The physics of bugs

[gkamer]

OK, I understand completely how bugs manage to get themselves squished on the outside of my windshield. What baffles me is how they manage to get themselves squished on the inside of my windshield.

[K80Shooter]

Maybe you're going the wrong way?

Just kidding as I don't have a clue.

[bigbadbrucie]

OK, I understand completely how bugs manage to get themselves squished on the outside of my windshield. What baffles me is how they manage to get themselves squished on the inside of my windshield.

Just letting you know Greg, you’re not alone with this problem!

[Peter Aawen]

OK, I understand completely how bugs manage to get themselves squished on the outside of my windshield. What baffles me is how they manage to get themselves squished on the inside of my windshield.

Not that I see it all that often now I don't wear my Dress Uniform so much, but if you ever ride your Spyder while wearing a tie that's slipped its pin so there's no longer anything to restrain it/stop it flapping in the breeze, things might become a whole lot clearer!

It's quite an odd feeling to be riding along feeling the breeze blowing strongly into your face but having your tie stick out horizontally forward in front of you, with only the very tip madly flapping just behind the windscreen; but my RT with its big windscreen is not the first bike I've experienced this on!

Apparently, it's all to do with the way the windscreen forces the air to flow out & around it & you in the 'Rider/passenger bubble' behind it, but it creates a really strong low-pressure area in the gap immediately behind the screen and in front of you. Any bugs travelling toward you that aren't immediately ahead (so that they end up as smoosh on the front of the windscreen! ) can get forced out & around the windscreen, only if they are travelling toward you at the right speed and close enough to the edge of the screen, they can be sucked into that low pressure area behind it & ahead of you, and end up being slammed into the back-side of the screen at high enough velocity to splatter; while those travelling juuust a little further away &/or not approaching at the same speed &/or angle just get pushed away as the windscreen forces its way thru that dirty great wall of air it hasta move thru!

Innnnterrrresting, innit?!

[bigbadbrucie]

Not that I see it all that often now I don't wear my Dress Uniform so much, but if you ever ride your Spyder while wearing a tie that's slipped its pin so there's no longer anything to restrain it/stop it flapping in the breeze, things might become a whole lot clearer!

It's quite an odd feeling to be riding along feeling the breeze blowing strongly into your face but having your tie stick out horizontally forward in front of you, with only the very tip madly flapping just behind the windscreen; but my RT with its big windscreen is not the first bike I've experienced this on!

Apparently, it's all to do with the way the windscreen forces the air to flow out & around it & you in the 'Rider/passenger bubble' behind it, but it creates a really strong low-pressure area in the gap immediately behind the screen and in front of you. Any bugs travelling toward you that aren't immediately ahead (so that they end up as smoosh on the front of the windscreen! ) can get forced out & around the windscreen, only if they are travelling toward you at the right speed and close enough to the edge of the screen, they can be sucked into that low pressure area behind it & ahead of you, and end up being slammed into the back-side of the screen at high enough velocity to splatter; while those travelling juuust a little further away &/or not approaching at the same speed &/or angle just get pushed away as the windscreen forces its way thru that dirty great wall of air it hasta move thru!

Innnnterrrresting, innit?!

Backdraft suction you say? I’ll be go to h e. Double hockey sticks!

[gkamer]

Peter, well that certainly sounds sciency so I'll go with that. Thanks.

[jchadwi]

We have been riding in Colorado and Wyoming for the past couple weeks. Each time I clean the windscreen, it looks like there are as many bugs inside as outside.

[Peter Aawen]

Peter, well that certainly sounds sciency so I'll go with that. Thanks.

BUGGA! And I tried SO HARD to avoid making it too 'sciency' and all!

BTW, you'll probably be getting at least a few 'pre-smashed' bugs sucked in thru the vents in the lower section of the windscreen &/or up below the windscreen/above the cowl there too, and once they get caught up in all the turbulent air behind the screen, they can get smooshed onto the inside of it as well - after all, they come pre-smashed, so it doesn't take all that much effort to get them to stick!

Didjya notice all those 'not very sciency' words & terms I used in that lot?? Words/terms like 'pre-smashed' & 'smooshed' etc??? Much less sciency than 'turbulent' & 'low pressure', aren't they??

[Gwolf]

They get smashed on the inside when you are in reverse, of course.

[Flier Tuck]

Maybe try riding faster. If the bugs going in the same direction as you are flying faster, they will impact on the back of the screen.

[gkamer]

BUGGA! Didjya notice all those 'not very sciency' words & terms I used in that lot?? Words/terms like 'pre-smashed' & 'smooshed' etc??? Much less sciency than 'turbulent' & 'low pressure', aren't they??

The pre-smashed bugs don't bother me too much, but those post smashed bugs are a royal pain in the neck.

[SLICE]

My wife learned last week on our trip not to wear Capri pants.. bugs hurt when hitting bare skin.

[Stache]

Clearly reversing too fast

[Peter Aawen]

The pre-smashed bugs don't bother me too much, but those post smashed bugs are a royal pain in the neck.

And the face! And bare wrists or arms...

In fact, like Slice says above, whenever/wherever they hit ANY bare skin!! Or even 'only thinly protected' skin!!

[Lew L]

.

For a long time on this site I mentioned that a VENTED windshield creates a larger "bubble" of still, high pressure are behind the windshield. It does....... really. I get no back-o-the windshield bugs and my wife has no turbulence. It's just simple aerodynamics.

Lew L

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Peter's comment about backwash is right on. If I ride through rain the backside of the windshield gets dirtier than the front side! And my two flags on the trunk are always flying forward, not backward!

[Gwolf]

I never get smashed bugs on either side of my windshield.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I never get smashed bugs on either side of my windshield.

Are you saying Florida bugs or so tough they survive the collision and just walk around on your 'shield? Or is traffic so heavy you can't ride fast enough to cause them to be squashed when they do hit the 'shield?

[Fatcycledaddy]

Are you saying Florida bugs or so tough they survive the collision and just walk around on your 'shield? Or is traffic so heavy you can't ride fast enough to cause them to be squashed when they do hit the 'shield?

Maybe he never rides???

[Gwolf]

The only windshield I have is hanging on the wall of the shop, where it has been for the last 20 years. It was on a 2001 Sporster when I bought it used. Took it off right after I bought the Sportster and it has been hanging on the shop wall ever since.

I do get some bugs smahed on my face shield, but none on my windshield.