Morning all.

I expect to get a few daft answers, as any topic with this title should do.

But my serious question is this:

How do you cope with serious crosswinds?

I was on my way home last night and getting hit left right and centre with sudden gusts of wind. It's a scary feeling being blown sideways across the road into oncoming traffic or into a parked car.

What's the best way to cope? High revs? More speed, or less? Do I keep my body relaxed or as rigid as I can to stop the steering flying off.

The first time it happened I nearly had a tank-slapper. I've ridden in wind before, but only the mild stuff that makes you drift slightly.

Be prepared! Know that it's coming and it's not such a shock. Also, lean the bike - it's a strange sensation to lean into the wind and still be going straight ahead....

I think going slower helps but I've not proven it from my own experience either way.

Yup, just anticipate it in open areas and lean into it.

As for speed, I was told the opposite to Michael, that going quicker can be better (up to a point). I was told that to explain this I should look at an A-level maths book and read the chapter on vectors. I had a look and it kinda makes sense. Then again, you have to balance that against what you feel is a safe speed. Personally, I've been closer to being blown over whilst stopped at lights than I ever have once underway so maybe the vector theory is true.

Another thing that should help is to make your profile as small as possible so duck down near to your tank if you can.

was far worse on any of my 125 then my 400 or the 650 I have now. I tend to and still do, carry on at a steady pace and lean against the wind slightly. It does get slightly better with a bigger bike with more weight behind it. My 125 used to physically get picked up and moved across the road with me on it, a very strange sensation If you can anticipate it, thats no bad thing but don't assume you have to, the wind after all is very unpredicatable.

The other option would be to take the "scenic route", if I knew when I left the house it was way too windy to ride a certain way, I'd change my route and go an alternative way that was less open, rather than risk it. (thought that was more when it snowed and avoiding ungritted roads on the way to work or home at 1am)

I had the fear on the 125, of being sucked under a large lorry, more frightening than any crosswind was to me anyways

Most important take it easy don't do anything YOU don't feel comfortable with

Di

I used to have a terrifying time on the Thunderbird - the front end used to get very untidy in strong winds causing many a brown-trouser moment. All I can say is that although it used to drift alarmingly and shake like a bucking bronco, at the end of the day it always kept its tyres on the tarmac. Unfortunately, knowing that's not much use when you're holding on for dear life in horrible cross winds with another few hours riding ahead of you!

One thing you can do to help is get off the motorways if you're on them. They're much more exposed and prone to nasty winds than A- and B- roads.

The only other thing that I can suggest (which I did myself) is get a different bike.

I am amazed at how rock-solid the Z750S is, no matter what the wind is doing. I've ridden along quite happily one-handed and very relaxed on the Z in winds which would have made me soil myself if I'd been on the Thunderbird. As its behaviour in winds was the worst (and unbearable) aspect of the Thunderbird, it was very important for me to change to a bike which didn't behave that way. The Z has certainly answered my prayers in that respect (not being fully failred helps too I think - it doesn't act like a sail like some fully faired bikes do in cross winds).

You have my every sympathy though - it's not nice feeling like you could be blown off the road at any moment!

i think my 125 was a kite in a former life. every time the wind gets up the bike trys to move with the wind. iv been riding for just over a year now and i HATE riding my 125 in strong winds. its the only time i feel scared on the bike. as the front end kinda feels like its skittering sideways (hard to describe it really) due to the wind. i have been assured by a few friends who ride bigger bikes that its easyer to cope wtih when your bike actualy wheighs more than a fag paper

Cool. Thanks for the info guys.

GPZ500 was a nightmare, the Bonneville copes well. I'll never forget a goldwing owner at 45 degrees across the severn bridge.

Yeah, what most others have said. Being in Holland it's part of your training here for your DAS. Look at things like trees to judge how strong, which direction etc. Anticipate by watching other vehicles ie high sided lorries etc and keep a steady speed.
I find the CBR is really light and it really gets pushed about in high winds. Ain't goin out in the stuff we've got just now!

now i spot this after decieding that i would take the bike out this afternoon didn't get far as my bottle went but never mind better safe than sorry i suppose, will try again though

I dont think RELAXING THE ARMS has been mentioned as thats the best action i have found.

Relaxing is definitely the key. I had the enjoyment of riding to school during the storm in 1988 I think (The one where 7 oaks became 1 oak) but being young and immortal just didn't care.

These days I don't even think about it, the sensation is one of feeling that the wheels just move from under me every time a crosswind hits (i.e. leaning into the wind by pushing the appropriate handlebar).

Like all things biking the more you experience it the easier it gets.

try to relax, easier said than done i know, but your bike is small light & has a tall set of forks, not great in windy conditions.
if you're tensed up any buffeting will transfer through to the bars, via your arms.
just chill out dude

I've found relaxing is not the problem - keeping the bike straight in heavy wind is! Sometimes it is a real struggle.

Having ridden lots in wind this week, I have found what works for me and the Fazer. Going faster or slower doesn't neceassarily make much difference. Hugging the tank does. Lowering your profile definitely helps - less to blow over, more aerodynamic. I was peeking through and around my screen today on the M1 and my arms aren't so tired. Also, that position forces me to relax my arms.

Sing, and shout at the cagers and woofers. Have been riding to work and back all last week and the rain and wind coming off the Ochils blowing over the Perthshire Plains is horrendous, hairy at 1st then just sat up and sang my heart out. I really did pick a good week to get back on a bike. Mind you I will never be scared of wind or rain again. Might be me but the cagers seemed to give me loads of space in some of the worst rain, maybe couldn't believe anyone would be mad enough to ride in some of it.

respect

I just tuck me elbows in and get my head down behind the screen usually helps!

TBH, I think gusts are the worst and the more relaxed you are the better (not drug relaxed). Done over 160 around Millbrook and theres a kinda bump on the banking near a 3/4 mile marker, the more relaxed you are, the easier it is. same as driving any large vehicle, from landrovers and upwards, the steering isn't precise, so dont expect precise responses. Gusty crosswinds, relax a bit, dont expect to keep an absolute straight course, the harder you hold your bars the less shock absorbsion there is. On average your course will straighten out.
Biggest scary moment was overtaking 2 trucks on a dual carraigeway round a bend, hit the gap between the trucks and the wind made me head for the central armco. Good job I practice countersteering.

^^^ Wot the others said.

Relaxing is the key. Grip the tank firmly with your knees so that you don't feel you need a death grip on the bars. If you exert almost no force on the bars, the bike will tend to go in a straight line, but the wheels will move side to side under you. It's an odd feeling at first, but if you allow the bike to lean where it wants beneath you, it'll naturally right itself in the end without drifting too much.

Of course, you need to be prepared to actually steer if you get hit by a huge gust, but try not to let that stop you relaxing. Practise makes perfect. And I hear that you lot are getting plenty of practise at bad weather this year...

FWIW, I used to cross the Pennines over the M62 in gale force winds regularly. If it tires you out, or if you get too wound up by it, the best thing to do is find somewhere safe to stop, have a smoke, and calm yourself down.

all the advice on here says to relax but i dunno if ive been doing that!

I live right on the moors and what with commuting practically all weathers and having a light scooter i think i get pretty much the worst the wind can do!

However my tactic is to pull equally on both of the handlebars, so that im not as thrown around by the wind, and it works pretty well for me, ive been in some pretty serious conditions too, like when the protection of a building suddenly goes away . . .



argh am i doing this all wrong. Have to try out this relaxing thing.

haven't ever ridden a scooter and to be honest I have no interest in it but I do live in Norf yawnshire and rode all over on a 125 for 4 years prior to passing my test, relaxing does help on a bike, BUT I have no idea about a tooter though, having no tank to grip between your legs am assuming is the biggest difference. I think it may be worthwhile noting what you said as of course most have replied in respect to bikes. But am sure others reading this ride a scooter like yourself, thus your points may be very valid to riding that type of bike

as has been said above, keep an awareness of your surroundings, eg. buildings, hedges, gates, etc. all those can affect the way the wind blows and gusts. Learn to try and anticipate where the gusts are going to come from and that can help you be prepared for what is going to happen next.

On the road from Castletown to Wick there was an old army building (on the edge of a disused airfield) and an old school on the opposite side of the road, the wind would funnel between them, it would feel like you were being blown from one side of the road to the other and then back again.

I'm not finding it toooo bad on my 'ped (now I've got it back again!). I agree with the relaxing thing, just let the gusts move you about within your own road space and it is generally easier than fighting it and trying to keep a straight line...

The thing I hate most is going uphill in this wind, I'm starting to get cyclists overtaking me!!

I went down the motorway yesterday in the wind, and two things really scared me, the winds that seemed to try and take my helmet off, and the sight of the big wagons looking very insecure on their 8 / 12 wheels or whatever they have. I was very wary about overtaking them.

I decided I wouldn't chance coming home via the motorway and chose to face coming through the centre of Manchester in rush hour instead - good move as I got caught in a cloudburst where the road did a good impression of a river. I couldn't see the whitelines or grids etc. It took me just under 2 hours to do 22 miles and I had cramp in my fingers through 'hanging onto the bike' :-( but it was much safer than riding through rain that heavy on a motorway.

Thought - if you are on the motorway and you are caught in a cloudburst where you can barely see a hand in front of you - what do you do - stop and chance someone running into you even on the hard shoulder or, carry on riding and hope for the best?