Your wind speed limit?
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Your Wind Speed Limits?
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Stromtrooper
1 post · Joined 2023
Got the bike out earlier after a break of a couple of months. Since it's a nice dry day I thought I'd run an errand from Chester to Ormskirk. But didn't realise it would be so windy...
I sure did get a fright with some of those gusts of wind, especially on the M57 and M58. I checked the Met Office website afterwards and gust speeds in those areas were 39mph.
I've experienced serious wind before (ho ho ho!) particularly in Scotland. One time I had really consistent side winds in open country and was leaning against it. Must've looked weird to the driver behind me. Another time experienced really strong gusts on the massive hill that leads down towards Perth (think it was there anyway).
On today's ride, I got hit by some nasty but random gusts. The first one took me a little by surprise and briefly altered my direction of travel. My response was to duck behind the screen more and make myself smaller, and keep the throttle up, although limited myself to more like 70mph. I also found that it helped to tense up my core and back muscles as if in a bracing posture for when the next hit came along, although some people say it is better to relax, I'm not so sure. I wanted to be in full control of how the handles and front wheel moved.
Weirdly, by the time I was heading home on the M56 and dealing with more like 29mph winds, it seemed a doddle in comparison, although still a bit rough, and I had more of a "**** yeeeaaaahh!!" attitude.
Anyway... feel free to share your stories and tips, and also... what is your limit when it comes to wind speed? At what point is it too dangerous?
Ps. Suzuki V Strom 650 in my case.
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🏍 General Motorcycle Discussion 🏍
Your Wind Speed Limits?
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35 views
4 replies
Stromtrooper
1 post · Joined 2023
- 1 · 3h ago
Got the bike out earlier after a break of a couple of months. Since it's a nice dry day I thought I'd run an errand from Chester to Ormskirk. But didn't realise it would be so windy...
I sure did get a fright with some of those gusts of wind, especially on the M57 and M58. I checked the Met Office website afterwards and gust speeds in those areas were 39mph.
I've experienced serious wind before (ho ho ho!) particularly in Scotland. One time I had really consistent side winds in open country and was leaning against it. Must've looked weird to the driver behind me. Another time experienced really strong gusts on the massive hill that leads down towards Perth (think it was there anyway).
On today's ride, I got hit by some nasty but random gusts. The first one took me a little by surprise and briefly altered my direction of travel. My response was to duck behind the screen more and make myself smaller, and keep the throttle up, although limited myself to more like 70mph. I also found that it helped to tense up my core and back muscles as if in a bracing posture for when the next hit came along, although some people say it is better to relax, I'm not so sure. I wanted to be in full control of how the handles and front wheel moved.
Weirdly, by the time I was heading home on the M56 and dealing with more like 29mph winds, it seemed a doddle in comparison, although still a bit rough, and I had more of a "**** yeeeaaaahh!!" attitude.
Anyway... feel free to share your stories and tips, and also... what is your limit when it comes to wind speed? At what point is it too dangerous?
Ps. Suzuki V Strom 650 in my case.
I'm on the south coast and commute a couple of times a week (on average). I'll take the bike in pretty much any weather. My limits are sub-zero temps and severe weather warnings; usually any gusts below 50mph are fine by me.
As I'm riding one of two regular routes, I know where the crosswinds are more likely - an east-west coastal flyover is usually the worst, so sometimes choose the other route depending on wind direction.
I tend to reduce my speed, pay extra attention to my spacing with other vehicles (particularly those in adjacent lanes) and take it easy, including reducing the amount of filtering if conditions dictate.
As I'm riding one of two regular routes, I know where the crosswinds are more likely - an east-west coastal flyover is usually the worst, so sometimes choose the other route depending on wind direction.
I tend to reduce my speed, pay extra attention to my spacing with other vehicles (particularly those in adjacent lanes) and take it easy, including reducing the amount of filtering if conditions dictate.
I used to live down in Devon and road a lot around those parts. Was commuting from Torquay to Shepton Mallet for a time. I never remember it being that windy on those rides but I think a lot of the roads I was using must've somehow been more sheltered from the coast.
I reckon 30mph winds are about the upper limit before I will find that it is detracting from my enjoyment of the ride and where I need to start really focusing on it. 20mph more like the limit for it not being bothersome at all. Then again, depends on the nature of the wind. A constant cross wind that is fairly predictable is better than random gusts coming out of nowhere if you ask me!
What are you riding, Julian, that gets you through 50mph gales and low temperatures on that commute?
I reckon 30mph winds are about the upper limit before I will find that it is detracting from my enjoyment of the ride and where I need to start really focusing on it. 20mph more like the limit for it not being bothersome at all. Then again, depends on the nature of the wind. A constant cross wind that is fairly predictable is better than random gusts coming out of nowhere if you ask me!
What are you riding, Julian, that gets you through 50mph gales and low temperatures on that commute?
Depends where you're riding and whether you're riding for fun or not
For green laning it doesn't really matter, we're on back roads and not going that fast - although my dual sport helmet can get wrenched around by a cross wind
If I'm riding for fun - meaning faster on A road - if it's gusty I probably won't bother going far. Wind speeds around 40+mph put me off
For green laning it doesn't really matter, we're on back roads and not going that fast - although my dual sport helmet can get wrenched around by a cross wind
If I'm riding for fun - meaning faster on A road - if it's gusty I probably won't bother going far. Wind speeds around 40+mph put me off
I got blown from my side of the road right into the path of a HGV once on a nsl road coming home from work. I made the rule that day anything that could blow my bike over outside on the sidestand (45mph+) was in no shape or form worth it.
If I have to bring my bins in, it's too windy for a bike.
If I have to bring my bins in, it's too windy for a bike.
I ride only for leisure nowadays - wind or rain and I’ll stay in. Wind though is my least favourite riding weather.
However my worst ever wind incident happened on the M62 going over the big bridge at Goole. The side wind was horrific - I was in lane 3 near the central reservation, got caught by the wind and blown straight over to the railing on the hard shoulder. Absolutely terrifying- I thought I was a goner.
However my worst ever wind incident happened on the M62 going over the big bridge at Goole. The side wind was horrific - I was in lane 3 near the central reservation, got caught by the wind and blown straight over to the railing on the hard shoulder. Absolutely terrifying- I thought I was a goner.
In the 80s I drove a Honda Acty Van for a London courier company but we also travelled the length and the breadth of the UK.
Look it up, tiny it was with a 660cc twin cylinder engine.
A mate turned one over just turning sharply round a corner in Camden. It fell and impaled itself on a metal bollard.
In a wind it was a nightmare. On the motorway you would be steering to the left or the right, depending on wind direction, just to keep in a straight line.
Gusts were sphincter puckering.
Look it up, tiny it was with a 660cc twin cylinder engine.
A mate turned one over just turning sharply round a corner in Camden. It fell and impaled itself on a metal bollard.
In a wind it was a nightmare. On the motorway you would be steering to the left or the right, depending on wind direction, just to keep in a straight line.
Gusts were sphincter puckering.
I was out today on my bike, just a 40 mile round trip. Gusts up to about 40mph according to the weather forecast, knew from previous experience to avoid any dual carriageway ( could have gone nearly the whole way there and back on them ) , just took it nice and easy down the back roads. More bothered about standing water and the amount of leaves on the roads.
I’ve ridden in winds that were strong enough to push over trucks. My bike moves no more than 30 or 40 cm to one side as a result of the biggest gusts.
It’s important to hold on to the bike with your knees, and only steer with the bars.
I’ve ridden with others who are weaving all over the road, because they’re unintentionally steering all over the road. They say, “wow your bike barely budges“, then I ride theirs and it is just as stable as mine.
It’s important to hold on to the bike with your knees, and only steer with the bars.
I’ve ridden with others who are weaving all over the road, because they’re unintentionally steering all over the road. They say, “wow your bike barely budges“, then I ride theirs and it is just as stable as mine.
Kinnell! Some of these stories are terrifying.
After all these years of somehow not noticing I think from now on I will specifically check the wind speed on the forecast before riding!
Further to Kawiciki's post, I've also read that it is best to use counter steering from the bars and to turn into the wind, also to put your knee out in the direction of the wind if you're getting cross winds, presumably for balance and changing the aerodynamics. I definitely found making myself smaller and tucked in helped. I thought that with random gusts having a firm stance was important to avoid being taken by surprise at the bars.
After all these years of somehow not noticing I think from now on I will specifically check the wind speed on the forecast before riding!
Further to Kawiciki's post, I've also read that it is best to use counter steering from the bars and to turn into the wind, also to put your knee out in the direction of the wind if you're getting cross winds, presumably for balance and changing the aerodynamics. I definitely found making myself smaller and tucked in helped. I thought that with random gusts having a firm stance was important to avoid being taken by surprise at the bars.
I've learned to take the top box off my bike if the wind is going to be more than about 30mph. Heavy crosswinds are terrifying as the back of the bike moves much more than the front (the first time I thought I'd had a blowout at the back). Oddly, with sidecases it's more stable than with no luggage at all.
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