Where is the wind supposed to hit?

[double_entendre]

The vast majority of my motorcycle experience has been on sportbikes---old Honda Interceptors and CBR600s. So this is my first bike with a wind screen with any appreciable effect.

Having ridden the bike for a little while, I've been wondering where the wind is supposed to be hitting me. Right now with the screen fully down the wind hits me in the chest, which is pretty good most of the time. I've got a bad shoulder from a old m/c wreck and the wind helps reduce the weight on it with the stock bars. (Of course, if I keep myself in good posture it's a non-issue anyway....)

But that said I've read a lot of posts of folks talking about different size screens and I know that when I put my screen full up I get a nifty breeze down the back of my jacket. Probably be great when it's 100 degrees, but for now that's not so hot, and the wind noise when it's raised is really bad. This can't be normal. My sport bikes were quieter. Hell, my XL350 was quieter. :blink:

Can anyone help me out on what I'm supposed to be feeling/hearing as far as the wind goes? (1)

Thanks!

Bob

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

(1) Any comments about Del Taco and wind shall be summarily ignored. B)

 

[Rogue]

Well personally,

I like as much air flow as possable on a hot SoCal day and a space with no air movement on a cold night.

Its subjective and depends on your height and how you sit on the bike.

I am using the stock shield and have a CeeBee +4+4 w/flip that I don't care for, I may get a Cal Sci shield and try it.

If you want to try a larger shield PM me and you can stop by Pasadena some Sunday and I'll let you try the CeeBee.

 

[markjenn]

There is no right or wrong answer here. Different windshields offer different compromises between protection and buffeting and it varies from individual to individual. Which is not surprising - people's size and seating positions are vastly different, and each of us wears different helmets, jackets, earplugs, etc. Finally, each of us has different tolerances to noise, vibration, buffeting, wind blast, temperature, etc.

In many ways, it's just like saddles - what's perfect for one is the pits for another.

Personally, I find the stock screen on the 05 very good and I am not overly compeled to try something else. To me, the whole idea of the adjustable screen is to get a sportbike-like function at the low setting (some wind pressure to support the upper body, smooth airflow with no buffeting, and sleek looks), and to gain some measure of Goldwing-like protection with it up, accepting that this is going to cause some buffeting. For me, the stock setup compromises quite well. If I had a warehouse full of other screens to try, I certainly would, but I'm not willing to spend dollars and time chasing a goose that I doubt can be caught. A larger screen would just tilt the compromise towards more protection and it feels like the current compromise is about right for me.

One interesting thing: I bought my FJR from a distant dealer and then rode it nearly 4K miles in challenging weather in the space of a week. When I first got the bike, the weather was great and I spent a few days riding with friends in good weather on twisty roads. I ran the windshield up a few times, didn't particularly like the buffeting and feel, and left it down for these few days. I didn't think the up position was useful. But then I turned towards home and the weather turned bad. I ended up running nearly 2.5K miles, mostly at interstate speeds, with the windshield up. Once I adjusted, I found the up position quite comfortable and reasonably buffet-free. So I think part of perception that the up position is uncomfortable is just that it is such a contrast to the down position. You get used to the front pressure with it down which makes you perceive that there is a lot of back pressure with it up, when it may be pretty close to still air. Once I adjusted, I found the up position quite comfortable. So I wouldn't make a snap judgment without spending some time with it up.

- Mark

 

[Bounce]

The vast majority of my motorcycle experience has been on sportbikes---old Honda Interceptors and CBR600s.  So this is my first bike with a wind screen with any appreciable effect. 
Having ridden the bike for a little while, I've been wondering where the wind is supposed to be hitting me.  Right now with the screen fully down the wind hits me in the chest, which is pretty good most of the time. I've got a bad shoulder from a old m/c wreck and the wind helps reduce the weight on it with the stock bars.  (Of course, if I keep myself in good posture it's a non-issue anyway....)

But that said I've read a lot of posts of folks talking about different size screens and I know that when I put my screen full up I get a nifty breeze down the back of my jacket.  Probably be great when it's 100 degrees, but for now that's not so hot, and the wind noise when it's raised is really bad.  This can't be normal.  My sport bikes were quieter.  Hell, my XL350 was quieter.  :blink:

Can anyone help me out on what I'm supposed to be feeling/hearing as far as the wind goes? (1)

Thanks!

Bob

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

(1) Any comments about Del Taco and wind shall be summarily ignored.  B)

Back pressures happen on nearly every bike with a large fairing/windscreen (3 different models of Wings I owned did it to different degrees). That's what makes the adjustable screen so kewl. You can tweak it up and down a little until you get enough wind block and stop short of getting back pressure. None of the Wings do that to this day unless you buy a very expensive add on that relaces the screen and adds a motor and actuator assembly.

As for noise: It's a bike. If you're not wearing hearing protection, your risking your hearing even on the most quiet of bikes (pressure levels can be very high even on relatively quiet bikes).

 

[SilveradoSlick]

It depends on what you're looking for. I'm 5'11" and have a Cee Bailey +4/+3, no-flip, tilted back a little. I'm happy with the setup and usually ride with the shield high enough to leave the face shield open. I don't have a problem with buffeting with this rig. The CalSci shield has a vent or vents (at least as an option). The venting might reduce the buffeting at full extension and allow you to go with a more or less stock-sized screen if you're looking for less protection. Or you could buy an '06 with a taller screen and greater range.

 

[zorkler]

i went to a cee bailys 4 plus 2 . also try rumble strip .com for your helmet . i had the same problem when i first started riding the 1300 .

 

[madmike2]

6'2'x32" inseam, heli handlebar risers, +4+3 Cee Baileys, standard contour, w/ homemade tuning block. All the way down I get clear air on my face shield and a small blast under the windshield that hits my chest. If I put it all the way up, at speed, I can still create back-pressure, but I seem to have eliminated the turbulence that buffeted my helmet.

As an aside, I hade a Cee Baileys w' flip and never could find a position where turbulence didn't exist. For me, the standard contour is the answer.

 

[radman]

Somthing that hasn't been mentioned here is the use of a tuner. Rifle came out with the idea, myself and many others have found a way to incorporate our own version of it. As a result, my CeeBailey +4+4 monster is quiet as a summer breeze. It adds a spacer between the motor bracket and windshield braket, tilting the shield out at the base, abd back at it's top. I simply used longer screws from the local Ace hardware, and a 3/8 nut at each screw (the 2 counter sunk allen head screws, not the nylon windshield mounting screws). Remove the shield from the bracket, and you'll see them exposed on the bracket. This little mod makes all the diference in the world, removing the straight up angle at full up, and adding a little more aero look when down, it can be used to adjust the backpressure the shield imparts on the rider and passenger by adjusting the tilt, it also allows more airflow to the rider due to the larger opening at the base when the shield is lowered. This allows year-round use of the large shield, the way I use it. It also reduces air pressure on the larger shield itself-I have personally tested my mega-shield at 135mph fully raised with no issues to report. Rifle link showing the tuner in use-

https://www.rifle.com/stores/showdetl.cfm?&...ment_Windshield

 

[TWILKIN650]

Would anyone who plans to add the tuning block spacers (or who is willing to disassemble their setup) please post photos of the disassembly/assembly process on a windshield? This would make a great photo farkle for FJRTech. If some who have tried this with the stock shield would comment on benefit, I like to try it on my stock shield first, before assembling a stack of shields that "don't work".

That said, I'll probably end up with Radman's setup eventually; CB +4+4 with tuning block, even if mileage is worse with that barn door. I'm 6'3" with a 34" inseam, and stock shield is great all the way down, but crappy full up for me.

I bet if you stacked all the windshields that FJR1300 owners have purchased and removed in an effort to improve their current situation, they'd form a plastic pillar 100 feet tall. :erm:

 

[madmike2]

Try the "trick" mentioned by Radman. I use two 5/16 nuts stacked on each countersunk screw, so mine is raised a bit more than Radman's.

It's really as simple as he said. To remove the windshield, you must remove the 7 countersunk nylon screws that go through the "W" bracket. Once you remove the "W" bracket and windshield, you will see a second (or inner/lower) "W" bracket. in the middle of that inner "W" bracket, you will see the heads of 2 allenhead countersunk screws. These 2 screws attach the windshield/"W" bracket sandwich to the motor bracket.

If you remove those 2 countersunk screws, you will see that if you use any assortment of nuts/washers etc. to space the "W" bracket up from the motor bracket, you will tilt the windshield back. You will just need to purchase (from Ace or True Value or "?" hardware) some longer screws to account for the height of your spacer.

Easy-peasy, quick and easy! And cheap!

Pay attention to the depth the nylon screws penetrate the well-nuts. These are easy to overtighten and strip. I've never had a problem, but others have stripped the screws. They are plastic, you know.