Wind tried to kill me on the motorway.

[davebullet]

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]

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]

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]

I forgot to mention: when dealing with wind it helps to wear earplugs or headphones. half the fear of wind is the sound.