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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
Just wanted to share my experience today. Here in Central IL, the wind is totally nuts today. The wind's a steady ~30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph. Factor in windbreaks (lines of trees) alongside the road, and you can go from having the wind blow 5 mph in one direction to 45 mph in the other.
Needless to say, wind isn't fun when you're going 65 mph down the road. I've been trying to follow the advice on this forum to keep your windside knee out, be ready to lean, and pay attention to things that can block the wind, and IMHO, it works really well.
In any case, when I was out, I got the impression that it's a lot easier to go up and downwind than it is to go across the wind. Is this an experience others have had?
Perhaps I'll plan my trips based on wind speed and direction in the future; not just weather and the quality of the road.
Also, the heat index is 92 degrees down here. I just wanted to extend my recommendations for a perforated leather jacket like the Teknic I wear; it felt like it was less than 80 and I was in a T-shirt when I was heading down the road at 40 mph+.
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hm...haven't really thought of it either way, but then again we don't get the same kind of crosswind you guys get...
but just thinking about it using common sense, i would agree with riding up and downwind being easier (going with or against the wind) would be easier than having the wind blowing you aross 4 lanes!
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Originally Posted by FZ1-KEP
Its hard to make things foolproof, cause idiots are so resourceful.
Making your profile as small as possible helps as does planning your lane position. Wind breaks were the hardest for me at first. You have to keep your eyes scanning for those as well.
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Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
Today was one day I was glad that I don't have a bike. I had to work outside and the wind WAS crazy. Then again, the heat and the humidity were negated somewhat because of it so it worked out.
Yes, crosswinds are harder to deal with. Tailwind/headwinds slow you down or push you straight, but have little effect on steering.
When the wind is high, you can slow down. A 45 mph headwind at 65 is like you are doing 110. Slowing down makes the wind more bearable.
For a 90 degree crosswind, you just have to be ready. Strong gusty winds rarely swirl when you are in the open, so they are usually predictably coming from the same direction.
I feel you on the wind-I rode in gusts up to 60 MPH the day before yesterday...I didn't have any issues though because I have a very heavy bike.
Not that I wanted to do any extra cruising though, by any means...trucks & vans were still all over the place!
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I ride a lot along the coast here in central cali. I went out a couple of months ago with my buddies and was completley freaked by the strong winds coming off the water. Since then I've read several more books on technique and gotten a few more miles under my belt.
On Sunday I took off and went for a 175 mile ride. Halfway through my ride I ended up back on the coast. As I headed North the wind really whipped up. Instead of panicking I simply focused on staying tucked, holding onto the tank with my knees, and keeping my arms loose. The results were outstanding. As I was going around hard turns leaned over I still felt stable. The bike will do a lot to help you out as long as you're not riding stiff armed and putting in too many inputs. At one point I was going through twisties laughing inside my helmet at how much easier it was to control the bike just by staying loose. It was also cool to feel the bike make minor adjustments as the gusts picked up and then let down. The only downside is that my legs are a little sore from using muscles that I don't normally use.
Stay loose and tuck if necessary. Tucking really helps me keep my arms loose, plus your body is less of a sail. It's still weird though when that gust hits and feels like it blew your wheels out from under you.
DISCLAIMER: Any advice I give is backed by careful thought and common sense, NOT experience. Use with caution. Side effects include headaches, nausea, rolling eyes, and occasional uncontrollable laughter. If a bad advice condition persists or worsens, ask a mod for good advice or seek professional help.
(Not) fun in the wind...
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