Excuse me as I am still learning the search function on this forum. It seems to work a little differnt than most and I could not seem to find what I was looking for. I only have 37 miles on my VFR, but already the wind noise is terribly discouraging. The bike is incredible, but just as loud as the Harleys and Honda cruisers I've been riding the last few years. I'm 6'1" and was wondering what options are out there for wind screens that actually help with cutting down on the noise? I'd prefer not to go with a full touring setup as some of them ruin the clean lines of the bike, but I'd also not like to go deaf while riding it either. I've heard good about the double bubble shields, but would like to talk to folks who actually own them on this bike.
So, what wind screen are you using and how does it rate? (pics would be awsome as well!)
Could it be that part of the problem is you might have a noisy helmet?
Also, without going to a high, full touring style shield, you will never get your head fully out of the airstream, so it is good if you have a quiet helmet to start with.....uhmmm/ earplugs could help a lot too.
I will be installing a double bubble screen from ZG this weekend, I will report what I find out then.
In the meantime though, you should figure out why it is so noisy. I am 6' even, very close to your height. I use stock bars and pegs. While riding and going at least 60mph+ (and while no one is around) stand on the pegs and slowly sit back down, and notice when it starts getting noisy. I find that my helmet is quietest when my entire helmet is in unobstructed air (ie standing on the pegs). Check your posture too, as I find that the more I slouch the more wind noise I hear. Use your findings here to understand where your noise is coming from, then you can choose what kind of screen to get. A few people on here have even gone shorter on the screen I think to avoid buffeting. Good luck and welcome to VFRD.
Oh yeah and put some more miles on. :beer: :wheel:
Hi George. I'm the same height as you and have a lot of wind noise too. It seems that the slipstream affects taller riders because of the way it hits the helmet. I've noticed if I tip my head back or put my hand under the side of my helmet the buffeting noise is reduced. Even skrunching up my jacket around the shoulders makes a difference. I finally bought a new helmet, going from a large to medium, and the tighter fit helped alot I always wear earplugs too. Some members here have experimented with cutting down the stock windscreen and say it helped them. At some point I'm going to buy an aftermarket screen and do some cutting on it to see if it helps. For me a touring windscreen is not an option -- too ugly on such a nice bike!
[image: View Post]ccnaylor, on Jun 12 2009, 03:25 AM, said:
I find that my helmet is quietest when my entire helmet is in unobstructed air (ie standing on the pegs).
:+1: I'm 6'1" and have a Puig DB windscreen, but it is very noisy. It gets considerably quieter when stick my head into clean air. I'm going to try and cut down my old stock windscreen and see if that helps any. Fresh earplugs have the best effect.
This is a 5th gen speaking, so it may not appy, but here goes:
Installed a Dubious Chinese Double Bubble on my bike from the start. Lots of folks didnt like the look of it because the double part is bigger than say, a ZG screen. I liked it and every thing was groovy. Bike fell over and broke the DCDB. I ordered another one, 20 bucks from china, and plead for help in the mean time. Kanadian Ken came to the rescue and shipped me a stock screen for use in the mean time. Shockingly, the chinese package got here the same day as the canadian package, but the stock screen was already on.
After 2 long rides with the stock screen I have noticed that the stock screen seems to work for commuter speeds. Between 55 and 65, the stock screen delives a cone of silence that is very nice. The DCDB seems to work better the faster you go. Now I am a rather stubby 5 foot 9, so your results may vary, but more info is better than less.
Also, the first DCDB let about 10 percent of the light through and the second one is totally opaque.
Thanks for the replies. I am wearing a HJC CL-Max helmet and usualy wear ear plugs. I didn't on the trip home as I was kinda expecting the wind noise level to be somewhat similiar to what my ST1300 was. I know these modular helmets are not the quietest, but I guess I was hoping for a little better. I'll be getting a new lid soon, probably going with a solid full face instead of flip up next time just to help quiet thigns down.
[image: View Post]ccnaylor, on Jun 12 2009, 03:25 AM, said:
In the meantime though, you should figure out why it is so noisy. I am 6' even, very close to your height. I use stock bars and pegs. While riding and going at least 60mph+ (and while no one is around) stand on the pegs and slowly sit back down, and notice when it starts getting noisy. I find that my helmet is quietest when my entire helmet is in unobstructed air (ie standing on the pegs). Check your posture too, as I find that the more I slouch the more wind noise I hear. Use your findings here to understand where your noise is coming from, then you can choose what kind of screen to get. A few people on here have even gone shorter on the screen I think to avoid buffeting. Good luck and welcome to VFRD.
+1 +1.
Depending on your helmet, you may find it is quietest fully in the air stream, or fully blocked from the airstream. Most things like the ZG touring screen really only raise the level of where the air comes in a few inches. Move your hand around in front of your helmet and you'll be able to feel where the wind comes in. A higher screen while raise this up possibly eliminating noise, or possibly creating annoying buffeting or creating more noise, there are so many factors that there is no magic formula, you'll just have to find what is best for you.
And a good set of ear plugs makes a huge difference as well!
End of thread · 9 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 12 Apr 2010