1st ride on the interstate yesterday

[HollyH]

We have about 500 miles on our Spyder and finally decided to test it out on the Interstate.... It was awesome! Love going 75! Our only complaint was the wind,not so much moving the bike around but moving our heads. We tried lowering the windsheild, etc., that makes the wind noise louder but it helped with not knocking our head around so much. I'm sure we will get accustomed to the noise level.

I see several posts on here about issues and/or problems with other's Spyders; I guess we are lucky, no issues so far but we still have low mileage. We are loving, loving, loving it. I was ticked off because we had to do housework and mow the yard and couldn't ride as much as I wanted. I'm about to hire yard guy and housekeeper.

It's best said by John Travolta in Wild Hogs, " I just wanna ride, Man"..........

[SpyderAnn01]

A full face helmet will help cut down on the wind noise. As you found out lowering the windshield keeps your head steady. Have fun.

[shelbydave]

We have about 500 miles on our Spyder and finally decided to test it out on the Interstate.... It was awesome! Love going 75! Our only complaint was the wind,not so much moving the bike around but moving our heads. We tried lowering the windsheild, etc., that makes the wind noise louder but it helped with not knocking our head around so much. I'm sure we will get accustomed to the noise level.

I see several posts on here about issues and/or problems with other's Spyders; I guess we are lucky, no issues so far but we still have low mileage. We are loving, loving, loving it. I was ticked off because we had to do housework and mow the yard and couldn't ride as much as I wanted. I'm about to hire yard guy and housekeeper.

It's best said by John Travolta in Wild Hogs, " I just wanna ride, Man"..........

I discovered last week that the windshield height will depend on your height. At 45, I ride around with it down, but when we went on I 95 last week, all the way up did cause alot of head buffetting. I started playing with the height, and found out that the smoothest ride with the least wind was when the top of the windshield was right about eye level. I got used to it though, and the ride comfort was well worth it.

[Dar]

Get you some ear plugs. I always wear them on the big road. Actually you can hear the radio better. Also you won't feel as tired after a long day.

[HollyH]

A full face helmet will help cut down on the wind noise. As you found out lowering the windshield keeps your head steady. Have fun.

we both have full face helmets...

[ARtraveler]

I vote for adjusting the windshield height until you find that "sweet" spot.

[Recluze]

My full face helmet makes more noise when it is down than when it is up. The air flow/noise on a motorbike seems to have an infinite number of variables. Wear earplugs is my answer. It makes my world more peaceful. You will eventually find the spot where everything works well for you.

[smurfette]

!@#$% THE HOUSE/YARD WORK.... GO RYDING!!!!!

[bullant12]

Full faced helmet is the way to go on the interstate... especially when you pass the big rigs! Makes a big difference. My wife uses earplugs when she can.

[CyncySpyder]

I've found what works best for me, is I wear the foam ear plugs we're required to wear at work, and then when at highway speeds, if I put the shield all the way up, I get buffeting on the back of my head, so I usually drop it down two bumps from the top, and thats the Sweet Spot for me, mind you, I'm only 5'9 and sit straight up on Teds Red Sled, which is an '11 RT-S
And this works with wearing a ball cap (Save the Flaming for another thread please) forwards NOT backwards, without an issue And to help with buffeting, you can remove your middle clear plastic wind deflectors and you will be surprised at how much of a difference you can feel on your head. I was shocked, thinking it would only effect your trunk or torso, but the largest difference with them removed was felt at my head. Just saying, you might wanna give it a try for yourself. Its just 2 torx bolts on each deflector that holds them on. Take them off for a few rydes, especially at highway speeds, and see if you notice a difference or not Good Luck

[HollyH]

Thanks everyone! we both wear full face helmets with our sheilds down on the Interstate/highways...

(Save the Flaming for another thread please CYNCY, You're a grown man you can make your own decisions... no casting stones here....

[Dragonrider]

I couldn't get my (Tallest available) windshield to eye level, unless I slouch & lower my head about 4". Still, never had a buffeting problem at any speed, and don't own a "full face helmet".

[Sarge707]

I wear the 2 helmets (For Summer) with the shield OFF. The drop down visor is solid and I wear Sturdy Sunglasses behind the visor just in case. The wind noise is Much, Much less without the shield and There are very Few Bugs in CT. My windshield might have 1 or 2 small specs after an all afternoon ride.
Titan Ear buds with Classical Concert music and I,m in heaven!

[HedonismBot]

I've been told, and read in helmet reviews, that not all helmets are the same when it comes to air moving around them at highway speeds. My wife and I have some basic entry level HJC CL-16 full face helmets. They aren't the greatest but they work pretty well at 70mph with our wind and face shield all the way down (I'm 6'4"). I've read some reviews that higher end helmets like Shoei are/can be better at faster speeds due to their aerodynamics. Maybe that only applies to street bike seating positions rather than touring (upright). It's a combination of factors most likely and helmets may be one factor.

[MindlessMuse]

I've been told, and read in helmet reviews, that not all helmets are the same when it comes to air moving around them at highway speeds. My wife and I have some basic entry level HJC CL-16 full face helmets. They aren't the greatest but they work pretty well at 70mph with our wind and face shield all the way down (I'm 6'4"). I've read some reviews that higher end helmets like Shoei are/can be better at faster speeds due to their aerodynamics. Maybe that only applies to street bike seating positions rather than touring (upright). It's a combination of factors most likely and helmets may be one factor.

I sit upright (6'4") on my RS and just recently changed from a modular HJC IS Max to a Bell RS-1 full face and the noise and wind differences are night and day. The Bell definitely wins out on both counts at any speed as I can turn my head without feeling like my neck is being pulled away from my body and the noise levels are down as well.

I ordered a MadStad windshield to help with the way I felt with my HJC on highways, but with the stock sport shield and my new Bell, I do not come close to feeling the pressure I had before. I will probably install the Madstad at some point, but for now the change of a helmet was all it took for me to feel more comfortable.

[HedonismBot]

I sit upright (6'4") on my RS and just recently changed from a modular HJC IS Max to a Bell RS-1 full face and the noise and wind differences are night and day. The Bell definitely wins out on both counts at any speed as I can turn my head without feeling like my neck is being pulled away from my body and the noise levels are down as well.

I ordered a MadStad windshield to help with the way I felt with my HJC on highways, but with the stock sport shield and my new Bell, I do not come close to feeling the pressure I had before. I will probably install the Madstad at some point, but for now the change of a helmet was all it took for me to feel more comfortable.

I'm glad you said that. We had planned on getting more expensive helmets later on but didn't want to drop another $1k or $1400 total on two high end helmets right off that bat--especially when we knew we wouldn't be doing long trips. I'll have to revisit helmets in a few months before our fall trip. So far (knock on wood) I don't feel like my head is going to be ripped off by wind. But I haven't been on the highway for more than 15 minutes at a time. 4 hours of trip time may take it toll