Is it windshield v. full face helmet????

[VossHog]

OK experienced Spyderlovers, riddle me this.

If one has a full face helmet, do you need to go out and buy a touring windshield to prevent buffeting?

The impression I've gotten is that if you have a full face helmet you don't have a buffeting problem but you lose out on some of the "wind in your face" value. Is that correct?

 

[sleepman]

I never had a problem with buffeting and a full face shield. For me I like the full face more than any other helmet. I can't stand the wind in my ears without a helmet or with half helmets or beanies.

 

[ataDude]

It depends on the windshield. If you have one that creates turbulence at the rider's head, yes, indeed, you can have buffeting even with the best of helmets.

.

 

[wingnut]

i don't like bugs hitting me in the face at 90, full face fo me.:yikes:

 

[zzneonzz]

I prefer full face and I still get buffeting if i'm behind an big rig or winds are high unless i lay on the tank.

 

[aka1004]

With stock windshield, my head was beaten around by wind so much even with full face helmet. Now that I have f1 slider, with slider up at 90mph I have little turbulence with half helmet. I do wear all-in-one neck gayer I use as half mask full time with half helmet as bug deflector/dust filter/sun block. When it gets cold I put on beanie and heavy neck gater

 

[bjt]

I think that a properly sized and designed touring windshield is necessary for anyone who wants to decrease their head / neck strain caused by the wind during higher speed riding. That won't change no matter if you've got a shorty, 3/4, full face or modular helmet. However, an improperly sized / designed touring windshield can increase the amount of wind buffeting and wind noise also. How well a specific windshield works for a person has proven to be a very subjective thing. Some prefer the constant "clean" air provided by a short windshield while others have noted the varying successes of just about every aftermarket windshield out there.

 

[bone crusher]

Full helmets are much safer...wear one!

As far as windshield goes, from what I gather from everyone here, the higher, the better....or at least if adjustable, then better...

 

[0228lisa]

With stock windshield, my head was beaten around by wind so much even with full face helmet. Now that I have f1 slider, with slider up at 90mph I have little turbulence with half helmet. I do wear all-in-one neck gayer I use as half mask full time with half helmet as bug deflector/dust filter/sun block. When it gets cold I put on beanie and heavy neck gater

What is a f1 slider?:dontknow:

 

[aka1004]

What is a f1 slider?:dontknow:

its the windshield i have thats adjustable made by f1 windshield.
if you look at pic below what you see is the stationary part but there is a "sliding" piece thats sits on inside of the stationary windshield that slides up and down on rail. i have it down on local ryding but raise it up when i get on the freeway. F1windshields.com

 

[strats]

Buffeting with a full faced helmet depends on the helmet... I own 3 different helmets and they all behave very differently to one another at the same speed.

 

[Greg H.]

I wear the HJC Sy-Max II Modular. It's safe. And, it's convienent, too!

My windshield, as noted in my signature, is the BRP Ultrasport. I can handle the buffeting.

 

[NancysToy]

Buffeting with a full faced helmet depends on the helmet... I own 3 different helmets and they all behave very differently to one another at the same speed.

Also depends on the angle of the rider's head. Many helmets are designed with sport bikes in mind, and get noisier with a rider in a more upright, touring position. The windshield can either reduce or add to this effect, depending on the shield height, width, angle, and shape, as well as the rider's size. I don't think you can predict all the combinations. I do advocate a full-face helmet all the time, though. Voice of sad experience...trust me!
-Scotty

 

[FANG]

I wear full face and have stock windshield. Only time I get buffeting is when behind a Big Rig or if the wind is gusting especialy if it is "off the bow" as we would say in the Navy.

I have a beanie but only use it if I go to a rally and am doing slow riding around the rally itself.

 

[tatt2r]

you all know how i feel about windshields ....:barf:
full face for me

 

[Biker]

I've been ridin' for over 40 years and I've found that the windshield plus the full face gives you maximum protection. The windshield keeps that initial blast of wind hitting you and the full face gives you even more protection. Unless you are driving in 90 degree weather, I'd use both. :chat: Just my opinion but then again, I'm old. :dontknow:

 

[bjt]

Also depends on the angle of the rider's head. Many helmets are designed with sport bikes in mind, and get noisier with a rider in a more upright, touring position. The windshield can either reduce or add to this effect, depending on the shield height, width, angle, and shape, as well as the rider's size. I don't think you can predict all the combinations. I do advocate a full-face helmet all the time, though. Voice of sad experience...trust me!
-Scotty

+1. I can greatly change the wind noise created by my helmet by tilting my head up or down while riding. It is quieter with a "sportbike lean" type of angle. I'll add that the sportbike angle is not my normal riding position. The taller windshield, specifically the F1 - EVO III slider, helps me with the excessive wind resistance and wind noise on long, high speed rides..

 

[bjt]

What is a f1 slider?:dontknow:

http://www.f1windshields.com/

BTW, my Spyder is the second yellow one down the page, under the red Spyder, on his web page.

 

[Lamonster]

Been through a lot of helmets and a lot of windshields and for me I had no real problem with the stock or BRP "Tour" shield. Both did very little for actual wind protection but did keep the wind off of your chest.

Looks are important to me and the Cal-si that I got from No Magic looks the best. I wish it didn't have the cutout in the middle and I may just see if I can order one without it next time. That being said I still cut my Cal-si down about 4". I found that not enough wind was giving me a neck ache. I guess it's muscle memory or something but I need to have some wind pressure or else my neck really gets to hurtting.

Cutting mine down seems to have given me the best of all worlds. It has good wind protection and I was able to tuck my GPS out of the way like I wanted it. I will say that not all windshield conform the same. The F1 shield is made so it's really close to the dash, there's no way I could get my GPS behind it and back as far as I have it now with the Cal-si. I didn't realize how low they were till I tried to remove a cluster that had that shield on.

As far as helmets go I have a HJC Sy-Max and it works very well and I like being able to flip it up in town and down when I hit the highway. It protects me from bugs and rain when I need it to and it gives me some air when I'm stopped at a light or cruising in heavy traffic.

 

[VossHog]

Thanks, all. Great advice and much appreciated!