Those $30 HD plastic air deflectors review

Teachu2 · Sep 20, 2010

My dealer had told me about these (http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524448775791&default=none) when I bought the RGU. Picked up a set last week and gave them a test-run Saturday. They work, and work well. The air that used to boil up between the inner fairing and the front of the tank is now smoothly directed up the inside of the windshield. This greatly reduces the buffeting by both reducing the turbulence off the tank and raising the airflow off the top of the windshield. My glasses used to vibrate at speed, now they don't. I hit lots of bees, saw several shoot up the inside of the windshield and over my head - none hit me. Got stung inside my ear three weeks ago, so I'd have to say this is an improvement....

Overall, these were money well spent. Takes about 30 seconds to install them, they are very secure (tested to 110 mph) and you can easily remove them if you want.

hdnali · Sep 20, 2010

deflectors

Do you still have the lowers on the bike?
Stock windshield, or aftermarket? I'm thinking these will work better with the lowers on.
Have not pulled trigger yet, but given them some thought.

Teachu2 · Sep 20, 2010

hdnali said:
Do you still have the lowers on the bike?
Stock windshield, or aftermarket? I'm thinking these will work better with the lowers on.
Have not pulled trigger yet, but given them some thought.

Yes, lowers on, vents wide open.

Teachu2 · Sep 21, 2010

Stock windshield - which I'd stay with, but I kept the Clearview off my '07 RG, so I will try it as well.

ronn39 · Sep 23, 2010

Teachu2 said:
.... My glasses used to vibrate at speed, now they don't. .... .

My experience, exactly. Not sure how effective they might be on other year models, but they work on my 2011.

Guest · Sep 23, 2010

I put them on my 05 glide, they aren't suppose to fit, but the right side slips right on and I had to shave down the left side a littl where it slips over the tank bolt. Works really well for cutting down the buffeting on my glasses, also helps hear the stereo better.

ncbeast · Sep 23, 2010

I have an 08 and have the fork baffle, If I put my had around the inside of the fairing while doing 80 I do not feel anything? Not understanding why these would do anything? Maybe if you have lowers and they direct more air under the fairing??

Teachu2 · Sep 23, 2010

My '07 didn't have lowers, still had the glasses bouncing. If your works to your satisfaction, you don't need these!

Redfish-Joe · Sep 23, 2010

Stopped by the Harley store to pick up some parts I ordered and they didn't have the baffle in stock. Lucky me!..LOL

Yesca · Oct 2, 2010

The deflectors were the 1st mod I did and they are well worth the money. I am not sure why they work, but they do. They eliminated all of the turbulence and now I can hear the stereo without the wind disturbance. I cut a small slot in each of mine and secured them to the engine guard with a heavy duty ty-wrap to keep anyone with sticky fingers from walking off with them easily. If they want them now, their going to have to work for it. I am still using the stock windshield, but I might try a Clearview next summer.

METIME · Oct 2, 2010

I have the tank recall on my 10 and I really was hoping they would fit, they fit securely to the highway bar but will not attach at all to the bolt below the tank, a few people on the forum say they are fine being just attached to the bar but I know at 80 or 90 they will either blow off or bang against my inner fairing.... so confused.

ThunderBueller · Oct 2, 2010

I cut off the mounting tabs for the tank and drilled a hole to wrap a zip tie around the crash bar part of the deflector. It works great, even up to 90.

h-donut · Oct 2, 2010

just ordered mine

Guest · Oct 2, 2010

I would try and cut down the width of the opening that slide over the tank bolt. On my 05 the right side slid on and I had to modify the left side and then it slid on. Then I threaded a black zip tie throught the baffle, around the crash bar, back though the baffle and zipped it tight, both right & left side. I have had the bike up over 90 and it stays put and it is a little more difficult for someone to snatch them off the bike.

mattman22033 · Oct 3, 2010

Put them on my RGU on Thursday...well worth the $30.

ichiban · Oct 9, 2010

I also snapped them on my RGU. It does make a big difference

96349 · Oct 4, 2010

For you guys that have had the tank mod done there is an easy and cheap workaround to install the new deflectors. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a 1 1/2" long bolt to replace the 1" bolt that holds the gas tank on each side. While you are there pick up a 3/4" white plastic spacer to go over the new screw. Once you install, the top clip on the new deflector slips right over the 3/4" spacer. The rubber boot that they place over the tank bolt will no longer fit but I just painted the end of the bolt black and it is not noticable at all.

h-donut · Oct 10, 2010

do they snap behind the tank tabs, or supposed to without the recalled tank, spent 45 second looking at it, can't figure it out, gonna go look again.

GuyHD · Nov 10, 2010

Like them

Just bought mine a few days ago and installed the in 2 minutes outside of the dealer. There was a difference. I like the air flow even better now. I think with the RGU lowers the air is being pushed up and not to HHS sides of the gas tank. Good $30 investment.

Sancho · Nov 10, 2010

I've read a lot of mixed reviews on these. Maybe they work with a stock HD windshield unless it's the 6" that came on my 2010. I have a 12" Windvest and I honestly couldn't tell they were doing anything. I have the tank recall and if I hadn't cut a slit in them to plastic tie them to my crash bar I would have taken them back and exchanged them for a T shirt. My dealer won't give refunds.

GuyHD · Nov 10, 2010

I have the feeling these were design especially for the 2011 RGU desig. Since most of the RGU owners seem to feel a difference. With wind management every little curve counts, and all the wind tunnel testings HD did was with the RGU and the RGU CVO.

OldNerdGuy · Nov 10, 2010

I put them on mine midway thru a ride. I was headed into a 15 - 20 mph head wind at 70 mph and it seemed like my feet were getting swept off the boards. Put these on, kept my feet stable, cut down on the helmet buffeting. I have no lowers, and use the stock windshield on my 2009 RG. We'll have to see what they do after I put on the 2010 Fairing Mounts.

mrcorvette · Nov 10, 2010

One of the first items I put on the bike and had to take them off the next day. My personal experience is that, during warm weather riding, they prevent good air flow over the motor and made for a VERY hot ride. Most of my riding is around the DC area with a lot of stop and go, so I need all the air flow I can get. However, I just re-installed them and am looking forward to seeing the performance now that the temperatures have dropped.

Lama · Nov 10, 2010

These little things completely stabilized my stereo sound at 80MPH and above, no more "delayed" or "what part of the song was that??" music to the ear.

They also send bugs flying up and over my head.

Great mod!!!

harleson · Nov 11, 2010

Worth every penny...

Air Deflectors made the 19" Harley windshield even better, no more air poping/buffetting at the front of my helmet. Can ride 75/80 with a half helmet and do so in comfort!!!

29.99 well spent in my opinion!!!

harleson · Nov 11, 2010

cut the tank clip back until it just lays against the tank bolt and then zip tie them to the crashbars so you dont lose them, it should work.

Those $30 HD plastic air deflectors review

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