Riding in cross wind

[Iowvicar]

Driving on the motorway and hit a cross wind the my 1000 get blown across lanes, front end feels light.

How to I improve the handling in a cross wind. Or is it because the bike is heavy and has a high centre of gravity. It's not if one can just flick the bike as one can a sports-tourer

[Mr Nick]

There is a school of thought that says stick your knee out on the side the wind comes from: I've tried it and I'm not sure it does anything, but hard to say either way.
Bottom line, it's a taller bike with a big side aspect for the wind to catch; it's always going to be an issue.

[sillyboy]

 my vstrom 650 isn't nearly as bad as my gs1200 was.

[old git]

I tend to ride in a lower gear when riding in really windy conditions. I don't know whether it's gyroscopic effect from the crank spinning quicker or just having more instant power but it  seems to work. Even a torque monster like my FJR 1300 seems to benefit, particularly when passing trucks in really blustery conditions.

[wurzel]

Interesting theory old git, I tend to respond to gusts with body English,leaning my whole torso into the wind,and a very gentle touch of countersteering.
Top boxes and high set screens will accentuate the wind push, as will baggy clothing and beer bellies, passing high sided vehicles can be fun when they are upwind.

[UK_Vstrom650]

It can be quite disconcerting when you're not expecting it, but try to let the bike move with the wind rather than try to fight it, and adjust your speed accordingly 

[The Border Riever]

I own a 650 and find it not too bad, but testing a 2016 1000  I got caught with a crosswind on open moorland and what a moment it was, no luxury of three lanes on a motorway, just a single track B road 

[Methusela]

Some years ago I went on an advanced machine handling course. The advice then was to rest the hands on top of the grips and relax. The bike will sort itself out. Counter  steering etc can cause over reaction if the wind is gusting. This has worked for me ever since, even when riding fully faired and loaded touring bikes. Hope this helps

[Freddyfruitbat]

There is a school of thought that says stick your knee out on the side the wind comes from: I've tried it and I'm not sure it does anything

I've tried it and I'm sure it does work.  God knows why though.   And it does make you look like a right plonker (especially when cornering - Marquez wannabee?)

[Iowvicar]

Thanks blokes spoke to Suzuki at MotoGP and they tell me it characteristic of the bike and its one of those things I will have to get used to. Basically change riding style or get a different bike

[Gassoon]

Yeah, tall bike, a bit top-heavy, plenty of surface area and big front wheel - all adds up to fun in the wind! But I think it all feels worse than it is - a lot of it is 'headology' I suspect. The knee out to windward works for me, and I felt better once I had a fork-brace fitted

[infidel]

On a sports bike I always tuck down + lean in (whilst covering brake).
Will be the same if I hit a big blast on me V2 - which I haven't yet, but have noticed its susceptibility.

The front light end appears above 100mph too. (so I heard officer). 

[Hugo Magnus]

Some years ago I went on an advanced machine handling course. The advice then was to rest the hands on top of the grips and relax. The bike will sort itself out. Counter  steering etc can cause over reaction if the wind is gusting. This has worked for me ever since, even when riding fully faired and loaded touring bikes. Hope this helps

I concur

[wurzel]

Each to their own,and I agree that relaxing your grip often helps, but I still maintain that gentle countersteer used correctly and in response to sidewind keeps things in a straight line, as does weighting the bike with body positioning.
Motorcycles can be shifted off the intended line, or road position, by a side force of any description, it is the riders job, not the brainless motorcycles,to counteract the side force with an equal and opposite input.

[Outthereondartmoor]

I drop my shoulder slightly down and forward on the windward side. Other than that I find that trying to relax is the key.

[wurzel]

That will help, most normal winds only require a little body leaning,and a relaxed grip, but there comes a time when the wind is strong enough to require some more rider input,that I suppose is the point I'm trying to make.

[Methusela]

I came away from the course I mentioned earlier really impressed by how inherently stable a motorcycle is once on the move. An example quoted was the times on a race track a rider slides off only for the bike to pick itself up and continue into the tyre wall. We ended the course by riding over a plank at 30 mph while letting go of the bars and holding arms out at shoulder width. It took me several tries to be brave enough to let go, but when I did the bars just shook and then the bike continued in a straight line. All to do with gyroscopic effect apparently.

[Chimpy]

Hi,

Have a read of my comment on the fork brace thread:-

https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=35444.0

 

[colin]

I agree with Gassoon.  Tall bike, High centre of gravity, Lot of surface area, I only use top box & panniers when I really need them. Compared to my other bikes Harley Dyna and Triumph bonny T100. Both naked bikes and low centre of gravity.