Triumphrat

alfacliff · 10-30-2006

Is anyone else having trouble in side winds? My 2006 Bonnieville Black acts a little squirreley in the wind. it seems to have the tires move out from under it. I havnt had this same trouble with any other bike, they all sway a little in the wind, but this is more like the tires are getting blown out from under me.
I have had bikes that get pushed around by the wind, but the feeling is of being pushed from higher.
cliff

wenzel850 · 10-30-2006

What kind of tires are on your bike. My Metzler's are pretty good in the wind ?

alfacliff · 10-30-2006

my biek has the stock bridgestones, only about 2000 miles so far, wouldnt like to have to replacr them now. I had a similar feel with one brand of tire on my old sx650, a new dunlop changed that. the tire would squrim on a particular type of road finish. they fortunatly dont last long, only about a year and a half on the last one.
cliff

Copper · 10-30-2006

I know what you mean, in a strong side wind, it almost feels like someone is grabbing the bottom of the wheels and giving them a good yank! Seems to be harmless, though......

Mancha · 10-30-2006

My Thruxton has the same problem in the wind, but then again, so did my SV650S. I assume it has everything to do with their relatively low weight.

markbvt · 10-30-2006

You think the Bonneville's bad in a crosswind, you should ride my Honda XR650L dual-sport sometime...

--mark

bobmig · 10-30-2006

Quote:

On 2006-10-30 09:21, Copper wrote:
I know what you mean, in a strong side wind, it almost feels like someone is grabbing the bottom of the wheels and giving them a good yank!

Yes... but it seems it always self-corrects almost immediately. The bike wants to stay upright. Once I realized that I was really moving just a few inches back or forth, it wasn't so un-nerving.

Bob

hyperview · 10-30-2006

I find that as soon as I lay forwards on the tank and take my body out of the equation the bike stabilizes. It must the the lightness of the bike. The same on my beemer.

bobw3592 · 10-30-2006

My windscreen will make it more pronounced. How strong were the winds? If too high they can be dangerous just like for high profile vehicles. Slow down, relax your grip and use your knees to hug the tank, the bike will dance with you nicely. Try not to death grip/interfere with it naturally trying to maintain/recover it's gyroscopic stability. :-D

Scrambler900 · 10-30-2006

The problem about strong side winds is not unique to the Bonne or its brand of tires. A Harley Sportster 883 would have an identical reaction. Any lighter bike will get blown around on especially windy days, to the point that its hazardous to ride in strong gusts. A 700 pound Harley or a Gold Wing would fare better in that situation.