Fairing Turbulence and Helmets

[Xdot]

My new-to-me R came with a disappoinment. It rode great but was so noisy to ride I wondered if I'd made a mistake switching to street bikes. Admittedly, the old HJC I'm wearing (as I look for a new helmet) is not the best. Still, the wind noise was so bad I feared I'd have to sell the bike. Even with earplugs it was unbearable, forcing me to keep my speed under 50 mph. A terrible booming like my head was in a big paper sack and a dozen angry kids stood beating it with brooms. Awful!

After a little reading about wind turbulence associated with short fairings I unscrewed four allenhead screws and popped the short glass windshield off. I didn't think it'd make much of a difference but boy was I wrong. The bike was almost completely silent. It was amazing. With that crappy old HJC and ear plugs I just got the faintest hiss at 60 mph, and only a tiny bit more at 70 mph. Very comfortable, bearable, and utterly safe. Still in a bit of disbelief. Thinking this might make a pretty good science fair project for the kids.

As for helmets, I discovered I'm a long-oval when I tried on an Arai Profile at a local bike shop. Wow! Now to find one on sale. I'm sure it'll bring the noise down yet again. Any other long-ovals out there anyone knows about?

[ruddy]

I have the same head shape, and I find the Nolan N102 to be the most comfortable helmet I've ever worn. I also find it to be very quiet for a modular helmet. I wear a size 7 1/4 hat, and the medium fits perfectly.

[ruddy]

By the way, I see you have the sport shield on your bike. I have one too, and I was very unhappy with the turbulence caused by the wind hitting right at the chin bar of the helmet. My solution was to lower the height of the screen with a belt sander until the airflow hit below my chin, which solved the problem. I still get the benefit of less wind on my chest, which reduces fatigue on long rides, but without the turbulence and booming. I wear ear plugs out on the highway for the wind noise, but it's MUCH better.

[Airman]

I've experienced something of the sort with helmet sizing. I bought an Akuma CF helmet last spring and due to reviews and the like saying the helmet was sized small, I went a size up. Bad mistake. The booming sound at 60 mph was nearly unbearable even with earplugs. Exchanged for my usual size and the excessive noise disappeared.

Riding with the Sport screen, I find the airflow tends to push my head around some. Not a good screen for me.

[combatcarry]

I just went on a 350 mile ride today and I feel your pain. My head is still ringing.

Last week I ordered a Grey Frost Arai Corsair V for $400 (closeout special) at compacc.com. They might still have your size. It should be here Monday. I am hoping it won't be as noisy as my old Bell Pro-Star helmet that I wore today.

I too love the fit of the Arai. I never thought I'd spend that kind of money on my lid, but after trying one on in the store I couldn't believe the comfort. If you would like I can let you know how the Grey Frost Corsair V looks and feels after it gets here.

[bikermeow]

Fitted the touring screen and encountered buffeting. Returned to the small sport screen and the Shoei cuts the air well.

So endth my lesson.

[riceburner]

Helmets are "generally" designed to be aerodynamic in a "clean" airflow.

Screens (apart from barn doors like the Pan Euro/Goldwing types) will invariably give you turbulent air around your head, unless very, VERY carefully set up.

The barn doors tend to put the turbulence "behind" the rider ie they force a large enough gap in the air to create a very big low pressure area behind the screen.

One trick is to make sure there's "some" air flow into the low pressure area behind the screen for example, look at the front of a Pan Euro - there's 2 holes to let airflow through for precisely this reason. - that will reduce the pressure difference and thus the turbulence, which is partially caused by the air rushing back to the low pressure area.


Incidentally - some of the big scooters (Suzuki Bergman for example), use this effect to create a "cushion" behind the riders back so that above 70mph or so the rider actually has a full height "seat" of air to lean back into! (I've experienced this - it's most odd when you first experience it!)

[Airman]

Fitted the touring screen and encountered buffeting. Returned to the small sport screen and the Shoei cuts the air well.

So endth my lesson.

I had quite the opposite experience. With the Sport screen installed I got real buffeting, in other words the rough turbulent air from freeway traffic really bumped me around. The combination of my Arai Quantum F and the BMW touring screen was somewhat noisy, but the screen spares me from the physical effects. I am now using the 21.5" Euro cut Cee Bailys touring screen, and have upgraded my helmet to a Akuna Phantom II CF . The combination gives good protection and is reasonably quiet.

[REFFI]

I'm 6'1" and was subject to a serious amount of buffeting and noise on my bike when first purchased. It came (from the p.o.) with raised bars and a Cee Bailey windscreen. I had occasion to buy new earplugs (Big Ear) and when riding with my face shield cracked open, I experienced serious "thrumming." I contacted Big Ear (because I had not had the problem with my previous Shoei and earplugs set up. They had me send my plugs in. They drilled holes down through the plugs. Noise level is the same but the "thrumming" has stopped. I solved the buffeting by installing a Laminar Lip extension on the Cee Bailey screen. I get much better wind protection now and can even duck down to get out of the wind if I have to open my shield completely. Since my initial purchase, I've lowered the pegs and had installed a Bill Mayer Saddle. The bike is much more livable now for both commuting and longer trips.

Ralph

[FloridaBeakster]

I am 5' 10" and had bad buffeting with the sport screen. Switched to the smaller fly screen and am very happy with things, my helmet is in clean air now.

[Xdot]

I am 5' 10" and had bad buffeting with the sport screen. Switched to the smaller fly screen and am very happy with things, my helmet is in clean air now.

Where do you get the BMW fly screen? Does it use the sport screen mounts? If not I'd suspect it was pretty expensive.

[sweatmark]

John,

The Sports windscreen uses smaller, simpler mounts. It's an abbreviated bikini "flyscreen" that spans headlight to a bit beyond top of Roadster instruments, but looks good and serves purpose of directing airflow over front end and below chin line for most riders.

FYI - I'm listing one for sale along with some other Roadster items tonight.

[Xdot]

FYI - I'm listing one for sale along with some other Roadster items tonight.

Link please

[sweatmark]

Busy. Will get some spare R1150R parts listed with pics tomorrow as time permits.

Both my wife and I rode our Roadster many thousands of miles without any type of wind/fly-screen with good effect, and no helmet turbulence. There are occasions when a strong headwind will make you wish for a big barn door Parabellum (or switching over to and RT).

[wncbmw]

I will add a vote for the flyscreen. I used to switch to the sport screen every winter and back to the flyscreen for the warmer weather but now just leave the flyscreen on year round. Much quieter and I don't find it any more tiring on long rides. Wind noise, on the other hand, is extremely tiring to me.

And no, the flyscreen will not use the sport or touring windshield mounts. (Actually, the sport and touring mounts are the same.)

And be sure to use Locktite on the bolts when you install it or you might have to finish a trip with the screen zip tied to the bike! Don't ask how I know!

[sweatmark]

sweatmark wrote: FYI - I'm listing one for sale along with some other Roadster items tonight.

Link please

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