Bugs and buffeting

[Scoots]

I'm coming back to riding after a 2 year absence from an auto wreck. I'll be getting my '89 R100RS back together in the next couple of months - I had just started taking it apart when I rolled my 4Runner on black ice in a 30mph corner, broke several vertebrae in my neck, then I had to learn to walk again.

Anyway, while it's getting back together I thought about correcting what had been annoying me most about the bike ..... and that's collecting practically every bug in the world on my helmet's faceshield. The airflow coming off the RS's windscreen hits me straight in the faceshield. I'm cleaning off a blinding bug collection after EVERY ride.

Here's the situation of my '89 R100RS:

The handlebars sit in clamps that are 1" taller than stock. They look stock and have me not quite leaning so far over, which is probably better for my arthritic back.

The windscreen is missing its protective edging (I've heard that adding this edging will raise the airflow off the windscreen) and the fairing is missing both rubber fairing cups (what the forks fit thru) and the rectangular rubber fairing gasket (part # 46 63 1 235 513). I suspect the missing rubber may have been to improve airflow thru the fairing for hot summer riding. I bought the bike in Sacramento and brought it up to Oregon's Willamette Valley. All of these missing pieces were ordered and received just prior to my accident.

I do experience some noisy helmet buffeting, it would be nice to quite that down a bit. I have an after market Parabellum 16" windscreen that is vented. I haven't mounted it on the bike, yet, but now would be the time to do it. What's your opinion on these? Does the vent quiet the buffeting noise? Would a taller model kick the bugs above my helmet faceshield?


Would mounting a Laminar Lip to the stock RS windscreen or Parabellum windscreen be a better choice for reducing my bug collecting?


Any suggestions are much appreciated!
Thanks

[SteveD]

Good to read you're on the mend!

The RS can be a very uncomfortable bike to ride if the buffeting hits you mid visor. The aftermarket supplies taller screens, which may work well if you're short enough.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2750&hilit=r100rs+screen

If you're going to be mucking about with screens coming on and off all the time whilst testing, get hold of some of these.

They push straight in and out and are an interference fit into the brass bush. A minute on and off. Too easy. Cheap and reusable.

[chasbmw]

I would think that the parabellum, would reduce buffeting as it feeds air to both sides of the screen, you might find that a tall tank bag would also help smooth the airflow. I have an S fairing on one of my bikes and at 5'7", combined with a tank bag, my helmet feels as if it is in clear air. I think that it is the 'vacuum' behind the screen that causes much of the discomfort.

[khittner1]

So, you'd like the sleek beauty of an RS fairing and comfort, too? You're asking for a lot.

I'm 5'8" and once-upon-a-time owned an '86 R80 that I added an RS fairing to, and I had similar issues. Wind turbulence and noise were more of an issue for me, rather than bugs, but they're probably to the same problem. I installed a Parabellum shield on my bike and found that it did successfully reduce noise considerably. The downside seemed to be that the absence of "supporting" wind pressure on my upper body seemed to increase the weight and pressure on my arms and wrists on the stubby RS bars. Rather than bar-backs with the standard RS bar, I tried using a standard S-handlebar, which similarly lifted me up and back a couple of inches or so. This riding position was much more comfortable, but I then had to put a bolt through the lower triple clamp boss (effectively widening the boss) to limit the handlebar's rotational swing in order to keep the higher and wider S-bar (and my hands) from banging the inside of the fairing during low-speed turning movements. Made parking and similar low-speed handling a bit more ponderous, but it was an OK work-around. Your standard RS bars in higher mounts probably avoids this issue entirely.

Aesthetically, however, I never liked the appearance of the Parabellum RS shield---it looked like a mal-nourished RT to my eye. And if I wanted an RT's level of wind protection, I should've gotten one---which is ultimately what I did.

Others have taken a different approach that I have no experience with---cutting down a standard RS shield a bit to put their heads into relatively "clean", non-turbulent air above the effect of the fairing. This may work for some, particularly taller folks, and may reduce the number of bugs that are effectively funneled into your faceshield now. You'll obviously get at least the same bugs that you would on an un-faired machine, but that might be better than your current situation.

As a result of my failed experiments with finding comfort with an RS, I reluctantly concluded that I'm just not built to be an RS guy. Hopefully, YMMV.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

khittner1 makes some good points.

The first thing I would do would be to try the Parabellum windshield. It certainly is taller than the stock RS windshield and it might flow the air just where you want/need it. And though it's hard to cut an expensive windshield you may need to shorten it. For aesthetics I can't imagine any windshield can look better than the stock windshield. Problem is, the stock windshield doesn't provide what you need. You're going to have to do something.

I too think the key to "success" is going to be getting the airflow just right. Unless you have a tank bag you want to lie on I think you're going to need some air pressure to keep some of the pressure off your wrists (and your neck and back). I suspect that's going to mean that your head is going to need to be in the "clean" air. And if your head is in the clean air, is it possible that your stock RS shield might work for you?

If that's where you end up, you might want to do some helmet shopping. That's a problem because the motorcycle emporiums don't really want you to take a helmet for a test drive. I don't have any sage advice to offer. Maybe borrow a friend's helmet? Maybe go to a full coverage helmet without the flip up front? Maybe taking a short drive, helmetless, with your head in the airstream might help you to know what you need.

You've got a 1" rise in your handlebars. Does that mean you are using "bar backs" already? If not you might consider them. It would move your torso a little higher, perhaps catching a bit more wind lift.

As you can tell, I'm sort of imagining that you're going to have to get your head in the clean air as part of the solution.

About that hole in the Parabellum windshield, I don't know what it's for either. That doesn't mean I haven't heard an explanation or two. Minimizing buffeting is one, and decreasing the vacuum is another. Frankly, I think the explanations might be more guessing than knowing.

I have an Parabellum windshield on my S bike. I'm tall and wide and on my S bike I catch a lot of air. With the stock S windshield I was constantly pulling on the bars, bracing against the wind blast. After waiting too long I finally switched to the not-so-aesthetic Parabellum shield. It made all the difference in the world. The pressure is off my chest, mostly, and at speed my more upright stance feels just right.

Good luck on your search. I know the prospect of spending significant money on a windshield that won't work out is a bit off putting. But once you get the right combo you will like your RS even more.

They are great looking motorcycles aren't they?

Addendum: I don't know what the bead around the windshield does or doesn't do. But I have heard of someone removing the bead from his RS windshield. (Seems to me that it's one of our friends in Oz.) It does, so I remember hearing, reduce the area of the windshield and in effect streamline things a bit. If your stock RS shield is simply not going to work for you, maybe you want to remove the bead and see what you've got. Likely it will mean more air hitting your chest and perhaps head, but if it's clean air, that might be just what you need to love your RS more.


Ken

[ME 109]

I cut my RS shield down to reduce noise, without much effect.
A smallish extension in the centre of the screen would provide some relief, at least the experiments putting my hand there says so.
As Ken pointed out, a helmet with a good air seal around the visor will help immensely. That, and ear plugs.

[SteveD]

As I see it there are 2 issues.

1. Buffeting the helmet. Trimming the screen to move the airstream from buffeting the visor is it's biggest advantage.
The noise doesn't go away, but I've found it less and without the buffeting the ride is much more comfortable.

2. Noise. I've always worn earplugs anyway, so this is less of an issue for me.
I also find that if I sit up a little straighter, the airstream flows further below my helmet and it becomes quieter again. At the moment, the airstream gets the bottom edge of the helmet.
My next solution to that would be taller bars as I'm reticent to trim the screen further for aesthetic reasons. I almost scored some last week. Almost!

Re: bugs on visors, all I can offer is that when I'm on a ride with others, on a variety of bikes, we all get bugs on the visor. I suppose a very tall screen might stop that.

[SteveD]

It would be good to get a lateral shot with a rider showing the relationship of the helmet to the screen.

[SteveD]

Some experience from the south of France.

I've tried a extended windscreen without so good result. Bolted with flat sctew and nylstop bolts.
Always stay with the black trim on hedge : I've tried the extended screen without, It's a pity on raining days, water goes under the screen, fall on dashboard, tank and after that on your knee !
The black plastic trim prevent from that

[mattcfish]

Another route....You could have Gustafson add a spoiler or extra custom inches (or both) to a stock windshield.
You could get it in several different colors too.http://www.bikescreen.com/search.asp