Nobody likes the wind

**Genesismatrix** · 9th June 2006, 20:29

I was riding this evening in some fairy heavy cross winds. Are there any good techniques out there to be more stable and not get blown all over the road.

Keeping in mind Big Guy (105kg) Small Bike (130kg)

**skidMark** · 9th June 2006, 20:32

hang on for dear life...and oh don't try to overtake any big truck's in heavy wind that could possibly change direction and try blow you into them....to such a point that you almost have the peg down to go in a straight line.....

***speaks from experiance**** (fuck me that was scary shit when that happened coming up the southern...in the wet too) and on a gn 250

**White trash** · 9th June 2006, 20:32

Yup. Keep the front wheel firmly planted on the road, no matter how cool people tell ya you look otherwise.

Trust me.

**MidnightMike** · 9th June 2006, 20:32

Get a heavier bike mate.

**skidMark** · 9th June 2006, 20:34

now theres a good excuse for license exemtion......why do you need the new gixxer thousand on your learners....cus my light lil bike gets blown round in the wind

**justsomeguy** · 9th June 2006, 20:35

Relax your grip on the bars, if necessary hang off your bike going with the flow of the wind - keep the bike upright.

Expect the front end to be pushed by a sudden gust of wind and prepare yourself for it. Its no big deal and you will get used to it.

Try and keep your speed more or less constant, slow down to a speed you feel comfortable at. Don't speed up as some people may tell you, it may make the bike stable but it also gives you less room for error.

If you feel the wind is too strong please pull over and stop until it dies down.

Last point - if you have to stop - remember in extreme cases your bike may be blown off the stand or shifted around by the wind.

**White trash** · 9th June 2006, 20:35

Carefull what you say about the mighty FXR there MNMike. Have you looked in a mirror lately?

**MidnightMike** · 9th June 2006, 20:38

Originally Posted by White trash

Carefull what you say about the mighty FXR there MNMike. Have you looked in a mirror lately?

Whats that suposed to mean?

**Ixion** · 9th June 2006, 20:42

It's more scarey than dangerous. Especially you being heavyish. Just relax, put your weight on your feet not your arse, grip the tank tight and the handlebars loose. If the wind blows you, don't try to fight it through the bars just move your weight around on the pegs . And don't be afraid to let the bike wander a bit you're entitled to use the whole lane.

Anticipate when you'll get hit, coming out of the lee of hills and such like.

Don't really know that bike weight makes such a difference myself, a light bike gets blown easier than a heavy one, but it's easier to correct.

If you have to balance out a steadish cross wind, don't lean the bike to compensate, move your body over and hang off (you'll still have a lean a wee bit) - the one time when that technique makes sense for road riding. That way when the wind drops you don't swerve suddenly in the direction you are leaning.

Like I say, one of those things that feels really frightening to a novice, but after a while you get used to it. Like the bike moving around on gravel. Feels like you're not in control, but I only ever heard one instance of anyone crashing directly because of wind. And that was a feather weight chick on a feather weight bike. Usual reason people lose it in wind is a gust hits them , they get a fright and jam on the brakes. bad idea.

**beyond** · 9th June 2006, 20:43

Get a bigger bike. e.g. A GSX1400

Or make it a tail wind, you get another 5kmh top speed.

Seriously, I've been in gale force winds on the Auckland harbour bridge on smaller bikes when I was younger.
1. Don't panic.
2. Remain calm and lean into the wind.
3. Gusts change and therefore you can be leaning into the wind one second and nearly falling over the next. Again, be prepared for the wind shifts.
Don't go too fast as has been said because the quicker you go the faster the change in direction when the wind changes on you.
4. Sudden wind gusts at reasonable speeds for the wind conditions can be dealt with by counterstering quickly as necessary.
5. Most bikes can be ridden safely in very strong winds. If they get cyclonic, find a culvert.