Ninja 250 + Highway 10 + High wind gusts | GTAMotorcycle.com

Ninja 250 + Highway 10 + High wind gusts

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Serotonin

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Coming back from a ride up north on Highway 10 I had my first experience with real ****ing strong wind gusts. I always thought people were exaggerating on how scary it can be when wind blows perpendicular to your direction of travel. I've ridden in high winds before and it was very manageable. But HOLY ****, this week I tough I was going to die. It literaly felt like a grizzly bear standing on it's hind legs was repeatedly trying to knock me off the bike. I got so scared I was doing 40km/h. After about a kilometer of torture I noped the **** out and took the sideroads where there were trees and buildings to break the wind.

How do you ride when you encounter high gusts of wind? Can they actually knock you off the bike, or does it only feel that way? I never want to experience that again.
 
The first couple times it happens to you it freaks you out. You get used to it. You did the right thing, you slowed down and got off the highway. Why do I say it was the right thing? Because you felt comfortable and got home safe.
 
Light little bikes with full fairings are going to feel worse in winds than a bigger, heavier bike but I don't think any bike is immune to the feeling of being pushed around by wind. Some crosswinds will push over semi-trailers. :)

Your decision to get off the highway was a sound choice.
 
Yes, its a little unnerving at first, you will get used to it. Don't ever think that the wind will throw you off, tuck in, lean into the wind and don't ever put yourself in danger by doing half the speed limit.

You did the right thing by taking the back roads.

Tbh, when i first got my 250, I felt the same way. I came on here and a couple other forums to see what advice people had to offer. Here is what helped me

#1 make sure your helmet fits properly
#2 wear earplugs to cancel out the wind noise ( trust me, it helps)
#3 check your tires and pressures
#4 double bubble windscreen ( won't help with crosswinds but may help when heading into the wind)
 
Serotonin said:
I got so scared I was doing 40km/h.
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and that's where you ****ed up my friend. Turns out the 250 had more balls than you did that day 'cause you didn't even open it up and let it rip :p. In high perpendicular and head winds you HAVE to keep the bike as fast as possible (for the the road/traffic conditions) and rpm's as high as you can, I can just picture you getting tossed around like a little toy at 40 km/h. How are you even going to stand a chance when you're slower than the wind gusts?? Its simple physics.

I've been tossed across a lane and into the next myself on the highway and thought "holy ****, what if a car had been there", then you learn to adapt to stay alive...Hang off the bike in the direction that the wind is coming from and be light on the handlebars just like going through a corner. When the wind is that strong you're literally leaning the bike and hanging off to go straight! So remember that, and try it next time.

Don't be afraid, its just a little turbulence, rip through like a little rocket. For head winds you just tuck and lay low as much as you can, *** back, elbows in and chest to the tank. Tail winds...on a 250 those are blessed, have fun and try not to catch a HTA 172, its not fun, trust me.
 
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40 Km/h on a road with a 80 km/h speed limit is much less safe than gusts of wind.

Relax and let the bike swing underneath you, like a pendulum.
 
It's just wind. You vehicle isn't big enough. ;)

[video=youtube;2Gmp6VPlH50]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gmp6VPlH50[/video]

Nah, really it's ok to take the sideroads. Most people ride for pleasure, and fighting a strong wind isn't pleasurable to most.

You need to relax and push steer against the wind, which can be difficult if it's gusting winds.

Better to get off and make your way somewhere where it's enjoyable.

Some of these people would have you believe that they ride in hurricanes and tornadoes.
 
Concac said:
solution: upgrade to 1000cc bike:D
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Don't need a 1000 lol. Anything over 400 pounds would handle it better. I get moved around a bit on my 600 in heavy cross winds but its not nearly as bad as my Ninja 300. The heavier the bike the more stable it is against the elements, common physics.
 
It depends on how much time and effort was spent in the wind tunnel. The premium sport and touring models would be expected to have more engineering put into that. Cross-wind stability is a design consideration ...

There is something to be said for keeping your speed up. The bike has no stability when it's stopped. But there's also something to be said for getting away from heavy traffic in rough conditions.

For riding through cross-wind ... keep your eyes up and look where you want to go, just as you were taught. The bike may want to move around a bit and you will feel it. Keep your eyes up and look where you want to go and let the bike do its thing.
 
Brian P said:
Keep your eyes up and look where you want to go and let the bike do its thing.
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I think Brian makes a good point. Don't fight the bike. It's similar to when you hit those sections of road that have been grooved for repaving. The bike will behave a certain way and it will get worse if you try to fight it by over correcting too much. Again, it comes with more seat time, but the more you know the better off you are.
 
High winds can definitely be a frightening experience.

You did the right thing by getting off and taking side roads. That's what I tried to do back in 2001 on my little VTR 250 traveling north on the 410. I wasn't as lucky though as just as I was getting ready to exit onto Steels, a huge gust of wind blew me off the road and into the ditch. My bike was totaled, but I walked away with just a sprained thumb. I was doing about 100 - 110kph at the time.

14 years later and on a much heavier bike (VFR 800), I can't say it's it's any less unnerving.
 
I ride a Duke II. The bike is very light guessing around 340lb range. I experience some serious wind blast the other day going down hwy10. Bike is not designed for highway riding it is more back road twisty machine. I find keeping yours eyes glued to where they need to be and throttle may way thru it works. Slowing down I feel more of the side wind push plus puts you in danger with traffic. Accelerating helps me. At times I have also found nearest exist and take back roads home. You get use to it. Yes Heavier bikes feel more stable plus fairing and windscreens do help. When big semis blast by me in oncoming traffic I gas my way through the wind blast!
 
griff2 said:
Solution, go to a different 250. F250 should do nicely.
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Lolz

Sent from a Samsung Galaxy far, far away using Tapatalk
 
was on my 250 the other day and I agree with the poster I too thought death was knocking on my door. I,m a new rider and was scared I thought for sure I was going to get blown head on into incoming traffic
 
my KLR is a heavy bike which helps in the wind,I usually slow down a bit and stay low,just be ready when the gusts come or passing a truck.
 
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