Tyre size dilemma: Bigger = more stability?

[gammaguy]

I have only ever heard of one rider actually being blown off, and he was a feather weight chick.

fuck,that must of been a hell of a wind gust-gave him a sex change at the same time

[pritch]

Wider tyre does not equal more stability. It doesn't even necessarily offer more grip either. The important thing is that the tyre you have is the correct one for the rim it's fitted to.

Wot he said!

[pritch]

wot a load of old bollocks.


Eat more pies and harden-up. Learn to ride in the conditions. A bike is just a bike, it's what's between your ears that matters the most and your ability to use it.

Have you actually ridden in the wind much? Your post suggests otherwise.

Over the years I've been caught out in some gale force winds and I'd far rather be on an unfaired bike in those conditions than my old BMW K100RS or the VFR.

Given my choice of weapon for wind, I'd choose a Harley.
Unfortunately there isn't one in the garage.

[xwhatsit]

I stand by what I said. A crosswind has more effect on a faired bike, and the fuller the fairing the greater the effect. Cut a load of holes in a yacht's sail and see how well it 'goes'...

Damn straight. I ride a similar size and weight bike to a KR150 and don't weigh much myself, but I'm quite happy in the wind probably due to it being nekkid.

There's nothing wrong with doing Auckland-New Plymouth regularly on a KR150. You'll get a sore arse from the piddly seat and sore wrists due to it having a windscreen, but there's no reason why it can't do it -- bar the small-capacity two stroke that's supposedly not going to want constant throttle/RPM. A heavier bike might be more `stable' but big whoop.

[cheshirecat]

I stand by what I said. A crosswind has more effect on a faired bike, and the fuller the fairing the greater the effect. Cut a load of holes in a yacht's sail and see how well it 'goes'...

.

For interest when I added full fairings to my previous bikes (albiet 80's models) they became more affected by crosswinds but strangely my VFR seems impervious to them (unless the dog house is on the back). It might be the vents under the screen or moon crossing uranus. 'Pritch' above as had a different experience on his VFR so there is goes!

Be interesting to see if others have similar experience and on which bikes

[Cheshire Cat]

I dont know the exact size of my tires but they're probably the same size as yours. I've been to taupo and back twice no probs!!

I say it's not the bike its the rider. You should be fine!

[sil3nt]

Two cheshire cats? Which one is the evil one?

[Cheshire Cat]

Two cheshire cats? Which one is the evil one?

Oh you got me!

[martybabe]

Wider tyre does not equal more stability. It doesn't even necessarily offer more grip either. The important thing is that the tyre you have is the correct one for the rim it's fitted to.

Yes!

That they do...but naked bikes generally handle side-wind better, due to the lack of sail effect

OH Yes!

I'd choose a Harley.
.

Who are you and what have you done with my mate Pritch.

[MDR2]

I feel im pretty well qualified to comment for once!

I had a Rg150 with similar sized tires to the KR

I am now on a hornet with a fatter front then the rear of the either the KR or the RG's rear! fatter tires, as already established, won't provide any extra stabilty. In fact I felt more at home on teh thinner wheels and had more confidence when it came to tipping the bike over.

Fairing... makes a huge differince when your talking 100kph speeds 6+ hours without a fairing would be quite tiring i imagine. I miss having a fairing to tuck in behind. Need to splash out on a givi screen or something to take some pressure of the chest.

[metalslug]

heres an update:

2 weeks ago I traded in the Kr150 and got the Hornet 250 instead. Have to say I am very very satidfied. Rode across the harbour bridge in a windy day and don't really feel it at all. For some reason I feel more confident cornering as well, probably cuz the kr was a bit too flimsy and you have the feeling that it can drop anytime. . .

[DEATH_INC.]

I can sort the sidewind-fairing-weight-tyrewidth thing easy, the WORST bike I've ever ridden in a sidewind was My ZX12, with it's large aerodynamic fairing, 210kg dry (rider around 100kg then...) and a 200 rear tyre. Almost dangerous in any sidewind with any force. I'd rather ride a KR150 in fact...

[scracha]

wot a load of old bollocks.

Someone is tlaking bollocks but it aint him. We had to abandon a bellypan in holland once and pick it up on the way home. Serious bloody north sea winds hit that flat reclaimed land. Bike needed two whole lanes to itself with the bellypan on.

[slydesigns]

Someone is tlaking bollocks but it aint him. We had to abandon a bellypan in holland once and pick it up on the way home. Serious bloody north sea winds hit that flat reclaimed land. Bike needed two whole lanes to itself with the bellypan on.

Do much sailing or windsurfing? lol!!

[scracha]

Do much sailing or windsurfing? lol!!

Belgian motorways were much the same too. Kinda weird crusing along a motorway at about 130 with your bike constantly 'listing' at about 20 degrees. Was OK as long as no sudden gusts happened.