Author Topic: Wind noise  (Read 6274 times)

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oldphart

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on: January 03, 2021, 11:18:28 am
The Himalayan has a tall, squarish, upright screen. I've known from day one that I get a lot of turbulence around my helmet which makes things a tad noisy. I wear earplugs for open road trips but was starting to feel I should wear them around the city as well. Not good. Then I removed the screen altogether - man, the difference was astounding.


This little video compares the two.

https://streamable.com/hvz4tj

I still wear ear plugs if I'm going into 80km/hr + territory. Meanwhile, I've ordered a new screen.
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Toni59

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Reply #1 on: January 03, 2021, 12:44:54 pm
Hello Oldphart,

Thank for the video, impressive!

I made a similar expierience, but tried the other way round:

With the original wind shield I have massive turbulences around the head - quite annoying.

I added a wind shield extension and in the nearly upright position of it it is much better now.

What I do not know so far is, how the original wind shield can cope with the additional weight, forces and vibrations of the added shield...

Hitchcock also offers a lower and a higher version as far as I know.

The turbulence and wind noise seem to depend on many factors:
The stature and size of the rider and the helmet,  not to forget Motorcycle, windshield and speed...

Regards

Toni





Morgan65

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Reply #2 on: January 03, 2021, 01:43:37 pm
The Himalayan has a tall, squarish, upright screen. I've known from day one that I get a lot of turbulence around my helmet which makes things a tad noisy. I wear earplugs for open road trips but was starting to feel I should wear them around the city as well. Not good. Then I removed the screen altogether - man, the difference was astounding.


This little video compares the two.

https://streamable.com/hvz4t

Did you unjust the windscreen to the next position?

I still wear ear plugs if I'm going into 80km/hr + territory. Meanwhile, I've ordered a new screen.
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oldphart

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Reply #3 on: January 04, 2021, 06:35:47 am
Did you unjust the windscreen to the next position?

I've got Barkbusters fitted so the screen is in the forward position. To be honest, when it was in the rearwards position, it was just as bad.
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axman88

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Reply #4 on: January 06, 2021, 08:49:25 pm
Don't know if the windscreen angle on Himalayans is adjustable, but I've found that a few degrees of difference in angle of incidence can make a world of difference in the handling of the machine.

Shape, size and cycle frequency of vortexes shed from surfaces is a complex phenomenon, but affects all sorts of things, including the overall drag and the tendency of the machine to exhibit speed wobble.


oldphart

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Reply #5 on: January 07, 2021, 05:51:13 am
Don't know if the windscreen angle on Himalayans is adjustable, but I've found that a few degrees of difference in angle of incidence can make a world of difference in the handling of the machine.

Shape, size and cycle frequency of vortexes shed from surfaces is a complex phenomenon, but affects all sorts of things, including the overall drag and the tendency of the machine to exhibit speed wobble.

You have a choice of two positions but if you have any hand protection such as Barkbusters, you have to have it in the forward (more upright) position.
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9fingers

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Reply #6 on: February 04, 2021, 12:18:51 pm
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oldphart

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Reply #7 on: February 05, 2021, 06:41:34 am
If you add one of these it makes a huge difference in noise and buffeting.
9fingers

https://www.amazon.com/Motoparty-Adjustable-Windshield-Windscreen-windscreen/dp/B07M7YBB3N/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=motorcycle+windshield+deflector&qid=1612440975&sr=8-4

I tried one of them, made no difference at all. Gave it to a mate, it made no difference for him. He gave it to someone else who seems to like it. Know another bloke who swears by it. I think it depends on your size to a large extent.
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Ruuntje

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Reply #8 on: March 16, 2021, 10:00:38 pm
I also had issues with turbulence and wind noise with the stock windshield. Being a new rider I just didn't know any better.
I stood up on the motorway and realised what an incredible difference it was without, so I took it off while I waited for the short Hitchcock windshield which arrived last week.
Just had a short ride on a very windy day after I installed it, with wind noise coming from all sides at all times, but it looks great, I must admit. I'll get a better impression of noise tomorrow. It's an outdoorsy activity anyway riding a motorbike so I don't expect silence and no wind, but the difference between with or without windshield is huge. For me.


Spicyred

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Reply #9 on: May 20, 2021, 10:53:20 am
I tried one of them, made no difference at all. Gave it to a mate, it made no difference for him. He gave it to someone else who seems to like it. Know another bloke who swears by it. I think it depends on your size to a large extent.

So how tall are you, so I can get a handle on whether the extra piece might suit my height 5’8”ish?
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oldphart

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Reply #10 on: May 20, 2021, 11:02:22 am
At 5' 8", I'd have thought you were the perfect height for the Himalayan screen.
Mind you, some people have reported turbulence from the mirrors  ???

My tip is to try it. If you find it's noisy, take the screen off altogether. This will give you an idea of how much things can improve.

I love my super shorty screen from Eagle Screens but no screen at all is quieter. Some people have fitted the screen from the 650 with good results, and it looks better than mine. There's even a 650 screen with brackets for the Himalayan available on ebay now.
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Spicyred

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Reply #11 on: May 20, 2021, 11:17:05 am
I trialled a medium screen on the 650 but this directed wind to my forehead - it was fine downwind but a pita into a headwind or side wind. Removed it.
I’ve done 10,000k without a screen and don’t miss it at all.

If the Himi screen works, fine. If not, I’ll remove it without a second thought.
None of my bikes have had screens and that’s going back to late seventies.
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oldphart

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Reply #12 on: May 20, 2021, 11:37:02 am
I trialled a medium screen on the 650 but this directed wind to my forehead - it was fine downwind but a pita into a headwind or side wind. Removed it.
I’ve done 10,000k without a screen and don’t miss it at all.

If the Himi screen works, fine. If not, I’ll remove it without a second thought.
None of my bikes have had screens and that’s going back to late seventies.
I went without a screen and it was wonderful, just the wind rushing past my helmet, but it does leave the back of the instruments exposed so I got a super shorty to protect them.

If you have any plans to fit a GPS, you may want one higher to protect that.

Also, if you fit Barkbusters, you'll need to move the stock screen into the forward position. I'd recommend the Barkbusters just to protect you in a fall or with trees whipping past. The stock bars are made of congealed pasta and bend really easily but I wouldn't change them until you fall off and have to.

I bought a second handle bar clamp (via ebay, stock RE part) and have placed that under my bars. This effectively gives me 20mm risers (and look good as opposed to some aftermarket items) which makes it more comfortable for me to stand. Mind you, I'm a six footer. However, it allows me to run the screen in the rearward setting with Barkbusters fitted and that, I think, is a plus.
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Spicyred

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Reply #13 on: May 20, 2021, 11:44:05 am
Thanks for those excellent tips.

Where did you source the bark busters?
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oldphart

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Reply #14 on: May 20, 2021, 11:55:15 am
Where did you source the bark busters?

Local RE dealer. They'd be available elsewhere I suspect.
Make sure you buy the Himalayan kit because the mountings are different from bike to bike. I suspect you could make a generic set fit, but the Himalayan set will fit with less hassle.

There are a number of handguards that go with the Barkbusters (they are the aluminium guards only). I use the Storm  handguards which offer excellent protection such that in rain, my gloves remain dry. But I'm not sure it really matters.
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Spicyred

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Reply #15 on: May 20, 2021, 01:02:34 pm
Great stuff, cheers. :)
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Spicyred

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Reply #16 on: May 23, 2021, 11:55:26 am
At 5' 8", I'd have thought you were the perfect height for the Himalayan screen.
Mind you, some people have reported turbulence from the mirrors  ???

My tip is to try it. If you find it's noisy, take the screen off altogether. This will give you an idea of how much things can improve.

I love my super shorty screen from Eagle Screens but no screen at all is quieter. Some people have fitted the screen from the 650 with good results, and it looks better than mine. There's even a 650 screen with brackets for the Himalayan available on ebay now.

I’m finding there is quite a lot of buffeting in every direction, as others have indicated, so my height is not short enough to get away with it - unless it is the mirrors causing it.

Given that I’m restricted to 60kph it’s no biggey at the moment so I’ll experiment when I can do 80. That’ll mean, firstly, taking the screen off to check if it is a mirror issue.

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GSWatson

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Reply #17 on: July 12, 2021, 10:43:36 pm
I got one of the Amazon windscreen extenders, if anything made it worse. So I started feeling around with my bare hand while riding to feel the turbulence, and it was actually coming off the sides of the screen, not the top. I took the whole thing off this weekend while riding the NorCal Himmi Rally on both fire roads and pavement, and it was a world of difference. Much better in both conditions. The windscreen fits in the hard panniers, btw.

I’m 5’8’, fwiw. I’m thinking that instead of ordering a small windscreen I’ll just cut down the original to the smoked-out section to protect the instrument cluster. Or maybe fit the windscreen extender to there?

The other realization is that the headlight bucket is skewed to the right, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to adjust that. Probably the frame was made by the same guy who welds up the pannier racks…. ;-)


oldphart

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Reply #18 on: July 13, 2021, 07:40:12 am
I got one of the Amazon windscreen extenders, if anything made it worse. So I started feeling around with my bare hand while riding to feel the turbulence, and it was actually coming off the sides of the screen, not the top. I took the whole thing off this weekend while riding the NorCal Himmi Rally on both fire roads and pavement, and it was a world of difference. Much better in both conditions. The windscreen fits in the hard panniers, btw.

I’m 5’8’, fwiw. I’m thinking that instead of ordering a small windscreen I’ll just cut down the original to the smoked-out section to protect the instrument cluster. Or maybe fit the windscreen extender to there?

The other realization is that the headlight bucket is skewed to the right, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to adjust that. Probably the frame was made by the same guy who welds up the pannier racks…. ;-)

I too found that the extender was useless. I gave it to a fellow rider who found it was useless. So he gave it to someone else - we haven't heard what happened then so maybe it's still in use. Who knows.

Yes, removing the screen made a dramatic difference and, in fact, it's better than the EagleScreens 100mm screen I'm using now (that size isn't shown on their site but if you ask, they'll make it). I mainly fitted it to protect the back of my instruments and it doesn't really go any higher.

EagleScreens also make a wider screen which would address the airflow around the sides that you discovered.
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Spicyred

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Reply #19 on: July 15, 2021, 01:17:01 am

…………... So I started feeling around with my bare hand while riding to feel the turbulence, and it was actually coming off the sides of the screen, not the top.. …




We are about the same height and I too believe it is the bulbous portion of the side of screen creating most buffeting, giving the impression that the mirrors are causing it.

Some Harleys, Goldwings etc have panels attached to the sides of their screens, rather than the top. I can’t find anything suitable in Google-land as yet, to clip on the sides of our existing screens.

I’ve left my screen on so far, as it does a good job of keeping insects etc off the riding jacket. The poor old helmet visor is not so lucky and when you happen across a cattle road train, you cop more than insects splashed over you :(

The Eagles screen you have Oldphart looks good for protecting the instruments. Thanks for clarifying the height at 100mm as it was obviously lower than their shortest stock screen.
Their 400mm offering looks interesting though I can’t see that it solves the buffeting coming from the sides.
 They warn that their wide screen options may prevent you achieving full lock with steering if you have hand guards  - that could mean you can’t use your steering lock, which in turn, can lead  to insurance issues.

 So a taller screen with some form of judicially placed side-extenders could be the answer………..
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oldphart

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Reply #20 on: July 16, 2021, 05:54:38 am

The Eagles screen you have Oldphart looks good for protecting the instruments. Thanks for clarifying the height at 100mm as it was obviously lower than their shortest stock screen.
Their 400mm offering looks interesting though I can’t see that it solves the buffeting coming from the sides.
They warn that their wide screen options may prevent you achieving full lock with steering if you have hand guards  - that could mean you can’t use your steering lock, which in turn, can lead  to insurance issues.

This can addressed in two ways (actually more but these aren't destructive)
First, you can roll your bars back a little. This moves the switch gear out of alignment, but you get used to it quickly. The switches are pinned so you can't move them without removing the pins.
The other is a result of fitting risers. You obviously won't fit risers to address clearance, you fit them to make it more comfortable when standing, however this also moves the bars backwards and also puts the bars/guards in a different position relative to the screen.

My own bike currently uses a second handlebar clamp under the bars and that gives me 20mm of rise plus ample screen clearance at full lock without rolling the bars. Higher risers just make it better - I've had 30mm on there without needing to extend or re-route the cables.

Quote
So a taller screen with some form of judicially placed side-extenders could be the answer………..

I had one of those screen extenders fitted at one point. Apart from being useless, I found it unsettling to have something so big in front of me and felt that it could be a menace in a crash. I didn't test that  ::)
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Spicyred

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Reply #21 on: August 25, 2021, 12:43:38 am
Thanks for the tips you’ve suggested there.
At this stage I’ll leave the bar setup as standard, especially the height.

I’ve bitten the bullet and bought the Eagle Screen 400 height option, with standard width.
The wind was gusting up to 70 kph, according to the bureau, when I had the first ride with  it. The road was posted as 70kph speed limit but my overall impression was that it was an improvement at that speed, over the stock screen.

With winds down around 20 kph and below today, I’ll get going shortly and see how it feels in the 80 and 100 kph zones.
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om15

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Reply #22 on: September 29, 2021, 11:59:42 am
Both Hitchcocks and TEC are selling short replacement windscreens to address the wind buffet issue.
Being a skin flint I have done a DIY job on the stock item, has cured the problem
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Reply #23 on: October 09, 2021, 05:19:29 pm
Look on eBay (t’Inngerlish version  ;)

Royal Enfield Himalayan Short Windshield FINNFLEX

Tis an option me thinks 😉

Have fun

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Reply #24 on: October 10, 2021, 08:56:47 am

I’ve been out of luck with the wind for the last months - I always seem to be riding straight into it when I’m outbound and it switches 180 degrees by the time I’m returning, some five or six hours later. The gusts are 40 kph to 70 kph and just make the rides on the Himi more tedious than they need to be.

The 400 mm screen is not saving me as much as I had hoped, regarding the wind hitting the helmet.
I do wish to protect the gauges though so I’m now looking at the short screens.

That Finnflex looks good but as you pointed out Guldner, it’s an English offering and they will not ship to Australia.
Oldphart has the west Aussie “Eagle” short screen which is a good choice out here in the colonies so I’ll give that one a shot.  :)

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Reply #25 on: October 11, 2021, 05:13:53 am
Both Hitchcocks and TEC are selling short replacement windscreens to address the wind buffet issue.
Being a skin flint I have done a DIY job on the stock item, has cured the problem

Nice work…looks excellent!
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oldphart

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Reply #26 on: October 11, 2021, 09:20:01 am
Oldphart has the west Aussie “Eagle” short screen which is a good choice out here in the colonies so I’ll give that one a shot.  :)

Just be warned, mine is the 100mm which wasn't shown last time I looked, you have to ask for it (but they're happy to make it for you)
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Spicyred

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Reply #27 on: October 12, 2021, 01:52:49 am
Just be warned, mine is the 100mm which wasn't shown last time I looked, you have to ask for it (but they're happy to make it for you)

Indeed, it was not there a few weeks ago but has been added since - my guess is you’ve started the trend ;) ;D
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oldphart

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Reply #28 on: October 12, 2021, 07:02:37 am
Indeed, it was not there a few weeks ago but has been added since - my guess is you’ve started the trend ;) ;D
So it is, and it looks like the line was hand drawn on  ;D
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oldphart

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Reply #29 on: October 12, 2021, 07:04:22 am
I'm really interested to see how noisy the screen on the Tripper model is. Seeing darned near everything else about the bike is worse, I can't imagine that screen with the baby bump is any better.
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