After reading some posts about going naked or adding fairings or windshields or whatever, I've noticed a lot people out there complaining about the wind. The WIND?!?! Really?!?! Ummmm, we ride motorcycles, people! If ya don't like the wind, get a car!
I mean, isn't that part of the appeal? Like the old saying goes, "The open road, the wind in your hair" (except we don't get the wind in our hair cause we're not squids, but you know what I mean)

First thing I did when I picked up my GS500F is I got rid of anything that had to do with the "F" in its name.

But I guess to each his own, I just don't get it. Thanks for letting me rant!  

(and if it's not obvious, yes, it's a bit of tongue-in-cheek)

i guess maybe not afraid of it perse. but long distances the wind will beat you down . prematurely tire you. i bought a cruiser windshield and fitted it to my gs. looked as goofy as barack obama at a GOP rally. but it did its job

Umm I get worried by wind gusts that are extremely excessive when say riding over a tall bridge, which happens every day. Cross wind gusts around the 50+ knot mark make for some interesting riding sometimes.
If its just wind its fine. But as I ride all year round, every day to and from work, I prefer not to be totally deaf from wind noise over my helmet and worn out from being knocked about by the wind, or wet and the fairings do help get rid of some of that annoying helmet noise and water during the rain.

That said I plan to get a semi faired as my next bike when the minister of pleasure allows me to.

when I see some people talking about being afraid of the wind I think it's usually either from aftermarket windshields attached to the bars, which can make the front end feel very unstable at speed, or gusts from the side which have the potential to blow you into a completely different lane. You get used to them but neither are ideal, and are definitely very intimidating to someone who isn't used to them.

Quote from: tt_four on July 04, 2011, 08:41:01 PM
when I see some people talking about being afraid of the wind I think it's usually either from aftermarket windshields attached to the bars, which can make the front end feel very unstable at speed, or gusts from the side which have the potential to blow you into a completely different lane. You get used to them but neither are ideal, and are definitely very intimidating to someone who isn't used to them.

yup. had a cruiser shade which was given to me. a memphis shades unit. bolted to my gs. i made a fast run. past the mountain in lafollette. and timed it. was north of 90 lol. mounting was TIGHT. really didnt affect the wheel hardly. cop at 3am wasnt happy., i blew past him but kept on going. 10 minutes later only place i could stop. to take a break, i sit there. he goes past. i get moving again. and follow him. he stopps me sayshow fast where you going. could have sworn that was you back there doing 95. i said on this? i doubt it. i saw another bike pass me. a dark blue almsot black one. maybe that was it. ?

Quote from: Shaddow on July 04, 2011, 07:30:38 PM
Cross wind gusts around the 70+ knot mark make for some interesting riding sometimes.

Ain't no way you are riding in crosswinds of 129kph. That's hurricane/cyclone type winds.

I'd say maybe you Think it's that, but it isn't really. Cause crosswinds like that will just knock you off your bike outright.

It's surprising how windy 50kph (27knots) wind feels. Quite easy to think it's much Much MUCH stronger than mere 50kph.

Michael

Quote from: mister on July 05, 2011, 01:45:22 AM

Quote from: Shaddow on July 04, 2011, 07:30:38 PM
Cross wind gusts around the 70+ knot mark make for some interesting riding sometimes.

Ain't no way you are riding in crosswinds of 129kph. That's hurricane/cyclone type winds.

I'd say maybe you Think it's that, but it isn't really. Cause crosswinds like that will just knock you off your bike outright.

It's surprising how windy 50kph (27knots) wind feels. Quite easy to think it's much Much MUCH stronger than mere 50kph.

Michael

you aint kidding there. or lpassing lorries/trucks etc. my sporty with the solid wheels really made this apparent

Quote from: mister on July 05, 2011, 01:45:22 AM

Quote from: Shaddow on July 04, 2011, 07:30:38 PM
Cross wind gusts around the 70+ knot mark make for some interesting riding sometimes.

Ain't no way you are riding in crosswinds of 129kph. That's hurricane/cyclone type winds.

I'd say maybe you Think it's that, but it isn't really. Cause crosswinds like that will just knock you off your bike outright.

It's surprising how windy 50kph (27knots) wind feels. Quite easy to think it's much Much MUCH stronger than mere 50kph.

Michael

OOPS I got my calc wrong for knots to kph. Let me edit that down to 50 plus. However I'm talking GUSTS of wind not cross winds. A steady wind would be nice, its just always gusty or nothing here. My example last month 93km/h winds gusts got up to according to the BOM. Thats what about 50 knots?

cautious in the wind ... For sure! .. Afraid of the wind .. Nope ... The closest i get to afraid is around the local university when the novice international students are driving their shiny new foreign company funded cars .. They dont care if they scratch it or bump into anything .. But that may be cos their abysmal skill level prevents then from noticing .

The wind provides mild amusement at the forces nature can bring to bear 

of slight wind see pic. i dont. ( much ) however i know people here and elsewhere where wind IS a factor. so i can agree with their side as well. now this wind.  when its over my home i am slightly afraid of yet i stand on the porch filming. it. BTW sounds good thru a subwoofer  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6oQ16TAzs

I'm a novice rider, but i wouldent say i'm afrade od the wind on my GS500E. just adds one more thing to think about while on the highway. I have been almost blown off the road by a passing semi, but thats prolly more from lack of experience then it is the high winds

I had my fairings off the other day after washing everything and went for a ride to dry everything off. The wind picked up, 50-70kph gusts while i was on the highway, ~120kph. I found riding with the fairings off to be much cooler and a tad louder, I'm not complaining though. However, come the fall, when you're riding at 3-5c, those fairings are pretty nice to have. Same goes for mountain road trips. I wouldn't want to be riding past some mountain lakes with an ambient air temp of sub zero, not nice at all. Just my 0.02$

Well this morning I came to work in 37kt wind gusts or 69km (for the metric people) winds (I looked up the conversion figure this time to be sure. ) and just got a aerodrome warning for 41 knot winds. Its the usual thing around here it seems these days.

Problem with wind is, where they take the reading and where you are, are different.

Anyways. THIS guys has taken the wind protection too far...





Michael

Quote from: mister on July 06, 2011, 08:04:32 PM
Problem with wind is, where they take the reading and where you are, are different.

Anyways. THIS guys has taken the wind protection too far...





Michael

WTF? Are they for real?

Can that bike even hit 60mph for wind to be an issue?

-Justin

Only my headlight has broken the wind for me.  One of my bikes came with a touring fairing, but it's in the basement.  Overall I like it best this way.