Motorcycle riding against Gust Wind....video

[BusyWeb]

Hello, there.

A video clip that shows how to react against Gust Wind.
Took during the local joy riding to the Joshua Tree National Park yesterday.

To get to the destination, had to pass Hwy. 62 which enterance road is famous for the GUST WIND.
Wind is always blowing at the road; mostly on West/East, and road streatched for miles on North/South.
So, especially with motocycle, riders have to deal with Cross Wind always...
Californian riders would know how the Desert Wind feels like.. ha ha ha

At this clip; starting about 3:30 to end of the video, you can see how I/bike were reacted
against cross wind.
Sometimes wind pushed bike about a foot to the right...

These are what I did for it.
1. Leaning the bike throughtout the 3-4 miles long.
2. Lowered my body and moved my butt backward
3. I reduce speed for the safety reason; some strong gust at that time...
4. Lowered bike gear to 4-5 to get some torque.
5. and...high alert on the traffic >> changed lane to outter side
6. ...

About starting at the 4:00 miniutes, wind is blowing...
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj4KuOZQkUg]YouTube - Joshua Tree National Park B[/ame]

Thanks

 

[BranNwebster]

You know I've crossed some bridges and causeways here on the Gulf that where pretty gusty. It made me nervous at first. But a light touch on the handlebar and a good tuck, I think the bike wants to go in a straight line.

 

[BusyWeb]

You know I've crossed some bridges and causeways here on the Gulf that where pretty gusty. It made me nervous at first. But a light touch on the handlebar and a good tuck, I think the bike wants to go in a straight line.

Texas might have strong wind at the road too..

I've been riding gusty situations at here California some time,
but still nervous always and had to slow donw... (don't call me chicken.. ha ha ha)
As I enjoy some long touring with my FZ6, I had to deal with always on the Desert Highways.
That's why I made lowered my saddle bags a lot to get some better riding experiences at the gusty roads.
Anyway, I hate the wind.....while I am on the Bike.. ha ha ha

 

[VEGASRIDER]

What's with all those cars passing you? How slow were you riding?

Honestly, I consider wind gusts as my number one fear, just because you can's see it or hear it coming. Totally unpredicatable.

You are right, dropping it down a gear is a good idea, as you may have to rely on your torque to help you fight the gust. Definately don't want to be caught in the wrong powerband in those type of situations.

However, i will disagree with you slowing down. It's actually easier to fight the crosswinds if you are going faster. Slowing down just makes you more vulnerable.

I don't envy you Southern Californian's riding in the wind. People just don't realize how bad the winds can get during certain parts of the year.
But where you were travelling, it's always windy, otherwise they would have never constructed the wind farms right there.

 

[BusyWeb]

What's with all those cars passing you? How slow were you riding?

However, i will disagree with you slowing down. It's actually easier to fight the crosswinds if you are going faster. Slowing down just makes you more vulnerable.

Hi, Mr. VegasRider >> are you the men I met at the Interstate 15 (bakers field gas station??) some months ago? and you gave me a name card???
Anyway,
you are absolutely right about bike speed under windy condition.
If rider make little faster on windy road, the Universal Physics Rule is broken down; and reduces wind resistance.
Yes, I do make little speedy; especially on I15, I40, when windy >> it gets better..
HOWEVER, as I'm a still in not very experienced rider, I tried to reduce speed whenever I met a some windy conditions
>> It just give me better and safer feeling when riding.
>> With STRONG gust >> I don't feel speedier riding YET >> chicken... ha ha ha
Anyway, thanks for the comments.
And Safe Ride for all...

PS: the video clips bike speed was about (55-65, or little less some point???)

 

[Kriswithak]

Tucking in is definately a good idea, but leaning the bike into the wind is dangerous, if it suddenly drops your leaning against something thats no longer there and can swerve.
Dropping down a gear or two so your not just cruising like you mentioned is one of the best things. I'm not that great with psychics but when your powering along rather than keeping your momentum going (cruising) you'll cut through that wind alot better, and be a bit more secure on the road.
You'll definately have more issues going slow than fast, but if your not confident its better you avoid speed. You should also be able to accelerate to clean up your line if it blows hard.
Also if the wind is only coming from one side I'd tend to try and buffer to give the most room if it does push you across towards other lanes of traffic, if its gusting from both sides (happens here with some of the windy country roads) then trying to stay centred so you have buffering on both sides can be beneficial, just not if its wet or rainy or even dewy when the crap on the centre of the road can be brought up and cause grip issues.

 

[Moses195]

I remember posting while I still had my TW200 riding in April '09. 45 mph gusts then pouring rain! I was scared to death but ever since I just take the winds in stride. Go with the flow. RELAX! I was in steady 25-35 gusts today and it was not bad because I was ready for anything. I learned the hard way and THAT sticks with you!!! Relax!!!

 

[BusyWeb]

RELAX! I was in steady 25-35 gusts today and it was not bad because I was ready for anything. I learned the hard way and THAT sticks with you!!! Relax!!!

Tucking in is definately a good idea, but leaning the bike into the wind is dangerous, if it suddenly drops your leaning against something thats no longer there and can swerve.
You'll definately have more issues going slow than fast, but if your not confident its better you avoid speed. You should also be able to accelerate to clean up your line if it blows hard.

Hi, there.
Thanks for the tips.
Let me remember and try for it under the similar windy situation.
Word is easy, but for me, real world situation >> body and mind are working independently... ha ha ha
And leaning the bike isn't by my intention >> it did automatically by my body and bike.
I may have to relax more on, so that the handle bar is not pushed(moved) by my body movement; just thought after reading your tips..

 

[VDITRAINING]

I don't know exactly how windy the conditions were when you were riding, it looked gusty, but that motor home and boat barely weaved on the highway themselves.
Around here, we've had gusts that would have pushed them right into your lane.

The only advice I give is to just relax when you ride in strong winds. you have a whole lane to use, so use it and don't freak out if the bike drifts around in your lane. Just keep it between the lines and watch out for that person who can't.
Stay with the flow of traffic, I personally think thats safer than being the speed bump.

 

[sxty8goats]

I used to get pretty strong winds and gusts riding in IL. Lots of open corn feilds in the area. I had to lean the bike into the wind, other wise I would be blown into a corn feild. Not leaning doesn't sound like good advice to me, leaning is dynamic. You have to keep aleart and adapt to the constantly changing conditions.

The first few times I was subjected to it, the gusting scared the snot out of me. After a month or so it was simply part of my ride.

 

[RJ2112]

The biggest thing about riding in strong winds is to keep your sight on the point you want to go to, just like riding through a corner...... keep your vision as far ahead of you as possible. The bike will move. Just countersteer enough to keep the bike aimed at the point on the horizon you want to go towards.

When you start to unconciously ride the bike's center of gravity instead of the contact patches, it gets a lot easier. Let it rotate as it needs to and just concentrate on going where you want to. The rubber hitting the road can be 8" to either side (of the vertical) and you can still be going in a straight line.......

 

[rider1a]

Two more tips...put maximum tire pressure...36 front and 42 rear to stiffen the tire sides and prevent flexing...the second one is a bit unconventional...

...put your windward knee out around 90 degrees from the peg. It acts like an outrigger or stabilization rudder and will make your ride more stable.

...you also know that a lighter grip is better on the bars than a strong-handed approach since it amplifies the wind impact on the bike frame...stay loose and breath normally so you don't tense up your entire body.

Fred

 

[Powerman]

Stay tucked and keep the speed up. I ride Highway 101 from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo frequently. The wind on that highway can be crazy.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Two more tips...put maximum tire pressure...36 front and 42 rear to stiffen the tire sides and prevent flexing...the second one is a bit unconventional...

...put your windward knee out around 90 degrees from the peg. It acts like an outrigger or stabilization rudder and will make your ride more stable.

Fred

interesting thought

 

[Tailgate]

I'm not subscribing yet to the "don't slow down" advice during high winds. This runs counter to what I want to think....not saying that you're wrong but.... I remember while in Death Valley on FZ6, I shut down before 115 MPH. It felt---in my opinion---too dangerous to ride faster during the high cross winds.

Some in official capacity advise to slow down:

http://www.dps.nm.org/newsReleases/...06.06.07 High Wind Driving Tips summer 07.pdf

It would seem to me that the faster one is going, the less effect gravity will have. I mean, you go fast enough and you'll become lighter/more apt to become airborne, no?

but, I imagine there are plenty of counter arguments....

I would like to see the scientific response to the question.

 

[chunkygoat]

I got caught and rode through a monsoon once. Imagine the (if you've ever seen the movie Armageddon) scariest environment imaginable. Well this was it, 50+ mph winds, torrential rain/hail coming down SIDEWAYS, flooded roads, lightening striking directly above the road on the horizon the direction I was going towards, and need I say the pitch black sky (even though it was around 3pm).

Well my experience with it taught me a few things. First off, don't ride if the sky turns black and its not because its nightfall. Second, when your driving in the rain, EASY on the clutch. Third, when it is REALLY windy - not talking just gusts - slow down, keep your throttle hand steady, and try to lean into the wind.

A combination of strong wind and rain is even worse. Watch for painted lines, road slicks, and PUDDLES. Hydroplaning over 6" of water while leaning into 50mph winds is NOT a pleasant experience.

Regular wind doesn't even phase me since that experience. I just keep the throttle steady and lean into the wind. Keep your senses alert, and be on your toes ready to shift your weight, slow down, speed up, etc. The faster you go the more stable it is. If you have to lean over quite far to counter the wind, maybe 5mph is better for stability.

Those are my 2 cents though, I just try to lean, thus countering the wind, to keep my line as straight as possible.

 

[stealthyman]

I was riding west on Highway 58 in the Mojave desert yesterday and ran into wind also. I kept going at the speed limit (or better) but left myself plenty of room, just in case. When I got to Mojave, I turned south on Highway 14, wind still blowing the flags to right angles, and one of my eyes started burning and closed up. Had to pull over with one eye and get something out of the corner of my burning eye. I had my Nolan 102 helmet on at the time. Guess it doesn't keep everything out. Was glad to finally get out of the wind.

 

[BusyWeb]

I was riding west on Highway 58 in the Mojave desert yesterday and ran into wind also. I kept going at the speed limit (or better) but left myself plenty of room, just in case. When I got to Mojave, I turned south on Highway 14, wind still blowing the flags to right angles, and one of my eyes started burning and closed up. Had to pull over with one eye and get something out of the corner of my burning eye. I had my Nolan 102 helmet on at the time. Guess it doesn't keep everything out. Was glad to finally get out of the wind.

Hi, there.
I had same ride where you had it couple of times.
Sometimes, there is no wind at all..
However, as another user said, windy conditions are very seasonal at those areas.
Even at the Death Valley, at the winter time >> no wind at all >> very pleasant riding experience I had.
But at the late spring to the summer time >> it's like hell >>>> ha ha ha >> some 60+ over wind speed...at some places
At the Summer, the most of Camp Sites are closed, none, nada,....

After those experiences, if I need/want to go those area, I always check the Weather Web Site
>> Check how the Wind Condition Will be.
>> They(Weather Web Sites) most give some Hourly and Daily predictions.
>> And they are amazingly ACCURATE.
>> So, I could choose/prepare proper time to travel on those WINDY ROAD.. ha ha ha
>> Early morning was mostly best time for me, as long as I had experienced,
early down or morning shows very stable air/wind environments.
Weather web site is very helpful....

Thanks for the comments for all of you.
And were very helpfule for me.

 

[Cloggy]

There are lots of wind farms here too, as North Holland is as flat as a pancake and on the coast. My daily commute takes me along the coast and I get strong winds most of the times. We don't have problems with sand but often with driving rain.
I agree with what most people say to relax in strong winds, don't overcompensate or start jerking the bike, just stay in between the white lines, if you get blown off course just gently readjust your position and continue. In constant strong winds you have to lean into them but be aware of gusts, as you will continually have to readjust your position.

I would definately try to go with the flow, cars and trucks that are overtaking can cause (unnecessary) buffeting (vehicles on your windward side will cause the worst problems).

I actually enjoy riding in the wind, it keeps you on your toes :thumbup: