How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
#21
09-16-2007 | 10:11 AM
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 35
From: The real N.CA (not S.F. Bay Area)
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
I remember crossing Wyoming once on a Goldwing with extremely strong crosswinds. This may sound strange but the faster we went, the less problem the wind caused. The major problem was when we passed simi trucks. Coming out from behindthe wind protection of thetruck was like taking a shotgun blast on the windward side.
#22
09-16-2007 | 10:12 AM
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
ORIGINAL: MNPGRider
Demkay, countersteering is the basis of all two wheel control once you are going fast enough to not need to turn your front wheel like a tricycle. On most bikes this happens as soon as 6 mph. The faster you go the less you steer and the more you countersteer.
Press forward on the left handlebar, and your front tire will deflect to the right, causing your biketo lean left and go left. Press forward on the right handlebar and your front tire will deflect to the left, and your bike will lean right and go right. It gives you instant control of your direction, and very useful in dealing with cross winds.
You are already doing this when riding, you just don't realize it. Go out on a deserted tar road, and practice swerving the center lines by just pressing on the bars.
Demkay, countersteering is the basis of all two wheel control once you are going fast enough to not need to turn your front wheel like a tricycle. On most bikes this happens as soon as 6 mph. The faster you go the less you steer and the more you countersteer.
Press forward on the left handlebar, and your front tire will deflect to the right, causing your biketo lean left and go left. Press forward on the right handlebar and your front tire will deflect to the left, and your bike will lean right and go right. It gives you instant control of your direction, and very useful in dealing with cross winds.
You are already doing this when riding, you just don't realize it. Go out on a deserted tar road, and practice swerving the center lines by just pressing on the bars.
#23
09-16-2007 | 04:18 PM
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 913
Likes: 1
From: Canary Islands
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
ORIGINAL: MNPGRider
Demkay, countersteering is the basis of all two wheel control once you are going fast enough to not need to turn your front wheel like a tricycle. On most bikes this happens as soon as 6 mph. The faster you go the less you steer and the more you countersteer.
Press forward on the left handlebar, and your front tire will deflect to the right, causing your biketo lean left and go left. Press forward on the right handlebar and your front tire will deflect to the left, and your bike will lean right and go right. It gives you instant control of your direction, and very useful in dealing with cross winds.
You are already doing this when riding, you just don't realize it. Go out on a deserted tar road, and practice swerving the center lines by just pressing on the bars.
Demkay, countersteering is the basis of all two wheel control once you are going fast enough to not need to turn your front wheel like a tricycle. On most bikes this happens as soon as 6 mph. The faster you go the less you steer and the more you countersteer.
Press forward on the left handlebar, and your front tire will deflect to the right, causing your biketo lean left and go left. Press forward on the right handlebar and your front tire will deflect to the left, and your bike will lean right and go right. It gives you instant control of your direction, and very useful in dealing with cross winds.
You are already doing this when riding, you just don't realize it. Go out on a deserted tar road, and practice swerving the center lines by just pressing on the bars.
Think I'm gonna take a riding course in the next month or so. As I wanna learn emergency stops, and a whole load of other things that keep getting mentioned on this forum.
#24
09-16-2007 | 04:22 PM
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON Canada
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
ORIGINAL: Demkay
Thanks man. I heard about this in a few threads and never really understood what it meant.
Think I'm gonna take a riding course in the next month or so. As I wanna learn emergency stops, and a whole load of other things that keep getting mentioned on this forum.
ORIGINAL: MNPGRider
Demkay, countersteering is the basis of all two wheel control once you are going fast enough to not need to turn your front wheel like a tricycle. On most bikes this happens as soon as 6 mph. The faster you go the less you steer and the more you countersteer.
Press forward on the left handlebar, and your front tire will deflect to the right, causing your biketo lean left and go left. Press forward on the right handlebar and your front tire will deflect to the left, and your bike will lean right and go right. It gives you instant control of your direction, and very useful in dealing with cross winds.
You are already doing this when riding, you just don't realize it. Go out on a deserted tar road, and practice swerving the center lines by just pressing on the bars.
Demkay, countersteering is the basis of all two wheel control once you are going fast enough to not need to turn your front wheel like a tricycle. On most bikes this happens as soon as 6 mph. The faster you go the less you steer and the more you countersteer.
Press forward on the left handlebar, and your front tire will deflect to the right, causing your biketo lean left and go left. Press forward on the right handlebar and your front tire will deflect to the left, and your bike will lean right and go right. It gives you instant control of your direction, and very useful in dealing with cross winds.
You are already doing this when riding, you just don't realize it. Go out on a deserted tar road, and practice swerving the center lines by just pressing on the bars.
Think I'm gonna take a riding course in the next month or so. As I wanna learn emergency stops, and a whole load of other things that keep getting mentioned on this forum.
#25
09-16-2007 | 04:56 PM
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 463
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From:
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
Just back from a ride whaap... MNPG said it better. Leaning is cool when you have a steady wind, and countersteering is always in effect above walking speed...but the instant flick control it provides allows successful gust correction.
At first, I just thought you were taking a shot at me...but then thought that a user with over 8000 posts would surely not do that, eh?
The other guys explained it well enough that you should have understood what I was saying...when hit with a *gust* (not a steady crosswind), stay smooth in your control inputs (throttle and brake) and use the effects of countersteering to make the rapid adjustments needed.
At first, I just thought you were taking a shot at me...but then thought that a user with over 8000 posts would surely not do that, eh?
The other guys explained it well enough that you should have understood what I was saying...when hit with a *gust* (not a steady crosswind), stay smooth in your control inputs (throttle and brake) and use the effects of countersteering to make the rapid adjustments needed.
#26
09-16-2007 | 05:28 PM
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
ORIGINAL: Blackisfast
Just back from a ride whaap... MNPG said it better. Leaning is cool when you have a steady wind, and countersteering is always in effect above walking speed...but the instant flick control it provides allows successful gust correction.
At first, I just thought you were taking a shot at me...but then thought that a user with over 8000 posts would surely not do that, eh?
The other guys explained it well enough that you should have understood what I was saying...when hit with a *gust* (not a steady crosswind), stay smooth in your control inputs (throttle and brake) and use the effects of countersteering to make the rapid adjustments needed.
Just back from a ride whaap... MNPG said it better. Leaning is cool when you have a steady wind, and countersteering is always in effect above walking speed...but the instant flick control it provides allows successful gust correction.
At first, I just thought you were taking a shot at me...but then thought that a user with over 8000 posts would surely not do that, eh?
The other guys explained it well enough that you should have understood what I was saying...when hit with a *gust* (not a steady crosswind), stay smooth in your control inputs (throttle and brake) and use the effects of countersteering to make the rapid adjustments needed.
#28
09-17-2007 | 12:16 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 65
From: SW Minnesota
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
The Oct issue of Motorcycle Consumer News has a great article about physics relating to motorcyling that includes some dynamics of countersteering. Page 41
#29
09-17-2007 | 12:31 PM
Novice
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: California
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
Relax grip on the bars! That is key! Also, I have noticed that sticking your knee out into the gust for some reason helps. Don't ask me the physics of it. Could be all mental
Those Santa Ana winds are terrible! Sometimes I find it best to pull over in a protected area for abit after taking a pounding for too long.
Those Santa Ana winds are terrible! Sometimes I find it best to pull over in a protected area for abit after taking a pounding for too long.
#30
09-17-2007 | 12:38 PM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,420
Likes: 0
From: Palmer Alaska
RE: How Do You Handle High (40 mph) Crosswind Gusts?
my answer, hang on, and try to lean into the sustained gusts. Guess I'm kinda used to it, and "high winds" here, and 60+ or more.
I live in a wind tunnel,and the whole state knows it [8D] Seems the only ? people ask me when they find out where I live, is "Does the wind blow there alot??" , my answer is..."If ya know enough to ask that ?, you already know the answer!"
I live in a wind tunnel,and the whole state knows it [8D] Seems the only ? people ask me when they find out where I live, is "Does the wind blow there alot??" , my answer is..."If ya know enough to ask that ?, you already know the answer!"