Crosswinds

devilsnight · Jul 11, 2013

For the first time in my life I dealt with a crosswinds scenario that truly 'blew' me away. I'm blasting through some rural riding on a windy day and felt some amazing gusts from BOTH sides. What began as a normal ride became a paradox in riding skills. As I began to lean towards a gust I felt towards my right, it sucked me in and I realized it vanished and almost sucked me down as opposed to the push I was anticipating.

In other words, I began leaning towards these bursts as to not get blown over at 70+ mph and then it vanished and then I was gusted from the other side as I anticipated the right gust and was gusted from the left as I leaned into an anticipated 'right' side gust. Very scary as it was happening seemingly over and over.

Anyone ever get 'blown over' from crosswinds before while out riding in high speed highway or country riding?

bronch · Jul 11, 2013

Yes, living in the PNW, we get multi-directional gusts. I suppose this is cliche, but during those times I ride faster and the bike is more stable/resistant. I don't anticipate gusts, because you're going to guess wrong. I ride in the middle of the road though.

Nikt · Jul 11, 2013

devilsnight said:
For the first time in my life I dealt with a crosswinds scenario that truly 'blew' me away. I'm blasting through some rural riding on a windy day and felt some amazing gusts from BOTH sides. What began as a normal ride became a paradox in riding skills. As I began to lean towards a gust I felt towards my right, it sucked me in and I realized it vanished and almost sucked me down as opposed to the push I was anticipating.

In other words, I began leaning towards these bursts as to not get blown over at 70+ mph and then it vanished and then I was gusted from the other side as I anticipated the right gust and was gusted from the left as I leaned into an anticipated 'right' side gust. Very scary as it was happening seemingly over and over.

Anyone ever get 'blown over' from crosswinds before while out riding in high speed highway or country riding?

yep...sometimes here in Sydney you can feel the bike lean over while standing at the traffic lights

Carl1199 · Jul 11, 2013

We get Nor Westers in Christchurch, 120kms + and can catch you by suprise when coming out of a sheltered area (even when you are expecting them), we have a few straights that you negotiate by using your knee slider when in a straight line, quite exciting sometimes, but scary when you get thrust from one side of the road to the other!!! Twist the throttle and cut through like a hot knife through butter is my theory, and has worked up till now just fine.

ScottJon · Jul 12, 2013

i was on a Harley Road Glide a few years ago on Pacific Coast highway, ifelt exactly the same thing you experienced.

As I leaned into a serious turn in the road, the wind picked me and the 900 pound Harley across on coming traffic ( THANK GOD no one was coming in that direction and i wound up at the base of the hill in the sand on the other side of the road, there was nothing I could do to stop it. Fortunately there were two cars behind me and they both pulled over to assist me and my bruises (ego included) .

over $2000. worth of damage to the bike, when i was on my way back to my house ( obout 30 miles from the accident, i had to stop two more times because there were two other bikers that were down in similar gusts. not a good day to ride, but it taught me a lot of lessons

gnance · Jul 12, 2013

try riding in Juneau Alaska going over the channel bridge sometime....downright scary at times when the wind is really going. Never have blown over though....just had to lean a lot.

Agibbs996 · Jul 12, 2013

Just think of it like a reaction/reflex test.

gnance · Jul 12, 2013

Agibbs996 said:
Just think of it like a reaction/reflex test.

did you buy your pani yet?

Fragile · Oct 14, 2013

uh yeah, wind, can catch you off guard on long sweepers and straights, dragging you towards the outside or pushing you around. prepare to react, no doubt!

acowsik · Oct 14, 2013

I had this experience just this past weekend on Saturday when riding with a friend of mine.. it was a very windy day and it just made riding difficult.

The wind kept veering my bike to the left and I had to keep leaning right to counter it while going at 70mph on the highway.. was really scary..

Thankfully we decided to cut the journey short and navigate through some slower back roads with lot of trees around to lessen the windy effect and reached back home in one piece

acowsik · Oct 14, 2013

ScottJon said:
i was on a Harley Road Glide a few years ago on Pacific Coast highway, ifelt exactly the same thing you experienced.

As I leaned into a serious turn in the road, the wind picked me and the 900 pound Harley across on coming traffic ( THANK GOD no one was coming in that direction and i wound up at the base of the hill in the sand on the other side of the road, there was nothing I could do to stop it. Fortunately there were two cars behind me and they both pulled over to assist me and my bruises (ego included) .

over $2000. worth of damage to the bike, when i was on my way back to my house ( obout 30 miles from the accident, i had to stop two more times because there were two other bikers that were down in similar gusts. not a good day to ride, but it taught me a lot of lessons

Hope ur ok buddy and ur bike is fixed up

outhouse · Oct 14, 2013

Riding into Redding one evening, I had bikers trying to wave me off for ten miles.

I was heading into a severe T storm that probably had a small funnel somewhere.

Started pouring in sheets where the water bounces 2-3' off the pavement then going sideways. I was doing 65mph and when I could not hold one lane from when the gust changed I backed out of it and found a overpass to stay under. I probably did 5-7 miles before I stopped. I was leaning over as far as the tire would hold and steering was more or less the gust blowing. Once the wind changed directions or stopped gusting as bad is when I started using two lanes and had to back out of it.

In all my life I have never been in as severe weather as I rode through that early evening.

I think its cool and have a good story to share.

AntiHero · Oct 14, 2013

Ah, it'll freak you out at first, but it's not so bad if you relax. You've got a whole lane to get pushed around in that's 6x the width of the bike, plus a shoulder. Add 2" of standing water and monsoon like rains and, well, best to just speed up and let the gyroscopic effect take over.

Crosswinds

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