GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Hey all,

I just back from some night riding on my GS-500 (I've only been riding a couple weeks now).

I had a good time, and got the bike up the fastest I've ever been on a motorcycle (60mph!).

My question is thus. Is the wind on a GS500E really bad on the freeway? Now granted, I'm very inexperienced, but the wind at 60mph was a HUGE deal. At 45, I barely felt it, at 60, man!

I see cruisers and such on the freeway, so I'm sure I'm just being a wimp here. I just wanted to know what your guys' opinions of the wind is.

The constant barage of wind on a highway is a killer on the E, I've ridden non stop for about 300km (speeds of 60-150kph+) and by the time I got off the bike I was dead. Granted I'm above average height (6'5") so I sit more upright and so cop more wind. Add to that a severe case on monkey butt I was spent.

That said, if it isn't a highway, but a twisty road I don't usually notice the wind as much due to moving around on the bike. My usual spirited ride takes 45min, speeds upto 130kph and when I reach the destination I don't feel any ill effects due to the wind.

Highways suck.

For some reason, maybe the way the seat position, handlebars, and general body pieces are laid out, hell if I know why... the GS-E seems to beat the hell out of you at speed. The GS-F is MUCH better at speed, granted it is a faired bike.

My ex500 (naked) seems to beat on me less then the gs5, although this cause also be beacuse it sits more aggresive. The ex250 though.. man.. that thing gets tossed at speed. It is a chore just keeping it on going in a streight line at times.

get a tiny windscreen...or a duc one...or a buell one.  that's what i plan to do once i get some cashish

Your neck will get stronger with time. When I had a 125cc bike my neck would hurt at 60mph but now with the gs I often do 90-100mph so when I just do 70mph it's no problem.

I have an E, been riding about 3 months now. My first couple trips on the freeway the wind was really blasting me, and I thought it was going to suck all the time. Now I hardly notice it. Don't know why, probably just used to it. I'm about 6'1", so I sit pretty upright.
If I'm going around 80mph, I usually always am tucked and that helps. But for the most part I'd say give it a little time and you'll forget it's even there.

I ride the GS almost every day to work. It's a 44 mile freeway ride roundtrip. If there is one complaint about the bike it's the amount of wind it doesn't cut through. If you think 60mph is bad, wait until you start doing 80mph. It's just a constant pound on your chest and helmet. You know it was bad in the beginning when I was riding and hoping there's traffic so I can do 40mph lane splitting. The good news is you will get use to it the more you ride and it just wont bother ya anymore. I'm completely not phased by it at this point.

Quote from: roguegeekI ride the GS almost every day to work. ... The good news is you will get use to it the more you ride and it just wont bother ya anymore. I'm completely not phased by it at this point.

+1

You're not a wuss, syphon; the wind just takes some getting used to!  :cheers:

I've ridden many 300+mile days at 80-100mph all day and wind only puts a toll on the body the first few times out during the season and after that its fine... but then again I put 10kmiles+ per season in the saddle.

I was in your spot a couple weeks ago or less, I was kinda scared to get onto the freeway but now I've done it a little more often and I am getting more used to it now. But I can also remember thinking that 40mph was a lot of wind, now I don't even notice it.

a windscreen can really help if you're going to be spending a lot of time at freeway speeds.

(http://www.flavoroftheweak.com/stuff/suz015wrider.jpg)

Next time you're on the highway, try this:

Scootch your butt back and lean forward more against the tank. On longer highway rides (150+ miles) I always do this to get myself out of the wind as much as possible. I don't have a screen, so there's no quiet pocket of air to duck behind, but is still helps a lot because you're making your shape more aerodynamic. On the longer rides my chest is pressed against the bike, and I'm 6'0". I usually have my elbows pointing down because of the position the rest of my body's in, but it's actually pretty comfortable.

note: give yourself extra room on the highway when you're doing this because the bike responds differently when you're in that position. not unstable, but different than when you're upright.

Have fun and be safe.

Regards,
Riz
:thumb:

I rode down to Charlottesville a couple weeks ago (about 60 miles) at a constant 80mph. It is pretty scary at first, but youll get used to it. I imagine its a lot more comfortable with a windscreen, especially since it would probably deflect the bugs.

Quote from: ukchickenloverYour neck will get stronger with time. When I had a 125cc bike my neck would hurt at 60mph but now with the gs I often do 90-100mph so when I just do 70mph it's no problem.

Very true. I remember when I started riding a few months ago, and the first thing I noticed was pain on my neck for a few days (and I was doing like 45).

Since then, I've been riding daily, so now at 3000+ miles I can hardly feel the wind blast anymore.
It is common for me to do 80 (indicated) without tucking, and close to 90 I have to start tucking a bit (also whenever I need to accelerate fast).

So, 60mph and tucking?  :bs:

:P

Hi,
Doing more than 70mph you get too much wind on the naked GS,
so, on highway trips (traffic permitting) I usually lean forward, chest on the tank and feet on the passenger's pegs.  The wind does not start to bother you again until around 100 mph and your arms get some rest.
Is anyone riding like this ?
P.D. I agree with rizp, the feeling is different. But it also feels right, even when taking some curves !

Quote from: subcSo, 60mph and tucking?  :bs:  :P

Not tucking is for sissies! :P


I tuck anything over 55. If nothing else, I figure I look very cool.  :roll:


:lol:  :mrgreen:

What ya need is a big tank bag shaped like a wedge to lean your chest onto, like the Joe Rocket Velocity bag:
(http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/g9188.jpg)

Laying my chest on the tank is a long way from my natural seating position, but agree that tucking at 70 mph is a lot less tiring than getting the blast in the chest.  :thumb:

When I first bought the bike, the guy had a windscreen on it. I took it off, because he had it sticking up really high and it looked goofy.

I may put it back on eventually, when I start riding on the freeway regularly (which I dont think will happen until next spring/summer). I'd really like to get a feel for the bike naked before I put the windscreen on, so I have something to compare.

WITH windscreen:
http://www.jayspang.com/pics/gs500/gs500_1.jpg

WITHOUT:
http://www.jayspang.com/pics/gs500/gs500_4.jpg

That's a nice windscreen, man. If you don't enjoy the windblast, put it back on and see how it feels. Not too hard of a conversion.

Your options include dealing with it or get a wind screen.

Quote from: pandyI tuck anything over 55. If nothing else, I figure I look very cool.  :roll:

haha Really? I personally think it looks goofy as all hell when I see someone tucking in at slower speeds like that. It might be different for purple bike riders though. ;)

Quote from: SuzukoHi,
I usually lean forward, chest on the tank and feet on the passenger's pegs.  

I think putting your feet on passenger pegs is a bad idea. What if you need to do an emergency stop you can't use the back brake.

As another new rider I can attest to the fact that either you get stronger or you just get more used to it.  I've been riding freeway for only a few weeks and already I notice wind blast MUCH less at 80mph than I did the first few times.  I have a flyscreen which I'm sure makes some difference but I felt like I was getting my ass kicked even so the first time; now it doesn't bother me.  Good luck with whatever you do and ride safe!

Quote from: syphonAt 45, I barely felt it, at 60, man!

When I first started riding (on a H#nda 90) I thought wind at 45 was unbearable...

Then I started riding the GS and thought that wind at 60 MPH was unbearable...

Now 90 MPH wind is unbearable and 60 MPH wind seems like nothing (unless it's a cross-wind).

You really do get used to it.  When you hit the freeway, try scooting your ass back to the seat hump and leaning forward a little.

After a while, 60 MPH wind will seem like nothing.

As everyone says, you will get used to it.  I only feel it at 80 MPH and above now.  I do have the benefits of the 89 clip-ons, but you do adjust...

.
I rode 1000 miles in 24 hours on my GS... no windshield, no complaints.  

On a side note, helmet design plays a major part in how much buffeting your head must endure.  My Shoei is extra-wonderful, and I never feel any buffeting. YMMV.

Quote from: syphonWhen I first bought the bike, the guy had a windscreen on it. I took it off, because he had it sticking up really high and it looked goofy.

I may put it back on eventually, when I start riding on the freeway regularly (which I dont think will happen until next spring/summer). I'd really like to get a feel for the bike naked before I put the windscreen on, so I have something to compare.

WITH windscreen:
http://www.jayspang.com/pics/gs500/gs500_1.jpg

I'd say you should forget putting that back on your bike and send it to me.  I can give you my address  :)

Naked on a windy bike? Man, I don't know if that's a good idea...



Oh, and excuse me if that joke was made already; I'm too busy looking at porn...I mean...working to read the whole thread.

Dave  :cheers:

Quote from: thirdmanOn a side note, helmet design plays a major part in how much buffeting your head must endure.  My Shoei is extra-wonderful, and I never feel any buffeting. YMMV.

+1  :thumb:

Although it might not make too much sense, wear earplugs.

It feels like you take less of a beating when every little wind buffet doesn't get transmitted into your brain.  I suppose it keeps you more refreshed.

It's a mental thing, but it helps!

I didn't know about earplugs until i'd been riding a few weeks.  They were a godsend!  I highly reccomend them.

The wind NOISE on a GS is definitely louder than on other bikes with better fairings/windscreen.

Earplugs are cool on the freeway, but hinder you (IMO) on surface roads.

Like everyone else said, you will get used to it. My first time on the interstate I was getting whipped around so bad by the wind it scared me poopless. And that was doing only ~55-60. Now I cruise regularly on the interstate at 70-90mph and feel very little. I've been riding for about 6 weeks now so you will adapt quickly if you ride on the interstate enough. Just take it easy and gradually increase your comfort zone on back roads with no traffic. That's what I did... Just gradually increased cruising speeds until I was comfortable enough to get back on the interstate and deal with the wind.

Here's another factor that doesn't get talked about as much as it should. Noise! At anything over 50 mph or so you're generating enough noise to permanently damage your hearing over time if you don't do something about it. A full face helmet helps a little, but not enough by itself to save your hearing from nerve damage.  A windshield halps a lot if it's tall enough to get some of the wind off your helmet. That doesn't have to be very tall - it's surprising how effective even a relatively small one is - but you have to experiment. The other option is earplugs - cheap disposable ones from the drug store are fine. You want a 30 decibel (db) reduction. You don't have to do this every time you ride 5 miles to the store at 50 mph. But if you're going to be riding for over a half hour or so at highway speeds, it's a good habit to get into if you don't have a good windshield. I have the cheap little Spitfire on my naked GS500, and it helps, but I still put the plugs in on trips. Keeping the noise level down also cuts fatique a lot for longer rides.

As for getting used to the wind blast, I can't really disagree since I've never tried to get used to it. I learned early on that highway speeds are much more pleasant and less tiring with enough windshield to get the pressure off your chest at least.

I've been riding for almost 3 weeks (I've got 1100 miles under my belt already) and I've ridden in almost every type of weather (not snow or ice, but VERY heavy winds, rain, no wind, etc.) and I've already became very accustomed to the wind thing. Sometimes the wind tunnels that big rigs, dump trucks etc., carry behind them still catches me off guard now.

I also ride an F though, being that it's faired I guess I don't have much of a valuable opinion in this case.  :dunno:

Quote from: pandy

Quote from: subcSo, 60mph and tucking?  :bs:  :P

Not tucking is for sissies! :P


I tuck anything over 55. If nothing else, I figure I look very cool.  :roll:


:lol:  :mrgreen:

But not as cool as Rollie

Quote from: John BatesBut not as cool as Rollie

I could never look THAT cool....I'm unworthy. :(

haha, how about this one: I thought 20 was terrible. 40 was nuts. There was the horrible whistling noise too.

Then I closed my visor.  :o  MAN that was amazing. It felt like concert quiet. Er, that is, before the concert.

Though, wearing snowboarding gear, I can feel the wind push the extra material around.

Quote from: NightRyder40 was nuts. There was the horrible whistling noise too. Then I closed my visor.  :o  MAN that was amazing.

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Quote from: NightRyderThen I closed my visor.  :o  MAN that was amazing. It felt like concert quiet. Er, that is, before the concert.

Personally, that's one of the things I love the most about riding is the wind and noise and stuff in your face. I prefer to ride with the visor open at any time that I can. Usually it's open unless it's a) Freezing cold outside. or, b) There's a lot of dust and debris in the air and it's bothering my eyes.

If you dont like the wind get a windshield or an fing Goldwing.

Quote from: phireI prefer to ride with the visor open at any time that I can. Usually it's open unless it's a) Freezing cold outside. or, b) There's a lot of dust and debris in the air and it's bothering my eyes.

I only open the visor when I'm at or near a stop, or if there's no one in front of me and I'm going <35mph.  Mostly just to keep my glasses from fogging up.  I have a nice scuff in my visor from where a very small, very hard, and very fast projectile ricocheted off it that would otherwise have hit me in the face.  At the very least, it would have been unpleasant...at worst, it could have caused an accident and/or done serious damage to me.  That and all the bugs that I clean off the shield on a more-or-less daily basis are enough to convince me to keep the visor closed.

Quote from: Badger

Quote from: phireI prefer to ride with the visor open at any time that I can. Usually it's open unless it's a) Freezing cold outside. or, b) There's a lot of dust and debris in the air and it's bothering my eyes.

I only open the visor when I'm at or near a stop, or if there's no one in front of me and I'm going <35mph.  Mostly just to keep my glasses from fogging up.  I have a nice scuff in my visor from where a very small, very hard, and very fast projectile ricocheted off it that would otherwise have hit me in the face.  At the very least, it would have been unpleasant...at worst, it could have caused an accident and/or done serious damage to me.  That and all the bugs that I clean off the shield on a more-or-less daily basis are enough to convince me to keep the visor closed.

Yeah, I've been smacked in the face a couple of times, too. There are certain weather temperatures that are great for catching big juicy bugs with your teeth which is time to put the visor down... or wear goggles. I remember this one day I was cruisin along about 70 or so and this huge bug splattered his guts all over my visor and it made a pop sound so loud it scared the poop out of me. I was like OMGWTFBBQ was that?! Anyways, the guts covered a couple inches and the blood was red and yellow. I'm glad my visor was down that day...

Yeah I remember the first and only time I didn't wear my helmet (Just going around the block) I got smacked in the middle of my forehead with a junebug. And those suckers are heavy plus going 30mph doesn't help. Tought me a very fast lesson to always wear full face helmet all the time WITH the visor down.

Quote from: Budrick320Yeah I remember the first and only time I didn't wear my helmet (Just going around the block) I got smacked in the middle of my forehead with a junebug. And those suckers are heavy plus going 30mph doesn't help. Tought me a very fast lesson to always wear full face helmet all the time WITH the visor down.

Think about if that june bug had been a rock.

Or the asphalt.

Or a tree.

Or a car's windshield.

Wow, I thought this thread was dead.

I've since gone on the freeway a couple times... I'm getting better.

My biggest problem now is comfort on the freeway (something I'm sure Time will fix). I mean, I'm not terrified of the wind anymore, but I tend to stay all tense and am scared to turn my head to check blind spots (turning my head causes the wind to kind of "grab it")

To combat wind I am looking for a lamair lip. I did a search only one post. Does anyone know where to get one?

Nope, dont know where to get one, but please tell if you figure out a cheap one that looks good too.

I have glasses too, and they fog much faster then the shield. Plus the wind makes my eyes water, and then you can't see much..

Does anyone not have the issue where turning your head is hard in the wind? Not hard as in, takes lots of effort, just hard as in, you can tell there is something pushing back. My helmet wants to go straight, and any side turning pushes back forwards. Like a spring or something.

Quote from: NightRyderDoes anyone not have the issue where turning your head is hard in the wind? Not hard as in, takes lots of effort, just hard as in, you can tell there is something pushing back. My helmet wants to go straight, and any side turning pushes back forwards. Like a spring or something.

What kind of helmet?  The HJC I was using was like that (probably compounded by the fact that it was a little too big), but I haven't had any issues with my Scorpion.

Quote from: Budrick320To combat wind I am looking for a lamair lip. I did a search only one post. Does anyone know where to get one?

Search for Laminar Lip, (not lamair)

Also check out: http://www.laminarlip.com./cruiser.htm