All wind stories are bad wind stories.

 

Worst riding condition ever was in southern Arizona. I don't know how hard it was blowing but it was hard to stay in your lane - I did not enjoy that day. Two things I'd suggest: slow down well below the speed limit, and be prepared for strong gusts.

 

I was riding down I 95 in va and one of those news helicopters was hovering really low right over the highway when I went under him that wind. Coming off the blades blew me over one lane and scared the $h!t outta me

 

Interesting stories. So far in the thread, I've heard to speed up in the wind, and to slow down. My instinct the other day was to slow down.

Be safe my friends.

 

I was visiting Cali this weekend working a 25 hour endurance race in that wind. I would only ride in those conditions if absolutely necessary.

 

Rode home in the recent "wind event" in So Cal this past week and the wind was howling, cities lost power, trees down etc. I felt the wind and heard/felt the change in my bikes performance but never felt "out of control" but was not comfortable. I was glad that I chose to wear my 3/4 helmet that day I was riding home from work about 1am, so the dust from freeway work etc and lane closures causing congesting made it a bit hairy, if I had a choice I would have ridden my truck. But I just dig being on my bike......

 

I too have been battling the winds in SoCal on and off for the last few weeks, I haven't had too much side winds (just enough to move me a foot or so) the the head winds have been brutal makes the fore arms nice and sore.

 

Wind is only a problem if you're ridin' a Fatboy--it's the solid wheels. That's why you have holes drilled in yours.

 

Yea, especially after I've eaten something with garlic, or Mexican.

 

I thought I might have been the only one almost done in by a helicopter; guess there are other careless pilots, too. Had an Army Huey land just ahead of me on the shoulder in Alabama decades ago, too close to avoid or stop for, and that was the only time I've been blown out of my lane. Ft. Rucker wasn't real close, but suspect it was from there. I've ridden miles leaning into a steady strong crosswind in Arizona, weird feeling. Almost lost my grip in Texas when I hit a storm front; went from mild tailwind to shrieking headwind instantly, nothing visual to warn me, a pucker moment. A couple months ago in Wisconsin, had side gusts that hammered me behind the windshield (but had no effect on the 883, what a stable little bike); real sore shoulders and back when I got home. You don't notice it so much on a torque monster like a Harley, but on smaller bikes, the kind you lay down on to hold 65 against a headwind, you notice that even a quartering tailwind will slow you down; I guess the side pressure is stronger than the tailwind element. I've had to use the brake on a smaller bike to stay back in a semi's suction, might not happen to a heavy Harley. Always wise to be careful around semi's, especially down long hills - you can get beside them, and then find out they have a higher top speed...