Street Glide Screen

[MORDUEMAN]

One of the first things I want to do, Is change the screen on my Standard Glide, to that of the Street Glide, a 4" one I think.

When I looked at various USA H.D. Forums and many people complained about serious head buffeting at motorway speeds from the batwing and low screen combination. One bloke even reckoned he got a concussion from it and many mentioned "like a jack hammer on your helmet"

What is the opinion of Street Glide riders in the UK, as I think the Yanks are being a bit wet about this.

[Maggar]

It's a load of bollocks mate! I have std 4" screen on my '08 Street Glide and it keeps most of the wind and bugs etc. well away from you (I'm 6ft). I'm mean for f*ck's sake it's a motorbike, what do they want to do, ride in a bubble? I bought a 6" screen after reading all that cack about buffeting when I first got the bike, I've now done 5,500 miles and the 6" screen is still in it's wrapping. I can even hear my stereo at 80mph.
The septics are soft as runny shite when it comes to anything like that - don't give it another thought.

[brandersnatch]

No idea on the 4 inch screen. I have a six incher on my standard Glide which works fine.

[grbrown]

I don't have a SG, but have fiddled around with windscreens most of my biking life, including tuning the one I have on my Glide.

As one raises the height of a screen, it improves airflow around the head and shoulders, but reduces visibility. If it is tall enough that one has to look through it there will be conditions when visibility is dire. If one can only just see over it, vision of the road immediately ahead is limited. So for best protection from the evil blast, plus decent vision, the standard norm is that the screen should be nose high. You may recall BMW made a custom bike with a funny fairing and odd-shaped screen, which I have copied and it improves airflow a little for me, but even more for my wife behind.

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...42/ppuser/3758

So that is one end of the topic! As the screen is shortened, below nose height, the rider's head is increasingly exposed to the air coming off its upper edges. There are naive folk out there, including BMW (who made fairings what they are today), who would have us believe that air magically rises from the screen up over the rider's head. Twaddle! At normal speeds it takes the shortest route and may well be turbulent as well, which is what causes the buffetting that can cause discomfort.

So if a screen is say chin high, the air off it will hit the rider full in the face and, with turbulence, possible the throat. If even lower, the rider will cop it in the upper chest. You could try removing yours for a quick trip round the block to see what the effect it has.

It seems a bit much to talk of concussion, but even at the restricted speeds we are allowed to travel at these days, a poor fairing, or screen of the wrong height, can cause significant discomfort, which can make 'cruising' a pain. My Glide originally had a windshield similar to current RKs. It was so troublesome in several ways that I resolved to replace it, hence my current batwing.

Hope that helps a little!

[MORDUEMAN]

Thanks for your imput guys, I think them American fellows are not as rufftie tufftie as us Northern Types

I am 6'4" , so a screen to chin height would equate to a 44" screen, there for a 4" screen should welly me right in the Bollocks, but as I am tough Northerner, I will laugh at the pain.

People will not be laughing when they see me in my matching Glide and Slippers !

[banquo]

Don't have a Glide, but a mate traded his 05 in for an 07 last year, and it had been fitted with a non-standard lower screen - one of those black miniscule ones. He said it was hopeless on motorway work, and changed it PDQ.
He bought the glide for comfort on long journeys (why else have a huge fairing?) and the short screen turned it into a King's Road cruiser... for him anyway. Might depend on your height, and the seat fitment too.

Changing my seat meant I needed a lower screen, and the lower screen had a marked and detrimental effect on buffeting.

[Maggar]

Originally Posted by banquo

the short screen turned it into a King's Road cruiser... for him anyway.

Got to disagree, most of my mileage has been at motorway speeds and the 4" screen does a great job.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Maggar

Got to disagree, most of my mileage has been at motorway speeds and the 4" screen does a great job.

You're obviously another 'rufftie tufftie Northerner'! Us soft southerners like our slipstream to Glide past....

[banquo]

Originally Posted by Maggar

Got to disagree, most of my mileage has been at motorway speeds and the 4" screen does a great job.

Like I said, maybe it depends on rider's height and build, seat position and so on.... Dunno, but just reporting what was said...