How does your F handle the wind?

Kijona · January 12, 2012, 02:25:24 PM

I just got back from a short ride to eat with a friend. On my way back it began to rain and the wind had picked up a bit.

Now, granted, I do have some Shinko tires on it (thanks to the P/O...) which may be the cause of some but not all of this...

For some reason, even the slightest gust of wind hitting me made me feel like the bike was going to highside or slide out - felt like I was riding on a railroad track. Scared me to DEATH. Might've been the fact that I never exceeded 50mph but still...even at extremely low speeds it was downright frightening.

Out of all the motorcycles I've owned and ridden...I've never ridden one that behaved in this manner.

Any ideas? How's your F in the rain/wind?

BaltimoreGS · January 12, 2012, 04:48:59 PM

The GS gets blown all over at speed when it's windy, something you get used to with experience. As far as tires, I run different tires on my GS's and in everyday riding I don't notice a huge handling difference between the cheapos (I have Kenda's on the '89) and the "good" tires on my newer bikes (Bridgestone and Michelins).

-Jessie

Twisted · January 12, 2012, 05:08:33 PM

I ride a naked GS and never have trouble riding in the wind. The trick is to grip harder with your knees and loosen your arms. It will be much easier to correct. The bike is not gonna go far in a gust of wind. Remember you are riding a bike so wind will be an issue at times.

fraze11 · January 12, 2012, 05:11:37 PM

If its really windy my F can get pushed around but I just grip good with my knees and feet and its all good. Funny, the F weighs around 435lbs I believe and my buddy has a Gixxer 600 which weighs about 390lbs. When we go riding and trade for a bit, it reacts different in the wind. Im no aerodynamics expert or anything but I've always found that odd. Oh well. Once you get used to how to manage it, its all good.

Funderb · January 12, 2012, 05:44:25 PM

When the wind picks up, some times it can be a bit weird, but its nothing too bad.
Tell you what, when i used to ride my old cb125 around and the wind was high, haha, it was some crazy fun!

and that bike, lets just say, two buds could roll down the handle bars and load it into a station wagon with no problem...

mister · January 12, 2012, 06:22:55 PM

Kijona,

If you grip the bars tight you make it worse. Tightly gripping the bars accentuates the effect. Do as Twisted said, grip the tank tighter with your knees and loosen your grip on the bars.

(Same applies to riding on dirt)

Michael

Kijona · January 12, 2012, 11:03:13 PM

Quote from: mister on January 12, 2012, 06:22:55 PM
Kijona,

If you grip the bars tight you make it worse. Tightly gripping the bars accentuates the effect. Do as Twisted said, grip the tank tighter with your knees and loosen your grip on the bars. (Same applies to riding on dirt)

Michael

Yep! Knew that...found out that letting go of the left grip actually made my KLR650 more stable at highway speed for some reason. It would start to wobble...and I'd just let go of the grip and it would stop.

I guess I should've been more clear...the bike was sliding, not leaning or turning. I'd get hit with a gust of wind and the back end would start stepping out, or the front would get moved over some (not as bad as the rear).

I think it's time for new tires...

Twisted · January 12, 2012, 11:49:39 PM

Definitely something wrong there.

J_Walker · January 13, 2012, 01:25:45 AM

Actually.. My F does this. and I've noticed something.. Has anyone noticed that for one. the F's side fairings are kinda flawed to begin with? Now I have a close friend who's big into RC planes and what not. and I asked him about this awhile back and thought to share this info.

Look at this picture.

Notice the yellow "Wind flow" When riding with the fairings for some reason it creates a funnel on itself, so your getting stuck in an air pocket sorta, now what if you have two different Air forces pushing on you. One from the side, and normal air mass. your already stuck in a bubble with the normal air mass, so the extra force on the side of your bike causes a mix, Now I don't remember what he called it. but basically the fairings on the GS500 are really, just for show.. and are srsly flawed. Now I don't know if this is 100% true or not. but figured he was a hard core RC plane junkie, he'd know a thing or two about aerodynamics.

adidasguy · January 13, 2012, 01:44:08 AM

Anyone have access to a wind tunnel? I'd love to see that "bubble".

For me, it does keep me dryer in wet weather (Seattle, you know) and I have both the "F" and naked "E" models.

Side winds are not much problem. I always get new tires when I buy a used bike. To me, tires and brakes are most important for safety.

When wet after a dry period, I am careful for oil seeping from the roadway. In the fall, I am cautious of wet leaves.

J_Walker · January 13, 2012, 01:48:45 AM

I might try to rig up a ghetto wind tunnel, wouldn't be anything fancy. high powered fan and some dry ice if anything... I'd be better if someone tried this method in their garage. i'll give him a text tomorrow to see the exact name for this. But he said only way to fix it, is to chop up your fairings and remodel them... now I don't see the point in this of course, unless you plan on fitting a bigger engine into your bike and really need the stability at higher end. over all, be a champ. RIP THEM OFF! >D

Or instead of dry ice, smoke machine.. might be better.

adidasguy · January 13, 2012, 02:06:45 AM

please do it! and remember.....

redhawkdancing · January 13, 2012, 05:29:54 AM

My front tire used to slide out a bit on windy days. It felt like it lost all traction, not just a push across the road. That was scary as shaZam!. The tires were 5 years old. New tires solved the issue.

ghostrider_23 · January 13, 2012, 06:37:53 AM

Riding in a head on wind is not bad as long as you have a better windscreen than factory. That was one of the first things I did when I got my bike because with the factory one on the highway I would bobble head. After installing my ZG sport-touring windscreen it went away.

On side winds the F model is like a sail and gets blown around. On Wednesday down here in Fl the winds were very bad and while riding the wind would push the bike around. The first time it did it I thought my back tire was coming loose as it felt like I was sliding around while riding down the street. The I remembered it just the wind, but still checked it when I got home

J_Walker · January 14, 2012, 02:10:33 AM

Quote from: ghostrider_23 on January 13, 2012, 06:37:53 AM
Riding in a head on wind is not bad as long as you have a better windscreen than factory. That was one of the first things I did when I got my bike because with the factory one on the highway I would bobble head. After installing my ZG sport-touring windscreen it went away.

On side winds the F model is like a sail and gets blown around. On Wednesday down here in Fl the winds were very bad and while riding the wind would push the bike around. The first time it did it I thought my back tire was coming loose as it felt like I was sliding around while riding down the street. The I remembered it just the wind, but still checked it when I got home

LOL! I live in FL too and Road that same day! Yeah it was pretty nasty, but.. Fun.

Quote from: adidasguy on January 13, 2012, 02:06:45 AM
please do it! and remember.....

I'll see if I can barrow a fog machine from someone..

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How does your F handle the wind?