Auckland Harbour Bridge - Be Careful!

**HTFU** · 22nd February 2008, 20:17

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Probably worthy of further discussion though.

Opinion:

On a gusty day on the street/road.

Prefer bodywork or naked bike?

I suspect body type has a bit to do with preferences.

My GN (Naked) was not an issue in the wind yet the GPX (similar weight and riding position) is a lane hog in winds . Bodywork acts like a big sail on the GPX. SV or similar with just a small screen and minimal fairings would be the ticket me thinks in the wind.

**Mort** · 22nd February 2008, 20:22

Yep - it was windy as fuck.... I had to tack to get over.

**surfchick** · 22nd February 2008, 20:26

Originally Posted by jrandom

Betty and I laugh at windy bridges.

Like this:

Ho! Ho! Ho!

I might have an extra Racing Pie before I head home, though. Just to be safe, like.

yo better make that 2 racing pies

always err on the side of caution

**xwhatsit** · 22nd February 2008, 22:31

God you lot are a bunch of whingers. My little 125kg 250RS shot over there without a problem. A bit odd to be leaning over left and right whilst tracking a straight line.

However my bike doesn't have much surface area -- narrow tank, no fairings, spoked wheels. Pretty low, too. My too-large cordura jacket is the biggest problem.

**EJK** · 22nd February 2008, 22:37

FXR FTW!!!!!

I'm staying at my cousins house tonight in albany lol

Edit: Should I just harden up and ride across the HB? lol

**Zapf** · 22nd February 2008, 22:37

Originally Posted by Ewan Oozarmy

It's f*cking windy - I just seriously struggled to keep my bike upright crossing the bridge.

Be careful guys, especially if your bike is un-faired!

Must be all the sharp angles they put on the KTM's. something for the wind to catch onto.

But overall unfaired bikes are better in strong gusty sidewind.... I know. I did the grand challange the last 2 years.

**Chrislost** · 22nd February 2008, 22:45

Originally Posted by Ewan Oozarmy

It's f*cking windy - I just seriously struggled to keep my bike upright crossing the bridge.

Be careful guys, especially if your bike is un-faired!

huh!
i thought faired bikes felt it more...

fuck, dont be a pussy! just keep it pinned and you wont feel a thing.

bikes are more stable at high speed...

**Mort** · 22nd February 2008, 22:57

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

God you lot are a bunch of whingers. My too-large cordura jacket is the biggest problem.

fair call.... actually it was fun... Sounds daft but I like weather like that .... its a kind of battle and I like it.

Back home in the UK near manchester I used to ride the Barton Bridge and the Thelwall Viaduct....(both very high motorway bridges) when it blows on them it was fuckin lethal....

**Ewan Oozarmy** · 23rd February 2008, 11:38

Originally Posted by Zapf

Must be all the sharp angles they put on the KTM's. something for the wind to catch onto.

You could be right. I guess it's all down to experience. I've had a car and bike full for 24 odd years and have never ridden in gusty high winds like I experienced last night.

It must've been pretty windy - I've only just had power restored to my house, which is another new experience for me - wind causing power cuts.

Welcome to Auckland

Is it true that it's windier in Wellington?

**klingon** · 23rd February 2008, 12:32

I really enjoyed riding over the bridge last night on my Volty (spoked wheels, no fairings - the perfect bike for gusty winds).

The only problem for me was my backpack! Kept catching the wind and acting like a sail. And the whole stop-start commuter traffic thing was a bit of a pain. Would have been nice to have chosen my own pace instead of slow-fast-slow-fast-stop. And I didn't feel like lane splitting. I needed a whole lane all to myself! Wheeeee!

**EJK** · 23rd February 2008, 12:34

So, no one actually got blown?

I guess that means its safe

Well, I'm about to across it now so get ready for another "I Binned!" thread lol

**BIGBOSSMAN** · 23rd February 2008, 13:00

Originally Posted by EJKDDORAI

So, no one actually got blown?
I guess that means its safe

It's only safe if she doesn't have teeth young man...

**Ixion** · 23rd February 2008, 13:23

Of all the many bikes I have had over the years, the one least affected by winds is von Klunken. A fully (very fully) faired BMW.

Nothing deflects him from his chosen path. Well, an enormous gust of wind did once blow him a few feet over, but that gust was so strong that the eddy of it got under my full face helmet (with visor closed) and made me think my neck was broken, as well as blowing my glasses off (inside the helmet).

Other than that he's never moved at all in any wind. Even when I have sometimes had trouble hanging on myself, or have been cranked far off to the side to counter the wind force. I reckon it's the shaft drive. Just like shafties can't wheelie.

I think the worst bikes for side winds are those with bikini type fairings.

**Swoop** · 23rd February 2008, 13:44

Stand proud, Auckland drivers.
This morning's display of driving skills was fucking disgusting.
A bit of rain and winds that the rest of the country would laugh at, and the retards prove that they should have their licences revoked.
Morons. Complete fucking morons.