I'm 6'4", my '07 990 has the stock screen and I wear a Reevu helmet. As a fluke I tried the "Super-Visor". Granted it looks a little hokey, but it has quieted the wind noise down on my street helmet to almost nothing with ear plugs and considerably reduced helmet buffeting with the stock windscreen. I'll probably buy one of Dustodust's swept-back carbon shortys - it appears to be a very good solution for vertically gifted.
Agreed... but... I do find the visor useful on forested back roads, crossing in and out of deep shade at high speed. The visor allows you to run a clear shield so you can see in the shade and it keeps the sun out of your eyes out in the sun. I don't like coming into a corner too fast in deep shade with a tented shield. I can't see the road good enough. Out on open freeways I just switch shield at sunset on my Arai street helmet. I ride a street bike too, so, I have several helmets. Like to OP I might not buy a dedicated street helmet just for the 950. Just take the visor off, the helmet is designed for this.
Do you find this actually works? The one on the Shoei is useless for this unless I tilt my head waay forward.
I've been trying different screen configurations to reduce buffeting. I'm 6'2". I cut the stocker, but didn't like it. So I bolted the cut piece on it. Worked well up to 90km/h. The Mra X-Creen works quite well with cut down stocker. Also tried it on the KTM Touring screen to calm it down, but that screen is just plain horrible for me. But then I went back to Rade's screen. It works surprisingly well, also providing more protection than short ones. I'm not done yet and next I want try something Zuber has done..
I am with GJ990 I have no issue with the standard screen and motor cross helmet and this is at a steady 120 kmh. For me I like the extra ventilation of a motor cross helmet.
It would seem the main/critical factor in all these "Windscreen/Buffeting" threads is not helmet brand, mirror configurations or even windscreen height; it's rider height and type of riding (street, highway, single track, open desert/planes, trees, mountain trails etc). Clearly the best solution for someone 5'4" riding mostly single track mountain trails will not work for someone 6'4" riding mostly highways. It would really help if everyone chiming-in would include their height, bike and where/how they ride. If possible, a picture of them riding their present set-up would be great. Thanks
I sold mine...'06 950S with all the goodies. I tried 5 windshields on it with negitive results. For me, the best was the Yellow Pig mod, but it still drove me nuts. I really wanted to keep that bike but I couldn's stand being on it for more than 2 hours at fwy speeds I bought a Super Enduro and love it, all nice clean air = problem solved
Okay I am about 6" and ride my 990 on everything from the interstate to washed out forest roads. I always ride with a tank bag. At the moment I am riding everyday from 200 up 500 miles a day. Today I did 350 miles (Mountain Home to Bend). I normally have no issue with buffeting. So a couple of observations I made today thinking about this issue. 1) If sit back about 4" further than I normally do I get buffeted about enough that it would bother me within say half an hour. This is with arms stretched right out. 2) You do get blow about a fair bit on this bike with moderate head and cross winds. 3) One thing I have noticed riding the US, anywhere it is relatively open (Think Southern AZ, High Desert, Mid West) that is it constantly windy compared to other parts of the world I have ridden (Russia, Central Asia, Mongolia, Australia), this at times make riding the big girl a little tiring, in line with point #2. 4) Following anything big (truck, RV) creates a nice vortex that buffets me badly.
Had stock windscreen on with Shark rsr2. shook me so bad i couldn't see so I can relate to why some inmates have such an issue with it. I'm 5'10" athletic build Now I"m rocking a uvex enduro lid with the rally raid screen from ktmtwins. Also have the HDB handguards with integrated mirrors. Smooth sailing. I'll get slight buffeting in really strong crosswinds but don't give a S$%^. I don't understand putting a big tall windscreen on these bikes, except for cold weather. Keep it short and you should be good to go. I'm going to try the no buffet windscreen in post 3 of this thread. Buggy
MIRRORS! I am 511, have tried's 3 windshields, 3 helmets and as a last ditch I pulled the mirrors and wow what a difference! I am running CJ Designs folding mirrors and the moose shorty shield and am very happy!
I have a Rally Raid windscreen, and and XD-3 helmet. No major complaints after a 10 day 4000 mile trip on 90% highway & 10% desert/mountain roads. I also like the fact that with the Rally Raid, there essentially is no windscreen to smack you face/helmet on should you come short, or hard on the brakes due to a unforeseen hazards (creek beds, small woodland creatures, speed traps). I guess this puts me in the less is more camp.
Wow! Thanks for ALL yalls input! Would ride today with Moose shorty and removed mirrors, but the wind is out of the north at 40mph and its windchills in the 30s. So, buffeting will be major no matter what. Crazy Texas weather, near 90 yesterday and today lower 40s. Weekend looks great to try everything. I'm excited to see if anything works. Thanks again!
Yea, more factors than just the windsheild for sure. I have short L shaped mirrors off my 450exc on my 950. But testing just a mirror change it did not make a big difference compared to Rally Raid sheild. I'm happy with my final config -- 6'2" tall, Rally Raid sheild, 450exc mirrors, Woffman Enduro tank bag and XD-3 helmet ..
First of all, I'm 6'0, high waisted... shorter torso. I worked with Moose Racing to create a -2.5 cutdown version from the stock screen. And I too changed mirrors to the CJ Designs folding oblique style. These we percentage improvements and well worth it. But not a total remedy. Yet how could you turn one of these away? I wear an 8 year old Arai XD3. I always crank down the visor screws. My overall lower torso definitely keeps me out of the maximum buffeting zone. So I was really only fine tuning my aerodynamic ride experience. I did recently hit some extreme ocean air turbulence outside of San Francisco that to me was 30 miles of head on torture... Which got me to thinking "oh, that's what everybody is talking about."
It's got to be your helmet....if you really love the bike get rid of that helmet...that's what I'd do with no second thoughts...it's amazing how the wrong helmet, for you and a specific bike, can make an aerodynamic mess and make your life miserable... I'd try a street helmet for long trips...specifically I'd look for a suitable Schuberth or Shoei for they re among the quitest out there (especially the Schuberth)... I'm a solid 6'10" and I use the alien screen and an Arai Quantum for long trips, an AGV RX-8 for anything else and got no problems at all...
For what it's worth, I'm 5'9, have the stock screen, stock mirrors and an arai XD and have never been buffeted. Not once. Just sayin.
Thanks for this thread, KamLeeR, I'll be following it closely. I'm wanting a 990 to replace my farkled DR as a travel bike, but buffeting concerns are keeping the check in my wallet. At 6'7" I'm assuming the cut down shield/street helmet may work for me.
I have some video of me riding at between 70-90, to show people how I find it. I will post when I am at Starbucks in the morning.
See my post above, I'm 610 and using the alien (touring screen), a good street helmet and I'm totally fine. Nevertheless, when I recently bought an AGV street helmet it almost blew my ears off, I had to return it immediately and swap it with what I wear now, the ARAI Quantum which works great in my case...cut down screens won't work too well with us very tall guys unless you want to use the bike exclusively for offroading...
I am 5.10 and have never had an issue with buffeting. Maybe the wind goes around differently in the Southern Hemisphere.