Riding motorways in the wind

[Piercee100]

I've ridden my little H100a on the motorway before and it was a hoot, slipstreaming lorries and topping out at an indicated 68mph laying accross the tank only to have my speed sucked out again by said lorry as I pass at barely 56mph. It didnt feel dangerous at all.

Today myself and the wife took a trip out down the M2 motorway as it was a faster way to get to our destination and I have to admit I was terrified! At 70mph I could barely hold onto the handlebars due to the wind and when overtaking at speeds up to 85 I was worrying about being sucked under a lorry I genuinly had tears in my eyes. I'm sure if the wife wasnt on the back I would have been blown into something. When I pulled off at Herne Bay I couldnt feel my right hand where I had been holding on so tight.

This is the first time I've taken my Kawasaki on the Motorway, usually go through the A/B roads and speed has never been an issue but today was just nasty with strong wind and my body acting as a sail. Certainly 30ish miles was enough for me. Any tips? Can you get a screen for a GT550? dont think I've seen one for a square headlight?

Probobly best advice is going to be avoid motorways, but occasionally its the best way, so how do other naked bike riders do it?
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Rides: Honda H100a (Retired), VT500e (Sold), Kawasaki ZX400 (sold), Kawasaki GT550 (Sold), Suzuki Inazuma (Daily), Honda CD185t (Broken), LML Star 2t (Last run edition).

[WannaBeDude]

Tldr

But I heard sticking your knee out into the wind can help ... I tried it and it does
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Jogging on, destination living.

[J.M.]

Stop holding on so tight, it only makes it worse. Seriously. In the wind, loose is best. As cov says, knees do help.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Slacker24seve...]

On my Hornet I found there was a 'pocket' of slightly less turbulent air to park my head. Knees (well said Covdude, you do come out with a pearl of wisdom every fortnight or so) and staying relaxed are important.

Good earplugs help A LOT in my experience, it makes everything seem a lot calmer and less stressful.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Piercee100]

I'll try the knees thing, maybe it would work. It wasnt really an issue with wind around the face, although I will look into ear plugs. This was more that my chest and stomache was acting like a giant sail trying to push me off the bike.

I did have to loosen my grip a few times and relax but then every now and again their would be a huge sidewind that would have me grabbing for me life!

I'll go out and have a play again tomorrow on my own. Possibly the wife was behind me doing a superman with her coat lol.

Thanks for the tips
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Rides: Honda H100a (Retired), VT500e (Sold), Kawasaki ZX400 (sold), Kawasaki GT550 (Sold), Suzuki Inazuma (Daily), Honda CD185t (Broken), LML Star 2t (Last run edition).

[J.M.]

Lean in to the wind as well, carefully. I've been riding and had to lean the bike before for a sidewind.

For the chest and stomach, I'm presuming you mean wind from the front? That's going to happen with any real speed on a naked bike. Your best option for that is to fit a windscreen which deflects the wind away from your body.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Srengam]

I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago, I couldn't believe the wind at 70mph on a motorway, and was only comfortable at 60mph at first.

Once I took the plunge and started using earplugs, everything became much more relaxed, a lot of the wind pressure was "imagined" because of the noise it made, so 70mph was actually fine then.

Then I changed my kevlar suit which I borrowed for my own first leathers, and everything became even easier as they also helped. I'm comfortable at 80mph now, and I'll patiently wait for experience to get me faster now.

But certainly, don't delay getting decent ear plugs.

[Slacker24seve...]

[Kwaks]

There are people who ride without earplugs? Seriously? Thought that was just cyclists
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[J.M.]

[Slacker24seve...]

Pardon?

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sW65ilskOC8/TPGTTg0GIbI/AAAAAAAAiOA/IVdm1FSJf-k/s1600/EarTrumpet.jpg
____________________
Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Going]

More like

https://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsL/10273-24484.jpg

[snikks]

[nighthawk250]

I use a 4 point fixing Givi Screen on my bikes, they take the wind blast away from your body, you set them up so that they are level height with your nose and about 11'' away from it, your head should be then in relative still air, you will still get blown about on the bike, no answer to that, just relax and get through the lorry bow waves as best you can, the further you can away from the lorry the better, ie. if its in lane 1, go into lane 3.

[Kwaks]

I'm not a fat bastard, this means I can comfortably lie on the tank of a zx6r b1 and look through the standard windshield. also helps with a cross wind as you reduce the blast. If you cannot create a seal with your tank and belly, maybe its time for a much heavier bike made in the us or copied by the japs
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[Rogue_Shadow]

Ear plugs really make that much difference?
My little YBR is only comfortable at 65mph, but I've had little or no problems with wind resistance. Although I tend to keep off the dual carriageways, I guess I can't fairly comment

[herulach]

how many posts and not one MTFU? This place is going downhill....

Seriously though, you get used to it, it feels a bit weird at first, but then its fine.

Also, if you're close enough behind a lorry to get turbulence from it you're too close and should have been out overtaking a good while previous, same thing goes for anything bigger than an estate tbh - you will get buffetted by them if you sit up people's chuff.
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YBR 125>FZS600

[J.M.]

[herulach]

[quote="J.M."]

And sitting close behind them gives you turbulence? Erm, no! When I'm lazy on the motorway and it's raining and cold, I will voluntarily sit behind a lorry sometimes rather close, just to take the wind pressure off myself for a while.[/quote

Alright then, if you're sitting close enough to get urbulence you're too close, and if you're close enough to get no turbulence you're far too close!
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YBR 125>FZS600

[J.M.]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Slacker24seve...]

[J.M.]

[Going]

It will be the initial breaking that will get you, unless you've got razer sharp reactions. Or the dear, tyre, or other crap it just goes over. Then there are the stones the wheels flick up, This will just depend on where you are in relation to the wheels.

All this just to hide from that nasty bully the wind. (Maybe you need to if your on a small bike)

[EazyDuz]