New Rider Afraid of the Wind | GTAMotorcycle.com

New Rider Afraid of the Wind

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crackerjack

Active member
Hey everyone, new rider here. I just took the M1 exit course a few weekends ago(april 19-21) and picked up my bike a week later. I ride a 1981 Honda GL500 Silverwing. I've never been on a bike before I took the course, but it's something I've always wanted to do. I am turning 36 this year. Better late than never, I guess! I try to go for a ride every day and I am starting to feel more comfortable each time. I realize that simply taking the course does not make me a great rider. I totally respect my motorcycle and understand that I have a long way to go in becoming a safe rider. I know that I need to practice every chance I get. My goal is to be comfortable enough to make the 20 minute drive to work everyday. I feel good about driving in the city, but right now I find it difficult to maintain a speed of 80 km/h. I get my bike up to speed no problem. Then I feel the wind. My reaction is to squeeze the clutch and start slowing down. I'm ok at 60-70 km/h, but once i get up to 80, I start to panic. Is this normal? Did anyone else have this fear of wind when they first started riding? Everyone keeps asking me how fast I go, but I am honest with everyone. I tell them that a motorcycle can be dangerous if you aren't confident while riding it. Right now I'm not confident I can go fast because of the wind. Any experienced riders out there have any tips to get me over my fear? Is it just a matter of going out there and doing it and trusting that I won't lose control of my bike in the wind? I'm in no rush, but it sure would be fun to start riding to work. I can only do so many laps of my small town before everyone starts to think I'm a weirdo. Thanks!
 
Hey Crackerjack, Welcome to the forum.

Your fear is not unusual, but us late bloomers tend to take a bit longer to get through it (we know how long it will take us to heal). Sounds to me like you are on the rigth track, keep riding as much as you can and you blast through the wind wall in no time, only time and experience will help in this circumstance. Being honest with yourself is the best thing to do in the cases where you do panic, just remember to breath, look around and keep going. For me it was long sweeping corners that made me scared, but I go through it, I just told myself "look where you want to go" and kept the throttle rolled on. Now I still use caution but the fear is gone. I feel safe and trusting of myself and my machine when riding. Where abouts are you located ?
 
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Another late bloomer here, got my M1 for my 40th Bday. As Jampy said take you time and you are on the right track. I remember riding in the wind on the hwy for the first time, scared crap outta me.

Read this post, some good advice.

I just remember to relax, grab my tank with my legs and go with it more and not tense up and fight it. Things get really scary when you do that.

Don't feel about being a weirdo by staying in town, I think 3000 out of 3800 KMs in Guelph last year.
 
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Don't be afraid of the paragraph either.

This is a new one to me. People tend to freak out in cross winds, but normal wind in your face doesn't scare most people. Does the bike feel unstable at speed or is it just 'wind' that's scaring you? If it's just wind than just get up to speed. Tip 10km/h at a time. If it's feeling unstable, you should let someone with experience ride it to determine if you have some kind of geometry problem.
 
It is normal to be scare of the speed and wind when just starting out. Just take your time to get comfortable before going on highway. If you don't have a windscreen, it is good idea to get one, it helps a lot.

yeah, don't squeeze the clutch to slow down...just go roll off the throttle slowly or down shift.
 
How many kms have you ridden now?

I think you just need more time in the saddle. I started a few weeks ago and at first I stuck to slow quiet roads. Then some city roads, and eventually some higher speed roads.

Your confidence will build quickly, you just need to take it at your own pace. If you don't feel confident on a 80km/h road then find a slightly slower one, maybe 70km/h. Or just a bunch of 60km/h roads... I'm pretty sure you just need more seat time.

--also, make sure the bike is in good condition.

Final thought, I squeeze the bike with my legs to feel more stable on it at higher speeds. Not sure if it applies to your style of bike, but something to think about..
 
I used to be pretty wary of the wind myself - it get's better and you'll lose it in time... and speed. Now I enjoy highway riding :)
 
Hey crackerjack, I started riding last yr at 47. I am on a small Ninja 250 and this past week was the fist time I went on the highway during light rush hour traffic. The 250 is not a heavy bike and this week it has been somewhat windy, especially so at 120. I read some of the suggestions in that thread that was linked for you and applied the concepts. Stay relaxed, don't death grip the handle bars and keep a tight but comfortable grip on the tank with your knees.
Saddle time is the best thing you can do to get comfortable on the bike. Take it out early weekends on the highway when there's little to no traffic on the roads and experiment with speed, turning, fast breaking. Have fun and enjoy it.
 
I went from my little CBR with a fairing to a DRZ400 supermoto where I was more exposed. I was convinced something was wrong with the bike—it felt so unstable. I went for a few long highway rides and got used to it after a while. I think it was just learning to relax and let the bike do it's thing rather than holding on tight and "steering". I got used to the wind and it felt very natural and in control.
 
Welcome!!
Wheelie.gif
 
your fear will pass with more time in the seat,I got pushed around pretty good at the start of my ridind experence In the wind,now I just relax and it seems better mentally and physically.
 
Do relax but is your bike with a fairing or naked. It's an older machine ( the Honda's are great ) but there could be some instability - tight steering bearings or some such.
Welcome.
You just need saddle time. Just go wander the backroads east of Sarnia on a Sunday morning - get a longish ride in on the paved side roads.

I took a long layoff from riding and when I got back on a trip to Belfountain was a chore. Now it's a blink and gone.
You need saddle time on slow roads and gradually build up speed as long as you know your bike is sound and the tires are at the correct pressure.
 
Wow a 'wing as a first bike?

Anyhow regarding wind, remember not to tense up on the bike & bars, and the bike will auto-correct for the most part. Case in point, a lot of people complain that the little 300lbs 250s get blown around and are bad at speed -- however I've had mine over 100km/h in the wind multiple times, and yeah you get blown around a little within my own tire track or lane, but you get comfortable/used to it after a while.
 
Wow. I can't believe all these people that are scared. I guess I just take naturally to it because I have never been scared on the road from speed. (riding off road I've been scared plenty of times).

I like to remember that the bike wants to stay upright, so don't fight it and just go with it.
 
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