Riding in windy conditions

5th_bike · 02-20-2011, 08:49 AM

Yesterday it was sunny and 50°F, but it was also quite windy. The weather warning spoke of sustained 25-35 mph winds with gusts up to 60 mph. A rare (for Maryland) opportunity to try the bike in windy conditions.

So, I took it for a 40 mile ride on the local two-lane back roads, and noted the following differences from 'regular' riding:
1 - I tended to keep more distance from opposing cars, taking the right tire track more often.
2 - With strong side winds, lean into the wind a bit. This is easily accomplished by counter-steering slightly.
3 - There is more debris (fallen branches and trees) on the road, that you have to look out for.
4 - There are more emergency response vehicles on the road, because of the fallen trees, brush fires, etc.
5 - There are less other motorcycles on the road, so you don't have to wave so often. I only saw one.

The bottom line is: Under windy conditions, our light and agile GZ250s are like an iron on the road. I was never "blown all over the place" or blown into the other lane, even though I'm sure I was hit by several 40-50 mph side gusts. You do have to plan for a foot or two adjacent to your planned line of travel, to counteract the side gusts, that's all.

:ride on:

Ted324 · 02-20-2011, 09:10 AM

Nice, all the riding i've done has been in the wind i'm ready to see what riding without the wind is like.

JWR · 02-20-2011, 12:18 PM

Hold the bars lightly and let the bike do its thing.

You can also hang a knee out on the windward side to help pull the bike back upright.

Sometimes I don't mind riding in the wind, other times I actually enjoy it.

alanmcorcoran · 02-21-2011, 03:28 PM

Not a big fan of gusty wind riding myself - it tends to be exhausting what with the need to maintain a much higher level of (practically constant) vigilance. I had gusty winds on the beginning of my recent Vegas run, for an hour or so. Fortunately, the wind was less intense and gusty once I cleared certain geographical features, but its really not possible to relax and enjoy the ride when you are dealing with the constant unpredictability.

Countersteering will correct for the blowover, but countersterring requires leaning, and you have to lean more, then less then a little more, etc. constantly and after a few minutes, it really loses its appeal.

I can say that riding the 850 lb bike is less stressful in the wind than the GZ, but it suffers from much of the same aggravation.

alantf · 09-17-2011, 05:33 AM

OH no!!!!!!!!!!!! this is the third thread this Ba****d's posted in. ...............SPAAAAAAAAAM!

mrlmd1 · 09-17-2011, 09:24 AM

Gone.

Rionna · 09-20-2011, 06:09 AM

Thanks for the riding in the wind tips. I have gotten better with riding in the wind since I first started a few months ago. I do find it not as relaxing as a normal ride, but I am not as petrified as I was at first. I found the advice not to grip too hard and to use countersteering to be very helpful. It's the time of year here in Ohio that if I want to ride, I'll more than likely be in the wind. This is a great post especially for those of us with little riding experience.

02-20-2011, 08:49 AM	#1
5th_bike Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HoCo, Maryland Posts: 1,349	Riding in windy conditions Yesterday it was sunny and 50°F, but it was also quite windy. The weather warning spoke of sustained 25-35 mph winds with gusts up to 60 mph. A rare (for Maryland) opportunity to try the bike in windy conditions. So, I took it for a 40 mile ride on the local two-lane back roads, and noted the following differences from 'regular' riding: 1 - I tended to keep more distance from opposing cars, taking the right tire track more often. 2 - With strong side winds, lean into the wind a bit. This is easily accomplished by counter-steering slightly. 3 - There is more debris (fallen branches and trees) on the road, that you have to look out for. 4 - There are more emergency response vehicles on the road, because of the fallen trees, brush fires, etc. 5 - There are less other motorcycles on the road, so you don't have to wave so often. I only saw one. The bottom line is: Under windy conditions, our light and agile GZ250s are like an iron on the road. I was never "blown all over the place" or blown into the other lane, even though I'm sure I was hit by several 40-50 mph side gusts. You do have to plan for a foot or two adjacent to your planned line of travel, to counteract the side gusts, that's all. :ride on: __________________ 2005 "Saturn Black", stock + tach Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-20-2011, 09:10 AM	#2
Ted324 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Harlingen, TX Posts: 14	Re: Riding in windy conditions Nice, all the riding i've done has been in the wind i'm ready to see what riding without the wind is like. __________________ Vida es muy bien
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02-20-2011, 12:18 PM	#3
JWR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 1,413	Re: Riding in windy conditions Hold the bars lightly and let the bike do its thing. You can also hang a knee out on the windward side to help pull the bike back upright. Sometimes I don't mind riding in the wind, other times I actually enjoy it. __________________ Jerry Truth is there are lots of great bikes available and not nearly as many good riders out there riding them... "A man's got to know his limitations..." Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-21-2011, 03:28 PM	#4
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: Riding in windy conditions Not a big fan of gusty wind riding myself - it tends to be exhausting what with the need to maintain a much higher level of (practically constant) vigilance. I had gusty winds on the beginning of my recent Vegas run, for an hour or so. Fortunately, the wind was less intense and gusty once I cleared certain geographical features, but its really not possible to relax and enjoy the ride when you are dealing with the constant unpredictability. Countersteering will correct for the blowover, but countersterring requires leaning, and you have to lean more, then less then a little more, etc. constantly and after a few minutes, it really loses its appeal. I can say that riding the 850 lb bike is less stressful in the wind than the GZ, but it suffers from much of the same aggravation. __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More…
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09-17-2011, 05:33 AM	#5
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,715	Re: Riding in windy conditions OH no!!!!!!!!!!!! this is the third thread this Ba****d's posted in. ...............SPAAAAAAAAAM! __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-17-2011, 09:24 AM	#6
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Riding in windy conditions Gone.
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09-20-2011, 06:09 AM	#7
Rionna Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 176	Re: Riding in windy conditions Thanks for the riding in the wind tips. I have gotten better with riding in the wind since I first started a few months ago. I do find it not as relaxing as a normal ride, but I am not as petrified as I was at first. I found the advice not to grip too hard and to use countersteering to be very helpful. It's the time of year here in Ohio that if I want to ride, I'll more than likely be in the wind. This is a great post especially for those of us with little riding experience. __________________ Rionna
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