The GS and the wind in France.....

[MOD]

Is it me, or is the 1150 GS rather susceptible to being blown all over the place in the wind?

Just came home from a terrific tour in France, and riding up to Calais in a 20 mph cross wind, I was being blown all over the place at anything above 70 mph. My pal on an 1150 RT was as solid as a rock, at speeds well above this.

Do GS's not ride well in the wind, or is there something technical that I should know in order to sort this out? Luggage was tank bag, hard cases and top box.

Any tips greatly appreciated.

 

[Bigtwin]

Mine's pretty solid, but not checked against an RT.

Were you very back heavy - won't help?

Checked yer tyre pressures?

 

[MOD]

Tyre pressures were fine, checked before leaving from Burgundy.

Luggage was within weight limits, but there WAS a rather hunky security chain in the top box. DOH!!

 

[irishpan]

Wind in France

Hi,

My experience of the journey back to Calais is that it is almost always windy and that it affects all makes of machine. A pan European is a very heavy bike but it is particularly susceptible in spite of the weight.
I think it matters little what you ride, as you will get shunted sideways either by the wind or by the draught of lorries. Just slow down a little and take it easy unless, of course you are late for your ferry.......

 

[ahutcheon]

The GS is better in crosswinds than most bikes I've owned, but they all blow around a bit. I find it helps to stick the upwind knee out a bit, particularly in gusty crosswinds. No idea if it's aerodynamics, weight shift or voodoo...

 

[Bronco Billy]

Defo` voodoo......it works for me...

 

[wessie]

Is it me, or is the 1150 GS rather susceptible to being blown all over the place in the wind?

Just came home from a terrific tour in France, and riding up to Calais in a 20 mph cross wind, I was being blown all over the place at anything above 70 mph. My pal on an 1150 RT was as solid as a rock, at speeds well above this.

Do GS's not ride well in the wind, or is there something technical that I should know in order to sort this out? Luggage was tank bag, hard cases and top box.

Any tips greatly appreciated.

The approach to Calais can be a real bastard, especially from the Belgian border past Dunkerque.

A top box will always destabilise a bike in a cross-wind. You are effectively presenting the wind with a tail fin that it can use as a lever against your steering input. On a GS the lever is quite high in relation to the centre of gravity compared to a fully dressed tourer.

Tips: relax. Lean forward, bent elbows and a loose grip on the bars. Drop down a gear and keep the engine revs higher than normal so you have greater control over engine speed. If you get caught by a gust accelerate to overpower the effect of the wind. If you have a cross wind then countersteer and/or shift your body weight. Be prepared for sudden changes as you pass bridge pillars or other vehicles.

 

[dave hendy]

I found the RT 1200 (not ridden 1150) in a different league to any other bike I have ridden as far as wind protection goes. It is far superior to a Pan or FJR, I don't think you can compare it to a GS as they are different types of bike designed for different purposes. The GS is better than a lot of bikes I have ridden but could be better. I find it gets badly effected if you travel to near to the car/lorry in front. As said it is always windy as you aproach Calais!!

 

[MMC]

Rode from Witney to Cheltenham yesterday on the A40 with an utter bitch of a crosswind. At one point, I actually got blown into the opposite carriageway; fortunately nothing coming at the time. It was enough to make life very unpleasant indeed. it feels like the wind's about to take the front wheel out from under you.

Touratech topbox and cajas fitted. I'm going to give it a go without the topbox after Wessie's comments...

 

[dave hendy]

I always have the missus between me and the topbox to take up the expossed gap and keep the aerodynamics better. Not saying she is big or anything! But I am sure having a pillion makes life better in more ways than one. I very rarely ride on my own with the topbox on and have not had any problems myself. My mate complained bitterly about his topbox when ridding solo to the south of France last summer (Honda VFR), he said he wouldn't take it again if he had no pillion. It was mighty windy yesterday though.

 

[longdog]

The first thing that impressed me about my GS was it's stability and solid, planted feel on the day that I bought it and rode it home from Bristol over the Severn Crossing.

 

[Fanum]

Just slow down a little and take it easy unless, of course you are late for your ferry.......

Don't slow down...the faster you go, the more stabilising gyroscopic force you'll get from the spinning wheels

 

[nadeem]

Just got back myself from Belgium and it was pretty windy...but not so bad that the bike was weaving around...I kept a fairly steady 75 mph...

 

[RJW]

I was in Northern France last week, 2 up, fully loaded penniers and 52L top box.......and the wind was a killer, at 50mph at times it was all you could do to stay on the road.

Ever tried cornering right when you've got the bike well lent over to the left to counter the wind......felt weird!!!!