WIND!!!

[josbourn1]

Ok, heres the scenario; 87fzr1000, stock, me weighing 265lbs. in heavy winds it seems that the bottom of the bike is swept out from under me. any ideas, suspension changes, or do i live with it. yesterday i was inches from being on my side!!! this bike just doesnt like it at all.

thanks

[ragedigital]

Welcome to the wonderful world of riding... wind is so much fun to contend with. I was riding leaning over the other day cause the wind was so strong, I'm sure people thought I was crazy. If it gets really bad, just ride next to a car/truck - make certain they know you're there - it will help with blocking the wind.

[reelrazor]

I have a muscle knot that reforms under my shoulder blade..and has ever since 1990 when I rode an RZ350 cross country. All of New mexico, the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma was a battle through about 30mph+ crosswinds...

The bike was heeled over the whole way..I had to hold my head/helmet into the wind.

It's something you get used to....gusty stuff is much scarier.

And, if you think your bike is bad, you ought to try a Harley with solid disc wheels!

[M in KC]

I park my bikes at 25mph+ sustained winds. To crazy out there. If you think you have a handful on your bike in these conditons think of the other idiots out there in their cages, SUV, minivans, over-ther road rigs etc. I have to follow the laws of mass here, call me Sally. But Sally will live to ride another day. Razor an RZ350 cross country ... you the man. I'd love to have one of those in my stable next to my H2's.

[yamaha_george]

I have a muscle knot that reforms under my shoulder blade..and has ever since 1990 when I rode an RZ350 cross country. All of New mexico, the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma was a battle through about 30mph+ crosswinds...

The bike was heeled over the whole way..I had to hold my head/helmet into the wind.

It's something you get used to....gusty stuff is much scarier.

And, if you think your bike is bad, you ought to try a Harley with solid disc wheels!

RR,
you nutter welcome to the club rode an RD4 from London to Manchester on to Leeds in one day on the motorway BORING and very windy when 18Wheelers hurtle pass you.

As to the original post what tyre pressure do you have in back & front, if you are being moved by wind sounds like the contact patch is too small.

The book makes RECOMMENDED pressures only you have to set it up for YOU.
I tend to put sand or baby powder (carefull that stuff is slippery ) on a flat smooth floor and sit on the bike & paddle thro the sand.

Then I can see how much of the tyres get coated with sand / baby powder I like to see about an 1" - 1.5" stripe with the tyres upto temp from a short ride.Then take the pressure hot and when they are left overnight after the test. I have done this since my Uncle showed me that trick half a century ago.


I just know RR is going to put in 2c LoL

[reelrazor]

Haha! I left San Diego deep into the Monday night prior to Thanksgiving...was in No.Mich. (2450miles) to sit with my folks for dinner on Thursday afternoon-rode in snow the last 15 miles!

NO 18 wheelers PASSED me! I spent 1/2 hour periods on the throttle stop in sixth in the left lane. (and there are those who say two strokes don't hold up!)

And, on the contact patch thingie...when radials first came out for public consumption we were told by the tyre techs to run pressures for the rise in pressure from cold to hot...

up to a 120 width tyre-10% rise

120-160...15% rise

160 and up..the percentage is one tenth of the width (160..rise 16%...180-rise 18%)

these were recommendations for best wear and grip....other circumstances may warrant alterations..I routinely run less than the above when roads and air temps are on the cool end...just for tire warmup and compliance. I think it's worth experimenting for wind..a wide contact patch is gonna get exerted upon more, away from the wheel's centerline..hard to envision whether that would self-center the wheel or make it steer more out from under the bike. Have to dig out 'Motorcycle Chassis Design' by Tony Foale and re-read the tire/steering section

[yamaha_george]

And, on the contact patch thingie...when radials first came out for public consumption we were told by the tyre techs to run pressures for the rise in pressure from cold to hot...

up to a 120 width tyre-10% rise

120-160...15% rise

160 and up..the percentage is one tenth of the width (160..rise 16%...180-rise 18%)

these were recommendations for best wear and grip....other circumstances may warrant alterations..I routinely run less than the above when roads and air temps are on the cool end...just for tire warmup and compliance. I think it's worth experimenting for wind..a wide contact patch is gonna get exerted upon more, away from the wheel's centerline..hard to envision whether that would self-center the wheel or make it steer more out from under the bike. Have to dig out 'Motorcycle Chassis Design' by Tony Foale and re-read the tire/steering section

RR,
I knew you would bring something new to the table .

Thanks add the outline to the WIKI under the tyre section in the HOWTO on the TECH LINKS & BOOKS page.

[95FZR600]

I park my bikes at 25mph+ sustained winds. To crazy out there. If you think you have a handful on your bike in these conditons think of the other idiots out there in their cages, SUV, minivans, over-ther road rigs etc. I have to follow the laws of mass here, call me Sally. But Sally will live to ride another day. Razor an RZ350 cross country ... you the man. I'd love to have one of those in my stable next to my H2's.

[josbourn1]

Well, first off, thanks for adding to my post. I was riding in 20+ steady and gusts over 30 easily. Scary, thats all i can say, one moment im leaning steady left, the next im almost laying on my right side. im sure some of it is overcompensation. one incident blew me 15+feet into the fast lane, almost into the guardrail! im running cold pressures around 35, too high?

[yamaha_george]

Well, first off, thanks for adding to my post. I was riding in 20+ steady and gusts over 30 easily. Scary, thats all i can say, one moment im leaning steady left, the next im almost laying on my right side. im sure some of it is overcompensation. one incident blew me 15+feet into the fast lane, almost into the guardrail! im running cold pressures around 35, too high?

35 sounds high to me, I usually run around 32, but it does vary from bike to bike.

+ person to person my current pressure is 30 2 Back & front and the weather is mild sunny at 14 degrees C