VFR in the wind?

I was riding yesterday and there was a slight crossbreeze here and there. I was going about 45 mph or so. Not accelerating much and suddenly the bike feels like it almost went out from under me. Nothing on the road. It just felt like the bike was getting swept out from underneath me. Would a slight crossbreeze do that?? :unsure:

Scared the :bs: out of me.

On the way home the breeze made the bike glide over about a foot in the lane ever so gently.

In a car and on a cruiser the breeze will move you around but as a whole, not just the bike? Just wondering if it is because of the big fairings acting like a sail?

Any feedback or similar experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

I just got back from a ride that had about a 50 mile stretch with non-stop crosswinds and a lot of gusts. The VFR is my first bike with bodywork, and it was a genuine pain to deal with, compared to a "standard" bike. There were a few times that a gust pushed me to the point of being concerned, as in I was having a difficult time compensating and was darn near getting pushed into the other lane.

Like 'Stuka says, about all you can do is slow down somewhat. I tried various speeds from about 50 to 75, and 60 seemed to be a reasonable compromise.

 

I drive back and forth to work every day, About 30 miles one way. When the wind picks up it tries to throw my bike all over the interstate. Its really fun when your passing several semi's and the wind tries to throw you off your bike. I just hold on to the handle bars a little harder and let the bike cut through the wind. Always gets me where I need to go. I'm just worried about when its windy and raining, I dont want to hydroplane into the median.

 

Thanks for the replies.

The sensation was less of being pushed over in the lane and more like someone swept the bike out from under me. Hard to describe. There was nothing on the road. No dips.

I can only describe it like riding a bicycle on ice. The way it will just go out from under you.

I think the bike may have been slightly leaned (if at all) and the wind caught the side and created a little lift to unsettle the chassis and moved the bike right out from under me. I didn't feel a thing going on upstairs.

I have dealt with the wind many times before on the hiway, semi's, bridges etc.. This was freaky.

One never knows what is going to happen.

 

I love it when I'm riding straight down the road, but with the bike leaned a considerable amount to counteract the steering forces of a crosswind. Yes, a sportbike with real side fairings and not-so-much mass can get tossed around a bit in the wind.

 

I've been pushed around by the wind and I just slow down and get used to it.

Sometimes though on highways if I'm stuck behind a semi I just crouch down to a racer pose and that helps reduce the shifting around.

 

I was riding yesterday and encountered kind of the same.
It seemed like the wind pushes the lower side of the bike.
I just keep that in mind the rest of the ride, slow down when it happens,
and try to adjust.

 

Thanks FrankO-

It does seem like just the lower part of the bike got pushed. Glad to know I'm not the only one.

Do you think it is enough to knock you down or just make you buy new shorts.

 

This is exactly the same thing I experience. I regularly ride a stretch of road that parallels a mountian ridge and is subject to winds called 'mountain roll'. These winds roll down the hill right across the road. Mike bike feels like it wants to come out from under me to the side. As stated above, slowing and holding on tighter helps. But any wind over 25mph causes me to take a more protected route home.

 

We have had some CRAZY STRONG wind lately in Tucson. On Wednesday I rode home in it and experienced the sensation you mention. And both seem to happen at times...sometimes the bottom does seem to scoot out from underneath and other times it is more of a even, upright push to the side. I think sitting more upright causes the scoot out from underneath sensation. Crouching seems to help with both. Slowing down is helpful but it still remains an issue of course. It is the gusting wind that is the problem. A steady wind can be adjusted to.

 

This is common for the VFR. Just this morning coming across the bridge to San Fran, the bike was being hit with 30mph cross winds. If you're not used to it one would have to buy new underwear after getting off the bike. The bottom half of the bike feels like it wants to trade places with the top end! I've been blown across 2 lanes of traffic before on a standard bike but I'm sure if i was riding the VFR it would have blown me right off the bridge! Sorry to say but get used to it...

 

I had the same experience riding to work yesterday. I was fine riding west into the wind on the interstate at 80+mph, but when I got off the interstate to ride south, I got a major crosswind made me feel like I would lowside it. I actually had to drive the speed limit...which sucks. At one point my bike was leaning like I was making a sharp corner, but I was going straight.

A strange feeling but I just slowed down a bit. I don't think the bike would actually lose traction from the crosswind effect.

 

I've noticed this while riding.... the same thing happens in my car so i wasn't too concerned, I just slowed down and continued on my way.

 

Oh, one more thing: the worst effect is when it is a cross wind and you come around the front of a semi. You will get a sudden worsening of the wind as you come around the front. Be ready for it.

 

Wow......

Thanks for the feedback. It really helps a lot.

Mike

 

My 599 didn't blow around as much as the VFR. The 599 could still try to change lanes especially in the rain though. Still, the VFR is MUCH better with the headwinds so I'll accept the trade off!

 

Last week I did the 100 plus miles from Minneapolis to Decora in what the weather folks said were 30 mph cross winds. I found that what Nungboy said worked for me: If I hugged the tank and got low the bike did much, much better. It is still a bit disconcerting, but I was able to stay at speed (65 mph). It was a pretty steady wind, though, and not really gusty. The problem with the Helibars is that it is a bit harder to hold that position. We don't get winds like that a lot here in Western MA, but the other bikes on the road out there looked like it was standard fare for them. Of course most were Harleys.

 

I'm in Columbus, OH and several years ago a guy on a Goldwing was riding on the interstate up near Cleveland and the wind blew him into the retaining wall and killed him. Not trying to be a downer here but the reality of it is a cross wind can blow you around or worse. In his case it just blew him and the bike right out of the lane. I have experienced wind bad enough to blow me across the lane and I was on a 500 interceptor(half fairing bike) but I was anticipating it, so in either case, fairings or not if you aren't paying attention it could blow you right into a car. Anymore there are days here that I just won't ride.

 

The worst thing you can do is tense up & put a death grip on the bike. Relax, let the bike move around a bit & you'll be just fine. It's when you try to fight the bike & keep it in one place in the lane that you have the most trouble. You have an entire lane to move around in so let the bike move fluidly & everything usually works out just fine.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2: