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Important Turbulent free riding

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Turbulence, buffeting, and wind disappear on the R18 if you install an 18” Jurock on classic mounting bars along with the Memphis Shades fork mounted lowers.
 
I recently changed my Roctane for a Bobber and was surprised to experience buffeting. On a naked bike this seems like an impossible thing! All of my other naked bikes do not suffer from this problem, so it has to be something unique to the Bobber.
Has anyone found this on their bike? Maybe a small screen might help?
 
I don't get it on my Valkyrie which has an almost identical riding position, even down to engine format & footpegs :ROFLMAO:. I may have try a small screen of some sort, although I am not sure how it would suit a Bobber.
 
There are several threads about this. It seems to be a fairly common issue with the big boxer across just about all models.
 
Easy solution to gain “turbulent free” riding on the R18 base model.

1) Buy the windshield hardware bracket that comes standard on the Classic model. It attaches to the base model in minutes.

2) Buy an 18 inch Jurock windshield. Cost was $145 last year.

3) Buy fork deflectors from Memphis Shades. Brackets plus deflectors cost total of $95 last year.
 
Turbulence on naked cruisers in many cases have to do with the fuel tank design. Depending on the shape of the tank and where the incoming air flow hits the tank in the front, the air can be directed upward towards the riders helmet.
 
So question for those who have installed the Memphis shades.
Has anyone else noticed a handlebar wobble effect at high speed? I installed mine and went for a short autobahn blast and at 160km or 100mph it was noticeable. over 160 I had to back off.
I am suspecting a slight mismatch of the angle may be causing this.
Just got the bike back from the service, noticed the wobble on the way to the service, and have new tires fitted so will need to do another autobahn blast to check it out. Could not do it on the run home.
 
So question for those who have installed the Memphis shades.
Has anyone else noticed a handlebar wobble effect at high speed? I installed mine and went for a short autobahn blast and at 160km or 100mph it was noticeable. over 160 I had to back off.
I am suspecting a slight mismatch of the angle may be causing this.
Just got the bike back from the service, noticed the wobble on the way to the service, and have new tires fitted so will need to do another autobahn blast to check it out. Could not do it on the run home.
it is nearly always a result of additional lift; not enough weight on the front.

Have a look at the 'winglets' on the Moto Guzzi Convert.

1781703995541.png
 
it is nearly always a result of additional lift; not enough weight on the front.

Have a look at the 'winglets' on the Moto Guzzi Convert.

View attachment 21691
With the Memphis shades, trying to recall my aerodynamics theory from my airforce days, there should not be any lift on the beasts front but what I can imagine is that if the angle of both is different then pressure variations due to the angle of attack of the wings will create the wobble. Not an issue at country road speeds and I don't do a lot of autobahn cruising so not critical and the improvement at the lower speeds on the buffeting is significant.
Will get the angle measuring devices out and see if I can get alignment between the two sides. Eyeballing it there is a slight difference.
Seems like an exercise for when its not good riding weather
 
No issues on my '22 Classic with the Memphis Shades, at least up to Interstate speeds. However, I have not touched on 3 digits yet.
Yeah did not notice it until I got up to the higher speeds. Not something I do a lot of but with the unlimited sections on the autobahns it is nice to open her up occasionally
 
I have the Memphis shades fork deflectors, not Memphis shades windshield. Have been up to 90 mph once or twice and seen no instability.
The fork is raked out 33 degrees (most of any bike Ive owned) which gives it nice stability.
 
Same here .. I use the 'Memphis' brackets but made my own piece of polycabonate (that should count)... smooth as silk at higher speeds.
 
Since my last post I installed a little Puig screen - probably the smallest they make - and my buffeting has almost completely gone now (y)
It's amazing how such a small bit of plastic can make such a big difference, it's a pity that the bike manufacturers don't take turbulence as seriously as us riders, but surely, they must look at aerodynamics in relation to the rider - or maybe they just leave that to the aftermarket designers to solve that problem if it arises :unsure:
 
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