Windshield Opinions

[L J VFR]

When I bought my 01 magna, it came with a Memphis Shades windshield.  I seem to get a lot  of buffeting effect from it at all speeds. I believe i have it high enough, eye level, just am not real happy with it. Does anyone else have a different windshield that they are happy with or do i have one of the better shields allready??   Lance

[Charles S Otwell]

You do have one of the better one's, at least in my opinion. Have you tried working more with the angle than the height? Running parallel with the forks is close but may need a little tweeking one way or the other to get it like you won't it.. I have tried Memphis Fats, National and Slip Stream , I like the Memphis Fats best. The Slip Stream is a little wider but the Memphis Fats is better looking. Most of the buffeting I get is from underneath the windshield. Good luck..

[Slydynbye]

My Memphis Shades shield works best tilted back as far as I can get it, which is just about in line with the forks.

[L J VFR]

Thanks guys. I'll try tilting it back a little, see if that helps. Maybe my dangle with the angle is messed up!!      Lance

[greg_o]

along with Charles' suggestion on the rake angle matching the forks.....
also check the open space between headlight and windshield.
The more flow that runs up the back side of the shield the less vacuum related turbulence off the top of the shield.
That issue solved some severe buffeting I had with a National windshield setup (adjustable headlight aperture)

[lragan]

Just today I replaced my Memphis Shades Big Shot with a fresh one.  It looks great without all the scratches and crazing, which were there when I bought the bike. 

When I rode with the stock seat, it worked great.  Now that I sit a little taller on the Mustang seat, my head seems to be more in the "burble" over the top of the windshield.  Not a huge deal, but noticeable.  I observe that this shield is parallel to the front suspension.  It appears to be adjusted to maximum rake back.

[ezrydr]

Mine came with a Slipstreamer windshield; I don't know the exact model.  (You'd think they'd put that somewhere on it but apparently not.)  It helps keep the bugs off the chest of my riding jacket and on a cold day I suppose it reduces the wind chill on the lower half of my body; other than that it doesn't do much of anything.  Well, and it does provide a handy place to stick my gloves while I'm getting my helmet on.

I haven't had any "buffetting" if I understand what you mean by that - there's no additional turbulence coming over the top, anyway; it would be strange if it did since the top edge doesn't even come up level with my neck.  Basically as far as my head is concerned I might as well not have a windshield at all.

I don't really like it much and I've considered getting a taller one but that's a lot of money to spend and I don't know how much good I'd do myself.  I had to go to the extra-tall size for the old Vetter Windjammer, on the GS1000, to get the wind blast off my face; and I don't think there's anything of comparable dimensions that would fit the Magna.  I think I'm just too tall.

[TLRam1]

I have never had issues with buffeting.

I have a winter shield "Fats and Taller" and summer shield *Slim and 2 inches shorter".

Up sweep vacuum issue,

I took my summer shield, which use to be titled back as far as possible for aerodynamics, and changed it to a more straight up and down position. Under the thought with it tilted back it causes a vacuum with air from the bottom of the shield sweeping up. At the bottom of the Memphis on either side of the forks it has a curve to minimize the effect it appears but with the shield tilted back all the way it negates that feature. This is all theory I am trying.

William, used shields off ebay are a better deal for the budget minded, I have bought mine fairly inexpensive there. As long as you have the correct mounts for your bike any Memphis Fats or Slim  will fit the Magna, the only difference are the mounts from bike to bike.

National is suppose to have better optics and more scratch resistance but I have not tried one.     

[greg_o]

The 'vaccum buffeting ' issue I had with the National shield was very severe. Now its a great shield, .....just the mounting bracket didnt want to rake back much. Head felt like it was in a paint shaker at 70mph. Vision blurred to the point I could barely read the words on the green highway signs flashing by.
I know I had a vacuum problem off the shield 'cuase I caught a rain shower on the way home from work one day....and I noticed drops of water leaving my chest and sucking forward to the back of the windshield.
I adjusted more air flow by increasing the gap between headlight and cutout of the shield and then dremeled a deeper notch in the mounting bracketry to increase the rake slightly backwards beyond the forks angle. This worked pretty well.

Also note the aerodynamics of the helmet shape is a big factor. I was running with 3/4 HJC helmet at the time and its not a very aerodynamically shape.... more of a ping pong ball shape....
I swapped out to a 1/2 helmet for test ride compare and it was much better, so the helmet is a factor.

I was never really satisfied with the airflow on long (7-8 hr ) rides and wonder if lowers on the forks would have made the difference...
.....anyone run with lowers ?

[L J VFR]

Thanks for all the info guys.  I never thought my helmet might be an issue but I always ride with it, so don't know if it would be different without it.  I do have air flow from the bottom of the shield that comes over the top of the tank, so maybe it could be my helmet that is catching all the air.  Terry, How tall are your windshields?? Do they rise above your head, or are they eye level?  I may just need a taller windshield... Lance

[Charles S Otwell]

Memphis Shades recommends that in  your normal riding position the top of your windshield should be level with the tip of your nose. I don't have engine guards ,but I've been told that covers on them really help a lot with the lower air flow.  I have three different styles of helmet 3/4, 1/2 and full face modular, the full face has the least shake. Hope you get it worked out .

[dgc67]

I have a large slipstreamer, the kind that goes out to the end of the bars.  Rake is pretty much parallel with the forks and my sightline is barely under the top edge. I have never had buffetting either, even when I had less rake on it.  Sort of a vacuum behind it too I think.  I actually get pushed forward with it, which is why I raked is back more, but did not notice much change.  This is a great windshield in the winter, but I took it off yesterday as it is WAY too hot now.  Guess I am going to follow some previous advice in this string and look for a used smaller one for summer riding.

[TLRam1]

  Terry, How tall are your windshields?? Do they rise above your head, or are they eye level?  I may just need a taller windshield... Lance

Mine are 17" Slim (summer) 19" Fats (winter). With standing them up in a more upright position they are tall for what I like, I prefer to look over my shield. The winter shield upper edge is right below my line-of-sight, I have to look through it more than I would like, maybe I will get use to it.... The summer shield I put on last weekend I might change to a lower shield also. First I want to see how this works with more time on the road. I have researched this some and thought I would give it a try, if this works I might drop each shield by 2"s.

I have a new set of lowers, I think mount on the frame (National, Cobra, etc),  I have never mounted for the up-swept effect of the air. This irritates  my allergies to no end and makes it unpleasant to ride.   

[L J VFR]

Thanks again guys for all info. Sounds like it is something im going to have to tweak and adjust on till i find what is good for me.. Thanks again to all... Lance

[lragan]

Thanks again guys for all info. Sounds like it is something im going to have to tweak and adjust on till i find what is good for me.. Thanks again to all... Lance

Lance, trying to close off a thread on this forum is like herding cats -- especially on a topic of interest with so many variables.  I am learning here, too.  Like my shield is not tall engough.  It is definitely well below the tip of my nose.  I was surprised that another 1-1.5 inches in seating height made such a difference!

I obviously do not understand the airflow questions.  Perhaps we need a wind tunnel test...