No buffeting but deep loud sounds with madstad and vstream at speed

[rmx250]

Not sure what is causing this, but I have a very deep howling/roaring sound inside my helmet when traveling at speeds over 65 or so. I have the madstad bracket and medium Vstream windshield.

Anyone else ever experience a very deep roaring sound?

I thought I tested the setup well enough before leaving on a business trip to Kitimat , B.C. but I guess I didn't. Doesn't seem to improve unless I duck right behind the screen. Only difference is that I added the tank bag to the bike before the trip.

Maybe it's my helmet. I have a Arai that has never been particularly quiet. Maybe the sound has always been there and the screen just hides all the other sounds. I can't hear the sound if I stand up over the rest of the wind noise.

Almost thought about removing the madstad just to see if it makes a difference, but I leave to head back to the States tomorrow

Larry

 

[jettcity1]

The noise is probably caused by airflow over the screen. Anything you add is additional parasitic drag, plain and simple. Parasitic drag causes friction, friction creates noise and buffeting.
I hope this simplifies things as people spend years and countless dollars trying to find the perfect windshield. I find one that works good enough, and stick with it.
Personally, i have never ridden a bike that had a perfect windscreen. (My C-14 was close)
good luck on your search.

 

[Boondocker]

I'm going with the opposite theory - that the sound (new kind of buffeting) you now experience is caused by air coming UP from under the windshield, not over the top. If I recall correctly, since I don't have one on the S-10, the Madstad bracket raises the windshield to a position higher than the stock high position. Getting more upward airflow could have the effect of lifting your helmet, which could bounce it around on your head - more booming than whistling. I tank bag also affects aerodynamics behind the screen, though for me, usually an improvement by reducing turbulence.

I'm curious how this works out for you because I have the medium V-Stream and am considering the Madstad bracket, but am not thrilled with a higher mounting position.

 

[tomatocity]

Not sure what is causing this, but I have a very deep howling/roaring sound inside my helmet when traveling at speeds over 65 or so. I have the madstad bracket and medium Vstream windshield.

Anyone else ever experience a very deep roaring sound?

I thought I tested the setup well enough before leaving on a business trip to Kitimat , B.C. but I guess I didn't. Doesn't seem to improve unless I duck right behind the screen. Only difference is that I added the tank bag to the bike before the trip.

Maybe it's my helmet. I have a Arai that has never been particularly quiet. Maybe the sound has always been there and the screen just hides all the other sounds. I can't hear the sound if I stand up over the rest of the wind noise.

Almost thought about removing the madstad just to see if it makes a difference, but I leave to head back to the States tomorrow

Larry

Do you have a Arai Signet-Q helmet?

 

[crockett]

Remove your windshield and the sound will disappear. I had the same situation with my Shoei Neotech. It was like night and day once I removed my windshield. Much quieter without the shield.

 

[Boondocker]

I've seen pictures of helmet wind tunnel testing - never a wind screen in front of the helmet.
Unfortunately, to the guy who just bought a new wind shield and Madstad bracket, telling him to take it off probably is not the advice he wants to hear. :'(
For sure, my cheapo AFX-39DS is way quieter in in clean air, decent on the WR250R, terrible on the Tenere. My HJC IS-16 is better on the Tenere, only noisy, and I always wear ear plugs.

Remove your windshield and the sound will disappear. I had the same situation with my Shoei Neotech. It was like night and day once I removed my windshield. Much quieter without the shield.

 

[MidlifeMotor]

The noise is probably caused by airflow over the screen. Anything you add is additional parasitic drag, plain and simple. Parasitic drag causes friction, friction creates noise and buffeting.
I hope this simplifies things as people spend years and countless dollars trying to find the perfect windshield. I find one that works good enough, and stick with it.
Personally, i have never ridden a bike that had a perfect windscreen. (My C-14 was close)
good luck on your search.

I agree with Jettcity, except I think the wind is coming up from the bottom. I also ride a C14 and it has an electric adjustable windscreen you can move as you ride. So many factor come in to play with buffeting, including weather conditions. Jettcity is correct that you will never find a perfect set up. My suggestion is earplugs for highway speeds. I have a Shark modular helmet. For street speeds it's fine, but if I am going on the highway I use earplugs. You will be amazed how smooth it will seem to ride as well. You can also use earbuds with music playing, even at a very low volume the buds will cancel the buffet noise. Just my $.02.

 

[rmx250]

So I had some time to try a few different configurations before leaving Kitimat. Didn't have enough time to try everything but I may have made some progress.

1. Madstad off with Vstream in upper position and only Yamaha hard bags. - Some noise but tolerable, at least there was no deep loud sounds
2. Madstad on with Vstream in lowest postion possible and slightly tilted back and only Ya,aha hard bags. - Seemed pretty quiet, even up to 75 mph.

I am thinking that either the tankbag or round dry bag that was strapped behind me may have something to do with the sound. It also seemed to change with different weather conditions. i also know that my Arai Vector is loud. It doesn't seem to make a difference what bike I ride, it's never quiet and I ride with earplugs always!

I did order a new helmet and won't make any changes until that arrives.

There sure are some interesting theories here. Good stuff to think about.

This bike is still the best I've had. I even saw a few on the road throughout Canada....and they wre all BLUE.

I'll report back when i find something that works for me, I'm not looking for something that is silent, If i wanted that I'd be on a gold wing...

thanks,

Larry

 

[tenerejack]

I have the Med. VStream w/ Madstad bracket and have only had time to try the bracket in the high position. The shield is floppy on gravel roads and I notice a pillar of air coming up from just in front of the gauge cluster. I believe the Madstad pushes the shield out causing a large gap at the bottom of the VStream creating a vacuum pillar through the dash area. It cant be adjusted correctly for me in the high position. I've tried it 25 different ways. Still a lot of buffeting. Its worse than the VStream w/o the bracket. I'll try it in the low position but the problem is if I lower the bracket, I will have to lose the cross bar holding my GPS.

 

[NittanyXT]

T-Jack, I moved my Madstad down and put the bar in the back of the tilt adjustment slot. This slightly limits backward tilt. One other thing,you may have to grind a slight relief in the bracket if you have the Yamaha side wings,or grind the wings as there is a minor interference.

 

[Big Blu]

The sound may be caused by wind passing over the extra holes in thhe OEM bracket, used for the high /low mounting, Try putting a bit of tape over those holes and give it a go!

Regards, Paul

 

[rmx250]

Turns out is was more of a helmet issue.

Bought a Shoei Neotec and things quieted down nicely. No need for the MadStad bracket now.

I'm very happy now. ::013::

Thanks for all the suggestions

Larry