Wind is quite challenging - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

AwwsChwA · 10-05-2004, 12:01 PM

I never realized how windy the I-15 can be here in San Diego. I've been riding it to and from work for a few weeks now, and lately there have been cross-winds that really make me have to concentrate on keeping the bike in the lane.

A couple friends (more experienced riders than myself) have said that newer bikes aren't quite as succeptible to being blown around as mine. I've got an 81 GS450-S, which is basically before the era of the "sportbike". Something about how the newer bikes are balanced helps keep em stable. Anyone have input on this?

themeatmanlandry · 10-05-2004, 12:09 PM

It's kind of strange, huh? Cruising with traffic . . . leaning your bike against the wind . . . yet still going straight.

It gets worse. I'm afraid it looks like it feels.

FIVEINCH · 10-05-2004, 01:44 PM

I got news for your friends: my '04 gsxr600 gets pushed all over. I had to learn to EXPECT the gusts. I just slow down and try to be careful. It would really suck to get pushed into ten lugs!

007 · 10-05-2004, 01:48 PM

stay alert and focused - that's all you can do about it. If it gets really bad, tuck down. If it gets worse, just go home.

prekarious1 · 10-05-2004, 02:06 PM

tuck down. With your body up in the normal position it pretty much acts as a sail in the wind. Tucking will only improve things so much though so you still have to be careful and think calmly.

SDSUsnowboards · 10-05-2004, 03:05 PM

I always tuck on the 15 or any freeway around here. Not because of crosswinds (which don't bother mee too much... yet) but because my helmet has poor aerodynamics and wants to go all over the place if fully exposed. I just rest my chest on my tank and keep my arms up and that seems to work great. Probably looks funny when I'm only going 70 -80 tho.

Hardware · 10-05-2004, 07:05 PM

The older, heavier bikes tend to be less susceptible to crosswinds, in my opinion.

My '83 KZ1000J was a strong hauler but it was also a tank. I don't recall feeling crosswinds very much on it.

My 1200 Bandit was probably roughly the same weight, and possibly better balanced, but I remember feeling the effects of severe crosswinds more on it. Probaly because the CoG was higher and it had a small frame mounted fairing.

On one trip, three of us (all on big bikes; my B1200, a V65 Magna and an 1100 Virago) were leaned over into the wind while travelling straight. Our lean angles were so high that it became visually disorienting - you're used to turning when you see the bikes ahead of you, (and feel your bike) leaned over like that. When you all keep going straight - it messes you up

. The crosswinds were at about 50 km/h.

SDSUsnowboards · 10-05-2004, 08:54 PM

That's crazy. Reminds me of a story.

Utah has some pretty extreme cross winds. I went there to board last year and was driving my friends little tercel for a section on the way up. Well, I have never been so scared in my life because the car would dramatically change direction all in a sudden and the weight would shift because of sudden gusts parallel to our direction of travel. I'd counter turn the wheel to correct the new trajectory (strait into another car or off the road, depending) and the tires would grab and the weight would violently shift back. Every time it felt like I'd lose the little toyota in a wobble. I was kinda nervous because I've wobbled myself into a freeway 360 once, but that's because I was being a car squid at the time, lesson learned now (it's another story). Anyways, I think it would be ok to be in the same winds on a bike because they lack that unstable weight transfere dynamic that could spell disaster. After that experience I think cars should be eqipped with stiffer, more capable suspension... as a safety thing. /essay

GIXXER-Mike · 10-05-2004, 10:46 PM

Quote:

FIVEINCH
Seasoned Suzuki Rider

Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 286
Location: Ventura County, SoCal
Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 6:44 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I got news for your friends: my '04 gsxr600 gets pushed all over. I had to learn to EXPECT the gusts. I just slow down and try to be careful. It would really suck to get pushed into ten lugs!

I agree

!

AwwsChwA · 10-08-2004, 04:54 PM

I've been thinking of how to tuck down on my bike, and it's kinda tricky. It's got that straight-up ride position, so if I were to lean over my tank, my feet would still be directly underneath me, and my arms would be all scrunched up underneath me. Would make for a rather unsafe riding position, difficult to maneuver. I guess I'm just gonna get really good at countering wind gusts until I get a new bike

10-05-2004, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
AwwsChwA In Training Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 128	Wind is quite challenging I never realized how windy the I-15 can be here in San Diego. I've been riding it to and from work for a few weeks now, and lately there have been cross-winds that really make me have to concentrate on keeping the bike in the lane. A couple friends (more experienced riders than myself) have said that newer bikes aren't quite as succeptible to being blown around as mine. I've got an 81 GS450-S, which is basically before the era of the "sportbike". Something about how the newer bikes are balanced helps keep em stable. Anyone have input on this?

10-05-2004, 12:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
themeatmanlandry Happy-ass Lunatic Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 2002 Bandit 600S (Black); 2006 GSXR750 (Black) Location: Memphis Posts: 11,423	It's kind of strange, huh? Cruising with traffic . . . leaning your bike against the wind . . . yet still going straight. It gets worse. I'm afraid it looks like it feels. __________________ Go to hell

10-05-2004, 01:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
FIVEINCH U.B's LoveChild Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: GSXR600K4 + D&D = DSRPTV!!!!!! Location: San Angelo, TX Posts: 1,083	I got news for your friends: my '04 gsxr600 gets pushed all over. I had to learn to EXPECT the gusts. I just slow down and try to be careful. It would really suck to get pushed into ten lugs! __________________ I can see you... MK86: The US Navy Sends Its Regards... FIVE INCHES AT A TIME!!

10-05-2004, 02:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
prekarious1 Sprocket Pilot Joined: May 2004 Bike: 02 busa LE Location: Pensacola Fl Posts: 879	tuck down. With your body up in the normal position it pretty much acts as a sail in the wind. Tucking will only improve things so much though so you still have to be careful and think calmly. __________________ If my busa is so slow in the twisties, why can't you keep up?

10-05-2004, 03:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
SDSUsnowboards Tin Foil Inspector Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2000 CBR600f4 Location: Southern California Posts: 764	I always tuck on the 15 or any freeway around here. Not because of crosswinds (which don't bother mee too much... yet) but because my helmet has poor aerodynamics and wants to go all over the place if fully exposed. I just rest my chest on my tank and keep my arms up and that seems to work great. Probably looks funny when I'm only going 70 -80 tho. __________________ The notion should be deleted from your noggin. -FIVEINCH

10-05-2004, 01:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
007 TurtleWax Taster Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Boston. MA Posts: 592	stay alert and focused - that's all you can do about it. If it gets really bad, tuck down. If it gets worse, just go home.

10-05-2004, 07:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Hardware Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2004 Bike: 2004 Hayabusa Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 843	The older, heavier bikes tend to be less susceptible to crosswinds, in my opinion. My '83 KZ1000J was a strong hauler but it was also a tank. I don't recall feeling crosswinds very much on it. My 1200 Bandit was probably roughly the same weight, and possibly better balanced, but I remember feeling the effects of severe crosswinds more on it. Probaly because the CoG was higher and it had a small frame mounted fairing. On one trip, three of us (all on big bikes; my B1200, a V65 Magna and an 1100 Virago) were leaned over into the wind while travelling straight. Our lean angles were so high that it became visually disorienting - you're used to turning when you see the bikes ahead of you, (and feel your bike) leaned over like that. When you all keep going straight - it messes you up . The crosswinds were at about 50 km/h. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons...for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

10-05-2004, 08:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
SDSUsnowboards Tin Foil Inspector Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 2000 CBR600f4 Location: Southern California Posts: 764	That's crazy. Reminds me of a story. Utah has some pretty extreme cross winds. I went there to board last year and was driving my friends little tercel for a section on the way up. Well, I have never been so scared in my life because the car would dramatically change direction all in a sudden and the weight would shift because of sudden gusts parallel to our direction of travel. I'd counter turn the wheel to correct the new trajectory (strait into another car or off the road, depending) and the tires would grab and the weight would violently shift back. Every time it felt like I'd lose the little toyota in a wobble. I was kinda nervous because I've wobbled myself into a freeway 360 once, but that's because I was being a car squid at the time, lesson learned now (it's another story). Anyways, I think it would be ok to be in the same winds on a bike because they lack that unstable weight transfere dynamic that could spell disaster. After that experience I think cars should be eqipped with stiffer, more capable suspension... as a safety thing. /essay __________________ The notion should be deleted from your noggin. -FIVEINCH

10-08-2004, 04:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
AwwsChwA In Training Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 128	I've been thinking of how to tuck down on my bike, and it's kinda tricky. It's got that straight-up ride position, so if I were to lean over my tank, my feet would still be directly underneath me, and my arms would be all scrunched up underneath me. Would make for a rather unsafe riding position, difficult to maneuver. I guess I'm just gonna get really good at countering wind gusts until I get a new bike

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