When is it too windy to ride?
Discussion
When I was commuting on the bike there were times when the crosswinds felt threatening but I never looked up what the windspeed was at the time. Now I'm seeing 40+ MPH winds predicted for the weekend in the area I'm planning to pass through and thinking I should change my plans.
Has anyone been riding through such winds lately? Is it just hard work or downright frightening?
1200GS if that's relevant.
Has anyone been riding through such winds lately? Is it just hard work or downright frightening?
1200GS if that's relevant.
Wind is my very very least favourite weather - it's never stopped me riding if I have to though.
Heavier bike the better though, which is unfortunate as I did a motorbike rally in Snowdonia on the weekend of storm Ciara not far from Capel Curig - strongest winds (96mph) were in..... Capel Curig. An awful lot of tents - mine included - didn't make it. I was on a pretty light 250 enduro bike and getting home along the A55 was a bit hairy in places - both feet down a couple of times and some alarming sideways action. It eventually became a tailwind though, so I was hoofing along at 80mph which wasn't bad on a little 20hp single. The guys on stuff like GSs looked a lot more stable in the crosswinds.
Heavier bike the better though, which is unfortunate as I did a motorbike rally in Snowdonia on the weekend of storm Ciara not far from Capel Curig - strongest winds (96mph) were in..... Capel Curig. An awful lot of tents - mine included - didn't make it. I was on a pretty light 250 enduro bike and getting home along the A55 was a bit hairy in places - both feet down a couple of times and some alarming sideways action. It eventually became a tailwind though, so I was hoofing along at 80mph which wasn't bad on a little 20hp single. The guys on stuff like GSs looked a lot more stable in the crosswinds.
I find it depends on the wind direction.
Also on an R1200GS, 40mph motorway gusts head on aren't too bad, although you do need to concentrate and be ready to lean into the wind. As a tailwind they're ace! Crosswinds are trickier, but doable. As ever, the key is to relax your grip, trust the bike and push the bars to keep the bike straightish.
A roads in the wind are much easier than big exposed motorway sections, I find.
Also on an R1200GS, 40mph motorway gusts head on aren't too bad, although you do need to concentrate and be ready to lean into the wind. As a tailwind they're ace! Crosswinds are trickier, but doable. As ever, the key is to relax your grip, trust the bike and push the bars to keep the bike straightish.
A roads in the wind are much easier than big exposed motorway sections, I find.
Have done 45-50 a few times on the commute and didn't really have any issues. Biggest was passing lorries on dual carriage way when they suddenly act as a wind break and the lean you are instinctively putting in to remain straight suddenly makes you turn as the crosswind component is removed. (this was on a 2005 1200gs and gsx1250fa)
Very cool tip for riding in wind from 'lazymotorbike.eu':
A flappering knee
When you do this for the first time during a storm, you will be surprised about the effect:
If you stick out the knee at the side where the wind comes from, and you relax your muscles in your leg, and let your knee flapper about, your motorcycle will ride a perfect straight line.
The effect is simply baffling, especially when you were used to pull every muscle during heavy storms, to keep your motorcycle on the road, because you were certain that the wind would blow it aside.
A flappering knee
When you do this for the first time during a storm, you will be surprised about the effect:
If you stick out the knee at the side where the wind comes from, and you relax your muscles in your leg, and let your knee flapper about, your motorcycle will ride a perfect straight line.
The effect is simply baffling, especially when you were used to pull every muscle during heavy storms, to keep your motorcycle on the road, because you were certain that the wind would blow it aside.
jchesh said:
Very cool tip for riding in wind from 'lazymotorbike.eu':
A flappering knee
When you do this for the first time during a storm, you will be surprised about the effect:
If you stick out the knee at the side where the wind comes from, and you relax your muscles in your leg, and let your knee flapper about, your motorcycle will ride a perfect straight line.
The effect is simply baffling, especially when you were used to pull every muscle during heavy storms, to keep your motorcycle on the road, because you were certain that the wind would blow it aside.
the extra drag caused by your knee on that side of the bike countering the wind pushing it from the same side?A flappering knee
When you do this for the first time during a storm, you will be surprised about the effect:
If you stick out the knee at the side where the wind comes from, and you relax your muscles in your leg, and let your knee flapper about, your motorcycle will ride a perfect straight line.
The effect is simply baffling, especially when you were used to pull every muscle during heavy storms, to keep your motorcycle on the road, because you were certain that the wind would blow it aside.
bit risky in gusty wind, nicer in a stead wind i imagine
pessimal said:
the extra drag caused by your knee on that side of the bike countering the wind pushing it from the same side?
bit risky in gusty wind, nicer in a stead wind i imagine
Yeah exactly, acting a bit like a sail. I find even in gusty wind it helps to lessen the effect of the gusts!bit risky in gusty wind, nicer in a stead wind i imagine
I ride pretty much in all weathers - snow/ice are the ones that will stop me. Was down in Cumbria at the weekend, back Monday - was truly wild. The big Africa Twin is fine tho - keep your body/legs tight to the bike, and keep the power on (i.e don't power off when a gust hits you) and you're fine.
Remember - a gyroscope always travels in a straight line - so keeping up a decent speed helps. Also - you do have to prepare to be active. if you get hit by a big gust, you' have to get right on with the appropriate countersteer. Small gusts are fine, bike will weave but keep going roughly straight. Big gust - big push of counter steer will bring you back on track.
Remember your road position - on a single carriage way, be very aware of where the wind is coming from and where it's likely to push you and alter your position within the lane accordingly. If wind is coming from the left, ride center/left to give you a bubble for gusts without putting you into oncoming traffic. and V.V.
Remember - a gyroscope always travels in a straight line - so keeping up a decent speed helps. Also - you do have to prepare to be active. if you get hit by a big gust, you' have to get right on with the appropriate countersteer. Small gusts are fine, bike will weave but keep going roughly straight. Big gust - big push of counter steer will bring you back on track.
Remember your road position - on a single carriage way, be very aware of where the wind is coming from and where it's likely to push you and alter your position within the lane accordingly. If wind is coming from the left, ride center/left to give you a bubble for gusts without putting you into oncoming traffic. and V.V.
I commute across the Severn Bridge and I've had some very exciting/scary crossings recently, this morning was pretty spicy in fact. The way the wind blows past the towers creates some strong localised crosswinds that can catch you out.
On really windy days motorbikes are instructed to use the M4 bridge which, curiously, can actually be even scarier despite being less exposed.
I'm very light and ride a light bike (Street Triple R), so that doesn't help...
On really windy days motorbikes are instructed to use the M4 bridge which, curiously, can actually be even scarier despite being less exposed.
I'm very light and ride a light bike (Street Triple R), so that doesn't help...
Was out today in gusts of 46mph on a R1250GSA.
Was not enjoyable at certain points on the open exposed motorway sections in the driving rain/wet, but bike was more than capable, and could of taken a lot more. Planted feel. Felt like i could have easily turned left down the M6 and rode to Botswana.
Was not enjoyable at certain points on the open exposed motorway sections in the driving rain/wet, but bike was more than capable, and could of taken a lot more. Planted feel. Felt like i could have easily turned left down the M6 and rode to Botswana.
Good previous point about gyroscopic effect from a previous poster - keeping the revs us by running a lower gear or two. The GS should help as most of the weight is presumably carried low down in that boxer twin.
My old Ducati Multistrada was awful in the wind as the whole design didn't put that much weight on the front wheel. A two up touring holiday in Normandy with 30mph cross winds was genuinely terrifying. The CBF1000 that replaced it was better as it was bloody heavy and softly sprung, so just sat down.
My old Ducati Multistrada was awful in the wind as the whole design didn't put that much weight on the front wheel. A two up touring holiday in Normandy with 30mph cross winds was genuinely terrifying. The CBF1000 that replaced it was better as it was bloody heavy and softly sprung, so just sat down.
I’ve ridden with mates through some major storms. They are baffled at how little influence the wind has on my bike.
Then we swap bikes. The stability stays with the rider, it’s not the bike.
What do I do that’s different from most riders. I don’t brace myself with the bars. I keep a very gentle hold on the bars and brace myself by squeezing the tank with my knees.
Then we swap bikes. The stability stays with the rider, it’s not the bike.
What do I do that’s different from most riders. I don’t brace myself with the bars. I keep a very gentle hold on the bars and brace myself by squeezing the tank with my knees.
Kawasicki said:
I’ve ridden with mates through some major storms. They are baffled at how little influence the wind has on my bike.
Then we swap bikes. The stability stays with the rider, it’s not the bike.
What do I do that’s different from most riders. I don’t brace myself with the bars. I keep a very gentle hold on the bars and brace myself by squeezing the tank with my knees.
The main issue is that it's difficult to relax while you're scares sThen we swap bikes. The stability stays with the rider, it’s not the bike.
What do I do that’s different from most riders. I don’t brace myself with the bars. I keep a very gentle hold on the bars and brace myself by squeezing the tank with my knees.
tless! I've found the effect of sidewinds to be far less on unfaired bikes, things like blackbirds with big fairings seem to catch the wind a lot more, they also have narrower bars so less leverage for getting it back on track.
I've ridden the Explorer in some fairly sketchy conditions, we went over the road to Applecross in a storm. The bike was fine as long as it was moving but it was too windy to stop or I'd have dropped it. Being massive and heavy (the bike was too) helped greatly in the conditions!
Kawasicki said:
I’ve ridden with mates through some major storms. They are baffled at how little influence the wind has on my bike.
Then we swap bikes. The stability stays with the rider, it’s not the bike.
What do I do that’s different from most riders. I don’t brace myself with the bars. I keep a very gentle hold on the bars and brace myself by squeezing the tank with my knees.
Then we swap bikes. The stability stays with the rider, it’s not the bike.
What do I do that’s different from most riders. I don’t brace myself with the bars. I keep a very gentle hold on the bars and brace myself by squeezing the tank with my knees.
Lower body to brace, arms and hands very relaxed and loose.
I was out with a mate that was "getting blown all over the road", something wrong with his bike etc etc.
Swopped over, I rode his away... suddenly my bike had a load of the same "issues" and was "all over place" too.
Both on Pan Europeans. big, faired bikes.
As above, is exactly the advice taught on advanced riding courses.
The bike is more stable at speed and will just go straight on if it is not given any steering input on the bars. The wind is blowing on the rider who is gripping the bars so tight they dont realise they are steering the bike. Wind blows rider to the side, the bike moves, rider tries to compensate, bike moves more...and so it continues, riding in the wind becomes something stressful when there is no need for it to be.
We had some training on a windy airfield and the instructor demonstrates hands off riding at 60mph in the wind, the bike does not move. Obviously easier to try in safe open environment like an airfield, but next time you are out somewhere windy quiet give it a try, grip with your knees, hands off and see what the bike does when the wind blows. Then you realise you dont need to hang on tight in the wind, you need to relax your grip, as the wind pushes you, do not transfer this to your arms and onto the bars.
The bike is more stable at speed and will just go straight on if it is not given any steering input on the bars. The wind is blowing on the rider who is gripping the bars so tight they dont realise they are steering the bike. Wind blows rider to the side, the bike moves, rider tries to compensate, bike moves more...and so it continues, riding in the wind becomes something stressful when there is no need for it to be.
We had some training on a windy airfield and the instructor demonstrates hands off riding at 60mph in the wind, the bike does not move. Obviously easier to try in safe open environment like an airfield, but next time you are out somewhere windy quiet give it a try, grip with your knees, hands off and see what the bike does when the wind blows. Then you realise you dont need to hang on tight in the wind, you need to relax your grip, as the wind pushes you, do not transfer this to your arms and onto the bars.
bogie said:
As above, is exactly the advice taught on advanced riding courses.
The bike is more stable at speed and will just go straight on if it is not given any steering input on the bars. The wind is blowing on the rider who is gripping the bars so tight they dont realise they are steering the bike. Wind blows rider to the side, the bike moves, rider tries to compensate, bike moves more...and so it continues, riding in the wind becomes something stressful when there is no need for it to be.
We had some training on a windy airfield and the instructor demonstrates hands off riding at 60mph in the wind, the bike does not move. Obviously easier to try in safe open environment like an airfield, but next time you are out somewhere windy quiet give it a try, grip with your knees, hands off and see what the bike does when the wind blows. Then you realise you dont need to hang on tight in the wind, you need to relax your grip, as the wind pushes you, do not transfer this to your arms and onto the bars.
I'm sure this is broadly good advice but I'd be *very* impressed if you can ride no-hands across the Severn Bridge in a 40mph crosswind. I'm fairly confident you'll get blown into the barrier if you don't steer...The bike is more stable at speed and will just go straight on if it is not given any steering input on the bars. The wind is blowing on the rider who is gripping the bars so tight they dont realise they are steering the bike. Wind blows rider to the side, the bike moves, rider tries to compensate, bike moves more...and so it continues, riding in the wind becomes something stressful when there is no need for it to be.
We had some training on a windy airfield and the instructor demonstrates hands off riding at 60mph in the wind, the bike does not move. Obviously easier to try in safe open environment like an airfield, but next time you are out somewhere windy quiet give it a try, grip with your knees, hands off and see what the bike does when the wind blows. Then you realise you dont need to hang on tight in the wind, you need to relax your grip, as the wind pushes you, do not transfer this to your arms and onto the bars.
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