View Full Version : Riding in wind?
craig dow
11-09-12, 06:08 PM
hi i do 60 miles aday to work , most of it in very open roads , im new to bikes , when the wind is about 20mph i find it very hard to keep the bike from blowing over to the other side of the road , is it just because the sv 650s is a very light bike , or is it the same on any bike , i see some bikes pass me and they dont seem to struggle with the wind , as much as i am , i am 12 stone , is there a way to ease this , or a way to help stopping this , or do i need to put a big bag of sand on the back to weigh it down lol , i do lean bike over into the wind , just thought id see if you had this problem , and what you do to to stop this , or carnt you do any thing about this apart from not takeing the bike out ,
suzukigt380paul
11-09-12, 06:22 PM
hi i do 60 miles aday to work , most of it in very open roads , im new to bikes , when the wind is about 20mph i find it very hard to keep the bike from blowing over to the other side of the road , is it just because the sv 650s is a very light bike , or is it the same on any bike , i see some bikes pass me and they dont seem to struggle with the wind , as much as i am , i am 12 stone , is there a way to ease this , or a way to help stopping this , or do i need to put a big bag of sand on the back to weigh it down lol , i do lean bike over into the wind , just thought id see if you had this problem , and what you do to to stop this , or carnt you do any thing about this apart from not takeing the bike out ,a faired bike suffers less from the wind,and luggage and or topbox and a heavy tank bag dont help in the wind
craig dow
11-09-12, 06:30 PM
hi it is a fully faired bike , and i dont have a top box or tank bag on it , sure its just because its a light bike , and im not a heavey person , think i will need to eat more porrage , or have a few more beers at weekend and get my weight up to hold it on the road , lol ,
fizzwheel
11-09-12, 06:35 PM
Moved to bike talk
fizzwheel
11-09-12, 06:36 PM
I've been out on my pushbike tonight and been blown across the road a couple of times.
Personally I found a fully faired bike worse in a cross wind that a naked bike. Especially where you have a hedge with gaps in it for gates.
The trick I found was to keep an eye on the hedgeline and then prepare for yourself in advance for the inevitable gap and then it doesnt catch you by surprise.
suzukigt380paul
11-09-12, 06:37 PM
hi it is a fully faired bike , and i dont have a top box or tank bag on it , sure its just because its a light bike , and im not a heavey person , think i will need to eat more porrage , or have a few more beers at weekend and get my weight up to hold it on the road , lol ,that might explain why i dont get blown about much,two much good living and full english breakfasts,
Grip the bike with your legs, have a lose grip on the bars, it stops the wind interfering with the steering. Countersteer into the big gusts, you have to be alert when its windy.
It's yet another thing you'll need to get used to when riding.
If you haven't experienced it yet overtaking artics can be pretty hair raising.
missyburd
11-09-12, 10:08 PM
I have a fun time in wind, I'm a few stone lighter on a naked bike. I think the OP needs a bit more practice, countersteering into 60mph gusts is the exhilarating bit! :razz:
Personally I found a fully faired bike worse in a cross wind that a naked bike. Especially where you have a hedge with gaps in it for gates.
Gaps in terraced houses are a bugger too.
I find the old Severn bridge a bit of a challenge on a windy day. The wind travels up the estuary and hits you directly side on. You need to lean into the wind and counter steer to hold a straight line.
The fun starts when you pass one of the stations that anchor the cables to the towers. All of a sudden.....No wind - feck!!
You soon get used to it and learn to read and adjust your riding to the conditions.
craig dow
12-09-12, 06:45 AM
ok thanks for the tips , as said just have toget use to it , thought it might just be down to expereance thanks again
philbut
12-09-12, 07:53 AM
You should try a fully faired ZZR1100 - like riding a bloomin sail!
you just get used to it. I don't even notice anymore, you automatically compensate. I do remember it was a bit un-nerving when I was a n00b.
missyburd
12-09-12, 08:36 AM
you just get used to it. I don't even notice anymore, you automatically compensate. I do remember it was a bit un-nerving when I was a n00b.
I don't think I'd been riding the SV long when we had a massive storm oop this way involving 60-80 mph gusts, sideways rain and rather a lot of standing water, if I'd owned a pair of b0llocks I wouldn't have been able to find them after that commute to work! Soon learned how to handle the bike in wind after experiencing that, amazing how you can find you can prevent it from blowing straight into trucks on the other side of the road :riding:
Was worse the previous winter on the 125, if you think the SV is a light bike :shock:
philbut
12-09-12, 08:38 AM
Was worse the previous winter on the 125, if you think the SV is a light bike :shock:
I remember riding a CBR 125 over the Orwell bridge on the way back from Norwich and thinking I was going to get blown off the edge,so I know what you mean!
gt900uk
12-09-12, 08:53 AM
The SV does seem to catch the wind pretty bad. My old CBR600F wasnt affected by the wind nearly as badly as the SV is.
dizzyblonde
12-09-12, 11:07 AM
I remember riding a CBR 125 over the Orwell bridge on the way back from Norwich and thinking I was going to get blown off the edge,so I know what you mean!
Me and Peg were on the Orwell Bridge on the ZZR14 once on a mildly breezy day, that things so planted and heavy.........but not over that bridge!
Dave-the-rave
12-09-12, 12:06 PM
Brings back memories of riding over the QEII bridge in Dartford on a CD200 Benly, in stupidly high winds.
I genuinely thought it was goodnight Irene.
johnnyrod
12-09-12, 01:58 PM
As said there isn't a great deal you can do, but there are a few things. Relaxed grip on the bars helps, allows the steering to sort itself out more quickly, somore weight through the pegs and get used to fixing yourself to the bike by your lower half (this helps with bendy bits too so worth learning). Good aerodynamics make a difference to sidewinds, so put a tank bag on it to fill up the gap in front (may not see much benefit on a faired bike but worth a try), and tuck in your elbows, toes etc. and slide your ass back on the seat. A good double bubble screen helps as well (do a search on here, threads for them are like rhubarb).
GagginForraPint
12-09-12, 08:55 PM
I've found riding in a lower gear helps stability when it's a bit windy. I'm not sure if it's a gyroscopic or placebo effect.
The other thing to watch out for is the wind swirling around buildings.
missyburd
12-09-12, 09:46 PM
The other thing to watch out for is the wind swirling around buildings.
Woah you can SEE wind? Tell us how! :D
STRAMASHER
13-09-12, 10:46 AM
I've found riding in a lower gear helps stability when it's a bit windy. I'm not sure if it's a gyroscopic or placebo effect.
.
Spot on for me too.
A gear or two lower and maybe shifting my airse into what ever direction the side wind is gusting in from and giving it the berries (dry, open road) is how I have coped. Probably alter my road position too so I dont end up in a ditch or barrier...or a car on the opposite side of the road.
In the very worst I have left the m/way and took my chances on the minor roads and just need to watch out for The Attack Of The Wheelie Bins through towns.
Cars always slow down (40mph on the m/way!) in these conditions and I speed up. Not nice, so alternative roads tend to have a bit more shelter.
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