Triumphrat

10-09-2006

I just went out for about a 45 mile ride on my T100. I live just north of Chicago right along the lake. Today the wind was blowing pretty good from the north. As I was traveling east there were a few times when I felt like my wheels were going to slide right out from underneath me! It unnerved me a bit. I'd say the winds were gusting to about 20 tops - maybe 25. I just leaned over into the wind a bit, but still, the gusts felt like they were just going to sweep the wheels right out...

How much wind is too much to ride in? And is that a normal feeling - to have the wheels feel like they're going to slide out?

bob

AVMECH · 10-09-2006

20-25 MPH wind is not to much to ride in. That feeling is normal and with more time in heavy wind you will hardly even notice it. Don't try ro fight it to much but stay in your lane and eventually you will find you can track straight with little effort.

AVMECH · 10-09-2006

If it rains, let it rain;
if wind blows, let it blow. -Ikkyu

See, you already had the answer inside you!

kliff · 10-09-2006

Quote:

On 2006-10-09 17:01, AVMECH wrote:
If it rains, let it rain;
if wind blows, let it blow. -Ikkyu

See, you already had the answer inside you!

Exactly....

RedBird · 10-09-2006

30--40 mph winds are quite common here. I find that I adjust to crosswinds without thinking about it; however, it sure helps to think ahead and position yourself on the wind-side of the road when coming out of a windbreak. :-D I have never felt like my wheels were going to slide; however, I do increase my speed in heavy crosswinds--gotta keep them gyros turning. :-D

Larry

meatwagon · 10-09-2006

I would say that if you feel uncomfortable then that's too much .The wheels feel like they are sliding out because you are being blown off balance on top of them,that's normal.But heavy winds can blow you right out of your lane so i don't ride around mountain passes if I know there are crazy Santa Ana winds (40/50mph winds).
Ever open up a jacket pocket at high speed(80/100 mph)? The difference in drag will almost blow you off the bike so hang on tight when the winds pick up.

LandRover · 10-09-2006

Hi Lad's,
Every rider is different.If you find a certain level of wind makes you feel uncomfortable or unstable on your bike,than its to much. The last thing you want is to get to the point of getting spooked and ditching your bike because of sudden panic,and it does happen.There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when riding in high winds.Type of bike,windshield, passenger,clothing,rider skill, etc..Some bikes behave differently than others,sometimes windshields can be your worst enemy in high wind situations,as can a bulky riding jacket,both can sometimes act as a "sail"and really toss you arround.Not to mention the intense buffering caused by the wind vortex the windshield can create.Some years ago,I was blown into a ditch by a cross wind,and if I had not been wearing a big Joe Rocket enduro jacket,I likely could have avoided it.

tcb · 10-09-2006

I agree with the previous posts that if you are uncomfortable, then it is too much, but just know that the laws of physics are the same, you can lean way beyond what you think you can without any risk of sliding out- in other words, your motorcycle is capable of much more than you think it is- I would guess the it would take a 70-100 mph wind to cause you real concern( I have riden in 60 mph crosswinds in Montana before my footpegs started to hit and have learned since that you can go a LOT further before your tires become the limiting factor.).

black-bonnie · 10-09-2006

I do a lot of hwy riding. There are some cross winds that made my bike seem to wobble because it hit with such a force. That was with or without a decent amount of weight loaded on back.

The cure for me, and I proved it a couple of times, is a small fairing. I have the Givi 603. Whatever it does, I never get that uneasy feeling even in the same strong cross winds. When I had a large fairing it made the cross wind worse because it acted like a sail pushing the bike over even more.

Maybe it's different for others, but for me, the small fairing did the trick.

ohiorider · 10-09-2006

When Grebmrof and I crossed Kansas on our way West. we ran into headwinds all the way, the kind that clobber you with gusts. However, these were just an aggrevation. It's the crosswinds that really rock you around. I've only been in crosswinds once or twice that had me concerned, and these required that I countersteer into them just like you'd steer into a turn, except I was traveling along a straight road! And they were gusty to boot.

Once, riding from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Toledo on US 23, the winds were so strong coming out of the West, I turned around and went home. I swear, I was leaned into the wind at an angle that really had me worried. I looked for any road that would let me return home at a diagonal angle to the wind, rather than riding at a right angle to it.

Bob