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[SilveRT8]

On my 12 SEUC I solved most of the buffeting by getting a 10" Freedom shield (I'm 6') and those FLTR wind deflectors.
They are a plastic deflector that simply snaps to the top of the crash bars in seconds. When parked and turning the bars, the edge of it will contact the batwing, so I trimmed the edges until they dont touch anymore and you're done. Cheap and effective mod.

[Eqcons]

Eqcons, I am picking up a set on the way home today. what exactly is the mod you had to do to get them to fit?

Just a little trimming - you'll see what's required when you fit them.

Let me know what it does for your buffeting!

Jim

[snooper]

On my 12 SEUC I solved most of the buffeting by getting a 10" Freedom shield (I'm 6') and those FLTR wind deflectors.

Hello SilveR,
Did it also improve the turbulences?

[Eqcons]

Hello SilveR,
Did it also improve the turbulences?

Je pense que dans ce cas, les mots «buffeting» et «turbulence»" sont synonymes, Snooper.

Jim

[SilveRT8]

Je pense que dans ce cas, les mots «buffeting» et «turbulence»" sont synonymes, Snooper.

Jim

Tout à fait, sans éliminer complètement les turbulences, elles sont réduites à un niveau très acceptable
Claude

[110tHunDer]

 
Ahhhhh, thank goodness for Google Translate.

[Eqcons]

Ahhhhh, thank goodness for Google Translate.

I know - sometimes I just can't work out what you American guys are writing! 

Jim

[snooper]

Hummmmm

If you allow me, definitions of buffeting and turbulence are different. Ok, being an airline pilot used to airflow stuff does not give me the right to doubt of your wording, but I would say that buffeting refers to an aerodynamical instability at the level of the steering, like when a wing is about to stall, the control efficiency is modified.

For me turbulence is an airflow related phenomenon : in usual bike talks, it sometimes refers to the airflow arriving on the top of your helmet, sometimes provoking double vision issues, etc.

On my CVO I have both problems I must say :

1/ instability due to steering related issues, when at 70mph and above the steering becomes very imprecise, almost dangerous when you pass a truck on the highway. IMHO this is linked to suspension, forces applied on the batwing, forces applied on the front wheel. Improves when the load is forward, downgrades when the load is aft.

2/ turbulence due to the shield, with an airflow going straight to the top of the helmet. Noisy and turbulent. We could say this is related to the wake turbulence of the shield, and apparently according to your reports it improves with the freedom shield (I've ordered :-).

As a conclusion, and having said I'm riding since the mid 80's, on all kind of Jap stuff until Suz Vstrom, then BMW 1200 GS and RT (still have my 2010 RT), HD Sporster at the same time, I find this 2012 CVO different from the Electra I had for a test drive, and let me be clear : I find it dangerous above 70 mph, on a windy day and on a highway full of trucks, not mentioning the turbulence falling right on top of the head which is a comfort issue more than a safety one.

So far, on the CVO, my confidence in track management is about a third highway line wide. Meaning the bike goes wherever she wants on this third of lane, while the track precision under same conditions on the BMW for example is about a couple of inches wide.

As it was not the case with the Electra I tried before I got the CVO, I took the opportunity of this forum to ask you guys what was your feedback on your CVOs. I'm sure it will improve with the shield, and I'll give a try to front suspension...

Thanks anyway !

(I can hear lots of readers saying "then stick to your BMW and give us a break" :-D )

PS : I'm not here to promote BMW: I tried many times the K1600 the dealer wanted to sell me to replace the RT, and this bike is also involved in many unacceptable aerodynamical issues, subject to lots of controversy on the web...

[Eqcons]

If you allow me, definitions of buffeting and turbulence are different.

Which part of "dans ce cas" was unclear, Snooper?   

Yes, they are different things, especially to you as a pilot, but not in the context of this thread.

Jim

[snooper]

Thanks Jim,
Would you then say that e.g. the Freedom Shield could improve maneuverability as well as noise on top of the helmet ?
Can't wait to try it !

[Eqcons]

Thanks Jim,
Would you then say that e.g. the Freedom Shield could improve maneuverability as well as noise on top of the helmet ?
Can't wait to try it !

The shield - as long as it's tall enough - will certainly protect your helmet from a large amount of the buffeting, but the turbulence coming up from in front of the tank is a major contributing factor too, which is why the plastic deflectors also help, I think, Snoop.

(The screen I have is actually a Cee Bailey SSC one.)

But your description of the stability problem leaves me thinking that there's something not right with your bike in particular!  I've had 5 Ultras, 3 of them CVOs, and none have had the problem you describe.  (As indeed the Ultra you test rode did not, you say.)

I think you need to ask the dealer to check the tightness of the steering head bearing...... 

Jim

[SilveRT8]

Same as above for me, never any stability problem on mine, just the annoying wind turbulence wich is solved by using the curved shield and plastic deflectors.

[Alremc]

The shield - as long as it's tall enough - will certainly protect your helmet from a large amount of the buffeting, but the turbulence coming up from in front of the tank is a major contributing factor too, which is why the plastic deflectors also help, I think, Snoop.

(The screen I have is actually a Cee Bailey SSC one.)

But your description of the stability problem leaves me thinking that there's something not right with your bike in particular!  I've had 5 Ultras, 3 of them CVOs, and none have had the problem you describe.  (As indeed the Ultra you test rode did not, you say.)

I think you need to ask the dealer to check the tightness of the steering head bearing...... 

Jim

Thanks to the recommendation of Jim, the turbulence coming from the tank area has considerably decreased. Not to say it is all gone but it has decreased to a level that is tolerable! As far as the stability issue you are experiencing, I came from a 2K Ultra and also ride a naked sport bike and this CVO handles a hell of a lot better than the 2K and is manageable enough to get thru the twisties with no problems. I ride allot of freeways out here in SoCal, so lots of different road textures and traffic at high speeds, and I have no issues with the stability other than the usual blast of wind from a truck or weather that I have grown accustomed to with the batwing.

[snooper]

Hello everybody,

A quick update... Received / installed a Freedom 10" windshield and now the airflow seems well above the top of the helmet, solving 80% of the first issue.
Now the buffeting (inability to maintain directional control) is even worse; I had the dealer try the bike and he confirms "yes, something is definitely wrong". At 60 mph this bike is hardly controllable if there is cross wind or wake turbulence from the vehicle ahead...
I'll give you another update with their possible findings, if this can help another FLHTCUSE7 rider...

Last question probably asked a million times : would 29 mpg be a "normal figure" while riding wisely out of city traffic ?

Best regards and thanks again for your help !

[110tHunDer]

 
29mpg outside of the city?  No, that's not normal.  I think they're advertised at 42mpg "highway."  I haven't seen that, but have pulled down 36 and 38 the last two tanks with mixed city and highway riding.

If you're experiencing control issues like you describe at 60 mph, something is seriously wrong.  Please be careful and don't let up on the dealer until you get it resolved.