can some one give me some advice on side winds please

[zzzzz]

i ride a hyosung gt125r and this morning going through central london i think i drove sideways all the way there i got pushed in to the path of a few cars but luckily my bike has good acceleration so could just accelerate out of trouble, is there any advice any one could give me how to stay in a straight line during stron side winds i tried leaning into it but didnt want to lean to much as the wet ground and leaves everywhere, any advice would be great

[pinkyfloyd]

Only advice I can give against side winds is stay relaxed and just lean into them. The reason you are pushed across the road is because the wind makes you lean in the direction the wind is blowing as it buffets you.

Wear clothes that dont flap around because they act as sails.

Take it easy
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[CarlosCBR]

I try to ride slower when there is going to be really strong cross winds.

Anticipation is key i find, if you are leaning into the wind from the rhs and can see a high sided vehicle coming, you KNOW that this will interupt the flow of wind and if leaning too much you will career into the oncoming traffic, so i just try to stay loose and level the bike up when lorries etc are coming.

Tucking down behind the screen more works well i find (on my CBR125) and keeps some of the buffeting at bay.

At the end of the day i think it all comes down to experience. I dont have much trouble with side winds any more as over the last 5 years i have grown mostly used to it.

Just take it easy when you are in the strong winds bud and you should be fine.
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[map]

As said stay relaxed and not too rigid on the bike.
If you can flap your elbows like chiken wings then you're not too tense.
Also grip the bike with your thighs. Again not too tight as you can put too much input into bike direction as well that way.
Go at a pace that's right for you as well, don't be intimidated to go faster than necessary.

At the end of the day its about building up experience and confidence.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
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[sharpee1984]

Side winds gave me a bit of trouble this morning around the M25. Never had a problem before but one gust really caught me out and blew me from 3rd lane to outside lane of the motorway. Again, I was lucky nothing was overtaking...








...was fun though in the wind and rain!!
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PRESENT: HONDA CBR600F 2002
Past: Yamaha XJ600N 2001
Past: Hyosung GT125 2008

[sharpee1984]

Side winds gave me a bit of trouble this morning around the M25. Never had a problem before but one gust really caught me out and blew me from 3rd lane to outside lane of the motorway. Again, I was lucky nothing was overtaking...








...was fun though in the wind and rain!!
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PRESENT: HONDA CBR600F 2002
Past: Yamaha XJ600N 2001
Past: Hyosung GT125 2008

[bloom]

i ride down the M56 everyday, get some right old gusting down there as it blows in from the irish sea, as said anticipate it, watch for gaps that it will gust through but also watch for the opposite where the wind is broken.

and again as above try and stay relaxed, although having said that I got home the other night and my hands hurt I was gripping so hard, but it was pishing it down and wind gusting to 50 and dark and it was mildly alarming having to wipe my visor and be blown about at thesame time, was tempted to stop for a bit....

[Suntan Sid]

Stay relaxed, lean into the wind a bit, be positive with any manoeuvres.
Try and make yourself as small as possible on the bike. Any 125 is going to be affected by the wind, due to its, relative, light weight!
The other thing to watch out for with strong cross winds is when you pass, say, a building that shields you from the wind, prepare yourself for the blast when you finally come out of its lee.

The following isn’t much help but at least it shows you you’re not alone.

Way back in 1987 myself and a couple of mates decided we’d go to the Weston Beach Race.
Set of from Liverpool on the Friday morning, hit the M6 and settled in for a, mind numbing, journey on England’s motorway network, being October it was lashing down.
We had a GPz900R + pillion, a 250LC and I was on a 350 power valve, we managed a steady 85 for most of the journey. Passed Brum, and the rain eased off but the wind picked up.
I couldn’t tell you where this happened, don’t know the area, but it was on the M5 south of Bristol, where the motorway crosses over a river. The 250LC was up front, I was next, the GPz at the back, all in the fast lane doing 80 - 85. As I got to the middle of the bridge a gust of wind hit me side on, it blew me across the other two Lanes and I ended up on the hard shoulder. How I didn’t hit anything on the way across, I’ll never know. I can honestly say that is the scariest moment I’ve ever had on a bike!

In 1991 I was taking my DR600 up to Scotland, M6 to Preston then the A6 over Shap to Carisle, I didn’t know at the time that I could have gone through Longtown to avoid the “Cumberland Gap” so I got back on the M6 at Carlisle. I hadn’t really noticed the wind much on the A roads but when I got on the motorway It was howling. As I approached Metal Bridge two artics had been blown over! The wind was that strong, approaching the bridge, I was struggling to maintain forward momentum.
I was getting a bit worried because the wind was getting under the, huge motox style, mudguard making steering somewhat vague! I pulled over onto the hard shoulder and somehow managed to light a fag, (Gawd bless ya mister Zippo). After 10 minutes of cowering behind the bike, (I was actually propping it up in case it got blown over), I decided to go for it. Got it going, after a few kicks, got my head down and just nailed it. The relief when I got over the Esk flood plain was fantastic.

Take care out there!

[zzzzz]

i think the staying relaxed thign is a big factor i was like a brick on it this morning im glad you gave that advice as my instict told me to be as rigid as possible trying to block wind or plough through it i guess, i will try the relaxed method on way home if the winds are still up, ive only been riding for 2 years so i guess experiance in wind isnt great yet and rain does send me into panic mode as my first bike was dropped twice in heavy rain, bike took a beating but i was o.k, i wish i could get tucked in more but im 6'3 and 20 stone so the little screen barely covers my chin lol, my bike is full racign fairing, would you think it would be better to leave it on or take it off just through the windy season?

[robbieguy2003]

I tend to stay more relaxed than normal, I lean into the wind but also counter steer to keep the bike straight or negatively turn if needed.

It's hard on wet slippy leafy roads because it can feel like the bike will slip, it aint a nice feeling and I havent got an answer for that one.

The advice above is sound, I tend to find riding in a lower gear and keeping engine revs up giving the back wheel a positive drive helps more, it seems to keep everything a bit more planted.

So basically lean in, keep good engine revs (8-11k for me, bike goes to 15k) and be ready to countersteer when the wind drops back, also apply a bit more throttle as you counter steer out.

The above seems to work nicely for me, on my 03rr I didnt have too many problems, on the rr7 with the steering dampner its a pain in the arse because it tightens a bit too much for my liking on faster sections of road.

If you follow what Suntan Sid done, you've got some balls as well... If Artics are blowing over then i'd prob call it a day at that.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Suntan Sid]

[G]

You are leaning against the wind, it shouldn't cause and further problems with leaves etc.

Remember, if it's causing problems, going slower almost always helps.

You do need to get used to being the right amount of 'reactive'; so you don't over compensate, but do turn enough as it changes.
As ever, try and stay as relaxed and loose as possible.

[tiny777]

Just keep your speeds low as well, the faster you go the more severe the accident could be if blown-slower helps you have more control.And as said above watch out for gaps between buildings/trees/past lorrys.

[zzzzz]

just wondering would removing the fairings make much difference

[robbieguy2003]

Not sure, i've always felt mine feel a bit like sails on very windy days, but i've not ridden unfaired bikes enough to give a decent comparison.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[G]

[zzzzz]

if a trial bike is worsed than a fared bike i reckon an unfaired gt would probs be the same although riding position is different, i think i guess only one real way to find out i will try it and post results

[G]

- trail, not trial, there's rather a difference these days .

However, how exactly are you going to test this out? Need pretty similar conditions to get any decent 'evidence' for what I reckon is the relatively minor difference.

[Suntan Sid]

[27cows]

Don't have a fairing. And ideally don't have a top box the size of Uzbekistan either. There are no tips really, except don't fall off/collide with anything/lean too hard against the wind
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[zzzzz]

[quote="Suntan Sid"]

[zzzzz]

i did discover something by accident, a full tank of peterol adding weight to the bike made a massive massive difference, in storng winds have a full tank

[skatefreak]

This is something that has taken me a fair while to get used to myself!

Riding an NSR and usually with a large back-pack i present a huge sail at relativly low weight .

The ride i take to cambridge is pretty blustery most of the time (A505), but i have to say i'm a believer in slowing down reduces the effect of the wind (and i also discovered you can get 80+mpg out of an NSR in top gear < power band ).

But yes, slow it down a little, tuck in a touch and relax... Its about all you can do!

Also be very careful of large lorrys...
Closest call i'v ever had was passing a lorry in windy weather, could see a gap coming up ahead in the trees so I decided middle of the lane, started leaning as i felt myself getting through the lorrys side wash and bam! Bike felt like it got hit and near enough turned diagonally, all i can remember is leaning the bike and seeing the curb disapear less than a foot from the front wheel!

Will be filling up more often... Maybe have a few more pork pies to add a little more weight to

Best regards

-Jvr

[dodsi]

My advice on sidewinds is that they mostly come from the sides... mostly.

[nowhere.elysium]

I'm trying to work out whereabouts in central London you'd have to be to get noticeable side winds.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project