Wind Control - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Canadu · 03-03-2007, 04:45 PM

Just took my bike out of storage where it's been over a year now. The Marine Corp will do that to you. I took my '05 M50 out on the highway and within 10 mins of riding, I nearly got swept of my bike because of wind. Going about 70 MPH and a cross wind came out of nowhere and nearly pushed me of my bike. Can anyone tell me how they deal with it. I'm 6 ft 220 lbs and my bike is roughly 540 lbs. Also will this matter with a heavier bike?
Thanks a lot

Scott58 · 03-03-2007, 04:58 PM

You just learn to deal with it. My S50 is 443lbs and i'm 140lbs. Sometimes you start thinking about like a sail boat. Once you learn how to cut through it it becomes 2nd nature. The heavier the bike th easier it is.

wes · 03-03-2007, 05:23 PM

You just have to learn to react to your surroundings. Don`t drive with a death grip on the bars and learn to lean accordingly. The best advice anyone could give is take the motorcycle driving course in your area and read Proficient Motorcycling by David L Hough.

Rickster · 03-03-2007, 05:48 PM

First of all,Thanks for your service, and I'm glad you got back OK. If there's ever anything you need to talk about, I'll listen.

As for the wind, you just have to deal with it. As you get some more miles under your belt, you won't notice it as much. Your body learns to react to the first slight input (wind gust), and it becomes second nature.

The difference a heaver bike will make is slight. The wind moves you a little less, but it takes more input from you to correct for it, so it's kind of a wash.

Graywolf · 03-03-2007, 06:58 PM

I totally agree with Rickster,
If you have a death grip on the bars you also run the risk of over correcting which can be equally as dangerous. The more I have ridden in the wind (today- winds 14mph, gusting up to 30mph) the more I have learned to relax and lean into it slightly.The problem is with gusts, if you lean too hard...what happens when the wind stops

. Just joking...

SoCalCruisin · 03-03-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickster

First of all,Thanks for your service, and I'm glad you got back OK.

The Santa Ana's were blowing today in SoCal so I had a windy day too. You do just sort of get used to it. And definetly relax your grip.

I've had a bit of a problem breaking too much wind today too, but that's probably more info than anyone cares to hear about.

scrimmer · 03-03-2007, 08:35 PM

Yeah, it was REALLY blustery in the Charlotte area today! Gusts up to 40 mph I heard on the tv. Going down I-85 was a fight almost. Graywolf's exactly right, if you do the death grip thing, you're just adding to the problem. I have to admit myself that I was doing that in the beginning of my riding today, but I made a real conscious effort to relax and it makes it much more bearable. Relaxing in high crosswinds is very counterintuitive to me, but it does make for a more controllable ride if you stay loose. Tightening up and deathgripping the bars will just magnify any overcorrections and will cause fatigue to set in sooner. Also learn to use body english to counter the winds effects.
Ride Safe!

Ext1jdh · 03-05-2007, 12:03 PM

SoCalCruisin · 03-05-2007, 01:12 PM

Thanks for the advise Ext1jdh, but that stuff just don't work for me. There I go again, TMI.

Canadu · 03-05-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ext1jdh

LMAO, that's a GAS. I really appreciate the advice guys, great ridding weakend except for all that wind. I did have the death grip and didn't realize the faults until I started to get really tired. I've put the new advice to use now.
How well will a wind deflector work? Kinda don't like how they look on the M50

D REX · 03-05-2007, 02:57 PM

whenever I get that feeling, by a passing truck blast or just strong wind, i sometimes let off the gas for a few seconds, then turn it back up. I have once been put into the Rumble strip by a train of semi's, my bike was so light, I had to stop before I could get going again, to get my bearings!

Rickster · 03-05-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadu

LMAO, that's a GAS. I really appreciate the advice guys, great ridding weakend except for all that wind. I did have the death grip and didn't realize the faults until I started to get really tired. I've put the new advice to use now.
How well will a wind deflector work? Kinda don't like how they look on the M50

The "wind deflectors" you mount on your lower fork legs, (I call them "Lowers") are not designed to help fight side winds, and are no help in that area, in fact, they can make it worse.

Where lowers do help, is in reducing the wind that comes up underneath a windshield, and causes buffeting on the riders chest, and head.

I tried mounting a small set of lowers on my "M", that I got from Memphis Shades, they did nothing at all. I took them off, and put them on my V Strom, and they do a great job there. If you mount lowers on your "M", you might want to try a longer type, like you see on Harley's.

Jackalope · 03-05-2007, 04:19 PM

As a rookie, I can't add anything to the advice older and wiser hands have given you about the wind.

I just wanted to post and thank you for your service. If it weren't for people like you standing at the gate, we would not be the country we are today.

Canadu · 03-06-2007, 07:57 PM

I appreciate all the kind words and just have to say that when it comes to us against them, we do whatever it takes. I was definitely one fo the lucky one cause a lot of guys come back messed up from the field so we gotta take care of our vets. Semper Fi.

03-03-2007, 04:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Canadu Newbie Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: '05 Suzuki M50 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 19	Wind Control Just took my bike out of storage where it's been over a year now. The Marine Corp will do that to you. I took my '05 M50 out on the highway and within 10 mins of riding, I nearly got swept of my bike because of wind. Going about 70 MPH and a cross wind came out of nowhere and nearly pushed me of my bike. Can anyone tell me how they deal with it. I'm 6 ft 220 lbs and my bike is roughly 540 lbs. Also will this matter with a heavier bike? Thanks a lot

03-03-2007, 05:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rickster Bridal Boutique Manager Joined: Oct 2005 Location: St Paul Mn Posts: 2,973	First of all,*Thanks for your service, and I'm glad you got back OK.* If there's ever anything you need to talk about, I'll listen. As for the wind, you just have to deal with it. As you get some more miles under your belt, you won't notice it as much. Your body learns to react to the first slight input (wind gust), and it becomes second nature. The difference a heaver bike will make is slight. The wind moves you a little less, but it takes more input from you to correct for it, so it's kind of a wash. __________________ Ever notice that the person telling you to calm down, is the same one that got you worked up in the first place. 2008 1250 Bandit ABS 2008 DR 650 2006 HD Road King 2004 Twin Peaks 700 2003 KTM 525 EX/C (for sale) 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler

03-03-2007, 08:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
scrimmer Third gear and cruising Joined: Nov 2006 Bike: '06 M50 Grey Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 477	Yeah, it was REALLY blustery in the Charlotte area today! Gusts up to 40 mph I heard on the tv. Going down I-85 was a fight almost. Graywolf's exactly right, if you do the death grip thing, you're just adding to the problem. I have to admit myself that I was doing that in the beginning of my riding today, but I made a real conscious effort to relax and it makes it much more bearable. Relaxing in high crosswinds is very counterintuitive to me, but it does make for a more controllable ride if you stay loose. Tightening up and deathgripping the bars will just magnify any overcorrections and will cause fatigue to set in sooner. Also learn to use body english to counter the winds effects. Ride Safe! __________________ *I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.*

03-05-2007, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ext1jdh Top Gear ! Full Throttle! Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: Sold Location: Elgin, IL, US Posts: 5,250	__________________ I am lurking. I am likely to be eaten by a grue.

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03-03-2007, 04:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Scott58 Puddle Runner Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: 05 Honda Rebel and 05 Suzuki S50 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 394	You just learn to deal with it. My S50 is 443lbs and i'm 140lbs. Sometimes you start thinking about like a sail boat. Once you learn how to cut through it it becomes 2nd nature. The heavier the bike th easier it is.

03-03-2007, 05:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
wes Seat Tester Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: 2006 C50C Boulevard, 2003 VL1500 LC Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 54	You just have to learn to react to your surroundings. Don`t drive with a death grip on the bars and learn to lean accordingly. The best advice anyone could give is take the motorcycle driving course in your area and read Proficient Motorcycling by David L Hough.

03-03-2007, 06:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Graywolf Seat Tester Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: 2005ShadowVLX/2006 C50C Suzuki Location: Pilot Mountain, N.C. Posts: 56	I totally agree with Rickster, If you have a death grip on the bars you also run the risk of over correcting which can be equally as dangerous. The more I have ridden in the wind (today- winds 14mph, gusting up to 30mph) the more I have learned to relax and lean into it slightly.The problem is with gusts, if you lean too hard...what happens when the wind stops . Just joking...

03-05-2007, 01:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
SoCalCruisin Found second gear by accident Joined: May 2006 Bike: 2005 Yamaha Midnight Royal Star Venture, 2005 Boulevard C50T (For Sale) Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 340	Thanks for the advise Ext1jdh, but that stuff just don't work for me. There I go again, TMI.

03-05-2007, 02:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
D REX Seat Tester Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: VTX 1300 Location: battle creek, mi Posts: 74	whenever I get that feeling, by a passing truck blast or just strong wind, i sometimes let off the gas for a few seconds, then turn it back up. I have once been put into the Rumble strip by a train of semi's, my bike was so light, I had to stop before I could get going again, to get my bearings!

03-05-2007, 04:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
Jackalope Seat Tester Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: in my future Location: Roswell, Ga. Posts: 62	As a rookie, I can't add anything to the advice older and wiser hands have given you about the wind. I just wanted to post and thank you for your service. If it weren't for people like you standing at the gate, we would not be the country we are today.

03-06-2007, 07:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
Canadu Newbie Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: '05 Suzuki M50 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 19	I appreciate all the kind words and just have to say that when it comes to us against them, we do whatever it takes. I was definitely one fo the lucky one cause a lot of guys come back messed up from the field so we gotta take care of our vets. Semper Fi.

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