I bought a 2009 Road King last year and rode it all summer long without any buffeting. I switched helmets this year from a Fulmer C65 3/4 to a HJC IS-33 and started noticing helmet buffeting. I started searching through the touring forum for information on buffeting and found many different opinions and experiences. One thing that I didn't find was anyone contributing the helmet to being the problem. I switched back to the Fulmer and the buffeting disappeared. As I was riding at 60 mph. I held my hand along the top of the Fulmer helmet and noticed a dead space above the helmet. When I did this with the HJC helmet my hand was well into the wind turbulence that was coming over the windshield and onto the top of the helmet. When I came home I took measurements from both helmets and found that the HJC helmet is sitting 3/4" higher than the Fulmer. I think that the helmet design also contributes a bit to the difference also. Anyway I'm not going to be using the HJC helmet and will definitely test ride a new helmet before buying it in the future. Lesson learned. Just wanted to pass this along incase it could help someone else out.

 

This is why all of my helmets are sitting on a shelf at home...ALL helmets give me a headache and a stiff neck...I always say, I wouldn't live in a state that mandated one, and if Ohio did today, I'd move across the river to Ky tomorrow...

But I never miss an opportunity to post a pic of my favorite helmet...

 

I have a new full face HD helmet that buffets too. I never thought it could be the helmet design at fault. I wonder if I could install a small "spoiler" or something that would deflect better? Kind of like a bug shield on a truck hood.

 

The solution to helmet buffeting is obvious.......

 

Yeah, get rid of the windshield...

 

THERE ya go...

 

Um...every half helmet I have tried buffeted...some worse than others. Not a hint of it with my Shoei FF. Sorry, but I absolutely believe it is about helmet design. I would think full faces would generally be more aerodynamic and therefor buffet less??

 

Buffeting is caused by air being pushed over the windshield and catching a helmet right or going under the windshield, under the tank, up your chest & smacks you in the head. If the turbulence is there most helmets will have buffeting. I had terrible buffeting on both bikes with all my helmets only with windshields. Wind deflectors cured the problem on both bikes but I no longer run a shield on the 06. I run the 09 with deflectors all the time & a windshield on long rides or cold weather only.

 

On my 09 FXDC, I reduced the buffeting quite a bit by adding Memphis Shade LOWERS
to the front forks. A lot of air gets scooped up from below into the low pressure
area behind a windshield creating turbulence. I've tried it with and without the lowers
on the same day, same route and same helmet and on my bike there is a definite
improvement.

Bikes with full fairings, bat wings, etc. may be very different...

FWIW

EDIT:
Didn't see Golfblues' post when I was writing this. Looks like he's had the same result.

 

Exactly-Get a FF that has been made by a company with their own wind tunnels! IE: Shoei,Arai... IF you like FF that is...