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Thread: Going steady at fast (for me, anyway) speeds?

  1. #16
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    7th November 2005 - 22:56
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    relax is the main thing, you will find that the biike will lean into the wind DONT try and fight it just let it lean. We get some good wind down here in palmy and I rode a rg150 which is lghter than your bike and it took me awhile to get used to it but you will.
    From American dad :
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  2. #17
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    No one has yet said the magic word. Relax.

    It's that simple.


    If a man is alone in the woods and there isn't a woke Hollywood around to call him racist, is he still white?



  3. #18
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    6th March 2006 - 20:41
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    Thanks for the tips and vote of confidence guys!
    re: gripping the tank, I've always wondered about this.. when taking a tight-ish corner is it still wise to be firm on the tank with your legs? I only ask because I see people putting their knee down for whatever reason and I'm not sure if there's a point where you'd switch or if (on roads) it's fine to be firm on the tank for stability.

    Thanks again!

  4. #19
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    17th July 2003 - 23:37
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    Breaking wind

    Quote Originally Posted by zeocen View Post
    Thanks for the tips and vote of confidence guys!
    re: gripping the tank, I've always wondered about this.. when taking a tight-ish corner is it still wise to be firm on the tank with your legs? I only ask because I see people putting their knee down for whatever reason and I'm not sure if there's a point where you'd switch or if (on roads) it's fine to be firm on the tank for stability.

    Thanks again!
    Wind is an issue at any stage in your developement on any size bike.
    Forget that and you will get buried in an envelope.

    I have gotten some very hairy reminders in the form of unintended multi lane lane changes. The threat from the wind is not in having an off at 100kmph. That won't kill you and may not hurt given good gear.
    Opposing trafic may facilitate the aforementioned envelope.

    There are three keys to staying safe in the wind.

    Relax (well covered allthough the advice to grip the tank is at odds with this)

    Always wear good safety gear, you never know when conditions will change, good gear will have good adjustment to minimise the sail effect and save your skin in an off.

    Road craft. Be sensible by minimising the risks -
    - Pointing one knee into the wind can minimise buffeting.
    - Pointing both knees out in a head wind may stabalise wobbles (use your head if this makes it worse bring them back in).
    - Gripping the tank with knees helps if the wind is coming for the rear or the rear and a side but makes matters worse everywhere else.
    - If the wind is coming from the right move to the right hand side of the lane to allow for gusts (and vice versa)
    - Practice your emengency breaking. In a sidewind is not the time to be thinking about this.
    - Give yourself some room, double your following distance and flash your brakelights at people who follow to close.
    - Ride your own ride. Never let yourself be pressured into riding faster.
    - Dropping a shoulder into the wind can help, but not reccomended if your knee is already out.
    - If you feel genuinely scared (not just a fright) trust your instinct and stop for a breather or go back.
    - Avoid leaning against or with the wind in corners. If the direction changes in strength you will get a real fright or some panel damage.
    - Riding beside large vehicles can reduce buffeting but make sure you can see the eyes of the driver in the mirrors or they cannot see you.
    - Experiment with foot position. I move my toes onto the pegs in wind, this allows me to offer direct input of a weight shift without moving mass. Also I find less weight on my wrists, ergo it is easier to relax my grip. This varies according to your height and fit onto the bike.

    I used to have a GPX250 and being fairly tall I found to ride the bike comfortably in a heavy wind it was neccessary to rotate the controls on the bars. by moving these to where my wrists were straight when gripping these while sitting comfotably i was able to cover the break and cluch with two fingers each and still have a firm but relaxed grip. This is now the first mod i make to every bike.





    When considering advice you have aquired from a forum consider this advice.
    "Never take riding tips from someone you would not pillion with."

  5. #20
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    21st May 2005 - 21:12
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    yep..those wind things are fun! LOL. as someone else said, just let the bike find its way. i treat mine like a horse...it knows what its doing, all im there for is to keep it within its lane.

    im still learning how to properly ride with the wind. i just tend to play it by ear each time...worst was making the mistake of going into town...nearly got blown over at the lights.
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  6. #21
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    Some seriously good tips from people, I tend to lean into the wind but not too much just enough to keep the bike uprightish then ride it through it,don`t forget the wind sometimes dies/drops so be ready , but that will come with experience , there are wellington riders up here that ride on a permanent lean,lol

  7. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by zeocen View Post
    Thanks for the tips and vote of confidence guys!
    re: gripping the tank, I've always wondered about this.. when taking a tight-ish corner is it still wise to be firm on the tank with your legs? I only ask because I see people putting their knee down for whatever reason and I'm not sure if there's a point where you'd switch or if (on roads) it's fine to be firm on the tank for stability.

    Thanks again!
    At our level, gripping the tank with your knees is good advice. People "putting their knee down" are commited to their line in a corner and are going a fark of a load faster than thee or me - if they suddenly see a pothole on their racing line they have very little room for maneouvre. Don't try to put your knee down. Not yet anyway...and not on the open road.

    And since you're on our side of the bridge why not join Mav on the next 250 run - loads of help, support and nothing to prove.
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  8. #23
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    21st September 2006 - 21:35
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    ...just got back from little ride to Parakai and back to westgate, wind was shocking!

    sitting on about 120, when massive gust hit me from the right. the bike leaned and i was still upright, then hit a left hander and just let the wind push the bike round!

    Still very scary though! seems the bike moves, but not me with the gusts! I cant lay on the tank, as im too tall for the bike as it is and when i need to brake my ankle doesnt bend up enough to get onto the pedal! its painful when im upright!!
    "Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary - that's what gets you."
    Jeremy Clarkson.

    Kawasaki 200mph Club

  9. #24
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    Keep your head up and be careful not to lock your arms. You don't drive a car with stiff arms because you can't adjust so easily -same with a bike.
    On a windy day go down the motorway on a straight with a bit of space and just get used to the sensation of the wind blowing. The bike will sway but if you keep your head looking up where you want to go and your arms relaxed you will naturally adjust and with time you will notice it less.

  10. #25
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    17th July 2003 - 23:37
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    Quote Originally Posted by Disco Dan View Post
    Still very scary though! seems the bike moves, but not me with the gusts! I cant lay on the tank, as im too tall for the bike as it is and when i need to brake my ankle doesnt bend up enough to get onto the pedal! its painful when im upright!!
    Try taking your brake pedal off the post and rotating around 1 or 2 teeth. Another must do mod.
    find a close tooth where you can brake and still push far enough that you cannot push any further.
    If you cannot find one that is perfect try adjusting the turnbuckle from the best tooth.

  11. #26
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    17th July 2003 - 23:37
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Big J View Post
    Keep your head up and be careful not to lock your arms. You don't drive a car with stiff arms because you can't adjust so easily -same with a bike.
    On a windy day go down the motorway on a straight with a bit of space and just get used to the sensation of the wind blowing. The bike will sway but if you keep your head looking up where you want to go and your arms relaxed you will naturally adjust and with time you will notice it less.
    Never try to muscle a bike, you will lose. If you want to force yourself to relax finesse the bike. that is don't push and pull to steady the bike. just steer where you want to go by pushing on the handle bar you want to lean toward.

    Even if you outweigh your machine you will never win the fight, the battle maybe but the bike will win sooner or latter.

    I have seen plenty of excellent riders end up in low speed tank slapper because they tried to muscle a bike.

  12. #27
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    14th December 2005 - 21:09
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim2 View Post
    No one has yet said the magic word. Relax.

    It's that simple.


    Excuse me

    First page, three quarters down, my post:

    Relax!!!

    As soon as you tense up and worry about the wind, you will probably grip the bars tighter and therefore tense your arms and lock them as well. The counter steering reactions will be very diminished and any side ways movement will be accentuated.

    Use your abdominal muscles and leg muscle to keep your profile as low as you can while keeping weight off your hands and wrists and relax your grip on the bars.

    Let the bike have it's way over the bumps and in the wind and bring counter steering into play in the real hard gusts. Read the road and see where there are gaps between trees and gullies that can funnel wind and be prepared for extra hard gusts in these places.

    Move with your bike and has has been mentioned, grip the tank with your legs and use your knees to make smaller adjustments.

    It takes a huge gust to actually blow you off the road and we seldom get those up here in Auckland.
    ....

    ....


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  13. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket View Post
    Wgtn is hard due to the fact that there is always wind
    Strange! Whenever I chat with anyone from Wellytown, they always swear it is NOT windy there...
    Quote Originally Posted by bobsmith View Post
    I still maintain road cycling is more dangerous than MTB bike riding.
    The accident statistics say downhill MTB riding is the most dangerous activity.
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  14. #29
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    6th March 2006 - 20:41
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    Quote Originally Posted by beyond View Post
    Use your abdominal muscles and leg muscle to keep your profile as low as you can while keeping weight off your hands and wrists and relax your grip on the bars.
    I find myself leaning onto the bars, is this something I should look into fixing? I've noticed that my clutch hand can get cramps but I figured it was just because I was a stupid newbie who needs to harden up :P

    Thanks for all the posts again guys, the information is invaluable.

  15. #30
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    17th July 2003 - 23:37
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    Quote Originally Posted by zeocen View Post
    I find myself leaning onto the bars, is this something I should look into fixing? I've noticed that my clutch hand can get cramps but I figured it was just because I was a stupid newbie who needs to harden up :P

    Thanks for all the posts again guys, the information is invaluable.
    Clutch hand pain normaly has to do with poorly calibarated of alligned lever.

    When you are in your normal riding position adjust the lever until you wrist would be straight while grabbing the lever. (adjust this feet up on a centre stand or with the assistance of a friend. under no circumstances try to adjust any control on the move)

    If your lever or action is adjustable play with the various settings till you find the right fit for you.

    Longer action gives more control on a hill start but makes your wrist more prone to pain.

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