Riding when windy.

[Throttled]

A thread for fart jokes. No, a thread about riding in the wind. I don't remember a year with so many days with high winds. Of all the weathers, wind is the worst to ride in. I know about the tips to stay safe, but overtaking a lorry and then being hit with such high wind I really struggled to get back into the lane, with an approaching car flashing its lights and clearly not understanding why I was not moving back as quickly as a should, windy days are now a big no from me. My Isle of Man trip back in February was foolhardy considering the high winds. At least the lorries overtaking me could see why I was going so slowly on the motorway.

 

I think this year will be the lowest mileage year since I started this biking malarkey in 2011. All because of the wind.

[AstronautNinja]

I pretty much did my first out and about ride yesterday in the wind and was shocked at how much extra throttle was needed just to overcome the crazy headwind not to mention the amount of sideways battling. There were points I was adding throttle and going slower! Very new experience for me. Not to mention the mod 1 balancing act in said wind.

 

It did make me wonder how it would be on a motorway getting blasted in such winds

[Simon Davey]

I agree, even on a heavy, powerful bike (such as the Versys) , it's no fun. 

 

Edited August 8, 2024 by Simon Davey

[Bungleaio]

Headwinds I’m fine with it’s blustery side winds I hate

[keith1200rs]

I assume you are talking small bikes (125s)? I have never had problems with big bikes, but you do need to make sure you have the road space as you wbe blown around.

[Capt Sisko]

Some bikes are worse than others. My F800GT was pretty bad in side winds, but my R1250RT which is far bigger with bigger panniers, top box, screen and, and well bigger everything is more stable in strong winds. On the other hand she's a weighty old bird.

Edited August 8, 2024 by Capt Sisko

[muldoon74]

Before my first windy ride I asked my brother (30 years experience) for any advise on riding in wind..

 

He said "Yeah, don't". 

 

People have already said about getting blasted after overtaking trucks, vehicles maybe getting blown off course etc..

 

I went anyway.. The biggest problem is that on a 125 and being on the larger side, a strong headwind (in fact, any headwind!) has me dropping down to sometimes 3rd in order to keep going at a reasonable rate.

 

That added to the screaming engine diminishes the fun factor of the ride. 

 

Last time out I was overtaken by a learner.. In an AYGO!! TOTAL BEAMER...

 

I'll take rain over wind anyday. (unfortunately in Scotland they often come together.)

[Ian Frog]

3 hours ago, keith1200rs said:

I assume you are talking small bikes (125s)? I have never had problems with big bikes, but you do need to make sure you have the road space as you wbe blown around.

Whilst in general I agree with you I recently owned a 2019 Harley Fatboy with solid wheels.

Whilst it weighed somewhere near what @S-Westerly drives for a living the influence of sidewinds was surprising and disconcerting.

One of the reasons I was happy to trade it in for another Dyna (2008 immaculate FXDL ) .

Cheers

Ian

[angrybear]

Well I remember a trip back from South Wales to Exeter in the mid 1980's so the old Severn bridge, 

No high side vehicles, cars were down to single lane & bikes were diverted on to the pedestrian walkway, first gear only so you could ride with your feet down to try & stay upright,

Most of the way down the M5 I was lent over at 45* to keep riding in a straight line, that was on a Honda 750K.

It isn't nice but weather is just something else to learn how to deal with.

[keith1200rs]

3 hours ago, Ian Frog said:

2019 Harley Fatboy with solid wheels.

They stopped using solid front wheels on push bikes when they realised what happened in cross winds. 

[S-Westerly]

Generally I find winds don't bother me too much but crossing either of the Severn bridges in strong Westerly winds isn't much fun.

[RideWithStyles]

Depends on the bike aero design (and luggage attached) to a point of how well it copes first then its rider actions.

obviously if it’s 60mph winds it’s very high likelihood of comming off even if you manage to get on the thing in the first place lol.

 

How one person deals with said is also important- body position, lean and inputs needed , bike set up) when and how much to react if needs be.

I’ve seen people in bolt up right position as a sail, the while being blustered bounding around to keep in lane . If the clueless had tucked in he’d had a happier ride, he still didn’t clue it after id over taken him, at greater speed in a much straighter line.

 

Don't get me wrong 125s nakeds (I still had experience of said bike up till this year in windy conditions) are still gonna find if flightier than a 1000cc SB but *if you don’t change yourself and bike to the conditions, your gonna make it harder for yourself from the off.

 

Not to say that everyone is all rubbish or over reacting but like every thing down with riding *, bit like if you were to talk to racers and ask HTF they do/did that? Its just comes naturally when you just do often or skill.

some are more or less concerned about it, what they class as bit of rain or wind etc.

and very windy.

Edited August 9, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[Throttled]

15 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

I agree, even on a heavy, powerful bike (such as the Versys) , it's no fun. 

 

 

I think riding tall bikes, with big screens and top boxes, no matter the weight, with large me, makes for a big surface area to be hit by the wind. My KLE500, Versys 650 and the 1000 have been as bad as each other.

[Throttled]

I regularly cross the Erskine bridge. It is a mile long and very high because of the shipyards further up the river Clyde. From my Yamaha 125 to the present Versys 1000, the wind can push me across lanes. The only solution has been to slow down and lean, me forward on to the tank and the bike into the wind.

 

I have ridden in yellow and amber wind weather warning, but would never try a red, or when the Erskine bridge is closed to high sided vehicles.

[S-Westerly]

I've ridden the Erskine and it's pretty bad in a wind. Never been on it when closed to high sided vehicles though. The Severn Crossings are equally bad and I imagine the Humber Bridge and Dartford Crossing can be "exciting" in a blow.

[Steve_M]

I’ve ridden in all sorts of weather, including windy days over Glencoe with caravans strewn across the countryside - on ST1100 solo and FJR1300 two up. Each seemed to relatively stable.

 

Up over the Northern Pennines on the  A66 on my way back from our tour in 2022 was a bit interesting.  Two up on the R1200GS complete with 52l topbox with the dual carriageway down to single lane and a 40mph due to roadworks. Probably the most difficult and unnerving five miles I’ve ever ridden.  I had to keep reminding myself not to grip the handlebars too tight and relax - let the bike do the work. 

[JTDG]

I passed my CBT Tuesday and have ridden each day since. Each day has been 30+ mph winds. I will not be riding in winds like that again. My poor little 125 was the little engine that couldn’t.

 

Shame as the weather today was lovely minus the insane winds! 
 

Think I’ll stick to calm weather for now. 

[Davidtav]

I find high winds a bit of a challenge on my V Strom 650. I don’t have much experience on other bikes. But it wasn’t as bad with my previous bike, a Kawasaki Z650 (modern one) … Ride wStyles is correct in that body posture helps. Crouching a bit makes all the difference.  Thing is though that I am prone to sciatica and if I crouch then my back starts to hurt. As with lots of things in life it is all a compromise. 

[RideWithStyles]

Thanks Davidtav. you can improve things further to make yourself more comfortable on a bike by changing the position/parts on the bike.

If area of legs, hip, lower back then the first things that need looking at are the pegs and seat, then bars, unless the bar position is extreme and by that I also mean biometrical to the person not the bike solely.
 

upper back, shoulders arms and hands hurt then bar positions of sizes, angles not just reach, seat then pegs in that order could do with addressing to give you a much more pleasant ride.

As everyone is different, long legged (some have longer thighs to calf ratios etc), backs- some have short or long spines and many combinations.

so if you were to have two people both 6ft.

one has a long spine but short legs and arms and the other short spine and long legged and arms, do you think they will fit on the exact same bike they both like comfortably? No, one will feel something that isn’t right.

Is it a bad bike? No, is it a poorly designed bike? Id say not, just not designed solely for you…
why should that person suffer? For the sake of a few bolts or a part change that would only require to spend a fraction of the cost on a new exhaust that isn’t needed?

 

just some info to share.

[Shasel]

I live in Shetland so am very used to windy conditions and have to agree that it is the worst conditions to ride in. Before I had my bike I thought rain would be a big no no but with the right kit it is okay and kind of fun. Heavy winds particularly blustery side winds just feel scary bordering on dangerous. Doesn't help I am on a 125 I guess but yes that moment when the wind grabs you and tries to force a lane change is just not fun. 

[manxie49]

Riding in high wind has become something of a daily occurrence this year.  And, like you, I'm not keen.  The old P1, P2, P3 riding positions giving good forward vision training, sort of goes out the window.  I tend to ride on whatever part of the road seems best at the time giving me the greatest margins of safety.  Sadly, just can't seem to avoid those windy days at the moment.

[AstronautNinja]

If only there was a mode of transport that could offer some kind of shelter from the wind

[JRH]

4 hours ago, AstronautNinja said:

If only there was a mode of transport that could offer some kind of shelter from the wind

This will keep some of the wind, and rain off.

 

[AstronautNinja]

2 hours ago, JRH said:

This will keep some of the wind, and rain off.

 

Getting there  

[Phil1]

6 hours ago, JRH said:

This will keep some of the wind, and rain off.

 

A little bit of sick just came up.