an 'oh shit' moment

[Ixion]

IMO - if it's really windy - don't ride if it can be helped.
You can follow every bit of advice in the book, and the gang here have already covered off evey bit of advice I can think of. But the bottom line is that it's dangerous to ride in high winds. It only takes a strong unexpected gust, mid corner, with oncoming traffic to ruin your day.

Reckon that would have to be a pretty fair old wind. Tornados, yep , I'll take cover.

But bikes don't have any more problem in wind than high sided vans.

Would have been maybe two, three occasions over the years when I'd have said it was too risky. And then there were severe storm warnings out.

But it's each riders personal call. I wouldn't ride along a cliff top path above a beach in a serious storm. If you're not comfortable riding under ANY conditions, don't. A scared rider is a rider at risk.

'Course, in my younger days often didn't HAVE any other transport. twas bike or walk home.

[vifferman]

But bikes don't have any more problem in wind than high sided vans.

Yeah.
I used to drive a furniture delivery van - Mazda B1600 with a big canopy on the back. On windy days, it was a bit like sailing a yacht...
And I must say that driving a rear-engined car over the Harbour Bridge on a windy day can be worse than the bike. Drove a Renault 10 over their one day - it was blowing around so much that a car that was about to overtake dropped back in case I crashed. It was so light in the front that it ran only 10 or 12 PSI in the front tyres, and being fairly square and boxy it wasn't the most aerodynamic vehicle.

Keeping the revs up is important as the gyroscopic action of the crank etc spinning around tends to help stabilise the bike. And here's a tip for your noobs when riding slowly - blipping the throttle makes the bike wobble less (unless it's a BMW or Moto Guzzi...)

I've tried the "sticking the knee out into the wind thing", but it's a bit inconclusive as to whether this makes a difference.

[Zed]

On my way into town from out west yesterday afternoon I had an 'oh shit' moment on the bike in the wind. Big gust came through and really knocked me sideways! Got the old heart beat racing for a moment or two that's for sure! Got up this morning and saw (and heard) the wind and thought I might take the car. Decided to face my fears head on and took the bike. It was, of course, great!

Anybody out there got any tips for a newbie about riding in stronger winds. Me and my bike are pretty light so I don't know if that makes much difference.

I'm glad your moment didn't turn into custard Keystone! Good on you for facing your fears and getting back out there...I used the same remedy years ago concerning riding in the wet - it really works!

I weight 100kgs and ride a 230kg bike so the wind doesn't give me too much grief...sorry that's not much help is it?

[FROSTY:Me]

As said before --RELAX RELAX RELAX.
When ya see a big truck comeing the other way just be aware ya gonna get a wind gust.
The specific gust you spoke about was fairly predictable it was gonna happen. Comeing up to a naked ridge line or similar you can predict you're about to get a gust.
Its too early days to get into this yet but Ill position myself on the road to give myself maximum room from a gust

[aff-man]

ride in the middle of the road, so you have room to be blown around, and don't over-react to the gust! Look ahead in the road for gaps in tall buildings, gaps in trees etc where the wind will be blowing thru. Then just prepare for it. Also watch for debris on the road, both to avoid, and also to watch how fast it's going, then you can judge if the wind is going to pick up or die off..

It's something that you will learn to ride with in time, but it's never easy.. Just ride a touch slower so that you have more time to react and don't need as much room to do it in. I've been caught once doing a fair speed, then got blasted side on. My helmet wanted to face the other way it was that strong. It knocked me onto the other side of the road, and I must have done 2 or 300 metres before I could wrestly back to my side.. I backed off a bit after that. Something to do with trees crossing my path too..
Just keep your whits about you

remember the wind at the last rally. Now that was bad. Found myself on the wrong side of the road on more than one occation.
BJ is right on all counts you get used to it over time. I once found myself leaning the bike into wind was kinda odd but it worked so yeh

[erik]

I dunno if it's any help or if other's share my experience, but when I'm riding and get hit by a gust of wind, it kind of feels like the wind is blowing the bike sideways under me while I'm staying in more or less the same place, which makes me and the bike lean into the wind and kind of automatically counter it.
I guess another way of describing it is that I'm letting the bike move with the wind.

It doesn't really feel like I'm consciously having to counter-steer and lean into the wind, but I guess that's what's happening.

I dunno if that makes sense...

Anyway, I haven't ever had much trouble with the wind, maybe because I'm fairly big and my bike doesn't have a fairing. But I have to admit, like aff-man said, the wind on the last rally was interesting...

[justsomeguy]

I dunno if it's any help or if other's share my experience, but when I'm riding and get hit by a gust of wind, it kind of feels like the wind is blowing the bike sideways under me while I'm staying in more or less the same place, which makes me and the bike lean into the wind and kind of automatically counter it.
I guess another way of describing it is that I'm letting the bike move with the wind.

It doesn't really feel like I'm consciously having to counter-steer and lean into the wind, but I guess that's what's happening.

I dunno if that makes sense...

Anyway, I haven't ever had much trouble with the wind, maybe because I'm fairly big and my bike doesn't have a fairing. But I have to admit, like aff-man said, the wind on the last rally was interesting...

Sure it makes sense - I do the same thing too - kind of an instinctive thing - I also think experience has a bit to do with it....I remember my first time riding back from Parakai from the KB chritmas gig - had big moments with the wind then.

[Biff]

Reckon that would have to be a pretty fair old wind. Tornados, yep , I'll take cover.

Yup - I said (and I love quoting myself, makes me sound so impotent).

If it's really windy....... it's dangerous to ride in high winds...It only takes a strong unexpected gust

The sphincter twitching sort.

[XP@]

I find accellerating or decellerating makes the effect less.

You can also counter steer in to the wind, especially is the wind is constant.

Watch for indicators... you know it is windy so if you are going past trees or buildings you will be sheltered then prepare for the gust when you become exposed. watch for trees and grass being blown

if you are on a fast flowing SH sometimes trucks coming the other way can give you a real blasting. To counter this slow down and move to the left. just before you get to the truck, aim diagonally across the road towards the end of truck and throttle on.