wind/cold effects. | GTAMotorcycle.com

wind/cold effects.

GentlemanRacer

GentlemanRacer

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Just got back from an aborted attempt to get to Caledon from downtown to meet friends. (401 then up 410). 401 was windy and gusts were pushing me across lanes even in a tuck, then on the 410, the gusts would cause me to tip and then my wheel to slip, and then threaten to cause a wobble when I was righted.

I tried going both faster and slower and shifting into lower gears to get rid of the wobble and to fight the gusts, but finally I had to pull off the highway send my regrets to my disappointed friends.

This is a 500lb bike with a 200lb rider. I took Steeles back to town, and even coming south on Bathurst, I was swept into the right lane by a gust and the car in it had to swerve. It wasn't top heaviness either, I could feel the bike sweeping out from under me from the wind and I had to lean into it. Couldn't tell if the ground was wet in the dark.

My question is: Did I wuss out here or are 70-80km+ sideways gusts at highway speeds when the temp drops below 10C as dangerous as it seemed? (have to explain this to people I bailed on)
 
You wussed out. BUT you did the smart thing. Riding a bike is all about confidence and the best riders know when to dial it back, they are the ones who live to ride another day. You did the smart thing.

Could you ride in this. For sure you can. But why risk this dangerous activity (motorcycles) when you are not confident?
 
Fully faired bike? Lean into the wind next time. Dopping down a gear is a good idea as well. Just take it one step further. This worked for me today.
 
Thanks, makes sense. So does the gyroscope effect of the bike keep it righted in a straight line, or can the bike get tilted onto cold rubber and slide into a skid? The traction felt really, really soft to the point where I was focusing on keeping it upright instead of steering.
 
It's no fun riding in those wind conditions especially on 400 series highways. Heated gear makes it a lot more comfortable when temps drop. Smart move, there have been enough fallen riders posts this year.
 
I know the feeling you're talking about. You feel like the wheels are going to be blown out from under you. Depends on what kind of bike you have, but an SS is middle to top heavy so this is the sensation you will be battling. IMO you're not a wuss at all. Environment Canada has issued wind warnings. This is not weather conducive to riding. This is the kind of winds where a tractor trailer could blow over. Your instincts to bail were bang-on. Just curios, the people you were meeting are riding?
 
I've ridden in 70+kph winds on the highway. The best thing to do is just be as light on the bars as possible, and position yourself in your lane with the expectation of being pushed. Especially important in corners.

I don't mind riding in windy conditions. Stopping while getting hit from the side is something else though. That I dislike.
 
Prince said:
Just curios, the people you were meeting are riding?
Click to expand...

Thx, no, the people aren't riders, hence why I need to explain to them. I would only cancel plans last minute if it were over something life threatening, and I just want to be able to know that indeed, it was a life threatening situation. As a city person, I don't own a car, and have been pushing the bike as far as I can for the 1st season.

Anyway, a harley wouldn't have a problem in this, but the triumph is a design from a time when people actually cancelled plans because of the weather. :)
 
I was out there today too and the wind gusts were the tricky parts. at anytime it would hit you and you never knew which way it was going to blow. the wet roads didn't help either. i made my trip as quick as i could and parked her for the day.
good call on your part. as others said, live to ride another day.
 
Dealing with wind is hard - I don't like it but it's a learning experience and like riding gravel roads practice is good.

We're going out tomorrow and expect pretty high winds.....I doubt that you were actually slipping but it can certainly be unsettling. - getting off the 400 series is the best practice.
Some frontal waves from a transport coming he other way on a two lane in a cross wind can really be a shocker tho.....

I could not begin to describe HOW to successfully ride in a wind - it's just something to learn.
 
Is went to royal distributing today and my car was being blown from time to time on the 401. I wouldn't even thought of riding today. Good call on canceling your plans
 
I was out having a blast riding the KLR, until the rain, then I thought to myself, all it takes is one idiot to lane change and cut me off, and then I'm left with kinked forks, and insurance claim, and physio.

Do what you need to limit your risk and be safe.

Good call on your part.
 
Before I stepped out on the street today, I was planning to take Highway 7 (a few km trip). But when I saw the wind, I took 407 instead, just to gain some experience.

I found that it wasn't much different than windsurfing on a wild day. You gota pay every bit of your attention to your balance. I thought that the best approach to fight the wind on the road is being smooth and staying strongly reactive at the same time. And, I think the bike (Ninja 250) has better resistance and balance at higher speeds.
 
every bike is more stable at higher speeds... the faster you go, the more stable it is (gyroscope).
Wind is not pleasant, but I don't think much of it... it's not like you have to steer differently or try to calculate your lean angle to keep it going straight... you just point your nose where you want to go and bike will do the rest for you.
You did the right thing, no question about it. More riders should do the same... conditions (weather and/or road), fatigue, mood... all those can kick you in the nuts if you push it beyond your limits...
 
I'll let you know how it is today - Pearson is reporting 27k winds now and that will go up. Looks like rain this aft so want to get a bit of a ride in this am and try cooler weather gear.

As mentioned avoiding fatigue is an important safety factor and nothing more fatiguing than fighting cross winds.

Head wind story.....I actually was going to take my bike into the dealer two years ago to have him check it as it felt so sluggish on a short ride. No power -

Realized on my way to him that it was the wind. Where I had been riding was directly into the wind - so little buffeting but the winds were in the 80-100kph zone so not much acceleration left in 650.

Sweet ride coming home tho. :D
 
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You need to be relaxed and loose in a strong side wind, let the bike lean some, it'll keep going straight. My bike has a considerable acreage of plastic, and even at 560 lbs it gets moved around. I was out a few hours near Lake Erie yesterday, and the wind was strong at times, just enjoy it, no point in fighting it. Now the wind storm that hit here in April, I heard of at least one bike (Kawasaki Concourse) being dumped over while being ridden and was totalled, rider injured. The wind speeds were were over 130 km/h, so you have to use some sense as to when you will ride or not.
 
What he said +

It's a learned skill and being somewhat relaxed with it is important. But there are limits so common sense should prevail.
Been in a couple near tornado conditions where the struggle was to keep the bike upright stopped.
I have a lot of tupperware on the Burgman but the weight is down low and 600 lb.
Bikes vary tho - the Honda Silverwing was a bear in the wind and in traffic turbulence.....nasty and no fun.
My old RD400 got blown all over but was fun - with drop bars and bikini fairing was akin to surfing the wind and quick throttle response helped. - not much more than half the weight of the Burgman.

Today is chilly out 8 degrees - but hardly noticeable wind on the way up tho. The rhubarb cranberry tarts are yummy ;)
im_ta_tart45.jpg


5 riders around so far. All geared up - everything was toasty except my feet again - might take a run to Royal and see what thermal socks they have.....
I did wear the full face today but will switch to the open face wehn buddy arrives so we can chat on the Scala.

•••••

OP do you wear earplugs???
If not - they will help a lot in relaxing you in wind and improving your concentration.

•••

anyone got a suggestion for thermal socks - for the first time it's my feet and that's a suprise given the protection on the Burgman. Do NOT want to invest in heated gear - 3 years or less I'll be asking about cool gear ( Queensland Aus will be home )
 
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I was in that crap yesterday too. Coming back from Markham to North York. Wasn't fun. I had to pull over a few times because the wind was pushing me into the right lane.
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