Getting beat up while on the highway...why?

[ld_rider]

I've been commuting about 50 miles/day round trip on a limited access highway since I bought my bike in April. It seems to me that I'm getting really, REALLY beat up by the wind, more than I deserve ;-)

I get hit in the left shoulder, the right, back and forth...like a punching bag. Anyone else notice this? Maybe it is the way I have my bike configured? Tall Vstream windscreen and full Givi Trekker bags and top case? Maybe I'm just used to the GL1800 and it's Lexus-like quiet ride?

Or (gasp!) I'm just an old fart and should be looking at a BMW R1200RT??

TIA

 

[Grey1one]

I'm still running the small stock screen, the only time I get that is following trucks/trailers or sometimes a big pickup with the piperacks for construction type trucks. If I get away from them it's back to normal.

 

[mreric]

for me it was the mirrors, the mirrors were directing the wind to the side of my helmet and shoulder,

i got diff mirrors and solved the issue,

try that. cheap fix

 

[Gigs]

Try a different helmet that may help too

 

[greenex]

I have the tall vstream and was getting battered around too. I ended up cutting a hole in it (I will find the link and post it later) thinking it would reduce the helmet buffeting. It made the air around my body a little smoother but still not much for my helmet

 

[netizen]

The only thing that worked well for me was adding a wunderleich wind deflector, but I have a Honda touring screen and am 5'11.
I can ride with the visor up now even at highway speeds

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[fatherfork]

I find if I'm anywhere near other cars I get really tossed around like you're describing.

 

[ziggie]

Try taking the bags off to see if you get the same effect.

 

[kjang]

on my commute i have to go onto a bridge.
mornings are beautiful (no wind) and sometimes traffic in which i have to filter through.
late afternoons are windy in general. Took me some time to get used to it. Some days are worse than others. I keep a loose grip and countersteer. Now it doesn't bug me too much. Never felt beat up though.

 

[greenex]

http://nc700-forum.com/forum/nc700-mods/5913-wind-noise-tall-riders-4.html

see post 37 for the hole I made. Might make another or find a way to divert the air upwards

 

[JDE]

I felt the same way, until I just got a Madstad windscreen. It is SSOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER!!!!! I repeat SSOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER!!!!! I don't feel the wind on my shoulders any more and it's much quieter in the helmet too. I can now lower the volume of my Sena blue tooth for my music and I can actually hear the tread of my Shinko 705's that I'm running on for tires.

 

[turbodieseli4i6]

I felt the same way, until I just got a Madstad windscreen. It is SSOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER!!!!! I repeat SSOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER!!!!! I don't feel the wind on my shoulders any more and it's much quieter in the helmet too. I can now lower the volume of my Sena blue tooth for my music and I can actually hear the tread of my Shinko 705's that I'm running on for tires.

+1 I had the same prohlem until I added the Madstad 22". I still get some buffeting when I'm less than a 100' from an 18 wheeler, but that stops when I move over to the passing lane.
When you get your bike set up for your needs, all will be good.
I'm 5'10 and shrinking now if that helps and still adding to the farkle list.

 

[musicman]

I just got my madstad dialed in, love the ride behind it. Its hard to recommend windshields, everyone is different, not only in torso height but just in overall build. Madstad recommended the 22" for me since I'm 6'3", but I felt like my head was in a paint shaker now and them behind it. Ended up lowering the windshield brackets about 1.25" on the plate and wow! Its so smooth and quiet, to the point the tire noise is the loudest thing I have to deal with, haha

 

[itlives]

I do get the same side to side buffeting when behind 18 wheelers. As time goes on, I may get the Madstad.

Edit- had to add, other than being behind the big trucks, I like my Puig + visor.

 

[SergeantChuck]

I can see it now. I'm going to have to break down and buy the Mastat. I never complain about it but I get beat to hell too. Mostly because I'm stuck around semi trucks here in the Little Roc karea. They are everywhere and you can't avoid them. Sometimes the front end shakes pretty good. Something I've never experienced on any previous bike.

My first thought was to try the mirror swap that was suggested earlier in this thread. Waiting to see what Bamamate thinks about his new mirros and if they made a difference. If not I may need to swap windscreens for a third time. Or I'll just deal with it.

 

[670cc]

I can see it now. I'm going to have to break down and buy the Mastat. I never complain about it but I get beat to hell too. Mostly because I'm stuck around semi trucks here in the Little Roc karea. They are everywhere and you can't avoid them. Sometimes the front end shakes pretty good. Something I've never experienced on any previous bike.

My first thought was to try the mirror swap that was suggested earlier in this thread. Waiting to see what Bamamate thinks about his new mirros and if they made a difference. If not I may need to swap windscreens for a third time. Or I'll just deal with it.

Personally I don't think there is much you can do about the side to side buffeting from the trucks, aside from putting up a 3 foot wide screen like on a Goldwing. I'd hate to see you buy a Madstad and still have the problem.

Like you, I'm anxious to see how the mirror swap goes.

 

[pprior]

Short stock screen here. I get buffeting when an 18 wheeler goes past the other way but otherwise it's just constant noise but not rough at all. Strange that you would feel enough to feel fatigue just going down the highway, that's not been my experience at all.

I'd like a bigger screen if it would reduce noise, as that's my main complaint. But I just like the look of the stock screen too much to make the switch yet.

 

[ld_rider]

Thanks for all the replies...

Looks like no matter what I do, it will cost me some $$ :-(

Was hoping the Vstream would be The One, but now maybe I'll have to go in a different direction.

Might put the stock screen back on just for grins and see if the beatings subside ;-)

 

[turbodieseli4i6]

I can see it now. I'm going to have to break down and buy the Mastat. I never complain about it but I get beat to hell too. Mostly because I'm stuck around semi trucks here in the Little Roc karea. They are everywhere and you can't avoid them. Sometimes the front end shakes pretty good. Something I've never experienced on any previous bike.

My first thought was to try the mirror swap that was suggested earlier in this thread. Waiting to see what Bamamate thinks about his new mirros and if they made a difference. If not I may need to swap windscreens for a third time. Or I'll just deal with it.

The trucks would do the same to my GL1200, just not as bad.

 

[echo15]

My experience is that the larger (unless they are waaay larger) will give you more buffeting than small.... Though less wind protection. I don't mind some wind but I am very bothered by buffeting. My last bike was a triumph tiger and I kept cutting down the windshield till the buffeting stopped. Works for me, but probably not everyone.
I have had friends do the windshield of the month club routine only to end up with the OEM one.