highway riding.

[tristantumble]

Hi there,

I've recently started riding on the highway on my gs500e. I wear a full face helmet, but still when getting up to 120km/h at times i feel like i'm hanging on for dear life..the wind is pushing..etc. but then yesterday some guy on a harley shoots by my doing 140 or more, in a tshirt and open face helmet, looking like he's sitting on a couch watching tv.

How is he so stable, especialy witht he wind in his face, and im hanging on? is it just experience?

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

squeeze more with your thighs.. your hands are NOT for support or grip.. merely for control... all your support should come from your core (thighs, abs, back)

[Xyloft]

Hi there,

I've recently started riding on the highway on my gs500e. I wear a full face helmet, but still when getting up to 120km/h at times i feel like i'm hanging on for dear life..the wind is pushing..etc. but then yesterday some guy on a harley shoots by my doing 140 or more, in a tshirt and open face helmet, looking like he's sitting on a couch watching tv.

How is he so stable, especialy witht he wind in his face, and im hanging on? is it just experience?

his Harely probably weights a good 200 lbs more than yours.    did he have one of those big windshields? 

[DrtRydr23]

Harleys are so heavy that they feel super stable at high speeds.  Also, most of the two-up seats on harleys are scooped in the back to act as a back-stop.  When the wind hits you, your butt hits the scoop and you stay put.  The GS seat isn't scooped out, so you won't have that feeling of stability.  Take NGFL's suggestions, and also try leaning forward a little more from the hips/waist.  That'll get you out of the wind a little.

John

[Rema1000]

When I first started riding on the highway, I felt like I was in a pillow fight... except that I couldn't see the pillows hitting me.  Without a season of experience, riders may hold the handlebars with a "death grip", and wind buffeting can become a steering/throttle problem.  With more experience, riders get so the throttle hand doesn't move, even when you get knocked about, stand up, or go over potholes, etc.  Then the buffeting isn't such a problem, and you don't notice it as much. 

Also, I think the speed you mention is 75mph or so; for comfort, I prefer about 65mph (105km/hr), and I've got a small fairing.  With no fairing at all, riding can get very tiring at those speeds. 

I'd say, just take it easy on the speed until you're comfortable.  Take a longer route if you need to, to avoid expressways that are not comfortable yet.  You'll get there eventually, and have more fun doing it at your own pace.

[Suzuk-E]

When I first started riding on the highway, I felt like I was in a pillow fight... except that I couldn't see the pillows hitting me.

Ha! That's seems an accurate analogy.

I drive 30 freeway miles a day..back and forth to work. No fairing. Wind defiantly is a hassle. What kind of jacket are you wearing? I use to wear a Carthart. Might as well had been a sail.

another option: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=120155993077

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I ride 20-40 miles a day to/from work, no fairings, and have no issues whatsoever. It's just a time thing, you'll eventually become comfortable with it. I wear a cortech gx-air

[tristantumble]

thanks for all the tips, i wear a regular leather jacket. and usualy wear a backpack as well. will try leaning forward more next time.

but also how do these harley guys handle the wind in the face, i close the viser on my helmet once i go faster then 60km/h.

[ralph13]

thanks for all the tips, i wear a regular leather jacket. and usualy wear a backpack as well. will try leaning forward more next time.

but also how do these harley guys handle the wind in the face, i close the viser on my helmet once i go faster then 60km/h.

Careful what you carry in that backpack. I've heard some nasty things about people carrying items that caused back injuries when they crashed.

I wear an open-faced helmet, and I haven't really noticed a problem with wind in my face, so it may just be a personal thing. Although I don't ride very fast; on 70mph freeway stretches, I'm pretty much cruising at 65.

[DrtRydr23]

thanks for all the tips, i wear a regular leather jacket. and usualy wear a backpack as well. will try leaning forward more next time.

but also how do these harley guys handle the wind in the face, i close the viser on my helmet once i go faster then 60km/h.

Some guys wear goggles, and there are riding sunglasses made that have insulation around the lenses to keep wind out of your eyes.  Usually the only problem I have when not wearing a full face helmet is my eyes drying out, though I haven't done that in some time.

John

[Jay_wolf]

I have no fairing at al , just a baby light ,and it covers the acewell ,and ive taken her in excess of 130 mph indicated with no shake , or wobble , just gotta squeeze that tank with your legs , i have pretty wide shoulders and with my big jackets ,u have to hold on tight 

[reminor]

You'll be surprised how much comfort and confidence a pair of earplugs add on a highway. When the wind/noise is cut down you feel more relaxed, which in turn lightens up your muscle 'spasm' and you start flexing less. Which helps feeling better at 85-90MPH (that's what I rode this morning).

On the windshield thing. After commuting with no windshield for the first season (and having pretty much same experience like yours) I got a F-16 TOURING (about 3 inch taller than SPORT) and couldn't be happier. Judging from my experience with TOURING glass I assume F-16 Sport will offer very little wind protection. My Touring is okay, not superb. I wish it offered more wind protection. But I understand it is not possible till you go into a 'barn door' type of windshield. But that spoils the looks. So F-16 touring was a right compromise for me. Check out your windshield options -- http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Windshields

Hope it helps.

[heatherg11]

when i'm on the highway going speeds around 70-80 mph i lay on the tank as much as possible and put my feet on my passenger pegs.....i feel no wind.  if there's anytime that i feel like i need my feet on the driver pegs, i just pop my body upright (like getting off the interstate).  I don't ride like this except on the interstate, but it helps.

[toyopete]

Hi there,

I've recently started riding on the highway on my gs500e. I wear a full face helmet, but still when getting up to 120km/h at times i feel like i'm hanging on for dear life..the wind is pushing..etc. but then yesterday some guy on a harley shoots by my doing 140 or more, in a tshirt and open face helmet, looking like he's sitting on a couch watching tv.

How is he so stable, especialy witht he wind in his face, and im hanging on? is it just experience?

what also can be uncomfortable is if your helmet does not fit right, also put on a small windscreen ( take a look at the pictures area ) ther you can see mine painted its small but very efficient at high speeds...

[nazgulnarsil]

when i'm on the highway going speeds around 70-80 mph i lay on the tank as much as possible and put my feet on my passenger pegs.....i feel no wind.  if there's anytime that i feel like i need my feet on the driver pegs, i just pop my body upright (like getting off the interstate).  I don't ride like this except on the interstate, but it helps.

I'd pay money to see that.

[manofthefield]

I've been riding with my feet on the passenger pegs recently too while doing my 80+ mile roundtrip freeway commute.  I still don't find it comfortable to lay on the tank.  But somehow having my feet back farther seems to put less weight on my arms, I guess I don't have to reach so far

[heatherg11]

if i could get a pic i would

[average]

Harleys are so heavy that they feel super stable at high speeds.  Also, most of the two-up seats on harleys are scooped in the back to act as a back-stop.  When the wind hits you, your butt hits the scoop and you stay put.  The GS seat isn't scooped out, so you won't have that feeling of stability.  Take NGFL's suggestions, and also try leaning forward a little more from the hips/waist.  That'll get you out of the wind a little.

John

I've noticied that since I did the Kat strut/wheel swap that I slide forward more on the tank. As metioned; use your thighs and grip the tank more.

Diaz

[RobTheTyrant]

Harley guys are just used to it I guess... My bro rides with his lens up all the time unless it's raining.  I, on the other hand, can't stand mine down above 30-40 mph.  Just a personal preference.

[manofthefield]

I used to ride with a half helmet when I was on my 80cc yamaha.  I don't remember having any problems with wind then, though it topped out around 45.  I'm thinking there may be an aerodynamic difference between a half helmet and a full face, where the full face may funnel more wind at your face.  If I had a wind tunnel I'd go test this hypothesis