Side Wind Anxiety-
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
From: southern california
what about 40-50mph cross wind gusts? i'm thinking of going up the 62 in southern california, where the windfarms are located, and take the scenic route to flagstaff. instead of the 10 straight out. i've been up to joshua tree many many times in an suv but don't know how that would be on a bike. i'm renting a streetglide.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 670
Likes: 22
From: Umatilla, Fl
Been in some hellacious sidewinds riding in the mountians and on the praire. If you think think its bad on your Harley, you should try it on a Goldwing. I liken it to driving a 4X8 sheet of plywood at 75 mph on the wing. Comparitively my Dyna doesn't hardly move in the gusts. I ride "loose" and try to anticipate the terrian where it will gust the most. A few years ago just south of Santa Fe it was gusting so bad it blew me over a lane and a half, gusts of 45 -50 mph. My wife panicked on that little episode and I had to pull over for @ 1hr while she smoked a half a pack of cigs! I don't think you ever get "used" to it, just have to slow down and pay attention.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,219
Likes: 7,784
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
The salesman at the HD dealer told me that HD added the holes in the front wheel on newer Fatboy models to combat side-wind.. .saying there were some reports that the stock completely-solid front wheel on the Fatboys had some riders complaining about side-wind issues with forks wanting to turn, and that spokes/other-rims were better. I wonder how much of that it true though... The front wheel is only a small part of the bike.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
I got thrown around realy good when I had my sporty. The glide has very little problems with the wind. This includes the 18 wheeler blow by on the two lane. Mabey the 200lb diference in bikes is the key, I think so.