Is wind always a huge factor?

[revmachine]

This may seem like a stupid question.

It's the middle of winter in Texas which pretty much means it gets to about 60 at night and 80 during the day and it always seems pretty windy. I know there are parts of the country/world a whole lot windier than this.

Today was the first day the wind actually freaked me out. I seriously thought a few times on some bridges that the wind was going to pick me and my bike up and toss us aside. It seemed like abnormal wind and for the first time I experienced wind that felt like it was only blowing on the low side of the bike and that the bike was actually trying to come out from under me.

Does anyone here have any good thoughts or maybe knows of some good threads/sites/articles about dealing with wind on a bike?

Thanks

[Get_1]

i live in lower south texas and yesterday the winds were 15 mph, not too brutal but they did push me around the lanes some. best thing you can do is duck behind your wind screen

[Maynard_002000]

try to crush that tank with your knees and hold on

[killahant]

yeah use your knees to stablize the bike. Tuck if you can and don't fight the wind too much, just be prepared to let the bike move around a little..you won't blow away

[revmachine]

Thanks, I sort of instinctively grabbed the tank with my legs to keep my arms loose. I crouch down some but was worried that if I went all the way down behind my tiny ninja 250 wind screen that I would create a bigger wall for the wind to push(I'm 6'2" 200lbs and when I crouch, my arms and torso are a solid ball on the bike).

Do you guys with bigger bikes that have bigger fairings have an easier time tucking back where the wind goes around you? I want a bigger bike but took everyone's advice here about starting small. I hope in a year I can upgrade.....maybe wind won't feel so bad?

This was a good article, mostly echo what you all said.
http://www.flamesonmytank.co.za/ride.htm#wind

[RBP3072]

lol. Yea, today is great. Gusting to 30mph....hehehe. I was dealing with this not too long ago, (and still am obviously). With my bike, I do as the others have said - use your kness to help stabalize you, (which of course you should be doing anyway), and tuck. I'm a big guy as well, though a 'few' more pounds...lol. At 6ft, 240, I somehow manage to tuck the hell outta my big ass, and it helps alot. Takes some getting used to, but slowly I am becomming more secure. As others have also said, don't try to fight it too much. A bike as light as yours is still going to move around more than heavier ones. Just stay calm, keep a level head, and your be fine.

Fairing do help to reduce/deflect wind and increase dynamics, but ultimately it is the weight of the machine that helps the guys w/bigger bikes. For example - your getting thrashed around on your smaller 250. I get tossed around on my F3. My brother will get swayed and perhaps tugged on his 500+lb VFR. Guys on bigger bikes don't even blink...lol. But, look at it this way. By learning on the 250 and being thrashes around, you will develop more skill, and more control, in these type of conditions.

[RayOSV]

Lots of good advice in that article especially about keeping your arms loose. Otherwise, the wind can cause you to give unintended steering inputs. Smooth is even more important in the wind. Try to make your profile as small as possible. I also found that tighter fitting gear makes a difference. A big, bulky textile jacket makes a much better sail than tight fitting leathers.

Be careful as you come out from behind large trucks, freeway overpasses, etc. as the wind may go from nothing to full blast in an instant. Plan your lane position accordingly. For example, in a left-to-right crosswind, positioning yourself toward the left side of the lane will help. Just be careful that you are paying attention if the wind stops or shifts. With the wind, like most things on a bike, experience and practice makes it easier.

[nitrotc3drifter]

first time i road my r6, i went to gandy BLVD and took a nice ride over the bridge and enjoyed the scenery (for some reason the road was nearly empty) but it was windy as hell!!!, and i was heading strait into it. i was going across the bridge and i sat up to adjust a little bit and the wind blasted me so hard my helmet was bobbleing and couldnt take it, so i rode in a full tuck going the speed limit LOL!!, i looked like a retard, but the wind wasnt bad. then on my way back across, the wind was at my back and it felt like i was just sitting on my bike without even moving.

[rajc007]

I agree with you about the Texas wind this week. The wind was supposed to be worse today so I decided to keep the bike parked. But a few days ago it was forcing me to change my lane position quite a bit.

[revmachine]

I'm glad to hear you Texas guys echo that the wind has been bad, today really made me feel like a noob. Wed I get the rest of my gear and have been using a big leather jacket that might as well be a sail from the Mayflower.

I really want to get mesh gear for the wild temperatures in Texas (cool/freezing/hot/warm/hot/freezing/boiling) with some armor. I gots to wear my lame work clothes so I'm either gonna have to have pull-over gear or just change at work.

I now know to try on gear a little tighter so I don't start para-sailing when it get's windy.

Does anyone here have a good mesh jacket they reccomend that's good in wind/heat but can sustain a good pavement slide?

The wind sure makes me appreciate the nicer days. Sup RBP3072? I ride BeeCaves/360 to work and have to ride 360/BenWhite/I-35 four times a week during lunch. Wind on those bridges was insane....glad your takin em ok.

[cyclefreak6]

Yup the wind here in N. Tx has been crazy. A lighter bike will respond more to wind than a heavier bike. Stay loose on the bars and tight on the tank as mentioned above, especially if it's gusting. You do a steering correction during a gust and then it's gone and you're on a totally different line.
As far as mesh being able to withstand abrasion...it won't. It might be okay for a low speed crash and it's better than skin/jeans/t-shirt Go with perfed leather if you can stand it.

[Dr Honda]

You will get use to it.

First… don’t fight it !!

Second… don’t get a “death grip” on your bars. Modern sport bikes react to even the smallest input, and if you are tense… you will actually make the problem worse.

Just get out and ride… soon you won’t even notice the wind. (even on 30 mph days)

[FormerHR]

A couple of buddies and I rode yesteday from Victoria up to Palmetto State Park, just north of Gonzales on 183. The wind threw us around pretty good, but the worst was coming back into Gonzales. We came out on 90a west of Gonzales, which gave us a crosswind back into Gonzales. There's a series of relief bridges and the surrounding land is pretty much open prairie. Crossing the bridges was fine, it was when you'd come off the bridge it would hit you. I got shoved on the shoulder once. Told myself, "Don't panic", eased it back in the lane and went on. The guy in back said it looked funny seeing the bikes leaning that far, but still going straight.

[revmachine]

The only time I really freaked out was when it felt like the went was only blowing on the lower 25% of the bike and that everything was starting to rotate sideways at my waist line. The full gusts were ok and was able to notice and loosen my "Death Grip" every 30 seconds or so.

I saw some guys on bigger bikes without helmets or face protection and also saw other sportbikers and they all looked ok so that gives me faith I will get used to it.

I'm gonna ride today.....hopefully not being in rush hour traffic on my way to work will give me some time just to experiement and enjoy the ride....i've got to start doing that more.

Thanks again everyone!!

[ZxHunteR]

Im 5'7 on a 500 lb bike. what is this wind you speak off?




Hunker down all the way if the wind is getting to you, if you can fit. Or dont get down at all, just lean into the wind. It becomes an optical illusion for cagers to see your bike leaning towards them and youre going straight lol.


Btw is your ninja yellow?