A very windy ride home yesterday

JeffM · September 30th, 2009, 01:05 PM

Utah weather

. Yesterday it was 85 and today it is 45 and there is snow on the moutnains. Time to put the liners in my riding gear. Anyway, back to the wind:

On my ride home the wind was 25 gusting to 45+ and I experienced some strange bike behavour. I was riding down-wind then turning left on a 40mph sweeper and a big gust hit me while leaned over. I swear both tires slid a foot to the outside of the turn. I'm not sure what the dynamics were but I didn't have any time to adjust.

On the rest of the ride I was cross-wind most of the time. Some of the gusts would blow me 1/2 a lane over. I finally moved into the right lane into the relative shelter of the houses on the side of the road. Going into the wind at 35 felt like 85 on the freeway with a ton of buffeting.

I now know that keeping relaxed in those conditions goes a long way to keep the bike stable. Tensing up would have been bad.

A question for some of the more experienced riders: Should one slow down in these contitions or continue at normal speeds?

Jeff

Scott1620 · September 30th, 2009, 01:13 PM

Yea, I hear you, in Delaware yesterday it was really windy as well. I was getting blown around pretty good. One gust did feel like the front end moved over but maybe the wind leaned the bike, not sure...

Im no expert but I think going normal speed and not slowing down too much keeps the bike more stable...

tjkamper · September 30th, 2009, 01:14 PM

From my experience I have learned that it is always a good idea to reduce speed in any type of adverse condition. I always slow if there are really high winds. Slowing gives me more time to correct and that is crucial.

I'm sure it can be debated that going faster will make the bike more stable, but when those big gusts come and blow you out of your lane, you have less distance to correct before you hit something. thats my

istreefitty · September 30th, 2009, 01:18 PM

yea man the other day I was coming home from lunch and it began the typical hawaiian "snow" rain (it literally drifts like snow in the wind), but then the wind picked up and so did the rain. Needless to say I was slipping all over the place and it scared the S**T out of me. I will never ride on the highway in the rain ever again!!!

JeffM · September 30th, 2009, 01:21 PM

I could only imagine what it would have been like with the high winds and rain-slick roads

Laundry time!!!!!

backinthesaddleagain · September 30th, 2009, 01:36 PM

whacked by winds this week in rhode island.

Alex · September 30th, 2009, 01:47 PM

Some decent related info in this thread.

JeffM · September 30th, 2009, 03:01 PM

Thanks Alex, good information there.

Verus Cidere · September 30th, 2009, 04:36 PM

I thought this kind of thing was normal! It happens in NM all the time (minus the rain part).

September 30th, 2009, 01:05 PM	#1
JeffM Mr. 988 Name: Jeff Location: Sandy, Utah Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): One Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	A very windy ride home yesterday Utah weather . Yesterday it was 85 and today it is 45 and there is snow on the moutnains. Time to put the liners in my riding gear. Anyway, back to the wind: On my ride home the wind was 25 gusting to 45+ and I experienced some strange bike behavour. I was riding down-wind then turning left on a 40mph sweeper and a big gust hit me while leaned over. I swear both tires slid a foot to the outside of the turn. I'm not sure what the dynamics were but I didn't have any time to adjust. On the rest of the ride I was cross-wind most of the time. Some of the gusts would blow me 1/2 a lane over. I finally moved into the right lane into the relative shelter of the houses on the side of the road. Going into the wind at 35 felt like 85 on the freeway with a ton of buffeting. I now know that keeping relaxed in those conditions goes a long way to keep the bike stable. Tensing up would have been bad. A question for some of the more experienced riders: Should one slow down in these contitions or continue at normal speeds? Jeff

September 30th, 2009, 01:14 PM	#3
tjkamper ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Travis Location: Warwick, RI Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	From my experience I have learned that it is always a good idea to reduce speed in any type of adverse condition. I always slow if there are really high winds. Slowing gives me more time to correct and that is crucial. I'm sure it can be debated that going faster will make the bike more stable, but when those big gusts come and blow you out of your lane, you have less distance to correct before you hit something. thats my __________________________________________________ Addicted to anything that has an engine and rolls.

September 30th, 2009, 01:18 PM	#4
istreefitty sir posts a lot Name: michael Location: HI Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Black 250R Posts: 267	yea man the other day I was coming home from lunch and it began the typical hawaiian "snow" rain (it literally drifts like snow in the wind), but then the wind picked up and so did the rain. Needless to say I was slipping all over the place and it scared the S**T out of me. I will never ride on the highway in the rain ever again!!! __________________________________________________ A girl walks into a bar and orders a "double entendre" So the bartender gave it to her "once you go black, you never go back."

September 30th, 2009, 01:47 PM	#7
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Some decent related info in this thread. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 30th, 2009, 04:36 PM	#9
Verus Cidere ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Michael Location: Southern NM Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '91 Honda CBR600 F2 Posts: A lot.	I thought this kind of thing was normal! It happens in NM all the time (minus the rain part). __________________________________________________ 1991 Honda CBR600 F2, White/Gray, D&D slip-on exhaust, tail integrator, gel grips, Custom undertail.

September 30th, 2009, 01:13 PM	#2
Scott1620 ninjette.org member Name: Scott Location: Delaware Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r(sold), 2007 650R (sold), 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 199	Yea, I hear you, in Delaware yesterday it was really windy as well. I was getting blown around pretty good. One gust did feel like the front end moved over but maybe the wind leaned the bike, not sure... Im no expert but I think going normal speed and not slowing down too much keeps the bike more stable...

September 30th, 2009, 01:21 PM	#5
JeffM Mr. 988 Name: Jeff Location: Sandy, Utah Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): One Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	I could only imagine what it would have been like with the high winds and rain-slick roads Laundry time!!!!!

September 30th, 2009, 01:36 PM	#6
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	whacked by winds this week in rhode island.

September 30th, 2009, 03:01 PM	#8
JeffM Mr. 988 Name: Jeff Location: Sandy, Utah Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): One Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Thanks Alex, good information there.

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