The time for Wiiiind is upon us!

**Str8 Jacket** · 21st July 2009, 16:17

That's right its *that* time of year again. The time when wheelie and recycle bins come flying at you as you ride up the residential streets of Wellywood. When you come up to an intersection to stop but this invisible wall knocks you clean over or when you just plain get blown over every lane on the motorway and then back into the one you started from. Now I am very used to riding in the wind and I do everything I can to avoid these situations. I relax my arms and tighten my legs, I lean into the wind everything I have been told I try and it helps but not when there are big unexpected gusts.

This year I am adament that I am going to beat the wind at its own game, I am just not yet sure how...

IDEA 1
Install a pack rack on the back of the FXR and fill it with bricks.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: The pack rack acts as a ballast and I end up being blwon around more?!

IDEA 2
Get some panniers and fill them with bricks
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: I dont own a pair of chaps and I am not sure if they actually make panniers that fit an FXR?!

IDEA 3
Attach bricks or weights to the bike
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: I have been told that its stupid. Other than that is there really any problems?!

IDEA 4
Buy a new bike that weighs over 120 kg's
PROBLEM: No money.

Honestly though, I go through this every year and I never actually do anyting about it. This year I am going to do something. I am liking the idea of attaching weights to the bike but is it really such a stupid idea?

**C_A** · 21st July 2009, 16:24

ride a vespa, then go back to your fxr and you'll think the wind has zero effect on your bike....
last year my rg was bearable. worse though than my cbx I had previously piloted, but nothing on a large frame vespa, which, weirdly enough, the bottom of the bike washes out with the wind, instead of leaning from the top like most other stuff so you can't really counteract it.

**C_A** · 21st July 2009, 16:25

you should get one of those vlave things that allows you to fill tractor tyres with water

**jetboy** · 21st July 2009, 16:28

I rode over the Auckland Harbour Bridge in 110km winds and will avoid doing so again at all costs...so not sure how to relate that to Wgtn as I've never been there, but I laxed my arms, tightened my legs and crouched low over the tank which worked fine, although I still got blown around a bit. Also, my bike is nekkid which helped.

I'd be interested to see a solution for riding in the wind as I do it far too often!

**mashman** · 21st July 2009, 16:31

My bike is 210kgs... still get the same problem when on my way down the gorge... so i'd scratch idea 4

**Str8 Jacket** · 21st July 2009, 16:37

Originally Posted by mashman

My bike is 210kgs... still get the same problem when on my way down the gorge... so i'd scratch idea 4

I owned an FZR400 which was alot more "wind friendly", the only bloody thing it was useful for once upon time. I remember the fateful day I picked the bloody thing up and riding it over the Desert Rd with a guy on a 1500cc cruiser in front of me. I was only just staying on the road and the sand was flying all through my helmet, same with the guy in front of me on the 1500. I prayed for trucks to come past as they seemed to suck me back into the middle of my lane again.

At least with a bigger bike you can power out of trouble a bit easier and can ride with the revs alot higher which seem to make you feel more stable. I have removed the belly pan from the FXR to no avail. I am seriously wondering if I should take the fairings off altogether is possible. Be interesting to see if its the weight or the placement of fairings that is the issue...

**Bend-it** · 21st July 2009, 16:37

?? Eh? Your 210kg bike gets blown about by the wind?? I used to get blown about on my 50cc scooter, but my smallest bike was a bandit, on which you could feel the wind, but it wasn't too bad. The RF900 next was solid as a rock!

Hels> Are you on tippy-toes too much? So that when the wind does blow, you have no strength in them slender little toes to hold it up? Extra heels at the bottom of your boots maybe? So you can get your whole foot on the ground? (when stationary that is, which is when you've dropped your bike due to wind before right?)...

**James Deuce** · 21st July 2009, 16:38

Eat more pies, ya skinny bitch!

**Str8 Jacket** · 21st July 2009, 16:40

Originally Posted by Bend-it

Hels> Are you on tippy-toes too much? So that when the wind does blow, you have no strength in them slender little toes to hold it up? Extra heels at the bottom of your boots maybe? So you can get your whole foot on the ground?

Slender:

I find that the wind hits me like a wall and just moves me sideways. If I am not quick enough to put my foot down then Wham-o, over she blows!

If the wind is steady then I lean into it keep my arms loose and use my hips to guide me back into my lane. Also keeping the revs high is essential as it makes the bike feel alot more stable. My problem is those wind gusts that come as quick as a 15yr old boy then dissapear again!

**Bend-it** · 21st July 2009, 16:41

or.... Get a boyfriend to ride pillion!

**James Deuce** · 21st July 2009, 16:42

Originally Posted by Bend-it

or.... Get a boyfriend to ride pillion!

Lumped together, they still don't weigh the same as one normal person. Midgets, both of them.

**Str8 Jacket** · 21st July 2009, 16:42

Originally Posted by Bend-it

or.... Get a boyfriend to ride pillion!

My 'boyfriend' works in Upper Hutt and I work in the city, we live splat bang i the middle. Might be a bit extreme dont you think!

Anyway, JD sums it up nicely...

Originally Posted by James Deuce

Lumped together, they still don't weigh the same as one normal person. Midgets, both of them.

**James Deuce** · 21st July 2009, 16:43

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Slender:

I find that the wind hits me like a wall and just moves me sideways. If I am not quick enough to put my foot down then Wham-o, over she blows!

If the wind is steady then I lean into it keep my arms loose and use my hips to guide me back into my lane. Also keeping the revs high is essential as it makes the bike feel alot more stable. My problem is those wind gusts that come as quick as a 15yr old boy then dissapear again!

I've seen her blown off her bike and into a bank, cartoon styles. Arms and legs akimbo, face first, she had to be peeled off the bank like Wil E. Coyote.