Does anyone have any tips for riding in windy conditions??
I came back from Havelock North on Saturday evening and there was a number of times that I slowed down to a snails pace for fear of leaving the road... Damn that wind was strong!! I was being blown all over the show on my little zxr...
Full Version: a tad windy....
relax and if the bike needs to move, then let it move.
give yourself lots of room on the down wind side to allow the bike to move if it needs to.
And slow down to a snails pace if you need to
Last years Grand Challenge I rode SH16 from Wellsford to Auckland in 140kph cross winds (as many others here did) .. I didn't die
RELAX, I rode at 80-90kph the entire way, and caught people up ...
Keep an eye on the surroundings, prepare yourself for breaks in the hillsides on the road side, or large shelter belt trees are another thing, when they break, like for a driveway, you will get sudden gusts.
be prepare to turn harder in some corners ... if the wind get under your bike on the inside of a corner, it may be less than willing to lean over, so prepare .. be ready to countersteer harder.
give yourself lots of room on the down wind side to allow the bike to move if it needs to.
And slow down to a snails pace if you need to
Last years Grand Challenge I rode SH16 from Wellsford to Auckland in 140kph cross winds (as many others here did) .. I didn't die
RELAX, I rode at 80-90kph the entire way, and caught people up ...
Keep an eye on the surroundings, prepare yourself for breaks in the hillsides on the road side, or large shelter belt trees are another thing, when they break, like for a driveway, you will get sudden gusts.
be prepare to turn harder in some corners ... if the wind get under your bike on the inside of a corner, it may be less than willing to lean over, so prepare .. be ready to countersteer harder.
Ride a heavier bike. Works for me.
Works for me.
I agree with paul about the relaxing thing.
Coming from hamilton where we dont really get winds like in the Manawatu very often, i was freaking out when i realised i'd have to ride my lil cbr in wind basically all the time. But i find that if i dont tense up and anticipate when the winds going to come its not so bad. I think tensing up makes the wind seem worse, cauz everytime a blast comes you feel it and psych ureself out (well i do anyway
) whereas, if i stop thinking about riding and just ride the wind never seems to matter.. although i think that probably applies to my riding in general (i tend to overthink shaite 
)
The other thing i hate about the wind.. damn helmet makes this squealing noise when heading in certain directions... Grr
Oh and other advice... go out when its windy... the more you ride in it the easier it'll get
Coming from hamilton where we dont really get winds like in the Manawatu very often, i was freaking out when i realised i'd have to ride my lil cbr in wind basically all the time. But i find that if i dont tense up and anticipate when the winds going to come its not so bad. I think tensing up makes the wind seem worse, cauz everytime a blast comes you feel it and psych ureself out (well i do anyway
) whereas, if i stop thinking about riding and just ride the wind never seems to matter.. although i think that probably applies to my riding in general (i tend to overthink shaite ) The other thing i hate about the wind.. damn helmet makes this squealing noise when heading in certain directions... Grr
Oh and other advice... go out when its windy... the more you ride in it the easier it'll get
QUOTE (TerminalAddict @ 6 Oct 2008, 08:54 AM) 
relax and if the bike needs to move, then let it move.
give yourself lots of room on the down wind side to allow the bike to move if it needs to.
be prepare to turn harder in some corners ... if the wind get under your bike on the inside of a corner, it may be less than willing to lean over, so prepare .. be ready to countersteer harder.
give yourself lots of room on the down wind side to allow the bike to move if it needs to.
be prepare to turn harder in some corners ... if the wind get under your bike on the inside of a corner, it may be less than willing to lean over, so prepare .. be ready to countersteer harder.
I endorse this 105%. The slower you go the easier it is for the wind to pick your bike up. And it will get easier as your confidence improves.
Turning into corners - I've been there recently and am the poorer for it. I was being overly cautious and too close to the left, turning right. The wind starightened up my bike and I watched the front wheel go onto the metal in s l o w motion. My major bike accidet years ago was down hill in a stong side wind. The bike wobbled and I applied the front brakes. Double wobble. Never do that downhill. I'm slowly perfecting my somersaults and landings.
Why is flying always in slow motion?
QUOTE (TerminalAddict @ 6 Oct 2008, 08:54 AM)
relax and if the bike needs to move, then let it move.
give yourself lots of room on the down wind side to allow the bike to move if it needs to.
And slow down to a snails pace if you need to
Last years Grand Challenge I rode SH16 from Wellsford to Auckland in 140kph cross winds (as many others here did) .. I didn't die
RELAX, I rode at 80-90kph the entire way, and caught people up ...
Keep an eye on the surroundings, prepare yourself for breaks in the hillsides on the road side, or large shelter belt trees are another thing, when they break, like for a driveway, you will get sudden gusts.
be prepare to turn harder in some corners ... if the wind get under your bike on the inside of a corner, it may be less than willing to lean over, so prepare .. be ready to countersteer harder.
give yourself lots of room on the down wind side to allow the bike to move if it needs to.
And slow down to a snails pace if you need to
Last years Grand Challenge I rode SH16 from Wellsford to Auckland in 140kph cross winds (as many others here did) .. I didn't die
RELAX, I rode at 80-90kph the entire way, and caught people up ...
Keep an eye on the surroundings, prepare yourself for breaks in the hillsides on the road side, or large shelter belt trees are another thing, when they break, like for a driveway, you will get sudden gusts.
be prepare to turn harder in some corners ... if the wind get under your bike on the inside of a corner, it may be less than willing to lean over, so prepare .. be ready to countersteer harder.
Yeah, it was a tad windy in places - damp too...
Relaxing is definitely the key. It's human nature to grip the bars like a lunatic but it just makes all the bike movements that more jerky. If you just chill a bit after a while it won't seem like you're fighting the bike so much. No shame in slowing up either - I once crossed the Takapau plains at 35mph on my 131kg RG250.
Add some rain and things get even more interesting - aquaplaning is a real possibility. Respect the weather and ride safe!
There's no way the weather will be as bad this year...There's no way the weather will be as bad this year...There's no way the weather will be as bad this year...There's no way the weather will be as bad this year...There's no way the weather will be as bad this year...There's no way the weather will be as bad this year...
I find it easier to imagine leaning my shoulder into the wind rather than counter-steering into it. In reality I end up doing both but concentrating on weight probably helps keep a lighter grip on the bars.
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