Triumphrat

cak03 · 04-29-2004

I have always had discomfort riding on windy days. Now that I am on an ST with bags seems the side gusts have more to bite on. I understand all about countersteering and how it works. It can freak me out when going over a bridge and getting blasted by a side gust of wind. Very hard to stay relaxed.

Any thoughts or words of wisdom? Many thanks,great forum!

cak03

04-29-2004

This has been mentioned before as a concern and most I believe suggested countersteering, staying relaxed while keeping the bike in the lane rather than trying too hard to stay absolutely straight line. That gives an acceptable result without being blown off the road. Even so, I've been surprised by gusts hard and severe enough to just about be put on the shoulder and that calls for constant vigilence. I also change my lane position to give the maximum manuevering room.

No one likes dealing with strong cross winds but it's part of the experience short of parking the bike. Some days when it's particularly bad like 30-35 knot gusts I do just that. Oh, one last thing- slow down a bit in that kind of wind.

dollardriven · 04-29-2004

no one hates wind more than me...no one. When I decide to go sailing the wind stops then to my bike you guessed it a damn 40 mph crosswind. I am with you bridges with crosswinds scare the s..t out of me. I avoid them if I can. In constant wind I am not so uncomfortable from the front or back. The real tough one seems to be the 45degree gusting crosswind. Slow down considerably.2. Stay on 4 lane roads when possible 3. Crossing bridges especially long high ones run 25-35 mph max in very gust conditions.4. try to make certain that the wind is blowing you away from on coming traffic 5.plan to go sailing...the wind will stop.

PassTheGravy · 04-29-2004

In windy conditions, how does the ST compare to other bikes you guys have ridden or owned? I've got a BMW F650GS, and am considering the ST as a stablemate for the BMW. The F650 is very susceptible to crosswinds, especially with the Givi side bags mounted. I test rode an ST a couple of weeks ago in very windy conditions, and it seemed a lot more stable in the crosswinds than my F650. That's one of the things I'm looking for in my next bike, because it will be my long distance touring bike.

KayTee · 04-30-2004

Here in Ottawa yesterday it was warm but very windy. Steady winds peaked at 36 Kmph so gusts were surely 50 or more. I took the baby for a ride last evening and got hit by one gust that pushed me at least 2 feet across the lane. The last bike I had was a Kawa Concours. It was not as susceptible because, I am convinced, it is so much heaver (600lbs v 480 or so with bags) - the windage is proabbly a bit more on the Connie.

I found myself becoming very sensitive to windblocks and open areas as I rode. A patch of trees or buildings and the wind dies then you hit an open field and you make a subconsious correction. I did also end up riding a tad slower!

FWIW

preachp · 04-30-2004

Quote:

I test rode an ST a couple of weeks ago in very windy conditions, and it seemed a lot more stable in the crosswinds than my F650. That's one of the things I'm looking for in my next bike, because it will be my long distance touring bike.

Hi Gravy,
The ST is actually pretty darn good in the wind. I live in Connecticut and we have had some REALLY stiff winds this year. I had a PC 800 before the Sprint, it was more suseptable to wind than the Sprint. I think this is in large part due to the full coverage plastic on the PC. Any bike is going to have to contend with wind. Heck any car has to deal with it. I don't think the Sprint's behavior in strong winds is at all unacceptable. Even two up the Sprint is well mannered in wind. Yes it can get pushed by cross winds, but that is part of riding. I have never found my self being ousted from my lane by the wind and have never felt like I was in danger from the wind. JMHO

woodrow · 04-30-2004

This is too funny, but I also think this is why we are all so different. I don't mind riding in the wind at all. If there is a strong crosswind, I just try to the let the bike do what it wants until it tries to leave the lane I am in. I think it is a kewl feeling of sitting on the edge of the seat cause the crosswind is so strong and steady the bike is going straight while leaned to one side.

As for the comparison of the F650, weight is key here! The ST definitely outwieghs the F650 and has a shorter profile. You could be closer to the ultimate garage with those two......

[ This message was edited by: woodrow on 2004-04-30 11:13 ]

NiceTri · 04-30-2004

I almost went into the ditch about 4 or 5 times once on the Interstate. It helped to slow down, but then I would get blasted by trucks. So I thought about another road that would help go North, and at the same time not demand that I go 70 out in the open plains. So I booked 8 miles East to a smaller highway, cleaned out my pants. I had a LOT more fun because it was going to the same place, but I had never travelled it before! I was a little late, but I got to smell the roses and pulled off a sweet 50 MPG.

TRIUMF3 · 04-30-2004

A wind related experance I just had.
On Wednesday I was at my local dealer to have some work done on my ST, while I waited I decided to buy a new jacket, as my Joe Rocket Ballistic was toooo hot, when I left the dealer it was nice and sunny with no wind, so I just put the Ballistic jacket on the back with a bunji cord, half an hour and half way home later, it started to get really windy, and I forgot all about my jacket. Luckily because of the wind I had slowed to seventy, because all of a sudden my back wheel locked, my immediate thought was the bike had seized so I pulled in the clutch, but the rear wheel was still locked solid. All I could do was hang on for the ride, we eventually came to a stop in the emergency lane, as soon as I got off the bike I noticed my jacket was missing, upon further inspection I found what was left of my jacket wedged between the rear tire and the swing arm. The wind must have blew it to the side and it got snagged by the tire. Luckily all that happened was I lost an expensive jacket and need to replace my rear tire, as it has a flat spot now and a couple of grooves from something, maybe the zippers. Ohh yeah I also left a nice 800 yards or so skid mark on the road. :-D

PassTheGravy · 05-01-2004

Quote:

On 2004-04-30 11:12, woodrow wrote:

As for the comparison of the F650, weight is key here! The ST definitely outwieghs the F650 and has a shorter profile. You could be closer to the ultimate garage with those two......

Yes, I think the Sprint would be a nice garage companion for my dual sport. I've hatched this evil plan to buy a Sprint, and then in a year or so trade the F650 in on a new BMW R1200GS once they've had some time to sort out the inevitable birthing problems.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I've ridden my F650 in some very stiff crosswinds. I've gotta think the Sprint would handle them a lot better due to the lower profile and lower center of gravity. I rode down to southwest Texas near the Big Bend area. The trip back was 533 miles in one day, and the wind blew about 30mph the whole way. Through some stroke of fate, regardless of what direction I was going, the wind was alway blowing exactly 90 degrees to my direction of travel. Or so it seemed.