Windshield noise

[parkec]

don't seem to have any.











but then I'm nakid...that why I bought the bike.

[GOTJ]

Parkec, Yep you're right. I took off the BMW tall screen and the was no noise or buffeting. I rode with and without the tunnel block and there was no discernible difference. Of course, there was the increased pull of the wind on my body. I didn't ride long and fast enough to determine how much more tiring it is without the screen.

Peter, I'm not sure what you mean about "tuned" blockage.

I just contacted my supplier of R1200R-specific components such as the tunnel block. I asked him to come up with some special yarn for testing wind flow on the R1200R. I can work out a group buy if you and others, maybe Don, are interested. I expect it to be based on carbon filaments.

Another option is to go with Don's tumor-for-a-tank-bag to subdue the air flow.

[deilenberger]

Parkec, Yep you're right. I took off the BMW tall screen and the was no noise or buffeting. I rode with and without the tunnel block and there was no discernible difference. Of course, there was the increased pull of the wind on my body. I didn't ride long and fast enough to determine how much more tiring it is without the screen.

Not a surprise. The quietest my R12R has ever been was when I got it with the BMW sport screen on it - I realized how really well designed the Schuberth Concept-II was.. only problem was hanging on at 70MPH and up..

Problem with any screen (and since you understand how to use "tells" from sailing you'll understand this) is the vacuum that builds up behind a shield when it's pushed through the air. Something has to fill the vacuum. Sometimes it's air from around the edges of the shield collapsing into the vacuum (causing vortexes to form hence turbulence) and apparently sometimes it's air being pulled up through the fork tube openings in the tank. Just like a sailboat sail - you can minimize the vortexes with the attack angle of the sail (remember your trailing edge tails on the mainsail?) That's what I've been trying by angling the shields more than the BMW mount normally allows. I've also been trying to feed air up from the bottom of the shield on the inside to lessen the vacuum and get laminar flow on both sides of the shield, which should about eliminate the vortexes. Sort of the same idea Mark Lawrence has done with SciCal shields - but done differently.

Peter, I'm not sure what you mean about "tuned" blockage.

I just contacted my supplier of R1200R-specific components such as the tunnel block. I asked him to come up with some special yarn for testing wind flow on the R1200R. I can work out a group buy if you and others, maybe Don, are interested. I expect it to be based on carbon filaments.

George, thanks, but.. actually - I used (did this about a year ago) what I always used for tells on my sailboats. Old 8-track tapes. More sensitive than yarn, and the thicker plastic backing of an 8-track lasted much longer than the cassette tape tells a lot of people were using. I still have one kicking around somewhere (I think it's of disco music..) Great part is - the tape comes in the handy dispenser. Taped to the edges of the shield with blue painter's tape it makes quite the fashion statement.

Another option is to go with Don's tumor-for-a-tank-bag to subdue the air flow.

Hey - I hadda dig in there today for my long gauntlet gloves (43F when I left for work..), only problem is I musta put them in the sub-basement wet - they were sorta gray/fuzzy/moldy looking. Still worked though. Have to sanitize them at lunch time. Anyone seen my Purell? I think it's in the attic compartment..

[ka5ysy]

I have just put on a CaliSci 20" wind screen. I was torn between the Cee-Bailey 18" I chose the CaliSci due to the design of the two ports. They help counteract the effect of the wind swinging back around and into the rider. I previously had the BMW Touring shield, while I like the looks a lot better, it does not offer the protection. My main complaint is the wind noise, even with good earplugs in, the noise makes ridding all day unbearable at times. I had a chance to go on a quick trip with this new windshield and I am impressed. The wind noise has gone down by at least half of what it was. I could ride now without earplugs and even hear the big twin under me, more than before. BTW, I am 5'9" with a 32" inseam with the regular seat height and I am using an Arai Quantum helmet. ...
Brent

Now you need to try the modification a number of us have done on the CalSci 20" : add the 1" to 1.5" spacers to the bottom of the screen to tilt it back. The result is absolutely wonderful. I can run with my faceplate open on the helmet and not get battered. Wind noise is practically non-existent and pretty close to the result of running the screen up on an R1200RT.

[deilenberger]

Now you need to try the modification a number of us have done on the CalSci 20" : add the 1" to 1.5" spacers to the bottom of the screen to tilt it back. The result is absolutely wonderful. I can run with my faceplate open on the helmet and not get battered. Wind noise is practically non-existent and pretty close to the result of running the screen up on an R1200RT.

I agree with the increased angle - but have an easier way to accomplish it (if you added 1" or greater spacers - you may have to drill new holes in the shield to get things to line up.. I did..)

Add spacers (and longer screws) under the bottom mount for the touring shield mount on the bike. That's the hooked black plastic bit that the mount seats in. Luckily it appears that it will line up just fine with some spacers under it, and since it's at the bottom of the mount. You will get a bit less angle for the same spacer than if you do it to the bottom shield mount points.

You will have to make a slight bend in the two arms that mount the top of the touring-shield mount - these are minor and easily reverseable.

In addition - one thing I found I had to do was black out the bottom edge of the CeeBailey screens so it didn't light up at night (it will now line up with the edge of the headlight - and works like a light pipe.. very distracting when it's O'dark out.) I used some door-edging made for a car door. Plastic U channel stuff with a bead of adhesive inside. I've now done 3 CeeBailey shields with the original roll of the stuff I bought (car parts stores carry it..)

[ShinySideUp]

I've had occasion to block light channeling elsewhere and found cleaning the edge with alcohol and applying either gaffer's tape or black vinyl electrical tape, then trimming with a razor blade works well and is unobtrusive.

Don, you can probably find the tape on the fourth floor of your tank bag. By the way, you DO have a building permit for that thing, don't you?

[snag]

For those of you complaining about unbearable noise from the turbulence while you fiddle with windshield aerodynamics, a good set of earbuds should solve most of the problem. I had a discussion about rake back in January with Xprof, rake solved his problem and seems to have solved Don's as well. Unfortunately I've had a year that hardly allowed for riding much less playing around with windshield rake. My noise solution has been a pair of Etymotics. Properly installed (a little spit and not too deep) and it's a serene ride at any speed, tunes or no tunes. I would think that any pair of properly fittted and properly installed earbuds should cut most of the noise. The last thing I did was get rid of the sunglasses, that closed the hole leading directly to my ears; man it's quiet now! The volume on my Zumo went from 90% to 60%.

I like Don's raised lower mount, more secure and less stress on the windshield at the mounting holes. For those of you using telltails, if you're looking for turbulence, put them on the INSIDE of the windshield; if they lift you have laminar separation. You'll find that as the windshield is pushed back (to a point) the telltails will come closer to the inside of the windshield (sailing 201) and the turbulence will be less.

You gotta love a bike where this is the biggest problem!

Doug

[Mollygrubber]

You gotta love a bike where this is the biggest problem!

Well said Doug, I like to take a break from all the fiddling occaisionally and appreciate what I have.

Best bike ever! New thread ("Best Bike Ever #9")

Peter

[deilenberger]

I've had occasion to block light channeling elsewhere and found cleaning the edge with alcohol and applying either gaffer's tape or black vinyl electrical tape, then trimming with a razor blade works well and is unobtrusive.

Don, you can probably find the tape on the fourth floor of your tank bag. By the way, you DO have a building permit for that thing, don't you?

Actually the tape is in my tail-trunk on the seat, lower level (overflow from the tank bag..)

I've tried vinyl electrical tape (the good 3M-Scotch stuff Bell Labs used to stock) - and with heat - it tends to shrink a bit leaving a sticky residue from the glue along the edges of the tape. Eventually - it looks tacky. The door-edge-guard is perfect for this use.. it finishes off the edge at the same time as blocking light. Guess I'll have to take a pic of it..

[phillyboy]

We're riding motorcycles for chrissakes, its not a Town Car! Get a good-fitting, aerodynamic helmet, put in some earplugs,and ride! Wind noise, buffeting, a little vibration... oh my, the mirrors are shaking! Boo Hoo... Wahhhh. Maybe you don't really like riding motorcycles that much. Its ok, get a sports car, you can drive fast, listen to tunes, talk on the phone, just please watch out for bikers.

See what too much caffeine does to me? Look, I'm a crab... garh, damn kids, get off my lawn

[deilenberger]

We're riding motorcycles for chrissakes, its not a Town Car! Get a good-fitting, aerodynamic helmet, put in some earplugs,and ride! Wind noise, buffeting, a little vibration... oh my, the mirrors are shaking! Boo Hoo... Wahhhh. Maybe you don't really like riding motorcycles that much. Its ok, get a sports car, you can drive fast, listen to tunes, talk on the phone, just please watch out for bikers.

See what too much caffeine does to me? Look, I'm a crab... garh, damn kids, get off my lawn

Wow.

Chill. No caffeine for a day for'ya.

Some of us do ride distances on our R's - and find high speed hanging on tiring (we're old, give us a break..) and sometimes like a bit of weather protection.

The thing that makes the R12R the great bike it is - it can be almost anything to anyone depending on how they Farkleize(tm) it or not.

I think you should go out and kick those kids - then take your bike for a ride.. it's a wonderful bright sunny day in Philly..

[mogu83]

We're riding motorcycles for chrissakes, its not a Town Car! Get a good-fitting, aerodynamic helmet, put in some earplugs,and ride! Wind noise, buffeting, a little vibration... oh my, the mirrors are shaking! Boo Hoo... Wahhhh. Maybe you don't really like riding motorcycles that much. Its ok, get a sports car, you can drive fast, listen to tunes, talk on the phone, just please watch out for bikers.

I agree. But I've gotten over it. Some people think that worrying about lean angles,scuffing your foot pegs, finding out how fast it will go and being embarrassed about the width of the chicken stripes on your tires is stupid (or at least immature). That's why Skippy makes both Chunky and Smooth peanut butter, Peter Paul makes Mounds and Almond Joys.

BTW: I did get a ride in today but not on the R bike, it's STILL in the shop waiting for a new Parabellum Scout. Had to run errands on my 'old' Valkyrie, keep thinking I should get rid of it
, but a quick (or long) run ensures it's spot in the garage for a few more months.

[celticus]

What wind chanels?

Show off!!

[deilenberger]

So - has anyone tried: http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/mm5/me ... e=R1200R-X ??

[celticus]

My Givi windshield looks a lot like that one. It is OK like for trips to Daytona in the winter but I don't like the looks of a big lexan sail and almost everyone complains of noise and turbulence. And I get them with this windshield. I just use it to keep as much of the cold air of off me as possible during the coldest months.
I'd trade it to someone for a BMW touring shield and mounting bracket.

Mark

[azimuth551]

I have solved the problem on my bike. Look under my previous post regarding the windshield that I am using. I made 2 small half circles out of sheet metal and attached them to some aluminum brackets that I made. I attached them to the screws that mount the headlight on. Went out for a ride and was amazed with the difference, so I made them out of plastic. I shaped them to somewhat match the side lines of the tank. They are not that big, only about 7" X 4". The width is the 4" and I angled them back about 20deg to push the air out. I did end up angling them down so that the top of them made an angle with the bottom of the windshield. I found if I had them straight up and down, it changed the aerodynamics of the Cali-Sci windshield and made quite a bit more buffeting. So angling them in with the bottoms inward helped. So, making this little modification stopped the wind from going into the wind shutes. I still have a noisy helmet and I still wear ear plugs but the noise level has dramatically reduced. I will probably have to modify them again for the BMW Touring Screen for the Summer months.
A picture is worth a thousand words if I could just figure out how to post a picture here.

Brent

[ka5ysy]

Brent: How about some photos?

[Mollygrubber]

Do a search on 'posting pictures' for a thread, but the gist is you need an account on Photobucket or some other photo hosting site, (Photobucket is free and works fine), post your pictures there and then link to them.

I'm interested to see your solution, the wind coming into the bottom of my helmet (even around a tank bag) is freezing my neck these mornings!!!

Not to mention blowing the cover off my tank bag...

[azimuth551]

Okay,
I think I have figured this out. Try this link and see if it works. Please note that this is the first attempt with these. These are tappered at the bottom but I don't think its necessary. The next design I will leave them straight but angled back like I have now. I will probably have to make two sets, one for the Cali-Sci windshield and one for the BWM Touring screen. I basically too the diameter of the headlight and worked from that. I have my handlebars locked in the pictures but if you straighten them out, and look head on, you can see it covers the two air scoops.


http://azimuth551.shutterfly.com/27

Brent Slater

[deilenberger]

Brent,

Interesting idea. I think if you used a bit thinner plexi - and heated it just right, you could bend it to eliminate the separate aluminum bracket. Then if it was tinted plexi..

These are fastened to the headlight mounting screws?

Hmmmm... with my shields bumped out the way they are (about even with the front edge of the actual headlight - it looks as if with these one could almost make a transparent full surround of the headlight. I'll have to dig out some plastic and wait for SWMBO to go out tomorrow so I can play with the oven..