Wind

[GTRMAN]

Finding the windy weather around Wellington at the moment a real pain. As a larger rider I seem to act like a sail and the large gusts throw me around something fierce. Is it just me or anyone else having the same problem?

[nico]

like everyday i ride to work cant do much about it kinda get used to after a while

[RnB Fan]

Agree the wind is a pian but you do get used to it over time. Easiest thing is to relax, slow down a bit and if you're doing a regular route learn where the worst places are for wind and be careful.

[spookytooth]

I find wind effects me more in summer when i am not wearing alot under my jacket,as its a bit big it tends to blow up and act a bit like a sail

[BM-GS]

Not a lot one can do about wind (weather, anyway). Maybe see what you can tweak on the bike to help, some bikes are worse than others - the original Kawa ZZRs had big front mudguards and a lot of nose-fairing over the wheel, which flapped you (me) around all over the place.

Other than that, sit forward, grip with your knees and relax your arms. Weight the leeward side footpeg in crosswinds. If it's gusty, you're stuffed whichever...

I had a BMW GS (imagine!) which looked like it would have been horrendous, with the beak & all, but was fine - better with a full fuel tank. I guess BMW have a wind tunnel!

Headwind-wise, fairing or screen would probably help, so mods in that direction might be a good bet?

Hope that helps.

[GTRMAN]

riding on the flat isn't such an issue, it's the sudden gusts when riding over the Wainui hill that get me the most.

[boolbag]

especially at the top of the hill, sometimes it'll blow you over to the other lane

[GTRMAN]

That's the one, can make your navel pucker some times

[boolbag]

I love that hill.

[Pinstripe]

I try to take a more sheltered route across town, it's a bit hit n' miss. Raising the GB's idle speed makes things a little easier i've found.

Some days fitting a sidecar doesnt seem such a bad idea

[Lord Derosso]

I try to take a more sheltered route across town, it's a bit hit n' miss. Raising the GB's idle speed makes things a little easier i've found.

Some days fitting a sidecar doesnt seem such a bad idea

I have tried to cope with Wellingtons wind for many years but what will upping the engines idle speed do to help me? I do believe my current VN is pretty good in the wind due to a windscreen and its heavy and has a naked engine of course. I had the 600 full fairing Katana before this and it was bloody shocky in gusts and side winds. Could be the Bandits design then? Because the Katana is basically the same bike as the bandit in question but with full fairing.

Is it me or has the wind in Wellington been near constant since beginning of Winter this year? I just cant be bothered going for a ride most weekends, either too stressed with work and trying to finsh a graduation paper or the bloody weather isnt consistent. Unless I tour, my days of riding in all weather just to ride, are limited. Getting old and sore.

One final point though. DO watch out for those 'sheer' winds that some of Wellingtons building can create. I have actually been blown over while at a standstill at lights by a sudden wind storm created by this funneling effect, at the old Counternay Place lights, before they changed it all around years ago. You once used to turn where the corner cafe is now. It nearly happened again at the same place but I got sideways and put my stand down. When you experience one of these freak winds, you can understand why planes can crash because of similar events.

[GTRMAN]

could be the Bandit design, this morning I did the 'takas with some mates and they didn't seem to be as badly effected as I was, some really bad gusts, almost came a cropper on one corner with the wind pushing me into the bank

[Artifice]

the worst sheer wind i've experienced is on the top of killmog hill just north of dunedin. i was travelling south in the left lane of the passing lane... bloody allmost ended up in oncoming traffic when the wind hit me. that was 10/15yrs ago i guess... i managed to kill that bike not to long after.

[slimjim]

makes motorcyclying all that more enjoyable...

[dpex]

Finding the windy weather around Wellington at the moment a real pain. As a larger rider I seem to act like a sail and the large gusts throw me around something fierce. Is it just me or anyone else having the same problem?

Someone, a long time ago, posted the address for what appeared to be a Dutch Cop, motor-bike advisory site. Unlike the anal retentive attitudes prevailing in NZ, all aimed at asking us to slow down, this site provided good answers.

One of which was...and I've tried it many times and it works... is when confronted with a cross-wind, stick you windward knee out. Bugger me, it works.