F4 Windshield - need honest opinions re shorter height screen reducing buffetting?

[toolie]

Hi all F3 L or T riders. Need honest opinions. Anyone go from a 25 inch tall f4 to a shorter f4.
Or anyone go from a 21 or 23 inch f4 to a 25 inch f4. Looking to find out about wind noise or buffeting. I am running a 25 inch and getting some wind noise and some buffeting, just wondering if shortening it would make some improvement.
Thanks

[JP58]

Lower would be even noisier. Do you have the hand wings F4 makes for your windshield. They stopped the wind buffeting from coming by the cut out area for me. Plus keeps hands warm in cold weather and cooler in summer.

[Tmag]

I went from the 21" to the 25" and like it much better...but that is my preference. So, I have the 21" for sale if you want to try it. I only used it for a couple hundred miles. It has new hardware also. $100.00 plus shipping. Just let me know.

[Southpaw58]

I have a 23 inch with the hand wings on my 2018 F3T. I'm 6'4" with a long torso and short legs. That said, the wind noise and buffeting are greatly reduced over the stock windshield. The wind hits my Shoei RF-1200 right at the vents on the top of my helmet and there is no helmet buffeting at any speed. With the hand wings closed my hands stay nice and warm on cold days. When they are full open it buffets my helmet pretty good. I have found that if I just crack them an inch or so I get good airflow without the buffeting or noise. Hope this helps

Bill

[blacklightning]

I went from the 21" to the 25" and like it much better...but that is my preference. So, I have the 21" for sale if you want to try it. I only used it for a couple hundred miles. It has new hardware also. $100.00 plus shipping. Just let me know.

PM sent on windshield.

[JP58]

I will add. I have the Baker mirror wings and leg wings. All together with the F4 I have a wind quiet ride.

[F4 Customs]

The air wings really help for sure. www.f4customs.com 941-347-7496

[bikerchris1270]

Hi all F3 L or T riders. Need honest opinions. Anyone go from a 25 inch tall f4 to a shorter f4.
Or anyone go from a 21 or 23 inch f4 to a 25 inch f4. Looking to find out about wind noise or buffeting. I am running a 25 inch and getting some wind noise and some buffeting, just wondering if shortening it would make some improvement.
Thanks

2019 F3L
Yes, I initially purchased a 23” F4 tinted windshield with the Goldwing Vent......side wings.
After a 1600 mile trip to Deadwood, SD,......I found I had buffeting on my helmet.
Ordered a 25”glass only from F4....swapped out glass.....problem fixed.
I still have the 23” tinted, vented glass if someone needs it.
I’m 6’tall. Stock seat.

[ulflyer]

BikerChris: I have a 16" and do not get buffeting and it puts most of wind over my head. Can ride with face shield open most times but usually put it down above 50mph. Its not an F4 but a Jurock and I only mention the above to give you another view on shorter shields. I originally got their 14", thinking it would be about right, compared to the OE 12", but it threw wind in my face. 17" would be perfect for me. I'm 5' 10'.

[toolie]

I really want to thank you for your comments. The consensus is that a shorter shield would only make the ride noisier.
I went for a while with the freedom shield 19” from Lamonster and really liked it. The reason for the f4 was for the air wings because my hands would freeze even with the heated grips on.
Thanks

[Peteoz]

Toolie, just out of interest, when you are sitting on your F3, where does the top of the F4 come to on your face? If it is level with the bottom of your nose, that should be directing the air above your helmet. I have a 25” F4, but at 6’7” and with a Daylong seat that has lifted me around 2”, it is level with the bottom of my chin, meaning that air hits about 2” below the top of my helmet. This doesn’t really bother me as it means I can open my front Shoei vent and get some fresh air, without too much helmet buffeting. Everyone has different interpretations of buffeting, and different thresholds.....

Pete

[tntnj]

I have the 23 inch F4 with the vent and the side wings The ride is quite and no buffeting . My eye view is about 4-5 inches on the top of the windshield , that being said if I were 2 or more inches taller I would feel the wind because my helmet would be above the windshield.

Note the F4 side wings throw the wind about 6 inches away from the hand grips, so the windshield ( in my opinion ) also deflects the wind upwards because of the angle . If you are in that wind stream of the wind shield you will get noise and buffeting .

[scorpion56]

Bought the 23" for my '18 F3-L and wish I had gotten the 25. I watched the F4 videos countless times before selecting. The wind noise is noticeable. I'm 5-11. If I duck my head just an inch, it (noise) goes away. I was worried that I would bake with no air behind a taller screen. Still, the 23" screen is way better than the thing that came with the bike.

[F4 Customs]

OPEN-WING-FOR-WEB.jpg
IMG_0012-(2).jpg

Air wings with the F4 Customs Windshield. 941-347-7496
f4customs.com

[blacklightning]

I guess I am the odd ball here. I just purchased the 21" from Tmag. It looks great, but I am thinking I would rather have something in the 17"-19" range. I plan on getting a ride in Friday or Saturday and can report back. But at 6'-2" I just barely look over the top edge. We will see how this works. But I know that when things warm up, I will be going back to my stock shield

[JP58]

I look thru my 25" F4 windshield. At 5'9" 30" inseam. About 2" below the top no wind noise. If I sit on a pillow to raise me so I see over the top. I get wind noise. Not hard buffeting but more noise. The windshield is so clear I don't mind looking through it. If I get to warm I open my vent and side wings just enough to get cool airflow. That makes an F4 the best windshield imo.

[toolie]

The top of the 25” is just above my eyes. It’s ok if there’s very little wind but in the Rio Grande Valley it’s always windy. On my next ride I will sit on a pad about 2” thick and see if that makes any difference.
I’m surprised Don Franks didn’t make a comment on shield height.

[Mazo EMS2]

My personal choice, and opinion is a windshield with a "reverse" at the top of it to help push the air up and over your head. I chose the windshield that LaMonster Garage sells and we have both been very happy with them on our RT's. My wife has the 25" on hers, I have the 22" on mine.

[Matahead]

Hi all F3 L or T riders. Need honest opinions. Anyone go from a 25 inch tall f4 to a shorter f4.
Or anyone go from a 21 or 23 inch f4 to a 25 inch f4. Looking to find out about wind noise or buffeting. I am running a 25 inch and getting some wind noise and some buffeting, just wondering if shortening it would make some improvement.
Thanks

The Harley and Gold Wing communities generally recommend the wind screen to be tall enough that you can see over the top edge. I recently bought a taller windscreen, to reduce the wind noise. It was too tall, but closest I could find using a tape measure. With blue tape I marked off 1/2"' from the top edge and trimmed off pieces in 1/2" increments to finally remove 1.5". it was much cheaper than buying and reselling windscreens until I found the right one.

[F4 Customs]

The top of the 25” is just above my eyes. It’s ok if there’s very little wind but in the Rio Grande Valley it’s always windy. On my next ride I will sit on a pad about 2” thick and see if that makes any difference.
I’m surprised Don Franks didn’t make a comment on shield height.

Hey folks I don't normally chime in on windshield height since it is such personal preference. I Own F4 and I ride looking through the windshield on every motorcycle I ride. Why???? Because they are optically perfect, shed rain and I like the wind protection it provides Kim and I. However with that said some folks like to look over and I understand. The other thing that makes a difference is the vent. The vent does cut down some of the back draft you get and a little more air when you want it. I ride with a vent but love the airwings over the mirrors. They just really smooth out the ride and also give me more air when I want it. So always here to discuss it with anyone. Call or email me at 941-347-7496 or donfrank@f4customs.com. Ride Safe!

[blacklightning]

I guess I am the odd ball here. I just purchased the 21" from Tmag. It looks great, but I am thinking I would rather have something in the 17"-19" range. I plan on getting a ride in Friday or Saturday and can report back. But at 6'-2" I just barely look over the top edge. We will see how this works. But I know that when things warm up, I will be going back to my stock shield

Well, I said I would chime in with my results on the 21". Yes, I do like the tint, and the height is just about right for me in the winter. It does a great job of blocking the wind, while allowing me to see over the top. I didn't have any issues with buffeting, but I do wish it was a bit wider for more protection, without having to purchase the wings. This will definitely be a touring, or winter shield for me. For the summer season, this would not allow enough wind for me, and I prefer my stock height shield for the looks and function. This would also be because I always wear either a modular or minimum of a 3/4 helmet. If I wore a 1/2 helmet, the 21" would be my choice year round. JMHO

[JP58]

Well, I said I would chime in with my results on the 21". Yes, I do like the tint, and the height is just about right for me in the winter. It does a great job of blocking the wind, while allowing me to see over the top. I didn't have any issues with buffeting, but I do wish it was a bit wider for more protection, without having to purchase the wings. This will definitely be a touring, or winter shield for me. For the summer season, this would not allow enough wind for me, and I prefer my stock height shield for the looks and function. This would also be because I always wear either a modular or minimum of a 3/4 helmet. If I wore a 1/2 helmet, the 21" would be my choice year round. JMHO

Just add the side wings and it will be a year round windshield. They give you alot of air when needed. And block alot of wind when closed.