| Author | Message | ||
     Pontlee77 |
Hello, I Was looking in the web of Memphis Shades, I'd like to know a bit more about them, if they are worth the cost, benefits inconvenients. Thanks | ||
| Dtaylor |
I find they were well worth the cost, in my case greatly reducing helmet buffeting and cold air blasting up my chin. I modified them so the fork clamps wouldn't rub or catch on the clutch cable: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/680096.html?1337129902  I've since made them about 5cm narrower (imagine a vertical cut along the holes you see in the picture above), and drilling new holes with a wood spade bit. Makes them a little less obtrusive overall, and tidies up those extra holes, but doesn't seem to reduce their efficacy. (Message edited by dtaylor on January 15, 2015) | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I found the wings to be of benefit. I'm a bit over 6' tall and have a Zero Gravity 'touring' windshield. The wings notably reduced turbulence and noise without cutting off airflow. I used the stock mounts and found that at full stop (I have an '08), the wings would just touch the frame/tank. I contoured the forward edge of the wings to fit closer to the front shrouds and stay clear of the tank. | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
Yes they work!    | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Sure would be nice if Buell would take the time and provide as OEM wind protection that works when we buy the bike. We get so used to having to rework these bikes when Buell could have done it for us as part of the design. A bike should not buffet like our ULY does. Mine is OK but only after trial and error and expense. | ||
| Simond |
The Uly wasn't designed to have full weather protection. I've got a big screen, Nav and hand guard extenders on mine but bolting all this stuff to the forks/bars does nothing for the already dubious stability. Personally I think the Uly works best with no screen at all. If you want full weather protection you need a bike with a frame mounted fairing. .....in fact that would be a nice idea. A bracket that would move the fairing forward a couple of inches and mount it to the headstock. Actually, didn't Al do that with a Firebolt fairing? As it is I just accept the lower speeds of the Uly and use the S2 (with 25hp less!) when I want to get a move on. | ||
| Desertdan |
I'm with Simond , frame mounted Faring , there is just no way to keep the bike stable at speed mounting things to the forks , I have tried fork/triple tree mounting on Bikes for 40 years and it always leaves Me disappointed , You would think I would know better by now  | ||
| Argentcorvid |
A++++++ Would Recommend. | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
I don't notice any ill effect to handling at speeds around 80mph.. | ||
| Terrycoxusa |
I installed some, along with a Palmer Products bracket and a bigger windshield. Great wind protection, no headshake up to 80mph. | ||
| Simond |
That's the problem.....it weaves over 80mph. The more stuff you bolt to the bars the worse it gets. | ||
| Gobadgers |
Use the Madstad screen (Spyder)and brackets. I am 5'10" with 31" inseam and they suggested the 18" screen. Went a little bigger with the 20". My reasoning was that I can keep it lower and get better airflow channeling between the windscreen and windshield. And I think that it does help as there is calm air around my head. As far as stability, at higher speeds, 80+, it seems like the bike floats a bit with the bigger shield, if that sounds right. However, very rarely ride that fast. Also use the normal Uly shield that fits the Madstad bracket for warmer weather. With the brackets you can change the angle and air direction. It works great, quickly changes in and out, and the bike is stable at higher speeds. | ||
| Callawegian |
If I wanted to ride around in an air pocket I would be a convertible. I ride a motorcycle to be put in the elements. You might give some thought to pulling your man pants on and trying it every now and then. Sorry, my 2 cents cause I like my knees in the breeze. | ||
| Gobadgers |
Perfect, if you like to keep your knees in the breeze, come and join us in 2 weeks in Wisconsin on the ice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TChLBTkIL2E  (Message edited by GoBadgers on January 17, 2015) | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
is Norm's called "the wheelie bar"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDprSdH2xQ&featur e=youtu.be | ||
| Gobadgers |
Foto, that is great, I love it. | ||
| Tootal |
Wow Foto, I forgot all about those! Probably wanted one for my Stingray! I could wheelie forever on that thing without the wheelie bar! I know, I'm old... | ||
| Hoover_uly |
I bought a set and it may be the best bang for the buck I've spent on any mod. Greatly reduced the wind blowing in over the airbox and up my chest. Before, at speed, it seemed that the wind from below was going to blow my helmet off. I also have the Palmer brackets and large windshield. The Memphis shades were added last and seem to work well with the Palmer windshield. I might like a slightly taller windshield since I still don't get enough clean air over the helmet. I've never ridden a bike with a frame mounted windshield so I can't compare but I do know that a decent windshield and the shades are well worth the investment. I still get buffeting on a windy day and in freeway traffic but I have not noticed a stability issue at speed. Call me a weenie but I hate getting beat to death on every ride. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
Thanks for all the replies. | ||
| Terrycoxusa |
If you don't think fork mounted windshields are a good idea, better not buy one of Harley's best sellers, the Road King. | ||
| Simond |
I'm pretty sure the Road King's rake/head angle is a teensy bit less aggressive than the Uly! .....and from what I remember the Road King screen creates awful buffeting over about 60mph. Not really a problem because I wouldn't want to ride one much faster than that. My issue is that the Uly is otherwise such a fabulously capable bike it is a shame that it is let down by its cruising ability. | ||
| Tootal |
.....and from what I remember the Road King screen creates awful buffeting over about 60mph. Not really a problem because I wouldn't want to ride one much faster than that. That's why I have a Road Glide with a frame mounted fairing. That barn door blows a big whole in the wind!  I think the Memphis Shades is a great idea and on my list. As mentioned previously, the stock 06 windshield provided a smooth air flow and was the quietest shield ever put on the bike. Your body got a lot of wind but it was "clean" air. I loved it, in the Summer!! The problem is that when the temps drop it's nice to get behind a wall. Just ask Vern and his BAS! | ||
| Desertdan |
besides my 09 uly xt I ride a 2011 roadglide ultra . I traded a 99 Ultra classic in on the road glide ultra, the ultra classic has the fork mounted bat wing faring , it is much better in side winds then the road glide ultra that is frame mounted, the road glide ultra is very good in a straight line with head winds or tail winds , not so much with side winds. I have a clear view wind screen 6'' taller then normal and I don't get wind on me anywhere ! I'm pretty sure if I smoked I could light a cigarette at 80mph , the stock wind screen beat my head up worse then any bike I ever owned | ||
| Desertdan |
Last October I flew into Long Island from San Diego , I bought a 09 ulysses xt , I spent 15 minutes with the seller and off I went to ride it home , 3100 miles :-) alone , callawegian If I bought some of those "Man Pants" do you think I would be a Poser ? :-) | ||
| Callawegian |
Desertdan, of course not. | ||
| Sprintex |
So which clamps and shades to you use? | ||
| Argentcorvid |
I just bought the set for the Honda (VTX?) that's recommended in the thread in the Knowledge Vault. then I drilled a couple more holes at the same spacing as the others with a wood bit, so that the clamps can ride a little lower on the fork tubes. | ||
| Sprintex |
Thanks! | ||
| Trevd |
"My issue is that the Uly is otherwise such a fabulously capable bike it is a shame that it is let down by its cruising ability." I agree. I love my Uly, but HATE the buffeting I get (even with the madstad, and memphis shades) when just droning along the highway to get to the good roads. So much so that I'm starting to eye other, fairing equipped bikes. I would miss the Uly's handling though... | ||
| Arcticktm |
My helmet buffeting was resolved by combining Buell Tall screen with Palmer brackets and Laminar Lip. Doesn't matter if I have the Memphis shades on or not, so I only run those in cool weather. I am 6'4" with 36" inseam, so I keep the Palmer up pretty high. I remove it and go with stock flyscreen/pop on windshield in hot weather. I can cruise all day if needed. No wobble sensed up to about 100mph, and I have never felt the need to go much above that to see what happens. (Message edited by arcticktm on January 23, 2015) |
