Staying upright!

[sunhuntin]

But I *like* riding in high winds. And often in rain too "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!".

What others have said. Fear not, relax and let the bike do its stuff. You will not blow off it, and it will not blow over.

I find it best to hang off the bike rather than lean into a wind, the one time I do seriously hang off a bike.

Keep the speed well up, engaging an indirect helps, and leave the brakes alone, they will have you off for sure.

And enjoy the primal tussle with the elemenst, 'tis fun

agreed. the wind here was fairly rough yesterday, but boy was it fun! its the rain i dont like.

i dont have any advice to add cos everyones already said it.

[Sparrowhawk]

Yeah, it was pretty gusty yesterday riding home from Dorkland airport, where i work. Was pissing down too. Earlier in this ancient thread someone mentioned putting the windward knee out, so it points towardish the wind. Can anyone with experience confirm that for me??

[MarkH]

A gust of wind hit me from the right just as I was coming to a stop, just before putting my feet down, and I got pushed towards the left, and dropped the 'bike.

Not too much damage I hope.

To me this sounds to a large degree like a bit of bad luck on the timing of an unexpected gust of wind (very hard to predict that). But either quicker reactions or as Ixion said dangle a leg early may help.

[bezajel]

Long legs helps. As does a heavy bike. Neither of which is probably of much help to you. As you have identified, the transition from moving to stopped is the most unstable period of a motorcycle. And often the period when the riders attention is most distracted.

Anticipation is the only solution. Expect there to be a wind gust and be ready for it. It may help to dangle a leg early rather than feet up until a standstill (fugly, I know, but sometimes form must follow function) .

If it is any consolation you are by no means the only person this has ever happened to.

Not too much damage I hope.

To me this sounds to a large degree like a bit of bad luck on the timing of an unexpected gust of wind (very hard to predict that). But either quicker reactions or as Ixion said dangle a leg early may help.

Yeah i think with a bit more experience in the riding itself I'll get a bit more stable with the stops and prepared for wind etc. Not sure having my foot out earlier will really help, I got my foot down ok, it was more a case of not being able to hold the front...

[discotex]

Yeah, it was pretty gusty yesterday riding home from Dorkland airport, where i work. Was pissing down too. Earlier in this ancient thread someone mentioned putting the windward knee out, so it points towardish the wind. Can anyone with experience confirm that for me??

The more side on the wind is the more it works. You have to really stick your knee out and look weird to make if effective.

Riding in a lower gear so the RPM is higher helps a lot as well. The rotating mass in the engine spinning faster will help hold the bike upright.

I've been known to ride over the Harbour Bridge in first gear (can do 120km/h in first and it's an 80 zone) when it's been extremely windy. Try it sometime.. Ride near the redline for a min then change up a couple of gears (keeping the same speed) and see if you notice.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Can anyone with experience confirm that for me??

It does work in a continuous side wind... gusty winds it can be annoying...

The most important thing as every on has said... stay relaxed... learn to predicate where the gust are going to happen...

• look at the dust been blown on the road...
• Side markers
• Tress and shrubs
• Places where the road comes out of cut outs in small hills
• After Wind break hedges

[FJRider]

It does work in a continuous side wind... gusty winds it can be annoying...

The most important thing as every on has said... stay relaxed... learn to predicate where the gust are going to happen...

• look at the dust been blown on the road...
• Side markers
• Tress and shrubs
• Places where the road comes out of cut outs in small hills
• After Wind break hedges

The road to / from Middlemarch area is good to practice in wind eh...

[Charlie41]

It does work in a continuous side wind... gusty winds it can be annoying...

The most important thing as every on has said... stay relaxed... learn to predicate where the gust are going to happen...

• look at the dust been blown on the road...
• Side markers
• Tress and shrubs
• Places where the road comes out of cut outs in small hills
• After Wind break hedges

I found all this to be very useful information and advice, but I'll have to ride on a gusty day....and I don't wanna do that again
Will let you guys know how it goes....