When is it too windy to ride?

[Dr Jekyll]

Obviously depends a lot on the bike. Personally (1200GS) anything much over 20MPH takes the fun out of it, once the wind gets up over 30 I'll leave the bike in the garage.

[KTMsm]

Depends - where and what speeds you're riding

Gusts to 40 don't worry me now I have my new helmet, my old dual sport one was terrible for gusts wrenching your head around

Probably not much fun on the motorway or long distances but that's not how I ride

[lazybike]

I guess it depends, rode back from Cadiz to Tarrifa in the strongest wind I've experienced, lorries blown off road etc but it was hot and dry, it's wet and gusty here at the moment and I wouldn't go out today.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Bike and location plays a huge part. I'd ride in gusts up to 40 but half that with a pillion. A bike with a lot of weight low down, but that still can put weight over the front wheel, is your friend here. First touring holiday with my wife was in a very windy Normandy, and we had to plan gaps in hedges on the dual carriageway as it wasn't up to me what lane we were in.

Also tower blocks act as wind tunnels. Canary Wharf is terrible for this. Running a gear or two lower helps as well so you can use the gyroscopic effect of the engine

[airsafari87]

Wind is the s*****t of all the weather's. Not just to ride in, bit full stop.

Even light winds makes the bike feel like it's got a flat front tyre, collapsed head bearings etc.

Wind is s**t and can FRO.

[black-k1]

Depends on the bike, the route and the "need" for the journey. Ultimately, if I needed to, I'd ride in pretty much any wind I'd drive in, but I wouldn't enjoy it and I would take the car if that option was there.

[outnumbered]

It's obviously a personal thing, but riding in stronger winds does need a bit of practice and technique to feel comfortable. I was out this morning when the forecast said it was approx 20mph gusting to 35, and felt absolutely fine, didn't give it a second thought. Wouldn't have gone out on Friday however...

[Triaguar]

Once in some roadworks travelling at about 35/40mph on M62 going over Saddleworth and a gust took me straight off the bike and dumped me in nearside lane.....that's too strong to ride in

[TimmyMallett]

Just about the point they shut the M48. It was nearly knee down just to stop being blown between lanes. Not fun.

[Carlososos]

Circa 20mph takes all the fun out of riding but I suppose with care you could ride in quite a bit worse.

[mak]

When it feels dangerous but I wouldn't need to ask .

[Dr Jekyll]

mak said:

When it feels dangerous but I wouldn't need to ask .

I'd like to predict when it will feel dangerous before I go out on the bike.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Was gonna ride in tomorrow but you lot have scared me off.

[podman]

Does depend a lot on your own experience and attitude as well.

Last year coming back from Derby on a day which was a bit blowy, my Mrs , who has been riding for maybe 5 years , was on her CBR600 and nearly in tears coming in fear of being blown off the road, I didn't find it too challenging really.

This last few days would be definite No from me thats for sure.

[Iminquarantine]

I use the Windy app to check if I think it is marginal. IMHO the gust wind speed is the deciding factor for me, not the steady wind. About 70km/h gusts and I’d avoid riding at all. 60km/h gusts and I’d avoid recreational riding.

The gust wind speed can be twice the steady wind speed.

[Rushjob]

When thinking about if it's too windy to get the bike out, for me, if the wind is strong enough for me to consider whether taking the bike out is a good idea, then I've already answered my own question and it's too windy to take the bike out.

[boxedin]

Anything with gusts from 30-40 mph gets serious consideration, once it gets to 50mph I'm not interested. Its really depends on the journey and if there'll be roads where I'll be stopped at junctions on hills etc. Riding in the wind is the worst, it's tiring after a couple of hours, I find keeping your speed up helps a lot and stops you from being moved around too much. I wouldn't want to be riding a bike with lots of side fairing!

Before the days of forecasts with wind speeds and gusts it wasn't factored in at all.

[LuS1fer]

I crossed the Severn Bridge, once, on an all enclosed CBR1000F. It was like straight up, alongside lorries, wait for the wind, tilt hard into the wind at what seemed like 45 degrees, next lorry, straighten, and infinitum.

[CoreyDog]

Had a hairy moment last week heading home.

Wind had started picking up but I was only coupe of miles from home. Rode out of a built up area onto the crest of a hill with wide open fields to the left.

Gust hits the bike, must have some in low as the bike lent about 35° into the wind, almost like it had just taken the wheels (Naked bike, top heavy). So I'm riding along in a straight line with the bike lent to the left! Shift my weight and very gentle countersteer brought it back up. As dropped down the hill into some tree cover, was fine. It hasn't turned a wheel since!

[DirtyHarley]

Iminquarantine said:

IMHO the gust wind speed is the deciding factor for me, not the steady wind.

Pretty much this, wind speed doesn't bother me too much, but gusts over about 45mph and I'll consider getting the train or WFH if I can - if I absolutely have to go in, I'll consider riding upto about 60mph gusts but take the A road route and avoid open stretches of motorway with exposed bridges. It helps with a heavy bike and very low centre of gravity though, if I weren't on a crusier I think my gust tolerance would be a lot lower.

I use xcweather.co.uk for my pre-ride checks, it's generally quite good and I check 3-4 points across my route to get a feeling of how it'll be at certain points that I know are either exposed to wind or prone to flooding.

Got the train last week, and got stuck on one on friday morning for about 12 hours and ended up stranded, fortunately close enough to walk to my sisters place to crash the night, but very arduous walk; you know it was bad when there weren't any deliveroo/justeat types out wobblbing away on their mopeds!