Wind, I hate you

[stretch]

So, I'm sure everyone is still completely glued to CaliGuy's latest thread outlining his most recent adventure. ( I can't stop reading it and may require an intervention)

But seriously, about this wind. I'm riding home today on 29 South and the wind is Gusting from the west (that's Gusting with a capital G). I am in the right lane trying my best to look calm, when one of the aforementioned Gusts MOVES me into the left lane. I rebound and make my way back over to my new best friend; the right hand lane. The rest of the ride home, I go through a series of these push and shove matches with this bastard wind.

Here was my riding position: Body low, legs tight, arms (trying to be) relaxed. For some reason, I felt better with higher RPM. For the most part, I was leaning at an angle way right while riding in a straight line...crazy.

So, does anyone have any additional advice for the grasshopper? Is this the SOP for crazy assed wind? Anything helps.

[katwoman]

Originally posted by stretch
For some reason, I felt better with higher RPM.

I'm curious, does this actually help? Or is the feeler better at higher RPM thing just psychological? I also feel safer for some reason doing this on windy days.

[stretch]

I think it just makes me imagine that I've got more power to the ground.

Mythbusters, please advise.

[flying_hun]

Relax, relax, relax. How's this for counterintuitive? I often ride with only one hand when it's really gusting. No, it's not showing off. When the wind hits the combined bike and rider, the rider's torso and head get pushed around just like the bike does. If you deal with those forces through your arms instead of your legs and core, you're going to be applying unintentional forces to the steering of the bike, leading it to leap around on you. The trick is not in the one handed riding, it's in using your core strength in your abdomen, lower back, and legs to steady your upper body rather than using your arms. If you've only got one hand on the bars, you've got no choice.

All the usual warnings, caveats, qualifiers, non-qualifiers, non sequitors, etc. apply. YMMV.

As for the higher RPM, I'll ask my wife. She's the scientist in the family. My guess is that with the higher RPM, that you have several gyros, crank, cam(s), transmission input shaft, all spinning faster, making the moto more resistant to changing direction. That's my hypothesis anyway.

[stretch]

I don't know if I'm ready for this one handed jazz, but I'm going to try and relax more. In lighter wind, I'm very good about just letting my body move with the wind, rather then against it. My lower body controls the bike while my shoulders, arms and head are just kind of along for the ride.

The wind today: this wind is where kites go to become men. I was so rigid, definately fighting it more then embracing it.

All the "usual warnings" have been noted:teeth

[flying_hun]

Oh yeah, drop a shoulder toward the wind to lower your profile too.

[RhythmRider]

Get small. You want to minimize your wind resistance by minimizing the amount of surface area that the wind is pushing on. The SV650s has an upper fairing you can hide behind. Just get your shoulders low and tuck yourself in against the gas tank. It won't take away all the effects of the wind, but it'll help you keep from getting blown to the sides.

[CaseyC]

Originally posted by flying_hun
I often ride with only one hand when it's really gusting.

Even though you'll be forced to use your lower body to hold the bike, won't riding with one hand mean sitting more upright and hence increase the surface area for the wind? I have noticed in high Gust wind areas, the lower my body is (i.e. leaning forward) on the bike, the better control I have. It's like 'spearing' through the gusts.

I hate high wind conditions - worst I've felt on have been on the Dumbarton Bridge - simply crazy wind gusts and one doesn't know where/when the next one is going to come from.

Possible ways to avoid high wind conditions -
1. Gear must be snug fitting and not loose. Flapping gear or over-sized jacket can cause problems.
2. Gusts will definitely move the bike over. So grip those bars with both hands to be ready to lean in the direction of the gust anytime.
3. Ride low with the bike. I tuck my elbows in a bit sometimes to avoid gusts of air from entering the area between my chest and the bike.

[aszreal1266]

80 near fairfield gets insane at times. Like every says I just try to keep a relaxed grip get as low to the bike as I can. Higher speeds does make it feel better. As said before I think it feels better because of the extra gyros created make the bike harder to turn.

[stretch]

aszreal, that avatar is going to give me nightmares.

Thanks everyone for helping me hash out this wind stuff.

[DataDan]

Just a bit of elaboration on the "relax" advice, which is the secret to riding comfortably in a crosswind...

The motorcycle wants to continue in a straight line. When hit by a cross gust, steering geometry causes the bike to lean into the wind. This helps by counteracting the force trying to blow the bike over and push the bike downwind. By relaxing your grip on the bars, you allow this to happen as it is should. A death grip interferes with the wind-induced steering reactions that keep the bike pointed straight.

One situation in which more active control is required is when you're exposed to a sudden gust, such as emerging from an underpass or passing a large building close to the road that blocks the crosswind. The motorcycle will eventually react correctly, but you may need to help it a bit with pressure on the upwind bar--wind from the right, push right.

I don't worry about my profile. I maintain normal posture, but I do grip the tank a bit tighter with my knees to make sure my arms relax.

This approach has worked for me, even in the most severe wind in recent memory, last year crossing the Salinas Valley west-to-east with a very strong wind out of the north. To make matters worse, I was on an ST1100, with vast sail area to push around. The bike was leaned way over but still kept on its own side of the road.

edit: Leaning the bike way over into the wind can be unsettling if you're not used to it. As you should be doing when leaning into a turn, tilt your head to keep the horizon horizontal. Also, keep your head up and your visual focal point far ahead. This helps to alleviate "lean angle anxiety".

[Grunz]

Heh, wind is quite powerful.

Just the other day as I split between some cars and came out ahead of them into the clear a gust of crosswind wind hits me pretty hard on the left side wanting to shove my bike into the right lane - I caught it fast enough by steering to the left buy boy was it interesting.

On the other hand definitely relax as best as you can when riding in a constant wind and let the bike lean to balance itself against the wind. I do think It also helps to tuck down a bit (as far as it is comfortable) to reduce your side area.

Keep safe..

[Razel]

Last couple of weeks I was going to, riding around in, or leaving Texas. Open plains. Winds that are constant or gusty, which ever you don't want. Even one thunderstorm with rain straight down and hail coming from the right (or so it seemed).
What I noticed was the bike would immediately lean into the wind, gust or steady. Problem was the bike would also want to turn (which makes sense, as leaning the bike will help it turn). Gusts: I sat on the bike normally and let it lean as needed. This means you have to be light on the bars, because they move with the lean. Some gusts caused it to really lean, and quickly (Surprise!!!). As long as I let the bike do that, it tracked pretty straight on a two-lane road (naturally, with oncoming traffic)
Steady wind: My back started hurting at times because of the constant push/pull on the bars. Noticed that the bike was leaning, and would turn (pull to the left, or pull to the right). Put one butt cheek over to the edge of the seat, and just moved my upper body slightly away from the wind until I could let go of the bars and the bike was tracking straight. Usually, though, by the time I got the right position, the damn road would curve slightly and I'd have to adjust all over again. Got to love tailwinds...but if I got the body position right in the steady wind, my back stopped hurting immedately.
Relaxed is the way to go, for certain.

[aszreal1266]

Originally posted by stretch
aszreal, that avatar is going to give me nightmares.

Thanks everyone for helping me hash out this wind stuff.

Glad I could help :thumbup
With practice and experince the wind isn't as bad. There are places where it gets really gusty but for the most part you get use to it after a while.

[stretch]

Originally posted by aszreal1266
Glad I could help :thumbup
With practice and experince the wind isn't as bad. There are places where it gets really gusty but for the most part you get use to it after a while.

yeah, but it sure does turn a country road with perfect asphalt into one bastard of a ride.

Oh well, puts hair on my chest. Er..I mean, puts a notch in my belt.

[Squidly McSmearstain]

I had HUGE wind anxiety last year. Commuting every day over the San Mateo bridge with a mean cross wind on the high rise section cured me of the anxiety. I can't say I like it, but it doesn't cause me to get nervous.

All the advice here is spot on. The hard part is implementing it. If the wind is pushing you into another lane, YOU ARE TOO TENSE. You MUST loosen up. Believe me. I experienced a couple of unintended lane changes last year, and they scared the hell out of me. Once I CONSCIOUSLY relaxed my upper body and gripped with my legs, I never had any problems keeping my bike going in the direction I intended.

Consciously loosen your grip with your hands. Make sure you are loose and relaxed in the upper body and arms. If you feel the need to tense up, grip harder with your legs. But KEEP YOUR UPPER BODY RELAXED. The suggestion of riding with one hand in windy conditions can be a good one. Like a lot of things about riding motorcycles, the proper solution is very counter-intuitive.

You'll know you're getting it right when a gust of wind hits you hard and the bike immediately leans INTO the wind while tracking straight and true. After the gust, the bike will straighten itself up. You really shouldn't need to actively manage the lean angle or direction; physics are on your side! If you stay loose and relaxed in the upper torso and arms, but grip well with your legs (especially thighs) you're going to be in good shape.

Good luck!!

Stay loose, relax the upper body, grip with the legs, let the bike correct itself. You'll be fine.

[EbolaMonkey]

+1 for above.

unless ur in prison cell with bubba, staying relaxed is always the answer.

[stretch]

Guys, this was all the BEST advice. I was fooling myslef before that I was truly relaxed.
It's pretty gusty out here today, and on my way home from Calistoga I gave this one hand stuff a try.
Wow. I was so completely amazed at how much more control I had. With my body this light and relaxed, it left the bike in charge to move in the wind naturally. Would you believe I moved LESS then when I was riding around fighting it? Not to mention it was so much easier on my back.

You guys made me a believer. Thanks a million for some great tips.

BTW, EbolaMonkey...have you been watching too much Oz?

[Red6Rdr]

For me, I need to pay attention when its gusting, such as this morning on the BB eastbound. If I drift off (mentally), that gust pushes me into the next lane.