Worst ride ever!

[PrincessBandit]

Yep, as I was riding home from Pukekohe this afternoon I well and truly wondered what the hell I was doing on my bike today.

Was I up against it with dodgy car drivers, yapping running dogs, pouring rain, glaring sun strike etc?

No! It vas ze vind!!!! Every lean into corners, every time I had to slow, shit, every time I had to stop, the gusts were terrible. I recall being literally blown into the "fast" lane on the motorway once while riding home on the ginny and thinking "well, at least that won't happen once I'm on a heavier bike". Haha.

I really could not believe how treacherous the gusts were - completely unpredictable and incredibly strong. I'm sure I read somewhere we're meant to be in for a rather blustery spring, so please be careful out there people. Even you big muscly guys! :msn-wink:

[gijoe1313]

Aww shucks lil'lady, now y'all should be wrasslin' the wind with confidence y'hear! :msn-wink:

After all the hi-jinks you been through, I wouldn't think you'd be dry-gulched by a lil'passel of wind now!

Mind you, I does ride naked bikes so I guess t'ain't as much for me! But good on you for giddyapping out there on your iron steed!

[Pussy]

You'll find a bit of wing down and opposite rudder works pretty good in a crosswind, PB! :niceone:

[Swoop]

You'll find a bit of wing down and opposite rudder works pretty good in a crosswind, PB! :niceone:
But would an instructor be impressed?

[Str8 Jacket]

I have had people tell me that, wind "cant possibly blow you off your bike"....

I hate the wind more than rain anyday, can get a bit scary eh! ;)

[p.dath]

I had a similar experience crossing the Auckland harbour Bridge recently. Not a nice feeling.

[Maki]

Relax and don't let the wind push you around. Keep your upper body loose and grip the tank with your knees. The problems start if you tense up and the wind pushes your body which then pushes the handlebars which then turns the bike. I live in windy Wellington and I don't notice the wind much.

[mattian]

Relax and don't let the wind push you around. Keep your upper body loose and grip the tank with your knees. The problems start if you tense up and the wind pushes your body which then pushes the handlebars which then turns the bike. I live in windy Wellington and I don't notice the wind much.

I agree with this statement....... don't fight the wind. That forces your body to tense up and grip the bars tightly. Just stay relaxed and allow for some movement.
I just got back from town, crossing the Harbour bridge was awesome fun :wari:

[tri boy]

Picked up my new (to me) xrl650 from Akld today, and rode it back to Hamilton.:eek5:
Got blown to the extreme edge of the road twice, and fought side gusts right the way home.
Chook chasers on dual sport tyres on damp roads with 100+ gusts are a challenge indeed.
First time ever I witnessed a couple of things.

Road marker side posts can bend to the ground and not snap.

Truck spray doesn't always reach your helmet if the wind is strong enough.

[Str8 Jacket]

Relax and don't let the wind push you around. Keep your upper body loose and grip the tank with your knees. The problems start if you tense up and the wind pushes your body which then pushes the handlebars which then turns the bike. I live in windy Wellington and I don't notice the wind much.

Try commuting on an FXR... I am used to it too but do get blown around a heck of alot. You're right about the relaxing and handle bar reaction! Its also much easier to guide your bike back onto path if you are relaxed and get blown sideways...

[martybabe]

Crikey , who activated all the aircraft enthusiasts, every thread I read has got some reference to aeronauticalology :laugh:

Yes PB, we are a little prone to weather conditions and we certainly are having some weather conditions. I'm not so concerned with what it does to the bike, it never feels too dangerous to me just a bit annoying and irritating, especially the gusty variety but man when it's blowing my head about like a blinking balloon in a gale, grrrrr.

[tri boy]

I agree with this statement....... don't fight the wind.

With all due respect, I think that is incorrect in many cases.
If I wasn't a bit tense, and fighting the wind, I would probably be lying in the drainage trench between Rangiriri and Huntly.
Heavier bikes do sit better, and make it easier to relax. But on a couple of trips in the past, I know tensing up and fighting got me home.

[Maki]

With all due respect, I think that is incorrect in many cases.
If I wasn't a bit tense, and fighting the wind, I would probably be lying in the drainage trench between Rangiriri and Huntly.
Heavier bikes do sit better, and make it easier to relax. But on a couple of trips in the past, I know tensing up and fighting got me home.

I commute in Wellington and I never ever tense or fight the wind. In fact I hardly notice the wind when I am on the bike.

[tri boy]

Good for you.

[Str8 Jacket]

Blowin' In The Wind
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

[doc]

So the "In the wind " term most the Harley stuff quotes is not for you. I also understand the bigger the mooring the less movement works. :no:
I use to do Glenbrook to Greenlane return daily I know what you mean. On a small bike it determined your top speed as well. On a good day I could keep up with the traffic.

[F5 Dave]

I have had people tell me that, wind "cant possibly blow you off your bike"....


What a Crock of shit. I've been behind a car over the rimas feathers side & saw the wind pick up the rear (yes as in; lose contact with the ground) & slew it sideways, plonk it down where it continued sliding 180 (it was wet). But I did think 'ya know, if I was on the bike I don't think there would have been any chance there' (we decided against taking the bike as the weather reports was super windy). I had just been thinking 'ya know the wind isn't as bad as they said it was going to be, maybe we shoulda taken the bike'. Sheesh.

I've aborted a trip to Lake Ferry taking the lakes side road as I thought it was going to end badly & this was 2 up on an RF9, hardly a small bike. Another route saw us there, but it was getting ugly & I've ridden in welly all my life.

Some days just exceed all others.

[Str8 Jacket]

I've aborted a trip to Lake Ferry taking the lakes side road as I thought it was going to end badly & this was 2 up on an RF9, hardly a small bike. Another route saw us there, but it was getting ugly & I've ridden in welly all my life.

Some days just exceed all others.

About 3 or 4 years ago on my 18th birthday I should have aborted a ride when I stopped on my way to lake ferry because of the wind. I kept going but I literally got blown off the road sideways into a rocky grass bank on my way home and was mocked by a herd of cows while having a 'wee moment'...

[sunhuntin]

ive come up against some strong gusts. normally i dont fight it, but it all depends on the road.
the biggest ive felt, the road seemed to be atop a cliff, with the walls acting like a funnel for the wind. the gust hit me like a ton a bricks and would have me in the cliff wall that boardered the road had i not fought back. i was laughing like a lunatic cos there was nothing else i could do at the time. :sunny:

[mattian]

I have heard of people getting knocked off their bikes on the Harbour bridge. I think the fully-fared bikes are more at risk of this because they have more surface area for the wind to catch....... I ride naked :love: always have and, I have only ever chosen to take the bus twice across the Harbour bridge instead of ride. Both occasions the winds were gusting in excess of 120kms and hour........... I tell ya what.... I didnt feel that much safer on the bus :shit:

[BiK3RChiK]

The weather here was a shocker today, PB! There's no way I would have considered being out on the bike in that. We had wheelie bins flying and even a trampoline ended up in a paddock about 150metres from the house, just down the road!

[PrincessBandit]

ive come up against some strong gusts. normally i dont fight it, but it all depends on the road.
the biggest ive felt, the road seemed to be atop a cliff, with the walls acting like a funnel for the wind. the gust hit me like a ton a bricks and would have me in the cliff wall that boardered the road had i not fought back. i was laughing like a lunatic cos there was nothing else i could do at the time. :sunny:

I must to confess to a couple of expletives leaving my mouth on the ride home. The gusts were mainly from the sides - very swirly - including hitting me in the chest and helmet. Despite keeping a relaxed grip (but holding tight to the tank with my thighs) it really felt like a dance with the bike. Unfortunately a polka, not a gentle waltz!



The weather here was a shocker today, PB! There's no way I would have considered being out on the bike in that. We had wheelie bins flying and even a trampoline ended up in a paddock about 150metres from the house, just down the road!

:eek::eek: and :shit:!

[Boob Johnson]

every thread I read has got some reference to aeronauticalology :laugh:
Did you just make up a new word MB? :laugh:

[Big Dave]

Did your petticoats blow up Tri Boy?

[Oakie]

As an alternative to clenching the tank with your legs, you can let the windward knee hang out in the breeze (eg, wind coming from your left, hang your left knee out). This creates a bit more wind resistance on the windward side and has the effect of counteracting the wind a bit. It means there has to be less rider input to get you back on the straight and narrow when a big gust does hit. Try it. It works a treat.

[Ixion]

Don't scoff. Those frilly pantaloons he wears underneath act like sails. The very devil for catching the wind.

[duckonin]

Have ridin in some very very strong winds, almost left the road a few times with my wife on the back of the Cruiser from Welly north both sides and in the South Island..When it gets that bad sit your bike near the line closest to the wind at least that way if the wind picks you up ( and believe me it can) or pushes you across the road you have the whole lane to yourself before getting into real trouble...

Yes beware the wind can get you into big trouble, on any "size'' bike..Gezz if it can blow a truck off the road caravans and fick a car well a bike Hmmmm...

[Morepower]

Struck bad wind in southern Hawkes bay a couple of years back. When Buses and Vans have pulled over and stopped because of the cross winds then its a tad silly to keep going. I managed about 1 km further before finding a farm drive to go up where I could stop and shelter behind a stone wall.
I would rate wind as one of the most unpleasant of conditions to ride in.

[Vern]

So the "In the wind " term most the Harley stuff quotes is not for you. I also understand the bigger the mooring the less movement works. :no:
I use to do Glenbrook to Greenlane return daily I know what you mean. On a small bike it determined your top speed as well. On a good day I could keep up with the traffic.

Yeah, I took my CB250N down to Palmerston North and in the head wind i was in 5th the throttle wound hard round and struggling to get it up to 80khp on the speedo and that was lying down on the tank. When you sat up it was like a sail and the old girl got even slower. It was more of a nuisance than anything just to make it so you did not enjoy the trip. Vern

[Xaria]

Coming back from a rally last year, I was blown across the road and half the nz army was coming along on the otehr side of the road.

I tried everything, slow down, change down gears, stick out my knee, lean into the wind.

Stopped and had a breather and just continued slowly on my way.
Still no good.

[oldguy]

Yep, as I was riding home from Pukekohe this afternoon I well and truly wondered what the hell I was doing on my bike today.

Was I up against it with dodgy car drivers, yapping running dogs, pouring rain, glaring sun strike etc?

No! It vas ze vind!!!! Every lean into corners, every time I had to slow, shit, every time I had to stop, the gusts were terrible. I recall being literally blown into the "fast" lane on the motorway once while riding home on the ginny and thinking "well, at least that won't happen once I'm on a heavier bike". Haha.

I really could not believe how treacherous the gusts were - completely unpredictable and incredibly strong. I'm sure I read somewhere we're meant to be in for a rather blustery spring, so please be careful out there people. Even you big muscly guys! :msn-wink:
most important thing you got home safe. Bad enough having to contend with the traffic, yeah just got to take care out there with this unsettled weather.

[Edbear]

Yep, as I was riding home from Pukekohe this afternoon I well and truly wondered what the hell I was doing on my bike today.
...(SNIP)..

, so please be careful out there people. Even you big muscly guys! :msn-wink:

Wot about us big guys who aren't all muscly, just bigger..? Don't forget us!!! :confused:

Have to admit it takes a rather strong wind to move me and my bike around much... :shutup:

[YellowDog]

The best advice I had off KB was to change down and hold the bike at high revs. This acts like a gyroscope and helps control the bike.

This works well for me, but then I have nearly 300Kg on the road.

So far as keeping the body loose, easier said than done when it's really blowing. I just let the arms counter what the body is doing.

For me :

Auckland Harbour Bridge in a high gusting wind


Y i i i i i i i i H a a a a a a a a a a a

[smoky]

so please be careful out there people. Even you big muscly guys! :msn-wink:

Yeah - only us big fat guys can handle it

[elevenhundred]

Relax and don't let the wind push you around. Keep your upper body loose and grip the tank with your knees. The problems start if you tense up and the wind pushes your body which then pushes the handlebars which then turns the bike. I live in windy Wellington and I don't notice the wind much.

Yup, us Welly riders have got it sorted.
I actually enjoy riding when it is really windy, must be why I like naked bikes too. Nothing better than bombing down the gorge then into the big right hander of the flyover, getting buffeted like mad then down towards the crosswind prone area near Aotea Quay turn off all while dodging cars who are getting blown about in their lanes.
As Maki says, grip the tank with your knees, keep a firm grip on the bars but make sure your arms are nice and relaxed.

[sunhuntin]

I must to confess to a couple of expletives leaving my mouth on the ride home. The gusts were mainly from the sides - very swirly - including hitting me in the chest and helmet. Despite keeping a relaxed grip (but holding tight to the tank with my thighs) it really felt like a dance with the bike. Unfortunately a polka, not a gentle waltz!

lol. yeh, i was swearing and laughing at the same time. just stuff like "come on bitch, i know you can do it" all directed at the bike and said with all the love in the world. :love: that was a fun section of road that. pity i cant remember where the hell it was though! somewhere south of chch. i remember there were cars coming towards me, and the people inside were looking at me like im nuts. [well, i was a bit. the wind razzes me up]

[trailblazer]

The weather here was a shocker today, PB! There's no way I would have considered being out on the bike in that. We had wheelie bins flying and even a trampoline ended up in a paddock about 150metres from the house, just down the road!

Yes the wind was bad in the eastern bay today but i still went for a bit of a ride at lunch in the pouring rain and after work in the wind.
Had a couple of mates that ride harleys ask me what the fuck i was doing riding in weather like that. I just replied next week i won't have a choice if the weather is shit it's not like i can just stay home so i might aswell get used to it.

[The Stranger]

I really could not believe how treacherous the gusts were - completely unpredictable and incredibly strong.

I use a quick push of the bar to counter steer into a gust.

[BiK3RChiK]

Yes the wind was bad in the eastern bay today but i still went for a bit of a ride at lunch in the pouring rain and after work in the wind.
Had a couple of mates that ride harleys ask me what the fuck i was doing riding in weather like that. I just replied next week i won't have a choice if the weather is shit it's not like i can just stay home so i might aswell get used to it.

You must be nuts! :lol:

We had a buyer for a bike turn up just as the first thunderhead went through, and shortly after the second.... I'm glad he had a trailer! And I think he was too. :headbang:

[modboy]

The wind gusts between the Terrace Tunnel and Kiawharawhara (Wellington) can be a nightmare. I just drop the speed, try to stay relaxed, let it buffet me round a bit and just try to soak it up. It's uncomfortable, but I wouldn't say too scary.

[sugilite]

Kinda scratching my head at the don't fight it brigade, but then again I did many years riding in Wellington.

When it gets really gusty, especially with those trade mark sudden WAMMO Wellie gusts, I get into the motocross attack position. Sit right forward, elbows out and up on the balls of your feet (foot peg wise). That way you are ready to instantly react with opposing FORCE.





I've aborted a trip to Lake Ferry taking the lakes side road as I thought it was going to end badly & this was 2 up on an RF9, hardly a small bike. Another route saw us there, but it was getting ugly & I've ridden in welly all my life.

Some days just exceed all others.

Yep, had a mate on the back of a RG500 on that West lake road, we both 2 meters tall. I actually scraped the footpegs/belly pan just to keep it in a straight line, and yes, scariest road ride EVER.

[dpex]

Yep, as I was riding home from Pukekohe this afternoon I well and truly wondered what the hell I was doing on my bike today.

Was I up against it with dodgy car drivers, yapping running dogs, pouring rain, glaring sun strike etc?

No! It vas ze vind!!!! Every lean into corners, every time I had to slow, shit, every time I had to stop, the gusts were terrible. I recall being literally blown into the "fast" lane on the motorway once while riding home on the ginny and thinking "well, at least that won't happen once I'm on a heavier bike". Haha.

I really could not believe how treacherous the gusts were - completely unpredictable and incredibly strong. I'm sure I read somewhere we're meant to be in for a rather blustery spring, so please be careful out there people. Even you big muscly guys! :msn-wink:

I remember being on a 'smaller' bike and having suffered what you recount, on the Southern Motorway, on the flat heading up to the Bombays. It was pissing down! The wind was treacherous, I felt almost out of control.

But I'd watched a vid, here on KB, supplied by the Dutch Police, prior to this rather unnerving event. The instructor recommended sticking out your windward knee...and went on to explain why, but it all read like theories to me, till I tried it during that furious storm.

Do this. On a smaller bike, or even a bigger bike in hurricane conditions, stick out your windward knee as far as you can. Bugger me the bike settles. But geez, during winter, your nethers get a bit cold.

Better cold nethers than ditching. :--))

[CrazyFrog]

I had my scariest ride on a bike in 25 years, was over the Rimutakas in a storm last September, just before the police closed the road.
I was on my KTM 640 Adv bike, a tall beastie, and I'm 95kg 6ft 2" tall. Riding knobblies on a wet road, and gusting 120kmph winds.
Just far too much up high catching the wind gusts, rather than low slung weight like a sport bike. I got pushed into the armco barrier 3 times by the wind, and another once right accross the opposite lane of the road into the drainage ditch. Lucky for me, there was bugger all traffic, no one else stupid enough to go over the hill in that wind. Bloody madness, I'll never do that again, crashing just ain't that much fun for me.
Needless to say I needed an undie change by the time I got to Featherston. Shitting the whole way down the hill.