First "long" freeway ride, and it was a windy day

xorbe · April 5th, 2014, 07:02 PM

Only a 40 mi trip, but gusty side winds + minor elevation changes + grooved concrete freeway + curves = bike all over the place! Man that's hard work (but I crossed the 1000 mile mark!) Made me nervous as hell. Felt like the wind was going to rip my helmet straight up and off my head! Is that due to the small wind screen directing the air above my chest and towards my head??

Motofool · April 5th, 2014, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xorbe

Only a 40 mi trip, but gusty side winds + minor elevation changes + grooved concrete freeway + curves = bike all over the place! Man that's hard work (but I crossed the 1000 mile mark!) Made me nervous as hell...........

You are brave !!!

NevadaWolf · April 5th, 2014, 07:47 PM

Once I went riding into a very strong wind and had that same feeling of my helmet getting ripped off my head.

Found that though the strap was tight on my chin, the helmet was still loose enough to pull. Since then I have been pulling it tight, then giving it another tug. Not to the point of choking but so you have no doubt that the strap is against your chin. Haven't had the issue since.

dcj13 · April 5th, 2014, 07:54 PM

Good work, Jay! I remember the first time on a freeway, thinking pretty much the same thing. I also remember the first time on grooved pavement on the bike.

Well done! Pretty soon, it'll be second nature.

Finesse · April 5th, 2014, 08:37 PM

woooohooo brave indeed!! grooved pavement scared the crap out of me when I first encountered it.

I passed my 2000 mile mark today! and it was really windy here too. I rode 20 mins on the straight freeway and was okay, but on the way home I got back onto the freeway and the wind was blowing me sideways so hard that I immediately got off at the first exit. I had to really lean hard into the wind to stay in my lane and upright. sometimes if you're brave you can power through it and sometimes the little voice in your head tells you to stop it right now

I kind of like the chaos that the wind creates though. noise everywhere and constant corrections of the bike and still looking around for potential hazards and still navigating through traffic... I like the demand it puts on my mind to concentrate at 100%

Sirref · April 5th, 2014, 08:51 PM

one of my worst experiences on a motorcycle was last winter with the roads salted to hell and crazy cross winds. Instead of the normal wind pushing you from the top the wind pushed me from the bottom as the tire slipped and I had to steer with it :/

Normal wind you get used to pretty quickly, steering into it becomes second nature, but congrats on the first try

I had to ride freeway a lot earlier than that and it was pretty stressful at first.

tfkrocks · April 6th, 2014, 02:42 AM

Where in the Bay are you? I remember when there were times it felt really scary for me as a new rider because of high winds, but those same windy situations don't feel like much anymore. Make sure you're staying loose; tensing up from being nervous or scared will only make things worse. Tucking also helps a lot on windy days. I still dislike grooved pavement no matter the weather though lol.

GearMonkey · April 6th, 2014, 07:59 AM

Stay relaxed, stay calm, and tuck. I always tuck when passing trucks. They displace a lot of air. Also, try to avoid riding close behind semis because they cause strong wind buffeting (wake turbulence) not to mention reducing your visibility. I like to stay at least 4-5 car lengths behind, or get it and get out from behind quickly

Whiskey · April 6th, 2014, 08:48 AM

As above, stay loose on the bars, the bike will track it's own path on the grooves, unless it's sending you into another lane you should be ok.

Tuck & consider a double bubble screen to send the wind higher

redbike2 · April 10th, 2014, 07:13 PM

like they all say

stay relaxed and loose - soon it will feel completely natural in high winds.

the ninjette 250 sits down well

i once rode a honda cbr 250 in windy conditions. it does not sit down so well and feels underpowered in such conditions. the ninjette is really a much better bike.

have fun, be safe

xorbe · May 22nd, 2014, 09:26 PM

Yes, over at ninja300 forum, I reported my hands were getting very sore / stiff painful. Posters quickly identified that I was a death grip rider lol. It was like learning to ride all over again, staying loose on the bars. All my hand pain went away though.

Worldtraveller · May 23rd, 2014, 07:27 AM

You'll get used to the wind.

This beast, while tons of fun, and extremely comfortable (I rode KS to WA once) was a PITA on a strong crosswind. Grooved pavement never stops sucking, though.

April 5th, 2014, 07:02 PM	#1
xorbe ninjette.org guru Name: xorbe Location: Bay Area, CA Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): N650 (and others) Posts: 408	First "long" freeway ride, and it was a windy day Only a 40 mi trip, but gusty side winds + minor elevation changes + grooved concrete freeway + curves = bike all over the place! Man that's hard work (but I crossed the 1000 mile mark!) Made me nervous as hell. Felt like the wind was going to rip my helmet straight up and off my head! Is that due to the small wind screen directing the air above my chest and towards my head??

April 5th, 2014, 07:47 PM	#3
NevadaWolf Certified looney toon Name: Teri Location: 39°52'40.7"N 118°23'53.8"W (Northern NV) Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 102k+ miles -- 2014 CB500X, 42k+ miles Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 16 MOTM Jul '13, Jul '14	Once I went riding into a very strong wind and had that same feeling of my helmet getting ripped off my head. Found that though the strap was tight on my chin, the helmet was still loose enough to pull. Since then I have been pulling it tight, then giving it another tug. Not to the point of choking but so you have no doubt that the strap is against your chin. Haven't had the issue since. __________________________________________________ <-- Linky Hey Unregistered! The code [you] shows the username currently logged in. IBA # 56020 AMA # 521481 Fun Rides! ][ My Videos ][ My Gear Hold yourself to the same rules you expect others to follow.

April 6th, 2014, 07:59 AM	#8
GearMonkey ninjette.org guru Name: Scott Location: Atlanta Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 363	Stay relaxed, stay calm, and tuck. I always tuck when passing trucks. They displace a lot of air. Also, try to avoid riding close behind semis because they cause strong wind buffeting (wake turbulence) not to mention reducing your visibility. I like to stay at least 4-5 car lengths behind, or get it and get out from behind quickly Last futzed with by GearMonkey; April 11th, 2014 at 08:39 PM.

April 10th, 2014, 07:13 PM	#10
redbike2 ninjette.org member Name: Jonathan Location: Boston Join Date: Mar 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 250 Posts: 48	stay loose, relax like they all say stay relaxed and loose - soon it will feel completely natural in high winds. the ninjette 250 sits down well i once rode a honda cbr 250 in windy conditions. it does not sit down so well and feels underpowered in such conditions. the ninjette is really a much better bike. have fun, be safe

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April 5th, 2014, 07:54 PM	#4
dcj13 Participant Name: Dave Location: South of Seattle Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): '94 K75 std Posts: Too much. MOTM - Aug '15	Good work, Jay! I remember the first time on a freeway, thinking pretty much the same thing. I also remember the first time on grooved pavement on the bike. Well done! Pretty soon, it'll be second nature.

April 5th, 2014, 08:37 PM	#5
Finesse ran when parked Name: Katie Location: DC/MD Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14	woooohooo brave indeed!! grooved pavement scared the crap out of me when I first encountered it. I passed my 2000 mile mark today! and it was really windy here too. I rode 20 mins on the straight freeway and was okay, but on the way home I got back onto the freeway and the wind was blowing me sideways so hard that I immediately got off at the first exit. I had to really lean hard into the wind to stay in my lane and upright. sometimes if you're brave you can power through it and sometimes the little voice in your head tells you to stop it right now I kind of like the chaos that the wind creates though. noise everywhere and constant corrections of the bike and still looking around for potential hazards and still navigating through traffic... I like the demand it puts on my mind to concentrate at 100%

April 5th, 2014, 08:51 PM	#6
Sirref Private Joker Name: Ben Location: Towson, MD Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '14	one of my worst experiences on a motorcycle was last winter with the roads salted to hell and crazy cross winds. Instead of the normal wind pushing you from the top the wind pushed me from the bottom as the tire slipped and I had to steer with it :/ Normal wind you get used to pretty quickly, steering into it becomes second nature, but congrats on the first try I had to ride freeway a lot earlier than that and it was pretty stressful at first.

April 6th, 2014, 02:42 AM	#7
tfkrocks ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rebecca Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 w/ ABS, 2014 NC700X, 2008 Ninja 250 (sold), 2002 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '18, Sep '13	Where in the Bay are you? I remember when there were times it felt really scary for me as a new rider because of high winds, but those same windy situations don't feel like much anymore. Make sure you're staying loose; tensing up from being nervous or scared will only make things worse. Tucking also helps a lot on windy days. I still dislike grooved pavement no matter the weather though lol.

April 6th, 2014, 08:48 AM	#9
Whiskey ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Morgan Location: A city twinned with Kawasaki Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250, 2010 STR 675 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	As above, stay loose on the bars, the bike will track it's own path on the grooves, unless it's sending you into another lane you should be ok. Tuck & consider a double bubble screen to send the wind higher

May 22nd, 2014, 09:26 PM	#11
xorbe ninjette.org guru Name: xorbe Location: Bay Area, CA Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): N650 (and others) Posts: 408	Yes, over at ninja300 forum, I reported my hands were getting very sore / stiff painful. Posters quickly identified that I was a death grip rider lol. It was like learning to ride all over again, staying loose on the bars. All my hand pain went away though.

May 23rd, 2014, 07:27 AM	#12
Worldtraveller ninjette.org sage Name: Lane Location: Medford, OR Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 (trackbike), CBR600RR, GS500F Posts: 588	You'll get used to the wind. This beast, while tons of fun, and extremely comfortable (I rode KS to WA once) was a PITA on a strong crosswind. Grooved pavement never stops sucking, though.