Wind turbulance

[wmh9680]

Good Evening, I have a 2002 Voyager and a 96 Yamaha Virago. My Voyager has an aftermarket windshield which is bigger than stock and the Virago has an aftermarket windshield that is a little smaller and lower. My wife says on the Voyager her hair gets blown forward on her head (I talked to guy last weekend with a 2001 Voyager and his wife says the same thing. This is his 4th Voyager). On the Virago her hair gets blown backward. Before everyone starts LOL or manages to get up off of the floor because of LOL she likes the winds on the virago better. Any comments on this? Could it be the larger windshield or that combined with the fairing causing the reverse wind. I still have the stock windshield. Thanks, Mike

[Okie34]

The aerodynamics of the windshield positioning and shape create a "Bubble" type turbulence that generally protects the driver from direct wind buffeting. This can be changed with different aftermarket windshields which tend to move the "Bubble" backwards and sometimes higher.

Try the stock windshield. This will move the bubble forward, but may also give her more of a buffeting turbulance rather than a straight wind blast.

-- JD

[Mr Jensee]

Is she not wearing a helmet?

[wmh9680]

Here is my windshield. http://www.precisionlexan.com/Kawasaki_ ... 01200c.htm

Are you kidding--a helmet would mess up her hair.

I think she would like more of a front to back wind like on the Virago instead of it coming from the rear and swirling. Thanks, Mike

[David (N. Alabama)]

I added pop vents to the XII windshield. With the vents open the back pressure was reduced.

My wife braids her hair when we ride, but we both wear helmets. Sometimes I wish I was lacking knowledge or awareness about the dangers of riding a motorcycle so I could be carefree when riding. It looks like fun to be able to ride in shorts and flip flops and your hair blowing in the wind. That is of course if you never go down.

[wmh9680]

My wife has curly hair and looks like little orphan annie on a hot humid day. I know you are not supposed to but that is how we ride, if fact she won't go ridin unless it's 85 or so and she can wear shorts and sandals.
How did you add popup vents to your windshield? I thought about doing that to mine. I might call the guy that made it.
Maybe a shorter windshield will help. Thanks, Mike

[SgtSlag]

Craig Vetter sells an updated version of his pop vents. Originally, they were for his fairings. They can be adapted to any windshield, though, if you are willing to cut holes into your windshield:

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Online ... inal-46384

The cost is $37 for a pair, shipping is included. He has a short video demonstrating how to insert them into the holes you have already cut. I am seriously considering this for my stock windshield, hoping that it will cut down on the turbulence experienced by the passenger. A little more air for the driver would be nice, too. Cheers!

[wmh9680]

Thanks, I will ck with the guy that made mine and see if there is a problem with installing these. Thanks, Mike

[David (N. Alabama)]

I got my pop vents from an aircraft supply place and I think I paid $12 for a pair delivered. Used a hole saw to make two holes in the windshield. The vents are completely removable and then you get a full 3 inches of wind blowing through.

I didn't put them on the last windshield that I sold the bike with because I felt that the Baker airwings did a good job of getting air behind the windshield.

[SgtSlag]

Can you post a link for the aircraft supply company? $12 a pair, delivered, is fantastic! Cheers!

[David (N. Alabama)]

Can you post a link for the aircraft supply company? $12 a pair, delivered, is fantastic! Cheers!

That was over 4 years ago. I did a google search and this is a sight that has the style I got. Prices aren't in line with what I thought I paid though.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/ap/ ... nlets.html

[wmh9680]

WellI got my snap vents from Vetter. Do you think I need to take the windshield off to drill the 3 1/4" holes to install them? My wife lately wants to ride the Virago since the Voyager pushes her hair forward into her face, go figure--I got a larger windshield to keep the wind off of her.

One quick ? about my Yamaha Virago 1100. It starts and runs great--never needs throttle to start--pulls great but seems to miss/stutter when you just coast/barely let off or back off the throttle at all rpms but more noticable around 2500-3500 rpms--usually worse when warm esp in hot weather (a sign of running rich--I only get 30 mpgs and it shoulld get 40+--I've had 3 viragos)--plugs are just a little sooty. It has a full set of Jardine slashcuts and a K&N filter. It had a jet kit which might be needed with the pipes and air cleaner but runs better when I made the carbs stock.

Today if the weather cooperates we will be on the Voyager. I just put one of my virago mirrors on the right handlebar to see if I like mirrors there.
Thanks, Mike

[JHD]

WellI got my snap vents from Vetter. Do you think I need to take the windshield off to drill the 3 1/4" holes to install them? My wife lately wants to ride the Virago since the Voyager pushes her hair forward into her face, go figure--I got a larger windshield to keep the wind off of her.

One quick ? about my Yamaha Virago 1100. It starts and runs great--never needs throttle to start--pulls great but seems to miss/stutter when you just coast/barely let off or back off the throttle at all rpms but more noticable around 2500-3500 rpms--usually worse when warm esp in hot weather (a sign of running rich--I only get 30 mpgs and it shoulld get 40+--I've had 3 viragos)--plugs are just a little sooty. It has a full set of Jardine slashcuts and a K&N filter. It had a jet kit which might be needed with the pipes and air cleaner but runs better when I made the carbs stock.

Today if the weather cooperates we will be on the Voyager. I just put one of my virago mirrors on the right handlebar to see if I like mirrors there.
Thanks, Mike

I would mark the location for the holes with the windshield installed then remove it for drilling.

Maybe run a couple tanks of gas with SeaFoam and see if your miss/stutter problem goes away. If not you might have something clogging one of your pilot jets. Check/replace your fuel filter also.

[wmh9680]

That was what I kinda planed on doing for the Voyager.

On the Virago I cleaned and rebuilt the carbs last winter and I use seafoam all the time for years. I will probably take the carbs off and ck them again this winter. Thanks, Mike

[Me Again]

WellI got my snap vents from Vetter. Do you think I need to take the windshield off to drill the 3 1/4" holes to install them?

Just think what that poor dash will look like if you slip.

[wmh9680]

Well I was shopping around for a 3 1/4" holesaw to install the Vetter vents and I was at a flea market and they had a 3 1/4" holesaw with the mandrel for $10. I took the mirrors off and the 2 screws off on each side leaving the two center allen bolts in place and carefully drilled the holes with the windshield on the bike but flattened out to reduce the curve of the windshield. It worked fine and the vents are now on the bike. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we will try it out tommorrow. I also am going to investigate the two mirror tightening fixes (drilling a hole to access the nut on the mirrors or taking the mirror apart to access the nut to tighten it) since I'm always reaching to adjust the mirrors. Thanks, Mike

[David (N. Alabama)]

Glad it worked out for you. I am thinking about adding them to my Voyager 1700 stock shield.

[wmh9680]

I was going to try the mirror tightening proceedures today but ran outa time. The one that says to take the mirror apart--I'm guessing that means separate the front slim piece from the rear thicker one (as you are lookong into the mirror) to tighten the nut. Mine do not seem to want to come apart--maybe someone did this before and glued them back together. I did not want to break them. Thanks, mike

[Mr Jensee]

Craig Vetter sells an updated version of his pop vents. Originally, they were for his fairings. They can be adapted to any windshield, though, if you are willing to cut holes into your windshield:

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Online ... inal-46384

The cost is $37 for a pair, shipping is included. He has a short video demonstrating how to insert them into the holes you have already cut. I am seriously considering this for my stock windshield, hoping that it will cut down on the turbulence experienced by the passenger. A little more air for the driver would be nice, too. Cheers!

These are identical to the ones used on the windows of civilian helicopters. The one I work with has them on the passenger windows. They do whistle a lot but in a helicopter everyone has on ear protection so it isn't so noticable. I don't know how this translates to a motorcycle windshield going less than a hundred miles an hour.

[David (N. Alabama)]

These are identical to the ones used on the windows of civilian helicopters. The one I work with has them on the passenger windows. They do whistle a lot but in a helicopter everyone has on ear protection so it isn't so noticable. I don't know how this translates to a motorcycle windshield going less than a hundred miles an hour.

No wind noise with the ones I had on the Voyager XII.