Need advise on Passenger comfort

Okay, so before I get grilled I did use the search function but wasn't getting the answer I was looking for, and there very well may not be one.

So I'm 5'11" and my wife is 5'10". I have an aftermarket windscreen which is wider and taller than the stock. My wife still seems to get buffeted by the wind. She wears a 3/4 helmet with a full shield. She tells me her head vibrates and it feels like it is being pulled up. She scrunches down behind me and of course that is fine, but not practical.

I was thinking if I could shave the passenger seat down a couple inches she may find it better.

Any suggestions from some taller passengers?

Try getting her own bike.

Uh, it's called riding a motorcycle. Or else you could always take the cage. Just kidding.

If you will reinstall the factory shield, which will be shorter, she may be more comfortable.

You could even trim the factory shield a few inches. Also, have her try a full face helmet if possible. Less exposed area underneath.

The tall windshield is making the buffeting problem worse, not better, by causing a low pressure area over her head and the wind from below is rushing in to fill that partial vacuum. You should be looking OVER the windshield when seated upright, and just through the top one inch when relaxed and cruising. If you wear a full face, you can trim the windshield even more.

If you try a shorter shield AND some lower fairing extenders it might make it quite comfy for her!

What have you got to lose except an unhappy pillion?

BTW...I would NOT shave the padding from the passenger seat...her bottom side will be sore after a short ride from bouncing against or contacting the hard plastic seat pan. Thats fine for bar-hoppers but a long ride out of town will NOT be fun for her.

I'm 5'9" & my wife is 5'3" on a gen 1 with the stock windshield and she has the same complaint. She found that absolutely NOTHING will keep her from feeling the wind. What she does is always wears he armored jacket & a full face modular helmet. She has a 1/2 shell but will only use it for quick local hops.

The modular is especially effective at highway speeds and in rain. She says she is completely insulated from the wind (she sometimes falls asleep back there)

Most of the wind vacuum I had on the 1st Gen went away with the addition of a vent.

Sounds as though maybe the helmet is not fitting correctly possibly. I have the factory windshield and also a shorter one, and the boss has not complained about either and she wears a Bell Mag 8

I was going to ask if she ever tried a full face helmet. A 3/4 with the face shield tends to trap turbulence behind the face shield. If she feel claustrophobic in a full face try a modular...

Where in Ontario are you?

Thanks for the advise. I am going to look into the modular helmet. I think the fit is good, since she takes a XS. I thought about her own wheels too, but she has never ridden before. I was actually looking at getting her a scooter so she can tag along with me.

bongobobny, I live in southern Ontario, about a half hour south of London.

I'd 2nd the vent in the windshield. They are adjustable so you can go from closed to fully open. That might change the "pocket".

Are you going to MarCarl's in May ?

I am with Brian, my wife says the aftermarket shield puts more wind on her than the stock.

A Corbin seat will raise you up so you may block some wind off of her.

Thanks for the advise. I am going to look into the modular helmet..

Check the weight on the modular helmets. Some are much more heavy than regular helmets.

I have two Scorpions and I get neck aches on long rides.

 

If you try a shorter shield AND some lower fairing extenders it might make it quite comfy for her!

 

Lower fairing extenders ? Where do I get those and where do they attach ? I think that may resolve a complaint I'm having with my passenger.

Lower fairing extenders ? Where do I get those and where do they attach ? I think that may resolve a complaint I'm having with my passenger.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROYAL-STAR-VENTURE-TOUR-DELUXE-TINTED-LOWER-WIND-VENTS-DEFLECTORS-/231206791911

http://cyclegiant.com/products/31554-tinted-lower-wind-vents?context=yamaha_brand-yamaha

I have to agree with the many and say shorter shield. And also go with a full face/modular helmet, check stats and you will find about 75% impact on helmets in a crash are the chin area, things that make you say Hhhhhhhhhhmmmm. The helmet will for sure lessen the buffeting and smooth the air flow.

That and remember we are on a motorcycle to feel that wind, I know the buffeting can be difficult so ride faster and cut some of it away.

I ride a second gen with a clearview shield. Opening the vent a bit to relieve the back pressure helps a lot. My lady says it's fine then, no buffeting...

2nd gen RSV have 10 inch bagger shield. Wife is 5'6" wearing 3/4 with faceshiled - sometimes up and sometimes down. NO buffeting. Says she is comfortable with "wind in her face, after all, I am on a motorcycle"

by the way, I love the baggershield !

VentureFar...

Clearview makes a windshield with a slight unnoticeable bend outward at the top. Forget what they call it but I have it and it helps.

Check the weight on the modular helmets. Some are much more heavy than regular helmets.

I have two Scorpions and I get neck aches on long rides.

Good point Jimbo, that was the 2nd complaint the mrs had. She wound up getting a BILT Evolution modular from Cycle Gear. It's actually more balanced than her 1/2 helmet.

Try the HJC ones, they have a more rounded shape and thus give extra space for the ears. Great for folks who wear glasses. They are a bit noiser than one piece full face though. Look for the ones with the retractable sun shield.

Try the HJC ones, they have a more rounded shape and thus give extra space for the ears. Great for folks who wear glasses. They are a bit noiser than one piece full face though. Look for the ones with the retractable sun shield.

 

yeah what he said. Especially this part "Great for folks who wear glasses". Also, for those with big ears. (thanks Dad for the awesome genetics!)

I have 6 helmets .. I use one. The HJC. Others make my glasses stab into my skull after about an hour.

Try the HJC ones, they have a more rounded shape and thus give extra space for the ears. Great for folks who wear glasses. They are a bit noiser than one piece full face though. Look for the ones with the retractable sun shield.

 

yeah what he said. Especially this part "Great for folks who wear glasses". Also, for those with big ears. (thanks Dad for the awesome genetics!)

 

I have 6 helmets .. I use one. The HJC. Others make my glasses stab into my skull after about an hour.

Clearview makes a windshield with a slight unnoticeable bend outward at the top. Forget what they call it but I have it and it helps.

What he said! The Clearview will solve all your problems. Put one on mine and wife loves it. No more buffeting. I ordered the XL. And they call the bend "recurve" and it works by forcing the air higher up. I also have the vent which puts air into your space which would not be there without the vent.

I have the clearview XL windshield with vent. Wife says there is no buffeting.

F4 went to that from a clearview and I never want a vent ever again.