Highway speed and wind

  • Thread starter Thread starter flaminllama
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danp said:
In addition to the advice already offered, I would also recommend wearing ear plugs when you go on the highway. In addition to saving your hearing, the wind won't seem as strong if you can't hear it.
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^^ yes, I found that this helped, also I think someone mentioned to check your tires and pressures. I too was a bit daunted when I first got my ninja 250. Keep riding , the more experience you get, the less unstable you will feel.

Also, you may want to get someone to check your steering head bearings just to be sure.
 
Went on the 404 again this evening and took everyone's advice - tucked in, kept my head low and the wind was a non issue.

Thanks guys
 
will u want to be carefull cus a 250 is really light and wind will push u thats for sure but thats good you put it on the high way so now you now what your bike can do
 
I had the same issue with my first bike, I think more than anything else you just have to get used to it and after a while you will feel stable and know how to handle it if its real bad tuck in, also don't try to fight the wind too hard.
 
jukon said:
You can also look into an aftermarket windshield.
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Be cautious with this and make sure you do some research. Many aftermarket screens are taller than stock, true, but they interrupt the air flow and actually cause more turbulence for many riders. Taller windscreen is not necessarily going to improve wind turbulence.
 
When I had my Ninja 250 last year I really felt the wind on the highway. I would actually avoid riding on 80kph roads on windy days. This year I upgraded to a 600cc and it did make a huge difference, the first day I picked it up wind was gusting terribly but it didn't slow me down.

Now I don't just credit the bigger bike:

1. Heavier and more powerful bike helps for sure
2. More experience on two wheels and on the highway
3. Relaxing, holding on to your tank and not fighting your bike against the wind
 
I loved my old 250, but I cannot fully recommend it for highway driving. Combine a very windy day with having to pass transport trucks and you're in for some crazy ****. Plus if the road is slick it just adds another level of complication. I feel like I can relax on my 600, while I had to be on my A-game 100 percent with the 250. So it's possible, but tough for sure.
 
Windy days (35km/h+ winds)? Small bike?

Grip the tank with your knees, light grip on the handle bars, and (sometimes) tuck.
 
hello the reason why your bike was moving around is cuss of the cc of your bike and waught
 
It is only rider experience I have ridden all cc of bike on the highway and never had an issue. Ninja 250s are more than capable on the highway and with a skilled rider there are no issues.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
 
250s are fine on any highway. You don't need to pass trucks or cars at motogp speed. The wind issue just takes practice, as more experience you have, the lesser you'll "fight" the wind.

There are some experienced folks on this forum who commutes with less than 250cc on a daily basis, and they do alright.

There are also people in my riding group who had gone on tours without any issues on 400 series hwy or US interstate hwy.
 
I didn't read the whole thread, but I remember my first highway run on the 407, also on the Ninja 250.

It was an over the avg windy day, but nothing too crazy. Still, it felt like I could fly off the bike if I didn't hold on hard.

My conclusion was, bec I've never been exposed to the wind at those speeds before (except for skydiving I guess), I felt the wind very heavy on the chest.

It just takes some getting used to. Proper riding jackets that don't flop in the wind also help with the lower drag and resistance. Your second time will improve, and by the third, you won't even notice it.
 
Griffin said:
Be cautious with this and make sure you do some research. Many aftermarket screens are taller than stock, true, but they interrupt the air flow and actually cause more turbulence for many riders. Taller windscreen is not necessarily going to improve wind turbulence.
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+1

On top of that, it may also (re-)place the air stream to the middle of your helmet and you would then have a bigger problem, as your neck would have to balance it out instead of your chest.
 
Ugur Dinch said:
I didn't read the whole thread, but I remember my first highway run on the 407, also on the Ninja 250.

It was an over the avg windy day, but nothing too crazy. Still, it felt like I could fly off the bike if I didn't hold on hard.

My conclusion was, bec I've never been exposed to the wind at those speeds before (except for skydiving I guess), I felt the wind very heavy on the chest.

It just takes some getting used to. Proper riding jackets that don't flop in the wind also help with the lower drag and resistance. Your second time will improve, and by the third, you won't even notice it.
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Leather jackets are awesome for this.

I was out on the 401 last Friday when it was super windy, on a stretch that had terrible crosswinds somewhere between the 427 and Dixie. Was definitely getting pushed side-to-side quite a bit on my 250, but head-on wind due to speed was easy to deal with. My arms are short, so I'm always leaned forward; at a certain speed I just relax into the wind and let it take the weight off my arms. My jacket (sadly not a motorcycle jacket, haven't found one I like yet) fits quite snug, so it feels like the wind just slips around me.
 
Hunker down and make sure your thighs are squeezing the gas tank. I got a CBR125r I am 5'10 and 135 lbs. if that and before I stiffened my legs against the bike it was pretty squirrely in the 20km/h head and side winds. I am sure there isn't much windshield for you as there isn't with mine and it doesn't help that our helmets are so big (mine has the duckbill which makes it worse, especially when doing blind spot checks) but there's not much else we can do I suppose, apart from maybe stiffening suspension but that'll make it even less comfortable.
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