The Laminar Lip by Paul Jamiol

Just what exactly is a Laminar Lip? Sounds like a wrestling thing or maybe something you heard someone in work whispering about at the watercooler. Something they tried on their spouse the night before. I had never heard of it until after 35 years of riding, I decided to fit my bike with a windshield.

My first foray was with a handlebar mounted shield. I quickly learned about "buffeting" aka turbulence aka getting your head pounded to death by the turbulence created behind a windshield.

I checked the web and everyone's answer was to get lowers. So I did. It was somewhat better but still the buffeting was there. This past winter I mounted a larger fork-mounted windshield with accompanying lowers. At seventy miles per hour I was still getting "buffeted". Back to the web and and good ol' Google.

My search bought up the "Laminar Lip". I went to their site to investigate this thing. What I found was a funky piece of plastic that you attach to your windshield which supposedly would cure buffeting.

A call to Laminar got me in touch with owner and designer of the Lip, Andy Corcoran. Andy was an Air Force mechanic with some industrial design background. He designed the Lip for the sport-tourers back in the eighties. I told him I would like to do a review on his Lip for the Motorcyclist's Post. He was interested and said one would be coming my way shortly. True to his word I found one in my mailbox four days later.

Upon opening the box (extremely well packed), I found a clear piece of plastic, make that modified clear acrylic (in the shape of an airfoil. which it actually is), directions and stick-on 3M Dual Lock(TM) fasteners. Looking at it, I had my doubts that it would solve my problem but the idea looked interesting enough to try. That idea is to change the air flow of a motorcycle windshield and thus easing the wind and turbulence that slams the rider's face and helmet.

The Lip is designed to be attached to the upper part of the windshield. Each Laminar LIP is designed for a particular motorcycle model. Depending on your motorcycle and windshield, fastening could be screws or the 3M Dual Lock(TM) fasteners. Mounting methods do differ. If possible, existing windshield mounting screw locations might be used. In most cases, 3M Dual Lock(TM) or 3M VHB tape is used for attachment.

Placement takes a little time and I had to adjust it a few times to get it right. Once in place, this inverted airfoil has a space of about an inch between the Lip and the windshield. This forces the air up and stops the air pressure from buffeting the driver. If you use the Dual Lock, the directions say to let the adhesive dry for 24 hours. You'll be able to remove it from the Dual Lock to make adjustments to the height. It took me three rides to find the perfect spot. I  don't necessarily believe this would be always the case. The radius of my Rifle windshield was the culprit.

Ok, does it work as well as the testimonials say on their website? Actually it does and does so very nicely. I rode over 1,000 miles with the Lip on mild days, windy days and cold days. I rode with it at 85 mph with varying degrees of crosswinds and it never budged or vibrated and most importantly I never felt like my head was on the receiving end of a prize fight.

 

Riding with the Lip on your windshield created this nice little pocket of no turbulence that made the ride easier. There was no sucking the wind out of your lungs or all those other neat things that happen with windshield turbulence. I did not get a chance to ride with it in the rain. So I can't report on that. It did turn out to be the cure to my problem and I do recommend the Lip.

The only things (and they were minor) that I'd would have like to seen with the Lip would be better directions. Maybe with more illustrations. They give you silver stick-ons to cover the mounting locks. It's a nice touch but give me them without the company name on them. If it's a good product (and it is), I'll tell everyone who makes it. I'll pass on the forced advertising.

The Laminar Lip goes for $75.00 plus shipping. You can get it from Laminar LLC, 2612 Croddy Way, Unit E, Santa Ana, CA 92704, Phone 714-540-8006.

So boys and girls, if turbulence behind the windshield is a problem, the Laminar Lip is a great fix. Check them out at www.laminarlip.com
 

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