first say that adding a windscreen can often degrade the rider's experience. Sometimes, the rider was better off before strapping on a windshield. Getting back to the variables, they include:

- size and shape of screen
- vents (or not) in screen
- angle of screen
- inclusion (or not) of lowers
- size and shape of lowers
- angle of lowers

Add to that:

- type of helmet (or not),
- size of rider
- seating position
- even placement of feet

and ya got a lot of things to factor into the whole equation. There is no fast set of rules in this game and in fact a lot of what makes a windscreen work is trial and error. It can however be said, that lowers are an important consideration IF the rider experiences buffeting.

Next time out, try placing your left hand, palm down around your chest area. Chances are you'll feel air pushing up and if so, THAT'S what's causing the buffeting around your head.

well thanks guys i made some wooden lowers to see if it works before i spend out any more and wow what a difference. that problem solved i now find that wind noise is an issue because Im 6ft 2 and im just too tall even for this big screen. The wierd thing is generally dont like riding with a screen anywhere near as much as i thought i would. i actually think i like the full force of the wind believe it or not! More direct and less enclosed.

so if anyone wants a brand new mint screen in original box pm me yea coz im sellin it lol see classifieds

I had the same screen, and had the same problem. I went with a Clearview 18.5" replacement screen with utilizes all the original hardware and it is about as perfect as can be now