Any views on wind?

[original_concept]

It might sound daft but I find the bike less affected by the wind at higher speed

This.. the faster the easier, same as in the rain.

Though turning right when its rather windy at a junction, then you're blown backwards and sideways at the same time... get up the hill and find a mere 40mph is rather difficult to to achieve as the wind blows into you. Think that 200 miles of this is going to end badly and return home. Return home check the weather and see the 50-70mph reported gusts...

No more riding in wind that 40-50mph+ for me. Especially as most of the roads are high up and exposed.

 

[Giles]

I remember this day !!

This is the bottom of the A20 coming straight out of Dover.

I got in a right flipping muddle - got off the RT and suddenly found myself clinging onto it trying to stop it from blowing over. And that was it! I was completely stuck trying to hold this bike from blowing off its side stand and physically couldn't get back on it again


Like steppers says - the secret to riding in the wind is to be a sack of shite and let the wind buffet you without transfering that into the handlebars. Arms like the birdy song . Tense yer arms up in fear and every gust you take will go straight into the steering. (If you have an electric screen then put that down too .... ).

 

[wust588]

This all sounds like good advice to me.
I've never liked riding in strong winds, and I do think it depends on what bike you are riding.
My old 1100RS was horrible to ride, as was my K75S - both with fairings and short handlebars.
I've heard that going too slowly can make things worse also.
Relaxing and countersteering helps.
My experience of the 1200GS and the S10 was that they were good bikes to ride in strong wind.

 

[drinkingparrot]

when I go out rideing in strong wind I always wear me bike clips.

Sorry I've had a drink tonight.

Well I'm not really sorry, I'm sat here laughing me socks off.

I'll be cringing tomorrow

 

[jwpzx9r]

I find if I don't go to heavy on the hot lime pickle I don't have too much trouble with wind. In all seriousness though the worst wind I can remember riding through was in Edinburgh! There are a lot of high tenement style houses there and the wind was getting funnelled down the side streets and whacking into the side of the bike as I rode down the main street, was near enough to take you off the bike and the old Kwaka GPZ1100X was a heavy lump.

 

[Bikerjim]

I to had the nightmare of the Vstrom in a high wind.

I was ridding across the A505 between royston & Baldock ,the road when nearing baldock has no protection from either side and a good few miles of open fields.
The wind was probably not that bad but the Vstrom was not good, in a light breeeze it would twitch & the front would go all light. I was slowly pushed from the left lane only doing 40mph to the right hand lane infront of several large vehicles

My 1200 is good in side winds

Jim

 

[Running Antelope]

Thank you all very much for those very helpful responses. Looks like a GS may be better than the V-Strom (couldn't be worse). The advice given is damn good. I had forgotten the bit about sticking your knee out - I'd heard that years ago too. Many thanks to you all.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

The GS is air cooled. This means it is better in windy conditions than the V-Strom

 

[Blart]

The advice given is damn good. I had forgotten the bit about sticking your knee out

You need to grit your teeth too and frown heavily, that's very important, or the knee doesn't work.

 

[Fanum]

Always ride directly in to the wind......

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Always ride directly in to the wind......

No. Ride with your back to the wind. This helps MPG AND MPH...