Riding in High Winds

[InquisitionCh...]

Yeh.... Dont do it.

I had a long journey last weekend. about 260 miles. And in the tail end of hurricane bertha I opted to wait an extra day before I attempted the ride home. Even still, strong cross winds and gusts that nearly had me off, I now see in hindsight it was a silly idea to even think of riding at all.

My bike is quite small and very light so I had no resistance whatsoever! Some points I was leaning about 45 degrees into the wind on the side along the straights. It was utterly terrifying for a relatively new biker like me.

So, word of advice kids..... Dont be a spanner like me and ride in high winds unless you are an experienced biker
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Currently Riding: CBR125-R7 (and having too much fun doing it) + Kawasaki Z750 (She's called Clementine for a reason!)

[doggone]

Bigger bikes are affected less, but it can still become very risky.
Larger vehicles will briefly shield you and it's hard to avoid swerving towards them.

[Clanger]

Very windy is generally THE weather I avoid. I hate it, I regularly get picked up and dumped where the wind wants me... *shudders*

I am an experienced biker.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Skudd]

you only get experienced by riding in it. Slow down and lean in to it, see the signs for when the wind or wind protection changes. It can be dangerous, but so can a lot of things.
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[dydey90]

I was feeling quite pensive listening to the wind last night, but I was fine this morning going from Leeds to Nottingham, provided I kept it under 90. Which, of course, I always do.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[doggone]

Strong winds are normal over the moors here but at least traffic is light.
There's a huge difference between my heavy and low BT1100 and the lightweight CRF250 - that feels like the wheels are going to blow out from under you when it's gusting to 50mph like today.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Grip tank with knees yet keep grip on bars to a minimum.

Scan for gaps between buildings, hedges, hgv etc. then use the grip tank technique.
Expect windblown debris.

There are no advanced techniques.
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[raesewell]

I have ridden 2 up with luggage from Brugge to Amtserdam in 50 MPH crosswinds and as you say it can get a bit scary. All you can do is lean into the wind, the trouble comes when the wind suddenly changes direction. I'm sure it's made you a better rider
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[InquisitionCh...]

I can only dream of a bigger bike

Come September its game on for my DAS
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Currently Riding: CBR125-R7 (and having too much fun doing it) + Kawasaki Z750 (She's called Clementine for a reason!)

[mailee]

yes riding over the Humber bridge on Saturday was an experience. luckily my bike is a heavy bu**err!

[Pigeon]

Not very scientific, but in my very limited experience I find having a bikini fairing is a definite disadvantage in the wind. It seems to exaggerate the gusts quite dramatically compared to naked bikes. Can only begin to imagine what it's like on a fully faired bike

[MetalTrack]

I remember that riding my ST1100 across a windswept Severn Bridge was a bit hairy last year.

I found that being relaxed and letting my body move with the wind helped. Instead of transferring the gusts against my body to the bike, some of the wind was taken up by me moving.

Something else to try is pointing the knee nearest the windward side into the wind. Keep it relaxed. Let it move about a bit with the wind.
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@MetalTrack
Varadero 1000, ST1100, and some others needing TLC.

[Vracktal]

I like riding in crosswinds, the KLE is huge but fairly lightweight so it blows around a lot and I can pretend i'm on a sailing boat.
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2007 BMW R1200R: On road
2009 BMW G650X Challenge: On road
1975 Norton Commando 850: Off road, awaiting recommissioning

[talkToTheHat]

As long as you keep a loose grip on the bars it's ok. The more you fight the bike in the wind the more problems you'll have.

Look ahead for stationary or slow traffic and make yorurself a big gap so you can take tight exposed corners smoothly. Going down the a629 into denholme was horrible in crawling traffic.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[thx1138]

sometimes with a head wind I'll ride in the inside lane and tuck in the gap behind a big truck, rarely is a head wind though

[talkToTheHat]

It it sensible to ride there? you can't see, and you can't be seen
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Bandit. does. everything.

[thx1138]

Well, 2 second gap, big truck, I can see his mirrors, if he uses them he can see me, still blocks the wind, but only a head wind

[Barnoe]

What you wear and how big you are makes a difference too.
I'm 6'4" and over 17st, my body acts like a sail or parachute lol

Close fitting windproof clothes are best, like all in one leather suits.
Padded textile jackets and pants are the worst!

The only other sensible thing to do is slow down, and if you know the area, re route away from open roads.

[talkToTheHat]

Agreement. My textile 2-piece is uncomfortable at motorway speeds without any additional wind and I got used to the point of discomfort being when I needed to stop accelerating. Then I got a leather 2-piece and had to pay attention to the speedo needle again. Much better on windy days though.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[chickenstrip]

We got hit hard on the Severn Bridge on the Wales camping trip. I've ridden in high winds before, but that first exposure on the bridge was nasty; tried to rip us first one way, then the other. It was a bit easier further along, as it seemed to steady from one side, but still leaned well over just to go straight on. It didn't help to have the camping kit piled high on the back, just more surface area for the wind to get a hold of.
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[Flatbadger]

I've done fine with the raincoat and loose grip techniques, but find putting a knee into the wind a help too. It seems to create an opposing force, maybe a low pressure spot on the windy side?
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If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS

[stinkwheel]

As has been said here. Most important is not to death-grip the bars. Do the funky chicken with your elbows occasionally to keep your arms loose and responsive.

As Flatbadger says, knees as airbrakes do actually seem to work, although I wonder if it's more centre of gravity.

Try sitting further forward on the saddle if the wind is coming from ahead, the bike will act like a weather cock and the wind will stabilise you slightly.

If the wind is constant from the side, hand a bum cheek off one side of the saddle to counter it.

Weighting the footpegs can help crab the bike sideways without adding more lean.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[monkeybiker]

[Rogerborg]

[thx1138]

A66 was blowy today, me no like.