How do you deal with gusting cross wind?

[Paul Neate]

Riding home last night I was getting battered by strong gusts of wind, probably to about 40 mph. Constant wind speed was about 25 mph. The gusts were pushing me off course by maybe half a metre to a metre. Not so bad on a well-surfaced road, but would have been a problem on a loose surface.

How do you deal with this sort of a problem? It would be a nightmare riding something like ruta 40.

[cocker]

i just ride a bit slower and relax, slight lean into the wind

[gary b]

Agree with cocker, slow it down a bit and ride as the conditions allow

[sprintster]

I know it's easier said than done but try and relax and don't have a death grip of the bars.If you're arms are relaxed you'll be able to react quicker to gusts.Look for places where you can expect a gust to come from so you're ready for it.The end of a row of trees,road openings etc.Slow down.

[SimonKTM]

I would stop at the nearest pub and wait a few days till it calms down

[Simon_100]

I agree with all of the above especially SimonKTM (thumbs)

This is a serious problem for me as to get to anywhere else in spain I have to cross the Ebro depression, which is subject to the El Cierzo wind that blows about 100 days per year. I've been reduced to riding at about 20 kph and lean right off the bike, sometimes being blown across three lanes of an autovia -starting out on the hard shoulder.

Also pray that the oncoming truck, coach, etc. driver is on your side :whistle:

Regs

Simon

[Paul-S]

If you have to ride try to relax your grip on the bars. I ride with just fingers and thumb contact rather than a full on grip

Set speed according to how much buffeting you are getting. It's easy on a sports bike to use the aerodynamics of the bike, tuck in and nail it. On a trailie you have no aerodynamics, you're riding a big sail. Do as sailors would do and the let wind flow where it wants to

Body position is not as normal, hiding behind a screen (if you have one) will not help. Try moving out from behind the screen into the side you're getting the wind from, this will reduce buffeting and drag.

Let the bike move in the breeze, it won't move as much as if you were stiff on the bike or gripping the tank with your knees etc. Let your body momentum carry you. You'll have a far more comfortable and relaxed ride and you'll feel more in control.

This has worked for me many years. The worst I had was on a Transalp, my Africa Twins are more stable, the DRZ400s coped but did suffer a bit due to being far lighter than the rest

I only ride on knobbly tyres so I'm far more prone to bike wandering.

Hope this helps

Everyone is different and will have differing opinions

[minkyhead]

counter steer into it and somtimes just accelerate a little if im being pushed hard .. first move should be to go to the handlebars and push in the direction of the gust ..
pain in the ass int it

[Tonibe63]

On the motorway yesterday I tried to be aware of exposed places like gaps in trees/trucks etc, grip the tank with my knees, tighten stomach muscles a bit and use the handlebars to steer the bike rather than leaning body into it (much less tiring).

[Earwig]

Agree with above about relaxing, counter steering etc (thumbs) would just add that make sure you keep a good clear area each side to sway into if caught by a gust (thumbs)