Fix helmet buffeting on motorcycle with Leg Wind Deflectors! 

Super helpful, thank you! I totally agree, it’s crazy that the manufacturers don’t seem to put much effort into solving this issue. Especially when little things like side deflectors can make such a huge difference.

Thank you. I will give your recommendations a try. I agree that wind buffeting and noise are a big problem that motorcycle manufacturers should pay more attention to.

Recently I got a used Vstrom in pretty rough shape and now, 3 months later, it's in tip top condition. I added these ingenious little guys and it really makes a big difference for the better. Thank you. Much apreciated😊

Important comment! I too had same problems with my 650 strom and a chat room suggested cutting two inches OFF the stock screen. This improved it so I cut another two inches off and it was amazing at any speed. It looked odd having clear Perspex but hardly any screen height so I painted (with simple black gloss) inside the screen which gave the appearance of black Perspex. The bike looked better and performed much better at all speeds. I still prefer naked bikes (current BMW R1200R LC) and just go for small fly screen not the plastic barn doors as they simply don’t work.

I had a Moto Guzzi 850 T3 California in the early eighties. It had the big standard wind screen without fairing and without spoilers. It worked very well. Nice silent long trips across Europe without earplugs!

Excellent deduction. I did something similar on a 1987 Honda Shadow VT700 with an aftermarket windshield (Tracy Road Warrior). The Tracy Road Warrior was too tall for my tatstes, so I cut it down on top so I could easily see over the top. And I made some lowers like you did, but fastened them onto the bottom of the windhield, and angled them rearward instead of running them down the fork tubes. The effect was dramatic -- no wind or buffeting reaching me at all. One thing about fastening the lowers to the windshield is that when in proper position to block the wikd they would strike the fuel tank, so I made them automaically move out of the way when I turned the front wheel. I no longer have that bike, or the windshield, and Tracy no longer makes motorcycle windshields. Now I have a Yamaha Bolt that just beats my head to death on the highway. So now, you have inspired my to make some lowers and see if i can tame that buffeting on the Bolt.

Fantastic video! I've been spending weeks, months, years on the wind management on my 2018 DL1000. You nailed it. Once I put a prototype deflector on the Givi crash bars, the improvement is significant. What really surprised me was the cross wind improvements.

Necessity once again is the mother of invention - thank you so much for sharing your results - ride far and safe ✊🏼

Manyfacturers need to work on seat comfort as well. As expensive as new bikes are there's no excuse for how terribly uncomfortable most stock seats are.

This was like watching a sailing video. Much appreciated.

2018 dl1000xt. when i rode home after purchasing from dealer, i removed windscreen. about 60% less buffeting. 5yrs later still riding without screen. agree with you, no screen = fresh air and less helmet noise. changing mirrors helped too. 👍

I can wholeheartedly support this and it was pleasing to listed to the development here. I've been doing similar experiments on my 2006 FJR1300 and it definitely has the same problem. I'm 6'1" but all my height is in my back (I 'sit tall') so the factory screen was never going to cut it and I got a lot of noise from the turbulence 'roll' coming off the top edge. I fitted an MRA Vario which changed things a lot (eerily quiet) but which gave way to major buffeting - as John describes - I couldn't read road signs above 75mph (!). I thought it was 'wind wrap' i.e. coming from the sides as the Vario is quite narrow at the top. I switched to a larger screen with a slight flip (Loster) which helped to an extent but was SO big (a real 'barn door!) it cost me fuel economy and brought worse lateral issues so I went back to the MRA and added their VSA-B clip-on extension (which MRA will tell you NOT to do!) and that's the final version. Not perfect but very good and with the Yamaha electric adjustment, I can set a height where it actually clears my visor in rain. The real problem came to light on a recent long trip. I have highway pegs and when I moved to use them, the remaining buffeting was 'amplified' beyond description. Like John, I checked this a few times while riding so yes, it most definitely comes from below!! I'm going to look at Baker Wings next to see if I can buy something ready made then find out where they can fit to my bike. Great explanation of something I've been wrestling with for some time!!

Very clever! I’d like to see more video on the acrylic parts specifically. I’m definitely going to try this on my vstrom

Thanx a lot! Nice and simple wind tuning!

You’re so right. Hopefully manufacturers will react

I think this guy is on the right track. I’ve worn 2 different jackets on my v Strom at speed and the wind on both kept getting under my jackets and was pushing them up. So the wind is coming from below. And the higher I adjusted my screen didn’t help the buffering.

such a nice informative video ... than most videos who claim to be bloody experts ... this is end user analysis .... very very nice

Important comment. I too had same problems with my 650 strom and a cat Rio suggested cutting two inches OFF the stock screen. This improved it so much I cut another two inches off and it was amazing at any speed. It looked odd having clear Perspex but hardly any price itin so I painted (with simple black gloss) inside the screen which gave the appearance of black Perspex. The bike looked better and performed much better at all speeds. I still prefer naked bikes (current BMW R1200R LC) and just go for small fly screen not the plastic barn doors as they simply don’t work.

Thanks! I'll try it out 👍

Nicely done! I have almost had my head ripped off at Bonneville but that was over 190 mph.😁😁

Thank you for the video. I purchased my first gen 650 this summer and need to make some adjustments. Mine came with a Vstream windshield and madstad bracket. My helmet is in a very still pocket of air so I don't experience buffeting. My problem is the wind noise coming up into my helmet. A chin curtain helps, but moving my hand around to block the wind has given me some ideas. I thought about adding something to the crash bars. After watching your video it reinforced my desire to find solutions.

Man! I would like to express my extreme hatred for the idiocy of the Suzuki engineers that decided that a wind tunnel wasn't needed for this bike. I have never, EVVVEEEEERRRRRR, rode such a horrendously poor wind managed bike. Truly awful! Hundreds of headaches, tinnitus that won't go away and extreme frustration. Thank you so much for this video as I have come up with similar things to solve this finally. Cheers for doing so infinitely better than the Suzuki engineers.

I observe that the windshield is solid with no other air inlet, if you observe a lots of big windshields now have a secondary air hole that lets a second stream of air under the windshield....

Thanks for the video!

Californian company Aeroflow has been including bodywork deflectors for 25 years in many of,their BMW screens. Another key factor is to allow air to flow up the backside of screens via a cutout at the base.

Excellent video

Brilliant!

thank you ... great video...

Thanks for the info

Ingenious!!!

My first bike had a windscreen, and up to 80kph no problems, motorway speeds however, it felt like a child was sitting on my helmet drumming their hands. Since then I’ve had 2 no windscreen bikes, and I’ve just gotten used to the wind pressure on me, but unless it’s a 50kph headwind or so, is much better. I also bought an Arai helmet, and the shape and sound proofing g have made the whole riding experience so much better.

I sold my '08 DL1k because I was unable to deal with the wind buffeting. Your head shaking wasn't an exaggeration at all if anybody's wondering.

Thanks mate

Interesting. Prior to my Africa Twin, I've only had sport bikes. The helmet shake and wind noise on this AT is definitely physically hazardous. I spent all last summer trying many different solutions with varying improvements, but never 'good enough' in my opinion. I love the bike but hate the wind, I'll be trying more things including this side deflector idea of yours.

The ultimate way to eliminate buffeting on any motorcycle is to get rid of the windshield. A short windscreen keeping wind away from the chest but leaving the head in clear air is absolutely the best solution. Unless you have to commute in all weather conditions all year long. Additional benefit is the cooling effect. BTW all decent helmets are developed aerodynamicly with the assumption that no weird windshield disturbs the windblow.

this is good information, but I have a v strom and i bruised my shin really bad on the crash bar when i went down in the sand. I wonder if the plastic piece could cause a sever laceration in a crash.

Might a side bag like the GIVI T513 Crash Bar Bags attached to your crash bars serve the same purpose? Good video!! Thanks!!

Great discovery! You seem to have some kind of a wind tunnel simulator in your head :D What about vibrations of the acrilic sheet? And thickness? I have to use some strong foam on the crash guard mounts because of the engine vibrations...

Thank you Mr. Neves! You've convinced me that fabricating deflectors will solve my turbulence trauma. My 1st gen 650 came to me with (what I think are) South West Moto forward crash bars; meaning that I will need to modify your design...slightly. Question follows: Your bike face lift transforms the original "Ugly Suzi" ADV into a good looking ride that I'd not be ashamed to be seen on. One part of that I'd like to duplicate is that windscreen. I think you gave MRA credit for it and I have exhausted my patience trying to locate one for sale. Would you mind posting a link to the exact item seen in this video?

The answer the manufacturers will give is, How long is your particular piece of string? Actually many of them do try to mitigate buffeting but a lot of it depends on the particulars of the rider and additions they farkle. If you want to get some cheap shaped plastic to experiment with try injection moulded surf boards or floats or suitcases.

I don't have this problem on my BMW R1150R, but I do have on Tenere 700.

I put fork deflectors on my road king, stopped the buffeting but too much heat on me in the summer, awesome in the winter. My bmw rt with electric windshield was great but would swirl behind my back and push me forward. Can't win.

Genius , I’ve fitted a smaller screen , cut buffeting in half , I’m now going to by a tiny little screen

I think I will try this also, since the wind makes my head shake so hard on the freeway that my vision goes completely blurry. But I'm not keen on drilling holes in my crash bars. I'm curious if the deflectors can be mounted with tyrips instead...

watching this in 2024 and am really shocked after all these years suzuki still hasnt fixed the issue on the new 3rd gen. the buffeting is so bad its giving me a headache every time!

Thanks Mate ! I have the same problem with my dl1000 from 2003 y. Terrible buffeting. I tried 4 different windscreens, part of them chopped like you. Now I have stock one, but this windscreen doesn't protect me from wind at all. Tried to equalize air pressure one the two sides of windscreens by drilling holes and making air inlets. I tried different deflectors but never think about leg deflectors. I have try this idea tomorrow :) Greetings from Poland :)

Just out of curiosity..does it help with cross winds? The Vstrom first gen (a brilliant bike) is prone to wandering around in cross wind situations even with a fork brace. The 1000 is heavier but not that much and has a similar fairing.

Quick question. I did the same experiment and feel the rear engine of my V-strom is hotter than before. I guess the wind is blocked to cool the rear engine. Do you feel the same?

Why can’t I go to a store with a wind tunnel to determine wind buffeting.

Viva João, que vidro é esse que tens instalado? um mra variotouring? obg

Will you tell me effect of that small clip on adjustable screen on the top of your big screen?

Why can't manufacturers use wind tunnels to test all this? I notice that larger ADV bikes like the GSA and Multistrada V4 have wider extra wings at the bottom of the windshield.

Cool Now, if I could only get my hands on some acrylic and a body man and fabricator 😠

thank you for this video, really clever !!! do you think you can share a shape of the leg wind deflectors in a pdf or something? they really look pro man :-)

I think the problem is amplified by the mirrors.

I have been dealing with a concussion for a month and three weeks now after a long ride one day on a new (to me) africa twin. My helmet vibrate and shook and I didn't think anything of it other than it sucked until I got home. Then I couldnt read, speak clearly, and was extremely sensitive to light for two weeks. Worst of it is explaining to people that I have a concussion from riding...not crashing...a motorcycle. After I recovered from this three weeks later I tried out a few different windshields and just after a 20 min ride I had a second concussion. I don't think I'm willing to try again after this so I might go back to a naked bike.

Tudo bem João, alguma hipótese de enviar o template dos defletores? E estão fixos directamente às crashbars? Furaste as Crashbars?

Goldwing have solved the issue

You should sell these!

Probably I have the same problem with my tdm900

You got any of these left.

i see that u have windshield LIP also.. didn't it reduce buffetting ?.

If you want cheap to replace parts after an mishap, just buy a ktm

All problems a CBR1000 doesn’t have 😎

Get another bike - easy peacy🤌🏻