Riding in strong gusty cross-winds
22 December 2007 - 7:16pm
With all speech and especially in training the meaning rests deeper than the audible sounds and has to be sought when not immediately,intuitivly known.So with these expressions of my experience in strong winds my articulation may not be accurate, so try it out for yourself, and your bike as this(your bike) may require a slightly different technique.
What I`ve noticed is that in winds the bike very largely, tracks straight!!
This was quite a surprise to me as I thought the wind was blowing the bike around! (I ride a R1200GS)I (my body) was certainly being blown around and this movement was being transmitted to the front tyre via my link point, the hand grip on the bars.
So I tried the advice given for soft sand...Soft Hands..Immediate improvement,I find it seems best to pinch the bike with my legs and and almost rest the hands on the bars ...the least needed.. touch.This has improved things vastly ,I hope this is of some help , feedback would be appreciated. Take care while initally experimenting.
22 December 2007 - 7:36pm
#1
Neil, would you speed up or down in cross-winds? Or then just keep your speed?
Your other observations are more or less the same as mine.
Somewhere earlier on another website I read about sticking your knee out which would stabilize you better against the cross wind, but I do not know which knee in which direction any more!?
I suppose that the GS bikes are less stable in cross-winds than the roadbikes, where the riding position is more sitting down?
22 December 2007 - 8:20pm
#2
There is no one final answer as road ,traffic, weather and wind vary,however greater speed gives greater stability,however an extreme gust and small steering error could seriously raise the heartbeat! But I tend for faster rather than slower speeds.
Re the knee : if the wind is blowing L - R,then L knee out.
Re road vs GS : again the buffeting of the rider inputting to the front tyre seems to be the main cause.
I just asked Jane who rides a Honda CBR400RR, she lies down flat on the tank, now this will take hands and shoulders out of the wind reducing the input to the front wheel.Her reply re speed is: faster better, worst is slowing down for robot;on the whole in strong winds: lay down on the tank and go is fine,for her.
22 December 2007 - 8:23pm
#3
Johan,
The trickiness about winds are gusts. And in a cross wind the gusts come and go noticably.
Annie found wind terrifying when she first bought her F650GS from Padlangs. But it was not long before she got used to winds.
I hardly notice wind at all on my 1150GSA. I keep my speed constant the bike is very stable in any wind.
If the wind is coming at you from the front left(your 10H00 o'clock) you stick your left knee out and it does feel a little more stable, the vice versa applies.
The knee counteracts the pull of the wind as you lean against the wind.
its about kilometres under the belt.
after a while you take any weather condition in your stride and adapt your riding accordingly.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
22 December 2007 - 9:23pm
#4
Knee into the wind.
Take left hand off the handlebar and tuck it out of the wind (I hold onto the tank), and hold the throttle as gently as you can.
Keep your speed normal.
Even so, I once nearly tracked into oncoming traffic when a very strong constant sidewind that I was leaning into heavily had a sudden pause - so you do need to be alert.
22 December 2007 - 9:28pm
#5
Johan, a constant wind is much easier than gusts. Just lean "into" the wind and enjoy the ride. With gusts you get moved sideways before you get time to lean into the wind. You will have to try Neil's advice of "light on the steering" for yourself - there is definate merit in it, probably needs practice to do it safely.
As for the speed. I just stick to a speed with which I am comfortable. ALLOW extra space around you in gusty wind for when the bike does move sideways. Be specially aware when you pass trucks or close to buildings - when you get past the "wind shadow" you will most likely get moved sideways.
As with all things - it gets easier with practise.
23 December 2007 - 5:35am
#6
You guys with "big" bikes go try a C1, you have no idea how stable big (BMW?) bikes are compared to scooters :-)
23 December 2007 - 11:39am
#7
Neil & Andyman have got it spot on, How does the C of G come into this equation?
Feet on the pegs, always.
23 December 2007 - 12:25pm
#8
COG comes in like this:
* a very low COG means the top of the bike is like a sail, a gust will lean the bike away from the wind, causing it to turn away from the wind. This makes it hard to lean into the wind.
* a high COG causes the bottom of the bike to be more affected by the gust, effectively pushing your wheels away from the wind. This automatically increases your lean into the wind.
I have noticed on Brenda Buttercup and any similar bike of high standing :) - a sudden gust pushes the wheels away, increasing the lean, and causing you to steer a straight line with your body even though the wheels dart off to the side from time to time.
On Mr. Badger, with a lower COG, it becomes a bit more about the momentum of the weight of the bike preventing it from blowing around too much anyway, and counter-steering to cancel the effect of gusts. Because the bike is heavier, things happen slower, giving the old codgers (Cheesy and Neil) and the young codgers (moi) the time to correct the steering.
23 December 2007 - 1:55pm
#9
Cheesy is the forum a bit quiet that you feel the urge to stir things up?? Or are you having a guilt trip because of your post re: "foul language ..lack of vocabulary",now a dearth of posts!:-)
Or seeing pink do something to you?
Or you wanting a carpentry lesson?:-)
23 December 2007 - 9:29pm
#10
Neil you are certainly keeping the forum active, more points!! It's that four letter word again, Charles please do something about it.
If I were a carpenter (note the spelling) I would be a wealthy man to day.
Ignore opinions, heed facts.
Feet on the pegs, always.
23 December 2007 - 9:50pm
#11
Regarding facts: what happens with the points? Is there a prize attached to it?
23 December 2007 - 10:36pm
#12
Johan, the points is just another method of "monitoring" activity on the forum. It is used on most forums.
When we moved from the old forum to the new format, ... Well let's just say the normal resistance to change was also active here. There was also a period where the activity (points) was monitored. Annie and myself both won prizes.
Shortly after that the forum became very busy. I doubt if there will be another competition.
But never under-estimate the male ego. When somebody gets active and realise that he is catching somebody else ..... But then, it is also easy to see when somebody writes just to gather points. Write for the sake of writing - ignore the points.
24 December 2007 - 8:58am
#13
Padlangs your reply is spot on and clear, and perhaps it is time to remove the points system.
Because others do it is not a reason to copy. The forum is running very well in my opinion.
I find it easy to use and I`m computer illiterate,(my first computer and internet experience was on the forum).
WELL DONE Charles!
24 December 2007 - 12:54pm
#14
I enjoy the forum - it is lively and active - and questions do get (sincere and sometimes joky!) answers - congratulations.
I wish everybody a peacefull and blessed Christmas - with happy riding!
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