Wind on the Highway What do you do

[Jammer]

May I have suggestions please:

What do you all do on the highway when wind hits you?

Let me give you the scenario. Friend of mine just bought a new x10. I have an 04 gixxer 750. On the highway..he took off...I followed. Got up to about a hundred and woosh..the D**N wind blew me...it was like I felt I was going sideways. I was about half down on the tank. He just kept on going. Me I slowed down to 60 immediately.

Both were wearing full leathers. I asked if he felt the wind..he said "alittle." What do you all do..just crotch down and bear it? And asking..what do the pro riders do on the track concerning wind. That is other than tight clothing etc.

thank you for the responses.

Jammer

[Trapper]

You did the right thing. Slowed down. Squeeze the tank with your knees and let the bike compensate. Remember triple digits is for the track.

[Jammer]

thanks...it's like I know. I been riding sportbikes since 1987...owned one of the first gsxr's. Just thinking privately here in the forum. I never had wind hit me like that. When I say scared..I mean...SCARED!...felt like the hand of God giving some sort of warning.

[Trapper]

It was the hand of Uncle Bob.

[viper94bite]

Originally Posted by trappercase

It was the hand of Uncle Bob.

lmao

[Louis]

I tuck in a little more and I adjust my steering accordingly. Wind itself isnt' too bad, the constant wind gusts, on and off, are more annoying to me.

[GIXXER-Mike]

It's definitely been windy during my last few rides. Had a few scares as well. Only thing to do is trade your bike for a heavier one (ZX-14 perhaps) ! j/k

I sometimes lean slightly into it depending on my speed. Slightly meaning lighty 'cause when it stops...u don't wanna continue in the wrong direction. Gripping the tank w/your knees & tucking really gives me better control of my bike. Judging the wind is sorta like driving in heavy traffic...u just kinda know what speed to drive to keep from rear endin' someone.

[MagnumForce]

We get a lot of winds in Kansas. When riding the CBR, I would squeeze my tank, tuck down (depending on speed), tilt the bike a bit against the wind (making adjustments for crosswinds), and keep my eyes forward to maintain my line. Wind is not an issue for me when I ride the M50 due to heavier weight and low center of gravity.

[viper94bite]

Originally Posted by Louis

I tuck in a little more and I adjust my steering accordingly. Wind itself isnt' too bad, the constant wind gusts, on and off, are more annoying to me.

I'm the opposite I prefer the on and off. When I ride in constant crosswinds my neck starts huring after awhile from trying to keep my head up straight. I start looking forward to going the other way to even it out.

[SVZuki]

Originally Posted by viper94bite

I'm the opposite I prefer the on and off. When I ride in constant crosswinds my neck starts huring after awhile from trying to keep my head up straight. I start looking forward to going the other way to even it out.

Well, when there is the off and on winds you get your helmet getting pushed side to side all the time and my neck kills after 20 minutes of gusty riding. When wind comes a callin I hug the tank with my legs and lean a bit into the wind, same as I do for when I pass a semi.

[CManT1914]

Are we talking head winds or cross winds here?

Head winds I just tuck down under the screen, and most of the wind "glances" off the top of the helmet.

Cross winds I just tough it out.

[GIXXER-Mike]

Hardcore...I hear ya....lol

[chrisan]

I've experienced strong winds, riding around PCH and malibu canyons once a year or twice. The last time was brutal, the wind comes trough the canyon emplyfyed at certain areas and makes the bike jump sideways without a warning. What I do, is relax and not fight it. The motorcycle knows what to do best when left to do it, My job is simply to keep my sight to where I'm going. Honestly it didn't slow me that much more, and after a half an hour or less I was not payng much attention to it. In general I was much more tucked behind the wind shield, than normaly would do, and when I do that I start riding faster. This other friend of mine was going fast too so it was kind of "I don't give a **** about the wind" with the two of us, the rest of the group was riding accordingly, maybe smarter, but they say that for the slow riders anyway, that they are smart riding slow although they may wanna be stupid sometimes but.........I deviated from the topic... anyway I think the best you can do is based on reflexes, and they are subconcious, and that is based on experience and practice. There is simply no time to think what you shoud do when a gust of wind hits you violently from the side, you just react.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by CManT1914

Are we talking head winds or cross winds here?

Head winds I just tuck down under the screen, and most of the wind "glances" off the top of the helmet.

Cross winds I just tough it out.

Head winds I don't mind..just get down and blast through them. This was a super strong cross wind. One small..yet huge...quick...side wind. Not saying that it did...but it felt like the bike came off the ground and just moved left about a foot.

Ok...so what I am reading as the answer is...legs tight into the tank..croutch down on the tank some..normal speed position..and just hold on...the bike will correct itself..

Is that the consensus?

[Jammer]

Ok here's the last of this post.

I'm posting only because I wondered and here is what I found. Crosswinds.

If going in triple digits..cross winds hit...tuck in. Hold on. The bike will shift left or right yet it will correct itself. Use a bit of reverse steering if need be..but at that speed it is only a slight bit needed. I saw this only because I wondered and I can try..but I think it could be one of safety if one gets a gust such as I had that Sunday riding.

Overall. I agree what was said before..triple digits are for the track in a controlled environment. The moral is ride safe and stay alive.

Yet I have my answer to the question and tested.

Thank you.

[drgibson]

I used to ride sport bikes and was always anoyed with the wind blowing me around. So I put on 70lbs and bought a 650lb cruiser now the wind doesn't blow me around... even in triple digits.

[Jammer]

I thought about getting one of those..wonderful looking and riding bike. As a second bike. Nice choice.

[Rickster]

Wind is unpredictable, and can do a lot of damage. Don't count on the next gust affecting you the same way the last one did.

[jsvickers]

I just stay loose on the bike and don't tighten up on the handle bars and the bike will do what it needs to do in order to keep going straight down the road. It'll lean some and may shift slightly in the lane, but it generally feels a lot more dramatic than it is. It feels weird to be leaned over and going straight, but I just move the bike to the middle of the lane and let it lean.

The only time I've been really caught off guard by a wind gust was when I was in a 270 degree turn and the wind hit me from the side and the bike stood up a bit. All of a sudden, I wasn't turning nearly as sharply as I needed to be and I had to fight a little to lean the bike back down against the wind.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by jsvickers

I just stay loose on the bike and don't tighten up on the handle bars and the bike will do what it needs to do in order to keep going straight down the road. It'll lean some and may shift slightly in the lane, but it generally feels a lot more dramatic than it is. It feels weird to be leaned over and going straight, but I just move the bike to the middle of the lane and let it lean.

The only time I've been really caught off guard by a wind gust was when I was in a 270 degree turn and the wind hit me from the side and the bike stood up a bit. All of a sudden, I wasn't turning nearly as sharply as I needed to be and I had to fight a little to lean the bike back down against the wind.

So what are you trying to say here? I read 3 different things. First you say "don't tighten up", than you say "move to the middle of the lane", than you say "fight it down into more of a lean"