Windy...burp

[Krayy]

So there I am, riding out to the Manukau heads on Saturday, and I've got the VTR on a ~20 degree lean to counter the 45 knot wind thats blowing off the Tasman. Scary stuff. So I'm thinking, what if I got a bigger bike (like the Duc 620 on bikepoint at the moment or a SV650). Would it actually make a difference having a heavier bike under me or should I look at a full fairing bike (but I REALLY like riding naked, and its got to be a twin)?

[MSTRS:Me]

Yeah....size/weight does make a difference. Bike still gets pushed around, just takes longer (delayed reaction). Rider tends to take more of the buffeting.

[vifferman]

So I'm thinking, what if I got a bigger bike (like the Duc 620 on bikepoint at the moment or a SV650). Would it actually make a difference having a heavier bike under me or should I look at a full fairing bike (but I REALLY like riding naked, and its got to be a twin)?

Mebbe.
Mebbe not.
A lot depends on the bike, fairing shape, size, etc. Some fairings can make things more worserer with the wind from a certain direction (but not usually), due to more surface area. OTOH, the fairing is usually a slipperyish shape, so the wind should (in theory at least) flow over it more easily, with much less drag especially when it's coming from the front.

Some things you can do:

• Keep a loose grip on the bars. The tendency is to tighten your grip, but as the wind blowing on your arms can make the bike steer, a loose, relaxed grip is better.
• Stick the knee on the windward side out. This acts like a rudder, and minimises the amount the bike leans.
• Keep your weight forward, and adjust your body position so the wind takes some strain off your arms.
• Don't panic! Bikes rarely actually blow off the road or change lanes by the wind picking them up; it's more usually caused by a tight grip and an uptight rider. Just imagine you're doing a bazillion miles an hour (or km/h, if you prefer) - that's the effect of the wind, so it shouldn't freak you out any more than that.
• Stay clear of large or unstreamlined vehicles (trucks, buses, vans, station wagons, hatchbacks - in decreasing order of turbulent effect). While you can use them as a mobile windbreak (sometimes) the air spilling around the back corner of them is often much more turbulent and moving at a higher velocity than the wind.

Oh yeah - and your idea to ride naked is good - less wind-resistance. Just remember to wear your helmet, and to watch out for wind-chill.:sly:

[James Deuce]

Maaaaaaaaaate.

I couldn't imagine the wind being able to move you around THAT much If ya know what I'm saying.

Vifferman has it. The more relaxed you are the less you get moved around in the wind.

[750Y]

mate i've ridden a vt250 out to the heads plenty time & had the same experience. I used to wish my bike was heavier. when i finally did get a heavier bike things got better. the wind really does push you around out there.

[PuppetMaster]

Jim, how can you say that ? You ride in the windiest place on earth. the first thing i did when i came to wellington was get a bigger heavier bike and it makes a difference. i still get pushed around, but nothing like it was when i was on a light smaller bike.
And, its hard to relax when your having to hold on for dear life!!!

[James Deuce]

Jim, how can you say that ? You ride in the windiest place on earth. the first thing i did when i came to wellington was get a bigger heavier bike and it makes a difference. i still get pushed around, but nothing like it was when i was on a light smaller bike.
And, its hard to relax when your having to hold on for dear life!!!

Easy - I've found it's true. If you're going to hold on, use your knees, not your arms. I've had little bikes and big bikes and I've not noticed any appreciable difference in mass helping. Surface area makes a huge difference. Unfaired bikes in my experience don't get moved around anywhere near as much as even a half faired bike, especially in crosswinds.

[jrandom]

Wot them guys up there said.

Hang on with your knees, loosen up on the bars.

It gets much better when the bike is heavier, you're heavier, and the bike has enough power to punch through the wind.

There's nothing horribler than the wind pushing you back to 90kph with your head down on full throttle in top gear.

I almost *enjoy* windy days now on the Zeal, knowing that no matter what, it'll always do 110 without me putting my head down and winding it all the way on.

I'm looking forward to a bike that'll do the same on a mere trickle of throttle in 5th gear into an 80kph headwind. Roll on GSF1200.

[2_SL0]

I see 2 options. 1 buy a heavier bike. 2 Go to All You Can Eat Restaurants and big out for a month.

[Hitcher]

Roll on GSF1200.

You hold it down, I'll drive the roller...

[James Deuce]

I see 2 options.... 2 Go to All You Can Eat Restaurants and big out for a month.

Uh - I think he's already done that.

[ajturbo]

a group of us were heading off to CHCH one day, we took the inland root, the wind was blowing off the hills so hard that, at 160km/h my mate with a xt500 (flat out i think...or the speedo was lying....) was scrapping his foot pegs!
we were on a strait pice of road ....also another rider had the 650turbo, 3 up...(had his dog down his jacket!!) just infront of me...was blown completly OFF THE FUCKN ROAD!!!and into the grass at the side of the road......how the hell he missed the fence we don't know....luckly for him we were going fast and the turbo was crankin.... he said that he just grabed another handfull of throtle and hung on....well he made it....but what do you think i was thinking ...i was behind him.....saw the guy in front of him wobble and nearly get blown off also (he was about 140kgs on a fj1200) i started to slow when i saw that...then my mate off the road ...F/ME i slowed REAL FAST!!!!

we all made it saftly to the next pub.......some how!!!
the wind was sooo strong that when it was behind us i managed to get my 750 (2 up) over 200km/hr...(...you know on the closed road bla bla bla...)

[Tigger]

I can sympathise! I had a fantastic ride into Wellington last night with the wind at my back, I felt like I was just cruising along and had to make an effort to keep the bike under 120. I knew I was going to have fun on the ride home.....

I do make a concious effort to keep my arms relaxed, but I was seriously holding on for grim death at times. I think my arms are a couple of cms longer today. My partner was riding a bit behind me and said it was comical some of the angles I was on while he's sailing along quite happily behind a great big screen.

Roll on January and my SV650....

[Krayy]

Uh - I think he's already done that.

I'm not fat, I'm just big-boned!!

BTW, have you seen Team America yet?

"America......f*** yeah, goig to save the mother-f*****n day yeah!"

[riffer]

You get used to the wind. I remember when I was 17 and had a GP125 - it used to be murder keeping that sucker to 100km/hr - I used to have to chop down a gear and rev it hard to get the bikes speed up.

Now 20 years later with the bigger bike it punches through the air but sideways wind like on Aotea Quay going north can move the bike a bit.

Jim's right. Hold on tight with the knees, put your balls of your feet on the pedals and move your heels back so they touch the bike. And as for your arms/hands - just pretend its like when you learned to dance (you did learn to dance didn't you) - how hard you places your hands on your girl - well that's how hard you should place your hands on your bike...