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Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: ver4 on November 16, 2010, 11:20:44 PM

Title: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 16, 2010, 11:20:44 PM
It knocked over my bike.  :mad:
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: Twisted on November 16, 2010, 11:58:17 PM
Wow lol. Must have been blowing a gale?  :icon_eek:
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: tt_four on November 17, 2010, 05:59:56 AM
That sucks! GSs are safer on the centerstand if there's gonna be a lot of wind.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: madjak30 on November 17, 2010, 08:24:34 AM
I agree...wind sucks...but I find the side stand on the GS (or mine atleast) is about 1" too long  :bs:...it doesn't really lean much...if there is any incline, and I mean slight, I have to make sure the stand is down hill (I know, should do that anyway)...but I use the center stand if there is any question of whether or not the bike will topple over... :thumb:

Did anything get broken when the wind blew it over?
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: Adfalchius on November 17, 2010, 09:05:07 AM
Wow, Victor, that's a low blow from fate (is it still running?  :icon_razz:).
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: scratch on November 17, 2010, 09:52:03 AM
My GS survived a hurricane in Hawaii back in '93 or '94.  I took the cover off and parked it in the lee side of a building, sidestand out (right-side towards building) and in gear (rolled forward til it stopped).
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: trumpetguy on November 17, 2010, 12:08:21 PM
I live in western OK, in a windy part of the US (southern great plains).  We have over 100 wind generators surrounding our town.

Two years ago, on a VERY gusty day, I left my bike on the side stand (leaning INTO the wind).  A gust lifted it over center and it fell to the right, away from the side stand.  Broke the R mirror.  Now I park it on the centerstand 24/7, but I still fear a wind that strong may topple it, so I park next to grass.  If it goes over into the grass, it's not so bad.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 17, 2010, 03:57:38 PM
The bike on the centerstand scares me because it looks like it will fall over with the slightest amount of wind.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: scratch on November 17, 2010, 04:31:29 PM
I advise not putting the bike on the centerstand.  Be aware of your surroundings; note which way the wind comes from; park accordingly.

Park it so the wind comes at it from the front and the right; mostly right.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: trumpetguy on November 17, 2010, 05:40:26 PM
Excellent suggestion, Scratch!  Why didn't I think of that?  That would push it harder onto the side stand, solving the lift and dump issue.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 17, 2010, 07:14:09 PM
Quote from: scratch on November 17, 2010, 04:31:29 PM
I advise not putting the bike on the centerstand.  Be aware of your surroundings; note which way the wind comes from; park accordingly.

Park it so the wind comes at it from the front and the right; mostly right.

I park it next to my house and I don't have much room as is.  The wind must have hit it at a weird angle because it should have never of fallen over.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: Anaconda on November 17, 2010, 07:23:43 PM
Quote from: madjak30 on November 17, 2010, 08:24:34 AM
I agree...wind sucks...but I find the side stand on the GS (or mine atleast) is about 1" too long  :bs:...it doesn't really lean much...if there is any incline, and I mean slight, I have to make sure the stand is down hill (I know, should do that anyway)...but I use the center stand if there is any question of whether or not the bike will topple over... :thumb:

Did anything get broken when the wind blew it over?

I know, I hate how my '99s sidestand is so freakin long.....if if was just an inch shorter, it wouldve been perfect
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: bill14224 on November 17, 2010, 07:39:08 PM
My g/f's cat knocked mine over once just by jumping off the seat.  The centerstand is much sturdier.  It would take a heluva lot of wind to blow it off the centerstand, and if the bike was parked in an east/west direction it would be dang near impossible to blow it over.  Lesson learned.  This is a light bike and you have to take care when parking it.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 17, 2010, 07:53:04 PM
This is how my bike sits:
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l400/sphsfootballstar/RandomPictures001.jpg)
I took the photo from my door.  My neighbors house is literally less than 10 feet away.  It's weird....
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: madjak30 on November 18, 2010, 08:33:02 AM
They build the houses that close up here in Canada as well...my neighbours house is only 10-12ft away from mine...it's kinda retarded, but I guess if a developer can get an extra house on each side of the street...more money...greedy bastards... :icon_mrgreen:...

Looks like you wash your bike as often as I do...except I have black rims... :icon_twisted:

Does anyone know if there is a shorter side stand available for the GS?  I think if it was 1/2" shorter it would be much more stable....mind you, my GS is going next season...it's just to small, I can flat foot with it on the center stand and the poor things suspension gets a good work out from me just sitting on it... :icon_lol: :oops:...

Later.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 18, 2010, 09:59:42 AM
Quote from: madjak30 on November 18, 2010, 08:33:02 AM
They build the houses that close up here in Canada as well...my neighbours house is only 10-12ft away from mine...it's kinda retarded, but I guess if a developer can get an extra house on each side of the street...more money...greedy bastards... :icon_mrgreen:...

Looks like you wash your bike as often as I do...except I have black rims... :icon_twisted:

Does anyone know if there is a shorter side stand available for the GS?  I think if it was 1/2" shorter it would be much more stable....mind you, my GS is going next season...it's just to small, I can flat foot with it on the center stand and the poor things suspension gets a good work out from me just sitting on it... :icon_lol: :oops:...

Later.
There was no point in washing it because at the time of the picture the bike was broken down.  :laugh:
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: trumpetguy on November 18, 2010, 12:06:15 PM
Quote from: ver4 on November 18, 2010, 09:59:42 AM
Quote from: madjak30 on November 18, 2010, 08:33:02 AM
Looks like you wash your bike as often as I do...except I have black rims... :icon_twisted:
There was no point in washing it because at the time of the picture the bike was broken down.  :laugh:

That IS super-clean for my bike...it's a bit of a rat bike, but it runs.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: scratch on November 18, 2010, 12:10:20 PM
ver4, can you park the whole bike on the brick pavers?  It would be more stable putting more weight on the sidestand that way.

And, for those of you that wish for a shorter sidestand, may I suggest parking one, or both, tires on blocks of wood?

When I park my bike in my shed, I have to have a 2x4 under the front tire for the bike to have a stable lean.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: madjak30 on November 18, 2010, 12:33:34 PM
I only use the side stand when I am going to the coffee shop, or the bike shop (to drool on the new toys  :thumb:)...so the 2x4 thing won't work...I always use the center stand if I am leaving it parked for any length of time (garage over night...through winter...bleh...)

I don't think I will worry about it now...new tire, then new home for that bike...someone else can worry about the rest.

Later.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 18, 2010, 12:58:05 PM
Quote from: scratch on November 18, 2010, 12:10:20 PM
ver4, can you park the whole bike on the brick pavers?  It would be more stable putting more weight on the sidestand that way.

And, for those of you that wish for a shorter sidestand, may I suggest parking one, or both, tires on blocks of wood?

When I park my bike in my shed, I have to have a 2x4 under the front tire for the bike to have a stable lean.
Not really.  I adjusted it a little, so it should be okay.  We hardly ever get wind like we did yesterday.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: JB848 on November 19, 2010, 12:17:30 AM
Quote from: ver4 on November 17, 2010, 07:53:04 PM
This is how my bike sits:
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l400/sphsfootballstar/RandomPictures001.jpg)
I took the photo from my door.  My neighbors house is literally less than 10 feet away.  It's weird....

Wait, you have the same bike as I do? As far as I know the 1990 is the only year of that color? Am I correct? Ver4 that is your bike right? Back handle should be red though.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 19, 2010, 10:39:01 AM
Quote from: JB848 on November 19, 2010, 12:17:30 AM
Wait, you have the same bike as I do? As far as I know the 1990 is the only year of that color? Am I correct? Ver4 that is your bike right? Back handle should be red though.
You're correct about the color scheme.  I did a tank and plastics swap with BaltimoreGS because I wasn't crazy about the '93 color scheme (red w/pink graphics).  I kept my original handle and if you notice the little plastic piece under the handle is black too.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: JB848 on November 19, 2010, 06:32:34 PM
No offense but that is my bike dirty! That pretty much the way my bike looked the day I bought it! It's much different now!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/rtarpley/GS500E005B.jpg)

For those of you military you will notice a sticker still present.
Title: Re: I Hate Wind
Post by: ver4 on November 20, 2010, 08:54:54 AM
I like my bike dirty.  :D