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[RayG]

I feel a little stupid here but I'm pretty well used to it by now.  I have been trying to improve the enjoyment while riding on my 08 SERK and have been doing a number of comfort related projects. I'm confused with the exact cause and how to reduce the effects of wind buffeting and just what exactly will a fairing do for me.  If I'm on the highway say doing 70 with the cruise on the wind is doing a number on me but if I cross one or both arms the improvement is dramatic.  I read about this somehere but can't remember what it meant. Will a fairing help this or is this directly related to adding lowers. Somehow I have a hard time thinking that a fairing will prevent the air flow like my folded arms do but what do I know.  I have the front fork baffle and either use a 17 1/2" or a 19 1/2" clearview windshield.

Any suggestions?

Ray G.  

[GregKhougaz]

In this case, one test ride should be worth a thousand opinions.   The windshield on the SERK is not particularly aerodynamic.   Either a bat wing or shark nose fairing should be a great improvement with or without lowers.  Just how much of an improvement will depend upon the size and style of the windshield. 

[roadking71865]

I had the same issue with my SERK but just thought that's the way it was.  WRONG.  I now have an Ultra and it is a HUGE improvement with the batwing. 

[BillH]

I was perfectly happy with my '04 RK - put a bunch of highway miles on it with just the stock windshield.  The fact that I occasionally got hammered in the hand or leg by a bug the size of a small VW (I live in Texas), and got buffeted by every crosswind and 18 wheeler, was just the price of having all that fun.  That was until I rode a RG - it took all of about 20 miles to realize that I was destined for a fairing.  They smooth things out, keep the critters away from you (mostly), cut WAY down of buffeting, and allow you to listen to your favorite tunes.

They certainly aren't for everybody, but you need to ride some highway miles to find out for yourself.

Bill

[Chilly]

 A friend of mine has 03 Road King that He fabed up a removeable mount system for a fairing. That way He
 had best of both worlds when He took trips. Put it on for the long haul, then take off and leave in room until
 heading back.  Chilly
 

[Hugh Janis]

I can't imagine riding in the rain without a fairing. The worst part about it is cleaning the bike afterward.

[mjb765]

I will agree with everyone else...you need to ride one and decide for yourself if it's for you. It's not everyone's taste....and then there is the never ending debate on Road Glide vs the Batwing bikes.

[naitram]

A friend of mine has 03 Road King that He fabed up a removeable mount system for a fairing. That way He
 had best of both worlds when He took trips. Put it on for the long haul, then take off and leave in room until
 heading back.  Chilly
 

i did that and never took it off

[Cvostu]

No comparison. Try a bike with a fairing.  You will never want to ride without one again.  The radio takes away the pain too and makes it a much more enjoyable day too.  I had a road king and I wanted an electa glide the day after I bought it.  

[n7543g]

Do the test ride of RG or SG, But also turn on the radio! Nothin like cruisin to ZZ Top on the tunes! (That gives my age away)

[Cvostu]

Mine too.  Shhhhhhhhhh

[willyB]

I rode a '03 Deuce for years without a windshield and never really complained much about wind. Just part of riding. Several of my friends have the Heritage and I've spent some time on them to but I always felt there was not a lot of ride quality improve with the windshield. Bought an '11 CVO Street Glide. Now I can't even imagine what I was thinking when I had the Deuce.

With the lowers off you and your legs relaxed away from the tank you really get a blast of air in your face. Tighten the legs up to the tank and the wind goes away.

On a "wind" scale from 1 -10 (10 being best)
** Deuce 5
** Heritage 7
** SG without lowers 8.5
** SG with lowers 9

[vettmann]

Never thought I would have wanted a batwing because I liked the " In the wind" feeling anyway I Traded in me Roadking (no windshield) and picked up a 2011 SESG HOLY CRAP what a difference with a fairing it makes you want to crank up the tunes and hit the road and go that extra mile...I have been converted
 

[Gecko]

See my post under "Holy Buffetting Batwing", where I asked the same about my '07 SERK.  Having the wind off the chest makes things better, but the eyeball rattling vibration from air coming up alongside the tank didn't.  I'm going to try a Vanillazilla batwing (uses the stock mounting points and weighs seven pounds so can be removed as quickly as the clear plastic ones) and see what it does.  I don't care about having speakers, I just want the wind protection.

[Half_Crazy]

See my post under "Holy Buffetting Batwing", where I asked the same about my '07 SERK.  Having the wind off the chest makes things better, but the eyeball rattling vibration from air coming up alongside the tank didn't.  I'm going to try a Vanillazilla batwing (uses the stock mounting points and weighs seven pounds so can be removed as quickly as the clear plastic ones) and see what it does.  I don't care about having speakers, I just want the wind protection.

This is exactly the issue I have with windshields and fairings. They make buffeting... you can 'adjust' the buffeting to be over your head or someplace less irritating, but it'll be there... and you can either feel it or hear it.

As far as aerodynamics go, how you cut the wind is important, but equally important is how you 'put the air back' behind the bike. A huge turbulent 'wake' behind the bike causes lots of drag. Shields/fairings slow the bike down (like pushing your bathroom door through the air) and create issues with handling too, especially if they are mounted on the forks. Not to mention the added weight...

These days, some bikes have bodywork designed in a wind tunnel to be more efficient thru the air, like the new BMWs, the 'Wings, and the Victory Vision. Sometimes form follows function and what works best probably won't be cool-lookin'.

I'll take the naked bike and the wind.