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doko
22nd November 2010, 13:09
I was going on the southern motorway today. I was going about 120kph when a huge gust of mind pushed me within a inch of the barrier thingy. :shit:

Brix where shat. Be careful in the wind on small bikes ( Was on a larger 250 at the time).

Bald Eagle
22nd November 2010, 13:13
Are you in training for moving to Wellywind then ?

Juzz976
22nd November 2010, 13:14
But its not even windy today?

doko
22nd November 2010, 13:16
Are you in training for moving to Wellywind then ?

Haha. I should try a road trip one day. But yeah I hate the wind makes riding uncomfortable to. :(

MSTRS
22nd November 2010, 13:16
All part of biking's rich tapestry.
So now you know to watch for shit like trees/hedges/grass being blown about before you get there. By these movements shall ye know it be blowy...

doko
22nd November 2010, 13:22
All part of biking's rich tapestry.
So now you know to watch for shit like trees/hedges/grass being blown about before you get there. By these movements shall ye know it be blowy...

Well it happens to ricer cars... so I guess it would happen x9999 to a ricer bike. Japanese haven't yet discovered wind. :blink:

MSTRS
22nd November 2010, 13:46
Well it happens to ricer cars... so I guess it would happen x9999 to a ricer bike. Japanese haven't yet discovered wind. :blink:

Actually, it happens to everybody...
Some bikes/cars react badly to crosswinds, and some don't. But how well prepared the driver is can determine how much the car or bike gets pushed sideways.

EJK
22nd November 2010, 13:51
When you are standing still, you must breathe them to live.
At 120kph, they will try to kill you.

Careful out there.

davebullet
22nd November 2010, 13:56
I was going on the southern motorway today. I was going about 120kph when a huge gust of mind pushed me within a inch of the barrier thingy. :shit:

Brix where shat. Be careful in the wind on small bikes ( Was on a larger 250 at the time).

Technically, you probably pushed yourself within an inch of the barrier.

Entertain this. If you don't move the bars and there is no pivoting of the bike around the steering head and you lean the bike (either through CoG movement or wind) the bike will keep going in a straight line. Therefore unless the wind caused your bike to pivot around the steering head (causing a countersteer) - it was more likely your body acted as a sail and transmitted the movement to your arms, to cause a contersteer, therefore you pushed your bike towards the barrier.

In very windy conditions, I do the following:
1. Loosen your grip on the bars. Do not tighten your grip. A death grip on the bars will make the bike move all over the place as your body gets buffeted. If your body moves around with a loose grip, there is less chance you'll transmit this through the bars and throw your bike off its line

In real bastard of a gale conditions or severe cross winds
2. #1 plus duck down over the tank.

Also remember not to tailgate trucks or other large vehicles in windy conditions. Large vehicles cause buffetting and when combined with gusty conditions can make riding "lively".

Banditbandit
22nd November 2010, 14:02
Yeah, the weather Gods have had a go at me on a few occassions too ... especially over the Rimutakas ...

Sudden gusts are the worst ... they lean you over ... I once got hit on the Rimutakas (going up from the Featherston side) in a swirl that took me across the centre line on a blind lefthander ... shit bricks it was (luckily there was nothing coming ...)

I dunno mate ... when it's really wind I don't ride (one of the few things that I will stop for ... wind and flashing lights)

Str8 Jacket
22nd November 2010, 14:05
Agree with Dave. I get blown around lanes while riding to work on my small bike. These are some of the things that help me:

Relax the arms on handle bars and grip the tank with your knees, not hard just enough to flex your muscles. This way you can guide your bike back with your hips and its easier when you're relaxed in the arms. Shake your elbows reguarly to make sure that you are relaxed!!
Get down on your bike (tank) and keep the revs high this helps stabilise your bike.

If the wind is steadily coming from one direction I stick my knees elbows into it while doing the above. Find that helps only with steadily heavy wind though. It's the unexpected blasts of wind that feels like a wall is literally pushing you sideways that suck.

Good luck, stay relaxed!! :)

The Everlasting
22nd November 2010, 16:57
Haha. I should try a road trip one day. But yeah I hate the wind makes riding uncomfortable to. :(


I freaked out too when that happened to me on the motorway( I didn't get pushed into any barrier though),but after a while you get used to it.

i just stay relaxed and keep on ridin.

sunhuntin
22nd November 2010, 17:13
do you have any local roads where wind is almost guaranteed? experience is the best teacher. if you do get hit by a gust that changes your line, dont look at the barrier or whatever else is on the edge of the road. look instead down your lane, towards the centre line and your direction should change for the better.

also, expect strong gusts from large oncoming trucks and buses.

sinfull
22nd November 2010, 17:17
I find that braking it helps !

Str8 Jacket
22nd November 2010, 17:29
I find that braking it helps !

wouldn't braking it be a little like constipation??

sinfull
22nd November 2010, 18:03
wouldn't braking it be a little like constipation??

Not often, but after a real hard night on the bourbon i have to be carefull not to force it !

DangerMice
22nd November 2010, 18:13
Nah it's because you were doing over 100kph. Speed kills dont ya know. The wind knows this too so decided to punish you. Under 100, it would have left you alone. :bleh:

Str8 Jacket
22nd November 2010, 18:21
Nah it's because you were doing over 100kph. Speed kills dont ya know. The wind knows this too so decided to punish you. Under 100, it would have left you alone. :bleh:

lol, ironically I find that the faster I go the more stable the bike....

DEATH_INC.
22nd November 2010, 18:25
If ya wanna try something fun in a strong crosswind, pull a ZX12 into a wheelie on the downwind side of the median barrier and tell me what happens when the front comes up above the level of the concrete :shit:
Fastest lanechange ever!

kinger
22nd November 2010, 18:44
Technically, you probably pushed yourself within an inch of the barrier.

Entertain this. If you don't move the bars and there is no pivoting of the bike around the steering head and you lean the bike (either through CoG movement or wind) the bike will keep going in a straight line..

How about the laws of physics?

A body in motion will continue at a uniform rate and direction unless acted on by an external force.
The poor boy was acted upon by the wind. This brought into effect the principles of friction and second class levers.
The external force acted upon the whole moving mass, but was reacted to by friction between the tyres and the road. this friction therefore had a fulcrum at ground level, and the resulrant force then pivotted about this fulcrum.
This pivotting action placed a tilting action upon the wheels, which then followed the principles of gyroscopic precession, and tried to move at an angle 90 degrees after the action, and went sideways.

It's a complicated business this riding, just be grateful that most of the time you're ignorant of what's going on, and therefore are not distracted by complex equations of inertia, vectors, thermodynamics etc.
In fact, the thicker you are, the easier it is to ride. Therefore, one way to replicate this is through copious use of mental relaxants such as Steinlager......

Ride safe, get wankered:drinkup:

baptist
22nd November 2010, 20:05
How about the laws of physics?

A body in motion will continue at a uniform rate and direction unless acted on by an external force.
The poor boy was acted upon by the wind. This brought into effect the principles of friction and second class levers.
The external force acted upon the whole moving mass, but was reacted to by friction between the tyres and the road. this friction therefore had a fulcrum at ground level, and the resulrant force then pivotted about this fulcrum.
This pivotting action placed a tilting action upon the wheels, which then followed the principles of gyroscopic procession, and tried to move at an angle 90 degrees after the action, and went sideways.

It's a complicated business this riding, just be grateful that most of the time you're ignorant of what's going on, and therefore are not distracted by complex equations of inertia, vectors, thermodynamics etc.
In fact, the thicker you are, the easier it is to ride. Therefore, one way to replicate this is through copious use of mental relaxants such as Steinlager......

Ride safe, get wankered:drinkup:

Yeah I am a natural then :laugh::bleh: ('cos the rest of what your said was like a low flying plane.... over my head:eek5:)

ellipsis
22nd November 2010, 20:40
.....aint just little bikes that get knocked about....our goldwing has about as much sail area up into the wind as a small yacht...can become a real physical thing to keep her going where you want her to go at times...mainly big canterbury nor westers are the ones....just go yehaa and work the bike....my wife had a bit of a problem with it...as soon as she learned that loosening up and pulling yer head and shoulders in was the way out of feeling like the wind was in control. she was ok....

MSTRS
23rd November 2010, 08:00
How about the laws of physics?

...
This pivotting action placed a tilting action upon the wheels, which then followed the principles of gyroscopic precession, and tried to move at an angle 90 degrees after the action, and went sideways.

...

Sorry. A bike can be leaned and still track straight. The steering head must pivot, even only slightly, for the bike to 'turn'.
Crosswinds tend to act more on the rider, and it is what the rider does that has a greater effect on what happens to the bike in terms of veering to the side.

davebullet
23rd November 2010, 12:00
How about the laws of physics?

A body in motion will continue at a uniform rate and direction unless acted on by an external force.
The poor boy was acted upon by the wind. This brought into effect the principles of friction and second class levers.
The external force acted upon the whole moving mass, but was reacted to by friction between the tyres and the road. this friction therefore had a fulcrum at ground level, and the resulrant force then pivotted about this fulcrum.
This pivotting action placed a tilting action upon the wheels, which then followed the principles of gyroscopic precession, and tried to move at an angle 90 degrees after the action, and went sideways.

It's a complicated business this riding, just be grateful that most of the time you're ignorant of what's going on, and therefore are not distracted by complex equations of inertia, vectors, thermodynamics etc.
In fact, the thicker you are, the easier it is to ride. Therefore, one way to replicate this is through copious use of mental relaxants such as Steinlager......

Ride safe, get wankered:drinkup:

You don't need to understand the laws of physics. Simple cause and effect will do. that's all most people can handle or need to understand "what" will happen. what is useful to the user, why is useful to the designer. Most of us are users (some moreso than others).

Pivot at the steering head (regardless of whether the force was caused by wind pushing on the frame, or body twisting the handlebars) will make the bike turn.

kinger
23rd November 2010, 12:15
Sorry. A bike can be leaned and still track straight. The steering head must pivot, even only slightly, for the bike to 'turn'.
Crosswinds tend to act more on the rider, and it is what the rider does that has a greater effect on what happens to the bike in terms of veering to the side.

Disregarding the tongue in cheek post I wrote, go see your local toy shop and buy a gyroscope.
If a rotating mass is displaced from it's normal plane of rotation, the net effect is an action at 90 degrees following the input.
And if you lean the bike without counteracting it with weight acting the other way, then the simplest laws af gravity and levers will make you fall over.:blink:

Please, oh God, pleeeease, take it as intended and don't try to get into a debate. I am big, and I am clever:yes:

MSTRS
23rd November 2010, 12:36
And if you lean the bike without counteracting it with weight acting the other way, then the simplest laws of gravity and levers will make you fall over.

True, that. But a cross wind wouldn't necessarily make a bike lean. The effect is more on the rider. So what the rider does to counter the wind has more effect on what the bike/rider unit does.

Shall we say that we are both right?

davebullet
23rd November 2010, 13:12
Disregarding the tongue in cheek post I wrote, go see your local toy shop and buy a gyroscope.
If a rotating mass is displaced from it's normal plane of rotation, the net effect is an action at 90 degrees following the input.
And if you lean the bike without counteracting it with weight acting the other way, then the simplest laws af gravity and levers will make you fall over.:blink:

Please, oh God, pleeeease, take it as intended and don't try to get into a debate. I am big, and I am clever:yes:

I'm not sure what you intended anyway, as I don't know whether the OP wanted a physics explanation. Your grasp of physics is definitely superior to mine, and I cannot disagree with what you say.

slofox
23rd November 2010, 15:00
I like riding the storm...see here...

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kinger
23rd November 2010, 15:37
Shall we say that we are both right?

Fairy Nuff:yes:


I'm not sure what you intended anyway, as I don't know whether the OP wanted a physics explanation. Your grasp of physics is definitely superior to mine, and I cannot disagree with what you say.

I don't think he did, but I was well into my second bottle of cheap wine when I read the OP.
I particularly like the fact that you agree that I'm clever!:woohoo:

Anyways, I shall henceforth refrain from this post, I need to control my drunken postings again......don't need tyres yet!

munster
23rd November 2010, 20:02
The wind wasn't trying to kill you. Nature was trying to give you a blow job, but you just weren't ready.:no:

Grasshopperus
23rd November 2010, 20:37
Hey Doko, you should go buy "A Twist of the Wrist Part 2" It has some really good lessons about riding position including the "loose grip, bent elbows" advice that others have been giving you.

ellipsis
23rd November 2010, 21:10
Anyways, I shall henceforth refrain from this post, I need to control my drunken postings again.....

....a drunken post without a slur could hardly be taken for one....

specter
24th November 2010, 20:20
hehe ive been blown right off the road, in my much younger (much noobier) days...
very lucky not to drop the bike!! just sat there fathoming what just happened, and also what the mushy warm substance was in my pants :shutup:

Magna83
16th January 2011, 11:01
I took a spin out to lower hutt from welly city yesterday. Didn't realise til after that there was 60km gusts at play. Came within inches of the barrier. I could feel my legs turn to jelly and my bowels rumbling. Its a good job I was already sitting down. I've decided that I fully hate driving in the wind. By the time I got to the hutt I was literally fucked.
Later that day I was driving around Evans Bay Parade heading towards Oriental Parade, cos I was thinkin practice makes perfect and all that. I was taking a long sweeping turn to the right at about 50 when a big gust came along and decided to straighten me up. Heading straight for a parked car. Hard on the brakes. Literally just missed it.
Dunno if I'll ever "enjoy" riding in windy conditions like that. I know I'll get better with more prctice and it'll hopefully be a bit easier on a bigger bike. Having said that, Im 85Kgs, the bike weight 179Kgs dry and it had a full tank (11 litres = about 9Kgs) thats 273Kgs and I still got blown about like a rag doll.

Gibbo89
16th January 2011, 12:09
I took a spin out to lower hutt from welly city yesterday. Didn't realise til after that there was 60km gusts at play. Came within inches of the barrier. I could feel my legs turn to jelly and my bowels rumbling. Its a good job I was already sitting down. I've decided that I fully hate driving in the wind. By the time I got to the hutt I was literally fucked.
Later that day I was driving around Evans Bay Parade heading towards Oriental Parade, cos I was thinkin practice makes perfect and all that. I was taking a long sweeping turn to the right at about 50 when a big gust came along and decided to straighten me up. Heading straight for a parked car. Hard on the brakes. Literally just missed it.
Dunno if I'll ever "enjoy" riding in windy conditions like that. I know I'll get better with more prctice and it'll hopefully be a bit easier on a bigger bike. Having said that, Im 85Kgs, the bike weight 179Kgs dry and it had a full tank (11 litres = about 9Kgs) thats 273Kgs and I still got blown about like a rag doll.

Absolutely Positively Wellington :niceone:

BMWST?
16th January 2011, 13:54
I took a spin out to lower hutt from welly city yesterday. Didn't realise til after that there was 60km gusts at play. Came within inches of the barrier. I could feel my legs turn to jelly and my bowels rumbling. Its a good job I was already sitting down. I've decided that I fully hate driving in the wind. By the time I got to the hutt I was literally fucked.
Later that day I was driving around Evans Bay Parade heading towards Oriental Parade, cos I was thinkin practice makes perfect and all that. I was taking a long sweeping turn to the right at about 50 when a big gust came along and decided to straighten me up. Heading straight for a parked car. Hard on the brakes. Literally just missed it.
Dunno if I'll ever "enjoy" riding in windy conditions like that. I know I'll get better with more prctice and it'll hopefully be a bit easier on a bigger bike. Having said that, Im 85Kgs, the bike weight 179Kgs dry and it had a full tank (11 litres = about 9Kgs) thats 273Kgs and I still got blown about like a rag doll.

you need to sit "looser" on the bike relax your arms more so that when the wind hits you you dont transmit the movement to the bars.You gotta modify your lines a bit too to give your self maximum room and try to anticioate where the next gust will come from.Almost as disconcerting is when you are in a wind blast then ride into shelter.....As you ride round the bays for example you will ride into and out of shelter as you ride around the headland of each bay

Magna83
17th January 2011, 09:26
you need to sit "looser" on the bike relax your arms more so that when the wind hits you you dont transmit the movement to the bars.You gotta modify your lines a bit too to give your self maximum room and try to anticioate where the next gust will come from.Almost as disconcerting is when you are in a wind blast then ride into shelter.....As you ride round the bays for example you will ride into and out of shelter as you ride around the headland of each bay

I've honest been trying to do that. Even for that corner in Evans Bay, I started out wide and was coming through the corner tight when the wind blew me up right.
You're right though, go from a wind blast to shelter and back again is the hardest part for me. I'll get it eventually I'm sure.

BuzzardNZ
17th January 2011, 09:59
I don't think any amount of experience could help with the weekends winds here in Wellington. There were some brutal gusts. Evans bay and the Miramar cutting are bloody tough on a windy day like yesterday.

BMWST?
17th January 2011, 19:50
I don't think any amount of experience could help with the weekends winds here in Wellington. There were some brutal gusts. Evans bay and the Miramar cutting are bloody tough on a windy day like yesterday.

it will become easier.60 k aint much for welly

mrchips
17th January 2011, 20:22
Some awesome gusts on the welly motorway between Ngauranga flyover - Aotea quay. Those 130 km/h gales get my juices flowing !

BMWST?
17th January 2011, 20:49
Some awesome gusts on the welly motorway between Ngauranga flyover - Aotea quay. Those 130 km/h gales get my juices flowing !

on really windy days i get off(and on) at Ngauranga....even the panzer doesnt like 120-130 k stuff

BuzzardNZ
18th January 2011, 09:32
it will become easier.60 k aint much for welly

I'm sure it was more than 60k, it blew part of the roof off my neighbours garage!

oneofsix
18th January 2011, 09:38
looks like we might get to practice our wet n windy weather skills this afternoon
"Rain, chance heavy later. Northerly, gale later"
http://metservice.com/towns-cities/wellington

sinfull
18th January 2011, 09:39
I farrrt harder than the weekends winds ! Made for a fun ride though, just one more thing to antisipate !

Str8 Jacket
18th January 2011, 09:58
Glad I rode the 400 in to work today. the FXR would probably try and fly away (like normal!)

davebullet
18th January 2011, 11:47
If anyone wants to practice their windy weather riding, the best experience I've had is coming up the west side of Lake Wairarapa. You mainly get a constant strong NW wind, but combine it with hedges and tree lines blocking it - then open fields, it gives you a good push around.

I usually try and track dead in the middle of the lane when conditions are unpredictable, which means ruining your corner entry line and missing apexes, but ensures you don't blow over the centre line as you approach should gust push you out.

NOWOOL
1st March 2011, 16:18
Heaps of good advice on this thread but i'll throw in my two cents worth.

I learned to ride on a GN250 in Middlemarch (basically the home of wind) with common gusts of 120 to 130kph from all sides. At first I would tense up and wrestle the bike which caused problems of its own. As contrary as it sounds, just relax your hands and arms and rather than expect the wind just react to it slowly. As long as you aren't hugging the shoulder or the center line all will be fine. learning to handle strong winds is crucial and as strange as it sounds if you learn to handle severe winds it helps you deal with gravel, grass, oil, etc, since they all have the same effect on the bike.

davebullet
1st March 2011, 16:43
The other thing I would add is to weight the outside peg (the side the wind is coming from) to help keep the bike vertical

NOWOOL
1st March 2011, 17:20
I forgot to mention: when dealing with wind it helps to wear earplugs or headphones. half the fear of wind is the sound.