I went out for a 90 mile ride today on the GT. During the ride I realized a lot of the turbulence that I am feeling on my body is form the mirrors and it seems the windscreen design contributes to the condition. There are detents at the lower element of the screen which seems to move the air outward away from the rider pocket very well. However, the accelerated deflected stream collides with the path of the mirror, likely increasing the turbulence that the rider will experience. I'll figure out a solution but was wondering if anyone else has corrected this already. Thanks. Mike
Turbulence From MIrrors
- Thread starter mzflorida
- Start date
Sure. I am riding with the short stock screen and stock mirrors. During the ride yesterday I noticed concentrated turbulent air hitting my torso, near my sternum, from both sides of the bike. I started exploring the different logical paths for the flow by blocking areas where the stream could be created as it flowed over the screen. The area around the detents on either side were the most logical point for the creation of the turbulence. When I blocked that area, the turbulence was reduced but not eliminated. I started working around the mirror and noticed two things, when obstructing the air coming over the mirrors the turbulence was greatly reduced. When I blocked the path from the detent outward toward the mirror there were two things; the stream was being directed toward the mirror and the turbulence was somewhat reduced and the path was directed toward the external (front-traffic-facing) lower corner of the mirror. So, the conclusion drawn was that the mirrors were managing two different pressure sources; the unavoidable resistance from moving forward and the concentrated pressure from the flow off the screen near the detents. I can snap a pic that might demonstrate this a little better. I think that extenders would likely help quite a bit and a screen with a differnt profile would certainly help.
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I want to state something before I start typing. I do not try to prove points, I never have to be "right," I love to learn and also share, and am a total geek when it comes to just about anything I'm interested in. I'm the new guy here (though I think we've chatted on advrider) and don't want anyone to think I'm some kind of know-it-all blowhard...who has to prove points and be right. Those traits are not in my nature.
The timing could not have been better to have been caught in a little bit of a downpour today. My theory on the detents and the mirrors (both OEM) causing turbulence is spot on. The water comes up from the detent and hits the traffic side of the mirror just at the apex. The forward force at the apex of the mirror forced the water to about 5:00 or 150 degrees. It curves slightly up then down into the rider's torso. I'll follow your lead first with the extenders and the screen I was changing anyhow. Interesting too was that it was more pronounced on the left side of the bike than the right. I don't know if the direction of travel (east) had anything to do with that.
Every post I make has nothing but good intentions! I don't want to be "that guy." Sorry to go on about that but I have a lot to learn on this bike and don't want to be blackballed. I thought it was interesting and timely too!
Complete aside, really handled wet Florida asphalt well!