| Author | Message | ||
     Trevd |
So, being anal about wind management, this year I decided to try to improve the Uly's biggest fault. A few years ago I installed the Madstad windshield system and their 18" shield, which did wonders to reduce the amount of buffeting that my head experienced, but still wasn't perfect for me. I was still getting a fair amount of wind noise coming into my helmet from below. So this spring I ordered and installed a Laminar Lip on the stock XT screen, always on the Madstad brackets. I put the lip on the stock screen instead of the madstad screen just because it seemed to fit better on the stock screen. This further reduced the wind coming up over the top of the screen, but seemed to increase the amount entering my helmet from below. Can't see how it actually increased it, but it did seem like it, probably because it reduced the amount of wind coming from the top pushing the bottom wind away. So, following advice on here, I ordered and installed some Memphis Shades lowers to see if that would help with the coming from below wind. It worked! I was concerned about it blocking wind from the scoops, but I installed them up higher - up near the top part of the forks - where they get a bit fatter. That was the tough part of installation - I actually bolted them on a bit lower, and a bit loose - actually as tight as I could get them with my hex key jammed in between the headlight housing and the frame - then with a hammer (!) and a screw driver punch, I knocked it up onto the fatter part of the fork until it seemed nice and tight. I didn't like doing it that way for fear of scratching the fork, but it was better than trying to take the headlight housing off to better access the hex bolt. Now the wind coming up from the bottom is much reduced, and I can usually ride at highway + speeds with my sheild up, and no loud road coming up from the bottom into my helmet. Well worth the money and little bit of time to install. Here are some pictures. Excuse the purple plastic of the lowers - I would have preferred clear or black, but they were out of stock when I ordered and I wanted to get them before a weekend ride. Plus, the purple brings out my macho-ness.      (Message edited by trevd on October 20, 2013) | ||
| Britchri10 |
I've got a very similar setup. Madstadt brackets w/ an 0g screen - no laminar lip + the Memphis shade lowers. It seems to work very well as I no longer feel like my helmet is being pulled off of my head at speed. I've been running this setup for about a year. Chris C | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
nice idea.. i have lots of wind on the chest from that area.. will try those, thx for posting! | ||
| Dtaylor |
Keep an eye on the clutch cable -- the standard install of the lowers clamp may snag it. More on how to avoid that here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/680096.html  | ||
| Hoover_uly |
I also installed the Memphis Shades lowers along with the Palmer brackets and tall windshield. It made a huge difference at highway speed. If I think back at all the mods I've made, the Memphis lowers may be the best bang for the buck. Up to 70 or so I can ride with my shield up and skip the ear plugs. Much more relaxing! | ||
| Argentcorvid |
Do these help much with cold air on the knees? Riding to work last week with low 40s had me thinking of them. | ||
| Dmcutter |
Which model of lowers are those? I looked at the Memphis Shades site and they don't list Buells. | ||
| Britchri10 |
Memphis Shades: MEP5811 (Dark Gray) lowers MEM9890 Universal brackets These were what I purchased. I shaped the lowers a little with a Dremel for a closer fit & angled them back slightly so I could easily access the ignition. Chris C | ||
| Trevd |
Keep an eye on the clutch cable -- the standard install of the lowers clamp may snag it. I was aware of that possibility, so that's why I covered the clutch cable in that area with hockey tape, as you can see in the above pictures. Looks like crap, but when someone looks in that area the purpleness of the lowers distract from the crappy hockey tape on the clutch cable. | ||
| Jstav2012 |
The purple looks great. I am now considering getting orange, since I have the translucent orange airbox and flyscreen! | ||
| Arcticktm |
I seem to recall that the Shades I have were for a Honda VTX1800. Not sure if the brackets are different, but I do not have to do anything like Trevd describes with hammer/punch. Just slip them on and orient the clamp hex bolt out, when turn the bars to the opposite side to get a hex wrench or socket in there. No hammering required. I also run them all the way up, like Trevd, and therefore had to remove a bit of the shades for clearance. Also rerouted cable and put some flexible nylon braided guard over it just in case. Good news is you only have to get the clamp brackets on once, and can then just remove the shades portion (unless you need to remove the forks, of course). I don't care for them in hot weather, but do run them for cold or wet weather. |
