Gotta Love Riding in 50 MPH Wind Gusts

[rockbottom]

I just rode from Washington back to Carlisle, PA. Washington rush hour traffic was particularly entertaining with 25 MPH sustained wind and gusts up to 50.

[Jed]

I just rode from Washington back to Carlisle, PA. Washington rush hour traffic was particularly entertaining with 25 MPH sustained wind and gusts up to 50.

Don't gloat now, some of us are still "snowed in".

[BigEasy]

While I understand your frustration, I don't feel too bad for you. My driveway, and the next 3 miles of road to get me to dry roads, is still coated in 2-3" of ice. I'm envious that your riding

[TAG-Caver]

Yep, the roads were clean enough in PA that I fired up the boxer and gave her a good run. The winds definitely enhance the experience.

[deilenberger]

I've found the R12R amazingly stable in side-winds. Coming back from Nova Scotia this summer - coming across the Trans-Canadian, there were 40-50 MPH side winds - fairly steady where the road went over open country, gusty where it went through forests. Using my knee-out-to-windward, I found the ride most enjoyable since the bike was self-correcting (the knee out trick is an old one someone told me about - and it works - think how a sailboat sail works - and you'll understand how the forces cancel each other out..)

The only spot where it seemed iffy was passing a long tandem tractor-trailer.. as I got even with the back end of the rear trailer, I could feel the bike starting to move around. Decided I'd be just as happy hanging back 1/4 mile from him. I could tell when a good gust was coming up since the trucks would start to drift over to the shoulder of the road due to the wind.

[Caroanbill]

The R12R is quite amazing in tricky winds.

Last year I did a 2500km, 4-day run including down the Kidman Way (outback New South Wales, Australia). Long sections of the run (over 200km at a time) were in some of the most blustery, gusty winds I've ever experienced. Prior to the R12R, I'd have considered ending the run early, and I'd certainly have given up on the southerly, wind-exposed section. After 3 years on the R12R, I knew it'd be bearable.

That wind was as bad as the scariest wind day of my riding life - 1200km on a K1100LT down the very exposed Stuart Highway from Alice Springs, Northern Territory to Port Augusta, South Australia. That day had me wondering if I'd survive - gusts coming out of cuttings actually blew me onto the shoulder, but out there there is nothing for 200+km so you have to go on. I had to use every trick (knee out, "spilling" wind like I do sailing, staying loose despite shaling fear) and a lot of willpower - and I was still mostly a passenger in the big gusts! On the Kidman Way run, rugged up in my Tourguard jacket, microfiber and merino, I actually enjoyed the experience - the R12R goes where I point it, no matter what the wind.

My last two bikes - F650CS "Scarver" and R1150RS - were both very wind-affected, and quite often scary in big gusts. MY Vespa 250 is mostly OK, but there are a couple of high bridges near me that get quite hairy in crosswinds. The R12R just laughs at the wind.

[redwing]

I have ridden in winds that the weather service reported at 35 mph gusts. It was an interesting experience. Does California regularly have 60 mph winds? A rider I spoke once with a rider who said he was at a stop sign when the winds (60 mph) hit and knocked him over. ???

Robert

[Kieran R1200R]

the R12R goes where I point it, no matter what the wind.

Unlike the K100RS!!!
Absolute poo in a side wind.
One of the sale pitches for this bike was that the fairing was designed in a wind tunnel.
Maybe for a front on wind but the side wind is a different story.
Back in my late twenties I was riding my bike to a job in Murray Bridge 75km up the freeway from Adelaide for a few months.
In the mornings the air was still and the ride was great.
In the afternoon the wind would pick up and blow a bastard.
I had the front of the bike get picked up from this side wind and shift the front wheel, believe it or not!
Scary stuff. The bike was so bad in side winds that sometimes I would have to stop.

Thank God those days are over.
My R1100S, R1200S, and now R1200R are not effected by side winds at all, just plodd on, great bikes.

[ContraMoto]

Certain parts of California will get very high sustained winds at parts of the year. Wind will blast out of the Cajon Pass (east LA Basin) at 60-70+ mph sustained winds. I recall driving out the I-10 toward Riverside one day and there was a long line of semi trucks laying over on their right sides. A surreal scene. A Goodyear blimp was once tied up at Ontario airport. In the morning all that was left was some cables dangling from the mooring post.