I cannot get the Forum Search feature to work just now, so excuse me if this topic has been addressed already. I'm curious to know whether others find that the air deflectors, when flipped out, cause unacceptable amounts of turbulence at helmet level like they do for me. They certainly do increase the cooling effect to the torso, but at my height of almost 6'1" they increase the thrumming turbulence at head-level just too much to tolerate. Consequently they are, unfortunately, useless to me. If anyone else has this experience, does anyone know how to counteract it?
RoadSurfer
AeroFlow AeroWings.
They channel the air around that area, leaving just enough smooth air to cool you with the wings open, but not so much as to cause undue turbulence.
For a bit more protection and wind management around the hands and forearms, get the MiniWings as well.
Lots of member testimonials on this site if you do a search for AeroFlow, AeroWings, or MiniWings.
high speed / low speed
low speed - use them
high speed - don't use them
Aero wings - makes a difference - with the upper and lower aero wings I don't seem to get any air flow from extending the bikes wings.
With the areo wings off there is "a bunch of air" coming thru.
Highway speeds the wings in the out position cause too much air and turbulence which affects the bike seemingly wanting to wander side to side let alone the extra drag on the bike.
Low speed - high temps, aero wings off - get a lot fo flow. I also experience wind buffeting above my shoulders which I don't like. (stock windscreen)
I have wanted to devise something that would allow for sideways adjustment of the wings so they aren't either fully open or closed, as there might be a happy medium where they could be used at speed without all of the turbulence.
So, I basically leave mine closed and don't mess them unless it 100+ degrees, driving 5+ miles to the house from the freeway with my Klim riding jacket on. (Gets quite hot)
Cheers.
low speed - use them
high speed - don't use them
Aero wings - makes a difference - with the upper and lower aero wings I don't seem to get any air flow from extending the bikes wings.
With the areo wings off there is "a bunch of air" coming thru.
Highway speeds the wings in the out position cause too much air and turbulence which affects the bike seemingly wanting to wander side to side let alone the extra drag on the bike.
Low speed - high temps, aero wings off - get a lot fo flow. I also experience wind buffeting above my shoulders which I don't like. (stock windscreen)
I have wanted to devise something that would allow for sideways adjustment of the wings so they aren't either fully open or closed, as there might be a happy medium where they could be used at speed without all of the turbulence.
So, I basically leave mine closed and don't mess them unless it 100+ degrees, driving 5+ miles to the house from the freeway with my Klim riding jacket on. (Gets quite hot)
Cheers.
Got idea from guy that cuts lengths of heater hose. I take a small Alieve pain reliever bottle & ream it out a little 2ith a 1/2" drill bit & pocket knife, cut to desired length & place it over the little rubber bumper the paddle closes against. More necessary with the Aero wings off. I have a Cal Sci wide windshield, no mini wings, & Wunderlich leg protectors that can be turned to pull a little air in to the legs. Going 75 using my stops it's about as good a compromise as I've found. I've played with different lengths, what I've settled on is cutting the tube right where the cap rests screwed down closed, makes it not quite 2 1/2". When it's hot & I slow down to 50 or less going through a town, I open the paddles up all the way. Go slow a little @ a time reaming the tube out where it will go on the rubber piece & fit snug, just not so tight that it pulls the rubber out when you try to pull them off. Buy a couple of bottles of Alieve @ a truck stop, big improvement.
The AeroWings are designed to allow some airflow with the wings open, just not the crazy turbulent blast to your stomach that BMW somehow thought was OK. 
With them closed, it helps to push the air outside of your core and keeps things much smoother.
My wings stay on full time, in all temp and weather conditions. Never did see the point in popping them off and on at random times.
With them closed, it helps to push the air outside of your core and keeps things much smoother.
My wings stay on full time, in all temp and weather conditions. Never did see the point in popping them off and on at random times.
I get the blast right at my neck causing all sorts of noise in my helmet. I stopped opening them.
Thanks, folks. If, as you say, Meese, "They channel the air around that area, leaving just enough smooth air to cool you with the wings open, but not so much as to cause undue turbulence," I guess that is what I'm looking for. Some other comments make it all a bit confusing, however. For example, if, "with the upper and lower aero wings I don't seem to get any air flow from extending the bikes wings," why would you extend the wings? With the wings closed, at 6'1", I feel no turbulence around my arms or shoulders and only a minimal amount at helmet level, depending on windshield height setting. Now if there were something that would be 100% guaranteed to TOTALLY eliminate the latter (and give me a TOTALLY still air pocket at helmet level, without requiring me to look through the windshield), THAT I'd definitely buy. My experience with a variety of after-market windshields on various bikes in the past, however, makes me very skeptical that there really is such a thing out there for this bike.
+1 to what Rick said.
Everyone has a slightly different idea of what's acceptable on two wheels, just as we all have different heights, weights, inseams, and expectations.
There is no one perfect answer here, or else we'd all be running it.
I bought a pack of six different K16 windscreens (of different heights and shapes from several different manufacturers) on eBay, tried them all out, and found the ZTechnik sucked, the Cee Bailey was OK, the CalSci was better, and the AeroFlow was best for me and my passenger.
I also had the luxury of going to AeroFlow's headquarters and speaking with Paige, where we made a few more tweaks to get it dialed in just right. That lead to the design and testing of the AeroWings and then MiniWings.
Now I run the full AeroFlow package year-round, and it's the best solution I've found for the K16, at least for my needs. And, based on various other reports here, for many other folks as well.
You simply have to do the online research, make your best guess as to what will fit your needs based on other owners with similar heights and riding styles, and then spend the $$ and try it out for yourself.
If you're lucky enough to be in a large metropolitan area, then perhaps you can set up a meet & ride with other K16 owners, and maybe try out a few solutions for yourself.
Good luck, my friend.
Everyone has a slightly different idea of what's acceptable on two wheels, just as we all have different heights, weights, inseams, and expectations.
There is no one perfect answer here, or else we'd all be running it.
I bought a pack of six different K16 windscreens (of different heights and shapes from several different manufacturers) on eBay, tried them all out, and found the ZTechnik sucked, the Cee Bailey was OK, the CalSci was better, and the AeroFlow was best for me and my passenger.
I also had the luxury of going to AeroFlow's headquarters and speaking with Paige, where we made a few more tweaks to get it dialed in just right. That lead to the design and testing of the AeroWings and then MiniWings.
Now I run the full AeroFlow package year-round, and it's the best solution I've found for the K16, at least for my needs. And, based on various other reports here, for many other folks as well.
You simply have to do the online research, make your best guess as to what will fit your needs based on other owners with similar heights and riding styles, and then spend the $$ and try it out for yourself.
If you're lucky enough to be in a large metropolitan area, then perhaps you can set up a meet & ride with other K16 owners, and maybe try out a few solutions for yourself.
Good luck, my friend.
From what I've been reading, I'm glad I'm a short guy, 5'3". Right now I have the stock GT windshield on, great for hot Mississippi summertime. I mostly use the Aerowings with slipstream & Wunderlich leg protectors fully open, when it's hottest & unbearably humid I take the Aerowings off to get maximum airflow. At 70+ I'll use my stops mentioned above to run the slipstream paddles 1/2 way position, with/without the Aerowings, & close the Wunderlich leg protectors. I had the miniwings on my last bike but let them go & haven't bought any for this bike, they won't work with my Cal Sci wide windshield that I like for cold weather. I put Clearwater Sevina lights on with the mirror mounts, they block some air & I'm gonna experiment cutting up windshields that I don't like to make some deflectors around the Sevinas & mirrors for winter weather. I know I'll never get perfect, but I like trying new tricks & tweaking when I'm homebound for a while & play with my "baby" under the garage.
You make a persuasive argument, Meese. Now the missing factoid is your height...? I'm a hair over 6' and, according to the AeroFlow website, the tall screen is recommended for anyone 6' and over for the GTL. I just worry that your praise of the AeroFlow may be based in large part on your height and that, if you are not as tall, equal success may be harder to come by for someone of my height. Thanks for the input from all of you (or should I say alluh y'all? ?).
Steveo turned me on to a set of Wunderlich hand guards. A side benefit is the air is a lot calmer with the air vents open at speed. While the hand guards block a lot of air from your hands they also block most of the bugs. I will try them with Aero Wings this fall to see how they work.
6' even, with a 35" inseam, but I also have my seat height built up higher to lessen the knee bend. I ran the Xtra-Tall AeroFlow for a while, but switched to a Tall screen.
I also like to run my screen a bit higher, as I'm usually looking much further down the road. Looking right in front of my tire is useless, as by the time you see something right there, it's too late to avoid it anyway.
Recommendations do help, but it really comes down to personal preference. Also, if you call Paige at AeroFlow, he'll ask you a few questions and help you settle on a size that works for you.
I also like to run my screen a bit higher, as I'm usually looking much further down the road. Looking right in front of my tire is useless, as by the time you see something right there, it's too late to avoid it anyway.
Recommendations do help, but it really comes down to personal preference. Also, if you call Paige at AeroFlow, he'll ask you a few questions and help you settle on a size that works for you.
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