Suspension preload and damping force

[Loz]

just a stunt I'd say it's a skill, and another facet of bike control that the majority of riders could not master.

GW, Earlier you say "You want to stay loose and provide the tiny handlebar movements that offset the force of the wind."
Than later in the thread "Handlebars provide much greater steering inputs much quicker than body movements. I used to practice quick steering inputs  while riding in city traffic by avoiding manhole covers as the car in front would uncover their positions. Those are the kinds of inputs needed to counter wind gusts."
Personally I've always rode loose and never had a problem riding in windy conditions, I may or may not input counter steering into the bars, but if I am I will be doing these sub conscientiously and not in the same manner as when wanting to steer past an unexpected pot hole/road kill or other obstruction which is a much more determined input to the bars.

 

[greywolf]

I mean stunt riding is much different from normal street riding. The level of expertise required for stunt riding is exactly why stunting does not apply to ordinary riding scenarios. Countersteering around manholes adds a eye to hand coordination responses and is entirely rider initiated while countersteering as a response to wind gusts is all feel and the gust actually helps with countersteering. Add a sharp side force component to a moving bike and the bike will fight it by turning the bars in the direction the wind pushes it, initiating a countersteer that pushes against the wind unless the rider has a death grip on the bars preventing them from moving.

[Methusela]

Best advice I had when riding a large fully faired bike in strong cross winds came from a Police motorcyclist. Just rest the hands lightly on the grips, relax and the bike will sort itself out. Works for me.

[vstroppy]

I really like my Glee except when riding in strong winds, riding up to John'o'Groats last year in a howling 3/4 headwind I could not stop the bike being physically blown sideways. If I rode at 30mph I could control the bike but any speed above that was no go. Both the bikes I was travelling with were being blown about but not losing adhesion to the road like I was, nor were the BMW R1200GS that came past laughing at my antics (I was hanging off the bike MotoGP style at times). This is the only bad characteristic I have found with the bike and it never bothers me 95% of the time so I am happy to live with it. A look back through the forum shows this is a recurring complaint with Vee, Wee and Glee models, I will be interested to see if the new models with the "Beak" are any better in side winds as the shape of the front end should in theory provide an aerofoil effect pushing the front wheel into the tarmac.

[Rusty Nuts]

That'd only really work in a direct headwind, if at all. The beak's just a wing as far as a side wind is concerned.

[vstroppy]

Should have some effect, forward motion of the bike should cause some down force whatever the wind direction . The problem with the Glee in the 3/4 head wind was the wind felt like it was lifting the front end causing lack of adhesion. Still it will be interesting to see if the same number of moans about side winds come from the owners of the new models. 

[CharlitTee]

Rode down through France and across Spain down to Portugal last year. Two up with panniers and top box, so there was a fair old weight there which I would have thought would have aided stability. But the strong cross winds in Spain made the trip very hard work. Daily legs of 200 miles or so left me really quite tired and, yes, I know I’m getting old. The 650, even with beak, is simply not good in cross winds.

By contrast, I rode my T100 Bonneville today across Dartmoor in strong winds and found it easy. So, there’s clearly something about the design of the VStrom, excellent bike though it is, that affects its stability in strong winds. Suzuki should revisit this issue.

[Sasquatch]

It's upright tall sitting position of the v-strom that makes it feel more affected by crosswind gusts. I write feel because despite feeling like I'm about to leave my lane tyres drifted only minimally. Relaxing knee grip on the tank and letting bike dance under me mitigated the crosswind gusts problem.

@CharlieTee Boneville t100 puts rider much lower than v-strom and, at least for me, forces loose riding position because of it's size