Motorway Headwinds

[MonkReadusuk]

Hiya,
I have been riding my 95' Unfaired bandit 600, restricted on the M25 lately, and when i hit 60mph+ I get battered about extremely by the wind. Yet I see sports bikes belting past me at 100mph+ sometimes, and they look so relaxed. I struggle to keep upright, the bike is all over the place and is really uncomfortable. Any ideas how I can solve this? Should I look for a new bike? Maybe a faired one. Btw, I have a fly screen fitted on the front, helps a bit.
Thanks in advance!
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-Monk-

[Inspire]

Don't go on the motorways! I have a 600 Hornet and have the same problem! Find some nice A or B roads for your journey. It may take longer but will be more interesting!


Rob

[0ni]

The fairing on bikes protects more than just your face, with a sports bike you are tucked behind the tank, screen, nose and side fairings. Last week when I done 150 for the first time (on a private road... the M8) I was tucked right in, then stuck my head up just for a laugh. Not only was it a tad uncomfortable it also had a rather immediate affect on my speed.

Before switching bikes maybe you could try a larger screen and maybe a gym membership for some arm and neck excercise
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[Ric]

when i go fast on motorways its hard neck work unless ur really tucked, jus comes down to weather u wanna tuck which i find harder to ride or take some brunt of the wind

i usually half tuck keeps u warmer a bit too

as for unfaired could see that as a nightmare

[Suzuki]

Get a faired bike.

Over 60mph on the motorway, and you're in your own little air bubble of calm air. Bizarrely, it seems to keep me warm too.
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Ride: 1999 Suzuki GSXR600 (yellow/black) IRC: Stats - Relationship Map

[LustyLew]

Whats the matter with you ya big wuss? I can do 80-90 on a restricted ER5 and not have many problems with wind. I'm more worried about cross-winds and getting in the way of faster bikes.
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Like a Yorkie - I'm not for the girls

[Synnister1]

Get the Half fairing for your bike with a double bubble screen, that will sort it.

I had a lot of wind noise/head buffeting on my ZX12 with the standard screen at speeds over 140mph, the double bubble screen sorted it. Can cruise along at 170mph no problem now.

Bear in mind the wind hitting your body takes the weight off your arms too. Im glad to get up some speed at times just because of this. Th 12 dont like being in town
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Neal B
https://www.nealsbikepage.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

[Kickstart]

Hi

You get used to it. Lean forward and avoid pulling on the bars. Wear ear plugs (psychologically it makes it easier to go fast).

My unfaired 1200 Bandit can be comfortably cruised at around 100.

Given time your neck muscles will build up.

All the best

Keith
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[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Id agree with Kickstart here about getting used to it.

Even only riding a 125 on dual carriageways (one of which has very strong winds due to the surrounding area) you get used to what is going to happen. You will sit naturally into a slightly crouched position and start to automatically feel when a gust of wind is about to try and take your hand away so you can counteract that.

On a faired bike (from my experience of half-faired) the wind can get annoying in places. Ie ruffling certain parts of your body, mailny elbows, shoulders head/neck. On an unfaired bike the wind is fairly constantly pressured around so I prefer that.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[Method]

Also going with Keith...

I ride a restricted, unfaired GS500e... I remember the first time i took it out i went up onto the parkway around Peterborough and over 50mph it felt like the front was too light compared to my NSR and felt realy unstable... Im now happily cruising 80-90mph with a pillion on the back... you do get used to it and its realy not that bad! Just take it easy untill you get used to it... I had a huuuuuge fly screen originally but found that the wind hitting it, actually made the bars flap about more , so i have now removed that and just lean forward a little bit and hold on less to the bars... relax and youll be fine.

If your sitting straight up at 50mph your going to get blown, if your crouched over a little and accelerating, your actually cutting through the wind which makes it soo much easier!

Also i find my bike handles a bit better with the extra weight of a pillion... so go find a loyal victim! *i mean passenger
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[tatters]

[Visitor Q]

Must admit little bikes feel faster then 'big' bikes to me, as a combination of the bigger lazier engine, and also the fact you get no air blast.

On meine Cbr these days (or when it worked rather) i could get to about 130 in a semi normal riding crouch, but to comfortably smack the 150 i had to positively wedge myself on the tank as the neck just hurts too damn much otherwise.

Keep an eye on egay for cheap oddments, i bought a unused smoked black double bubble for the cbr for 15 quid... should complement the new can quite nicely.
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[MikeyC]

I hate riding on motorways! Anything above 70mph (not that I ever do that ) and it feels like i'm holding on for dear life!! Especially hate motorways when theres traffic

[stinkwheel]

I will happily sit and cruise on a motorway for many miles sat bolt upright on a supermoto at 85mph. And that is spread out on 36" handlebars.

Not that I am calling you a shandy puff or anything, they don't call the Bandit a 'muscle bike' for nothing

You could always try fitting some drag bars to give you more to hang on to.
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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.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[0ni]

If there is no traffic on the motorway then what is there to overtake? It was quite funny to do a (god forbid I never watched the whole film) torque style overtake between 2 cars at speed Theres way more room than you think there is. Hell theres enough room to overtake between lane 3 and the armco if you've got the melons for it!
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[0ni]

I did it when the car went to move out the road into middle lane, another car cut him up just as I had commited, either slam on the anchors or go pass him.

The only thing about it is that there is some amount of shit that gets thrown into that region, stones etc, not the most stable of surfaces.
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[.....]

Without a fairing there's not much you can do really.

Also I've found that at a certain distance behind cars, maybe a bout 10 metres or so, you can get in their "dirty air" and get a proper buffeting. So stay out of that.

[0ni]

[numark1]

Not alot to do really. Thankfully i have a faired bike and just bought a DB screen.

[Kickstart]

[Visitor Q]

[X11]

80 mph feels like cruising on the X11, and I've only got a fly screen. It gets a bit scary above 130 though.

[Liverpoolrobb...]

ive got a ped and on dual carridge ways @ 70mph the fucking thing shakes like fuck but the winds aint to bad! only 1 i know thats a dual carridge way that i carnt get even over 50mph due to side frigging winds!