Riding in cross wind

[jryan]

I was riding my RSV today w/2 up, doing 65-70mph on a straight open ND hiway with no trees, and a 25mph gusting cross wind. I was being blown around pretty good, using up about 1/2 the lane. I was riding with a friend on a Honda Shadow that said he was being blown around too but I don't think as much as me.

 

Then another biker comes up on a cruiser with an addon windshield & soft bag, no fairing or hard bags...this guy flew around us at about 75-80mph with one hand on the bars, waved to us with the other, & had no problem holding his line at all. I continued watching & he kept riding with 1 hand until out of sight.

 

I "think" I have pretty good balance, and riding in wind normally isn't a big deal, but with both my RSV & VR, with a straight cross wind I seem to get blown around more than other bikes.

 

Just wondering if what I experience is "normal" with these bikes or not? I always attributed the issue on the VR to it's high center of gravity, but the RSV seems much lower...so I'm a bit confused...?

[larrysyner]

I've riden a few bikes, everything from crotch rockets, stripped down cruisers, Sport bikes (BMW) and now the RSV. I have a 2nd gen RSV and it does catch wind, but not as bad as the sport touring and other touring bikes. All and all, my RSV catches the same amount of wind as you are describing, but I think it's normal considering all of the stuff that is on it.

[Kregerdoodle]

Same here, our bikes have alot of surface area for the wind to push around, just stay relaxed, keep your arms loose and don`t over compemsate.... ( sorry can`t spell )

[bill04]

Same here , my other bike was a Shadow ACE 1100 and was catching wind but this one ,The RSV I call my kite man driving this baby in cross winds on highways calls for good arms . But still love it .

[Tom]

Same here,but what helped most was riding from Here in Texas where I live to and thru Tucson,AZ,Phoenix,AZ where the winds were a sustained 38 MPH gusting to 45+ MPH..My rear end made a very tight pinch mark on that seat BUT,After that trip the Texas winds we have here are NOTHING and the higher winds, I just hold on , relax a bit but be aware and let her loose. Tom

Edited June 15, 2008 by Tom

[Condor]

Last year GeorgeS and I got into some pretty heavy 50mph+ cross winds up in Wyo. I don't know how George did as he was behind me, but the '83 held a line very well. I was surprised. The whole fairing shuttered every time an 18 wheeler passed going the oposite direction, but I felt very comfortable. When we stopped for gas George remarked that it was the worst riding conditions he'd ever experienced. I kinda thought GVW had a lot to do with it as the bike, 10 day worth of gear, and I are 1200+ pounds.

Edited June 15, 2008 by Condor

[BuddyRich]

One quick question. Were you using countersteering to control the bike. Generally even in a heavy crosswind you can keep it within your half of the lane using that. Hard sudden gusts will get just about anybody though.

[Condor]

One quick question. Were you using countersteering to control the bike. Generally even in a heavy crosswind you can keep it within your half of the lane using that. Hard sudden gusts will get just about anybody though.

 

Buddy, I haven't got a clue as to what I was doing. Just that the technique...if there even was one.. came naturally, and it was working. Like all my riding, I don't think about it too much, I just do it...

[muffinman]

The forward speed that you are traveling has alot to do with how bad the bike moves in the wind.I get alot of side wind on a regular basis to and from work and the house and I adjust forward speed to help maintain my line.

Learned this from my MSF instructor he said speed up or slow down as needed and LEAN into the wind if needed and so far it works for me,

Jeff

[Poledar]

I talked to someone years ago who had ridden cross country from East to West and back again. She mentioned that her BMW65 was leaning about 30 degrees into the wind as she rode across Kansas, but that she had to watch out for patches of trees to avoid falling down as she passed them. Much lighter bike, but as Muffinman said, it is a matter of adjusting to the conditions as they evolve and maintaining a high level of awareness of your riding environment.

[Jerry W]

I am thinking a lot of it is what conditions you are used to, in my neck of the woods the wind is pretty much a way of life. If you are not used to riding in the wind, it is hard to keep the bike where you want it. Just be really alert when meeting trucks etc. when riding in a cross wind.

[jryan]

Up here in ND wind is definitely a way of life as well. I hadn't thought a whole lot about it before, just figured big bike + big cross wind = try to keep her on the road! I do lean & reposition myself a bit on the bike, and don't keep too tight a hold on it but let it move around a bit...but still, sometimes I'm using the whole lane, which must make the cars following me a little nervous.

 

It just hit me the other day when the other guy flew by us with one hand on the bars seemingly unaffected at all. That's when I thought I'd throw this post out & see if it's more of an issue with the Ventures or not.

 

Oh well...

[birin]

Interesting timing of this post. I have a 2004 (with new tires this week) coming thru the Rocky Mountains yesterday in heavy winds. Felt a little unnerving. I thought the narrower Avon (as recommended on this site) might have created a lighter tracking?

[SilvrT]

I've ridden lots in cross wind country ... what I've found is either go faster or slow down ... well, I wasn't about to slow down. See... the faster you go, the better the scoot cuts the air, causing less cross wind push against you.

 

(well, it sounds good to me)

[rod]

A general rule is the faster you go the less the wind affects the bike. Not all the time but most of the time. Lean and try to relax and adjust counter steering as needed. Went to Tombstone one year (500mi) and had 25+ mph winds the whole time, not too fun but we made it OK. Rod

[GeorgeS]

If the Wind is dead from your left, or Right, and its a Two Lane road, Just be ready when you see the big truck comeing in front of you. You get the double Wammiiii

[ctraylor]

My wife and I made a trip up to Laramie, WY last summer and then across South Dakota to Sturgis. We experienced about a day and a half of a fierce cross wind. My wife had to hold her glasses on constantly and I leaned into the wind. I don't think I will ever cross SD again on a motorcycle. My wife almost took a bus home. We finally made it to Mt. Rushmore and out of the wind and had a wonderful time after that. Leaning into the wind was not bad but you really had to watch for small hills that break the wind or you will run off the road then suddenly when you pass the hill a very large gust will push you toward the center line. I finally learned to watch the country side and contemplate the gust and compensated. That was the worst riding experience I ever had.

[bobcat]

I live in Nevada and riding in heavy winds is a way of life...I don't know if you ever get completely comfortable in heavy winds, I know I don't..The only thing I do different in heavy winds is to hunch down behind the windshield..this seems to give better control to the buffeting...

[Ozark]

I can pretty well handle any constant wind, sideways or front/back. It's the gusting winds that often try to throw me for a loop. I often adjust which track I'm riding in by which way the wind is blowing. A sudden gust can take me half way across a lane and if you're riding the center line or edge of road, that can be big trouble.

[dr_bar]

I actually found that slowing down helped me when I was in some pretty bad cross winds last summer on my Valk, it made my reaction time better. If a gust caught me at high speed, I was across the lane and onto the rumble strips in a flash, when I slowed down, I was able to keep the bike closer to my line. I guess it's a case of whatever works for you...

[jryan]

Slowing down helps me too except when on the interstate. When you slow down too much (or enough), more & more traffic passes you, and each time they cut the wind for a few seconds then you get slammed again...especially the big rigs.

[Guest BigJohnD]

It is all part of the fun...I move around the lane depending what side the wind is coming from, if I am passing a truck up or down wind of it, guard rails, cuts through hills...you learn to watch and anticipate where you should be and when to lean or not.

[bobcat]

One more comment regarding high winds.....Its definitely easier to handle with a full face helmet with the shield closed...

[IH Truck Guy]

I can pretty well handle any constant wind, sideways or front/back. It's the gusting winds that often try to throw me for a loop. I often adjust which track I'm riding in by which way the wind is blowing. A sudden gust can take me half way across a lane and if you're riding the center line or edge of road, that can be big trouble.

 

This is another good example that shows when riding with a group,ride single file or staggered.In the gusty winds,you then have the room to move around as needed..

I have a couple of friends that I won't ride with because they insist on riding side by side.

I put Avons on our gen1 and it does seem to be a more sensitive to the wind gusts.But I'm willing to deal with that,because they handle so great...

[Guest BigJohnD]

This is another good example that shows when riding with a group,ride single file or staggered.In the gusty winds,you then have the room to move around as needed..

I have a couple of friends that I won't ride with because they insist on riding side by side.

I put Avons on our gen1 and it does seem to be a more sensitive to the wind gusts.But I'm willing to deal with that,because they handle so great...

 

I agree with you there...I will not ride side by side at any place but a stop light. It seriously cuts down your options should something come up...like a pot hole.