Watch out for cross winds

mbarr10 · 05-05-2018, 07:08 PM

I almost crapped my pants reliving this. This was not me, But I have had This almost happen to me many years ago

**JD Hog** · 05-05-2018, 07:52 PM

WOW

I think I would slow down and stay in the right lane

The Black Knight · 05-05-2018, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD Hog

WOW

I think I would slow down and stay in the right lane

I agree with you.

ldhthept · 05-06-2018, 04:18 PM

So it would blow you into the traffic coming up behind you in the L lane? No thanks. He did a good job of not freaking out. Bet he was thankful for a flat/firm/treeless median.

**JD Hog** · 05-06-2018, 04:29 PM

If you slow down to a much safer speed you will have better control and if the wind does blow you sideways you wont be traveling the same feet per second so a better chance of staying in your lane.

MrMikey · 05-06-2018, 07:34 PM

Do that in our medians around here you either hit a cross culvert, a plow truck cross over, boulder, ditch, atv tracks or mud...........Mike

**Top Cat** · 05-06-2018, 08:36 PM

Holy Crap, that was scary.
I would call a cab and get the bike on a calm day

**Rookie13** · 05-06-2018, 10:54 PM

I think I peed myself just watching that clip...reminded of how that feels everytime I travel across South Dakota. Not fun.

4Steelers · 05-07-2018, 10:04 AM

A rider and his passenger died about a week ago after riding into a ditch on I-88 near me. I had discussed this with some other riders and we feel the wind may have blown them off of the road as there has been no other indication of why this happened.

**Sabre-t** · 05-07-2018, 12:26 PM

He definitely needs to slow down. I've ridden in winds like that, too, riding across Kansas. Never got blown out of my lane, but I also kept it between 45 and 50 mph during the worst winds. 60+ mph and I probably would have been blown around. I had a harder time on my 600 lb Honda Sabre 1100 than the guy I was riding with. He was riding 2 up on a big Harley Ultra. I can't imagine riding in those winds on a 450 lb bike.

redjay · 05-07-2018, 01:21 PM

I experienced wind like that the day Barrie (Ontario) got hit by tornadoes back in 1985. I was on the 401 highway on the bike and felt like I was riding at 45 degrees. It was only after I got home from work and watched the news that I saw that multiple tornadoes had swept across Southern Ontario.

**Rasta** · 05-08-2018, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD Hog

WOW

I think I would slow down and stay in the right lane

That was my thought when I saw him take off after that

DwnDak · 04-13-2019, 05:38 PM

80+mph and left lane... Lucky he kept it together..

andyvh1959 · 05-24-2019, 01:43 PM

If the crosswinds are at right angle to the bike centerline then lower speed only helps because it gives the rider more time to adjust the line if the wind moves the bike sideways.

If the winds are at an angle to the bike, say 45 degrees, then MORE speed helps because the forces balance out better with a higher forward force. Also, because the bike is leaning into the wind, higher forward speed in angled crosswind produces a higher force vector against the wind.

In either case, the lane closer to the wind source is probably the better choice. So wind from the right is best controlled from the right lane. Left lane for wind from the left. Assuming the rider is on a multi-lane highway. If on a two lane highway then its lane position to the wind. Constant countersteer input to the wind side helps and the other hand acts as a damper, always ready when the wind suddenly drops or rises.

I once crossed the Mackinak bridge in the rain on a very windy night in early September with 40 mph gusts from the left as I rode north. I stayed in the right (paved) lane to stay off the steel grid, and tried to ride alongside large trailers as much as possible to minimize getting blown around. I made it across to my hotel in St. Ignace, but it was one of few times I was nervous on the bike. Hotel manager said I just made it across before they closed the bridge. 552' above the water makes for a breezy ride!

**smokier** · 05-25-2019, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyvh1959

<snip>... 552' above the water makes for a breezy ride!

Throwing the friendly BS flag here.
The top of the towers are at 550+ feet. Deck height is closer to 200 feet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Bridge

Doesn't change your points: big bridge, a long damn way down, lots of wind there.

Ride safe and lean-into-the-wind,
Smokier

05-05-2018, 07:08 PM	#1
mbarr10 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,565	Watch out for cross winds I almost crapped my pants reliving this. This was not me, But I have had This almost happen to me many years ago __________________ Please post back after you have solved any issues 2016 1700 Vaquero 10/4/2016 2007 1500 Classic W/ Reckless Fairing, 42,000 miles 2004 600 Honda Shadow 18,000 miles 1989 500 Honda CX Custom 55,000 miles 1973 400 Kawi Triple 5,000 miles Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-05-2018, 07:52 PM	#2
JD Hog Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Placerville, CA Posts: 2,960	WOW I think I would slow down and stay in the right lane __________________ Jim Diebolt 2015 Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS The Black Kaw 2005 Vulcan Nomad Sold 2006 Honda 1800 VTX (Freebie) Sold 2008 Harley Ultra Classic Sold 2001 Harley Ultra Classic Sold Hangtown, Kalifornia VBA #2625
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05-06-2018, 04:29 PM	#5
JD Hog Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Placerville, CA Posts: 2,960	If you slow down to a much safer speed you will have better control and if the wind does blow you sideways you wont be traveling the same feet per second so a better chance of staying in your lane. __________________ Jim Diebolt 2015 Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS The Black Kaw 2005 Vulcan Nomad Sold 2006 Honda 1800 VTX (Freebie) Sold 2008 Harley Ultra Classic Sold 2001 Harley Ultra Classic Sold Hangtown, Kalifornia VBA #2625 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-06-2018, 07:34 PM	#6
MrMikey Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 405	Do that in our medians around here you either hit a cross culvert, a plow truck cross over, boulder, ditch, atv tracks or mud...........Mike __________________ '09 Voyager
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05-06-2018, 08:36 PM	#7
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Holy Crap, that was scary. I would call a cab and get the bike on a calm day __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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05-06-2018, 04:18 PM	#4
ldhthept Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 1,039	So it would blow you into the traffic coming up behind you in the L lane? No thanks. He did a good job of not freaking out. Bet he was thankful for a flat/firm/treeless median.
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05-06-2018, 10:54 PM	#8
Rookie13 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Rochester, Minnesota Posts: 179	I think I peed myself just watching that clip...reminded of how that feels everytime I travel across South Dakota. Not fun. __________________ A nation of sheep will soon have a government of wolves- Edward R. Marrow
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05-07-2018, 10:04 AM	#9
4Steelers Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Rickman, TN Posts: 59	A rider and his passenger died about a week ago after riding into a ditch on I-88 near me. I had discussed this with some other riders and we feel the wind may have blown them off of the road as there has been no other indication of why this happened. __________________ 2015 Vaquero "Ivanized" V&H Dual Slash Cut Slip Ons Auxillary Lights Kuryakyn Longhorn Highway Pegs Mustang Seat VBA #: 3681
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05-07-2018, 12:26 PM	#10
Sabre-t Join Date: May 2015 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 838	He definitely needs to slow down. I've ridden in winds like that, too, riding across Kansas. Never got blown out of my lane, but I also kept it between 45 and 50 mph during the worst winds. 60+ mph and I probably would have been blown around. I had a harder time on my 600 lb Honda Sabre 1100 than the guy I was riding with. He was riding 2 up on a big Harley Ultra. I can't imagine riding in those winds on a 450 lb bike.
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05-07-2018, 01:21 PM	#11
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,982	I experienced wind like that the day Barrie (Ontario) got hit by tornadoes back in 1985. I was on the 401 highway on the bike and felt like I was riding at 45 degrees. It was only after I got home from work and watched the news that I saw that multiple tornadoes had swept across Southern Ontario.
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04-13-2019, 05:38 PM	#13
DwnDak Jr. Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: SE Ontario, Canada Posts: 9	80+mph and left lane... Lucky he kept it together..
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05-24-2019, 01:43 PM	#14
andyvh1959 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Green Bay WI Posts: 768	If the crosswinds are at right angle to the bike centerline then lower speed only helps because it gives the rider more time to adjust the line if the wind moves the bike sideways. If the winds are at an angle to the bike, say 45 degrees, then MORE speed helps because the forces balance out better with a higher forward force. Also, because the bike is leaning into the wind, higher forward speed in angled crosswind produces a higher force vector against the wind. In either case, the lane closer to the wind source is probably the better choice. So wind from the right is best controlled from the right lane. Left lane for wind from the left. Assuming the rider is on a multi-lane highway. If on a two lane highway then its lane position to the wind. Constant countersteer input to the wind side helps and the other hand acts as a damper, always ready when the wind suddenly drops or rises. I once crossed the Mackinak bridge in the rain on a very windy night in early September with 40 mph gusts from the left as I rode north. I stayed in the right (paved) lane to stay off the steel grid, and tried to ride alongside large trailers as much as possible to minimize getting blown around. I made it across to my hotel in St. Ignace, but it was one of few times I was nervous on the bike. Hotel manager said I just made it across before they closed the bridge. 552' above the water makes for a breezy ride! __________________ My $1200 Vulcan, to start from. Last edited by andyvh1959; 05-24-2019 at 01:51 PM.
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