Crosswinds

mjsc1970

Some hairy moments commuting home in the NorthCounty Dublin this evening.
Got me thinking, if I was to take off the top box would I be less likely to be caught out by a cross wind gust?

Faing

definitely makes a difference but with today's windspeed it is in the hands of the Gods.....Dangerous winds here in the SouthWest.

chrismon

You might be better off taking it off.
Crazy wind all over the country!

mjsc1970

Faing wrote: »

definitely makes a difference but with today's windspeed it is in the hands of the Gods.....Dangerous winds here in the SouthWest.

Thanks, will try next week, to be windy again, hate those crosswinds

Faing

They can catch anyone out. I used to hate riding the Pan in high crosswinds, trundling along with a 15degree list isn't fun at all. Taking the topbox off did help a little though.

mjsc1970

Faing wrote: »

They can catch anyone out. I used to hate riding the Pan in high crosswinds, trundling along with a 15degree list isn't fun at all. Taking the topbox off did help a little though.

Some bikes are better than others it seems in crosswinds. Mines a F650GS and its more than capable other than that.
A work pal said he never had that issue on an FJR but did on a Deauville.
I'll try with the topbox off next week ta.

galwaytt

mjsc1970 wrote: »

Some bikes are better than others it seems in crosswinds. Mines a F650GS and its more than capable other than that.
A work pal said he never had that issue on an FJR but did on a Deauville.
I'll try with the topbox off next week ta.

Was out on blood bike Deauville last night. ... brutal. On call tonight and quite happy if phone doesn't ring tbh....

My h-d seems unaffected

rowanh

The wind should die down by this evening.

http://www.yr.no/place/Ireland/Leinster/Dublin/hour_by_hour.html

I find this site is very accurate for weather.

P.C.

rowanh wrote: »

The wind should die down by this evening.

http://www.yr.no/place/Ireland/Leinster/Dublin/hour_by_hour.html

I find this site is very accurate for weather.

That is a good site for the weather.

I think that we are in for a bit of mixed weather for the next while.

650Ginge

mjsc1970 wrote: »

Some bikes are better than others it seems in crosswinds. Mines a F650GS and its more than capable other than that.
A work pal said he never had that issue on an FJR but did on a Deauville.
I'll try with the topbox off next week ta.

I might be that guy in work. Fjr is very solid in winds.

Topboxs catch a load of wind even when it isn't windy.

My current bike nc750X is ok, just ok.

This might sound odd by try before knocking it. On the side the wind is hitting you push your knee out as far as you can it will make a huge difference to stability. It gets tiring though.

Hotblack Desiato

Luckily for me the prevailing wind is a direct tailwind in the morning and a direct headwind in the evening. There's only a few places on my trip to/from work where it's a crosswind, and a few junctions where you suddenly go from sheltered by buildings to exposed.

If it was a 40 knot north wind though, with gusts stronger than that, I'd probably leave the bike at home and take the bus as I'd be fighting it the whole way. If it's enough to close Dublin Airport then it's enough for me.

If I know the weather is going to be bad and if I can, I leave work at peak time so the traffic speed will be low. Nothing worse than having to slow down due to the weather and getting eejits in cages racing up behind you and doing dangerous overtakes. Also on a multi lane road having lots of traffic in the lanes around you helps shield you a bit from the wind.

In very windy weather it helps to slow down a bit. 25mph feels much more secure in bad gusts on an exposed road than 30.

zubair

The weight of a bike would make a difference in the wind but I also remember reading that full faired bikes are affected more in crosswinds as the fairing catches the wind.

I find strong winds more annoying on my body than the bike so tucking in makes a big difference for me.

blu3r0ri0n

zubair wrote: »

The weight of a bike would make a difference in the wind but I also remember reading that full faired bikes are affected more in crosswinds as the fairing catches the wind.

I find strong winds more annoying on my body than the bike so tucking in makes a big difference for me.

It does, I find it much easier on the blackbird than I did on the Fz6. But both are very manageable.

I always have the topbox on the blackbird, I usually forget about it until I have to corner and the little weave starts in crosswinds. I find that the faster you go the easier it is unless your cornering

TheArtOfNoise

I ride all year round, don't mind any amount of heat/cold/fog/rain but I don't do windy wet conditions at all. The Vespa goes straight in the garage and I get my bus fare ready!

Muahahaha

The section of motorway north of Swords going over the Malahide estuary can be woeful for crosswinds somedays. I don't seem to get too badly effected by them on a stripped down cruiser, I suppose the weight of it and not having fairings makes a difference. I remember though my moped used to get thrown around somedays on the motorway, should have left it home to be honest.

Just out of interest, has anyone here ever come a cropper to the wind? I've often heard bikers hate it but never known anyone to get dumped off the side of a road because of it. It must happen though as I've come close myself a couple of times and just got it together in time

endacl

On the plus side, a strong tailwind can be used to great advantage by tying a load of tesco bags to the handlebars on long pieces of string. Save on fuel, and use free environmentally friendly wind power!

mjsc1970

Muahahaha wrote: »

The section of motorway north of Swords going over the Malahide estuary can be woeful for crosswinds somedays. I don't seem to get too badly effected by them on a stripped down cruiser, I suppose the weight of it and not having fairings makes a difference. I remember though my moped used to get thrown around somedays on the motorway, should have left it home to be honest.

Just out of interest, has anyone here ever come a cropper to the wind? I've often heard bikers hate it but never known anyone to get dumped off the side of a road because of it. It must happen though as I've come close myself a couple of times and just got it together in time

That spot over the malahide estuary is on my usual commute.
When a strong crosswind hits with an unexpected gust there it would scare the bejaybus out of you. I tend to use the old N1 on those days.

dubscottie

Muahahaha wrote: »

Just out of interest, has anyone here ever come a cropper to the wind? I've often heard bikers hate it but never known anyone to get dumped off the side of a road because of it. It must happen though as I've come close myself a couple of times and just got it together in time

When I worked as a courier I witnessed a young lad getting his Aerox blown from under him going up the Nass Rd. I didn't think it was possible! Gave me warning to brace though!

Nearly came a cropper on the then new section of the N2 (here https://goo.gl/maps/26HL7 )

There was only one lane in use at the time but still got blown through the cones into the outside lanes.

Muahahaha

mjsc1970 wrote: »

That spot over the malahide estuary is on my usual commute.
When a strong crosswind hits with an unexpected gust there it would scare the bejaybus out of you. I tend to use the old N1 on those days.

yeah I hear ya for sure. Another dodgy situation can be if you overtake a long truck and he's blocking a crosswind from hitting you but then when you get past his cab a wall of wind gives you a wallop, not a nice feeling

dubscottie wrote: »

When I worked as a courier I witnessed a young lad getting his Aerox blown from under him going up the Nass Rd. I didn't think it was possible! Gave me warning to brace though!

Nearly came a cropper on the then new section of the N2 (here https://goo.gl/maps/26HL7 )

There was only one lane in use at the time but still got blown through the cones into the outside lanes.

I know that section well as am on it usually once a week. For some reason I find those first few kms of the M2 can be gusty but thereafter to Ashbourne its not too bad. I go to Julianstown so have an option of using the M1 or the m2, there's only about 2 miles in the difference. I take the M2 purely because it is a lot less busy than the M1 but also partly because it doesn't feel as windy as parts of the M1.

Mr Sheen!

The n2/m2 is on my daily commute ( bloody chicken strips) it can we very windy in the bad weather like we are having the past week.

Even if your expecting it and ready for it to catch you . . . You can be sure the van/lorry in the other lane will be own into your path!