Side Wind Anxiety-
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
I rode through a flat area yesterday with sustained side winds of 20-25 & gusting to 40 on my 1200 Sporty. I had to lean the bike over like I was going around a sharp curve, only I was going straight. Just relax and don't try to over-fight it. Keep control but don't grip too hard as that can upset the bike even more. Glad I had my new tired put on last week..made a huge difference.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 15,375
From: West of Texas
Don't know what kind of tires you're riding on but my low rider on the stock Dunlops was absolutely scary in some of the wind we get out this way in the spring. At 2700 miles I took off the Dunlops and put on Metzeler ME880's. The difference was dramatic! The bike was stable in the wind and had absolutely no tendency to wander or wobble. The wind related problems just disappeared with the Metzeler's. Same thing happened once before with a metric bike that came equipped with Dunlops. I wonder how many people riding on Dunlops put up with ill handling in the wind thinking it's normal. On the other hand, my son rides an Ultra with Dunlops and doesn't seem to have any problems in the wind. It's something you might want to consider when you need new tires though.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB.
Once spoke wheels are spinning, they're just as solid to the wind as fatboy wheels.
I saw a guy do a demo once. He took a fatboy and put it on a set of rollers, and started it up. He let it idle, back wheel spinning away. Then he took a air leaf blower on one side and a piece of paper on the other. The wind from the leaf blower didn't move the paper.
Then he took a bike with spoke wheels and did the same thing with the exact same results.
The purpose of the demo was to get the Fatboy owner to stop whining.
I'm sure there's a difference, but it's minimal, and not a reason to replace solid wheels.
I saw a guy do a demo once. He took a fatboy and put it on a set of rollers, and started it up. He let it idle, back wheel spinning away. Then he took a air leaf blower on one side and a piece of paper on the other. The wind from the leaf blower didn't move the paper.
Then he took a bike with spoke wheels and did the same thing with the exact same results.
The purpose of the demo was to get the Fatboy owner to stop whining.
I'm sure there's a difference, but it's minimal, and not a reason to replace solid wheels.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 874
Likes: 2
From: Southern Arizona
I found this out years ago. The biggest sail on the bike is the rider and you will unconsciously contribute to the problem if you hold on too tightly. The bike wants to go straight and though it will wiggle around a bit it will continue to go straight if you give it half a chance. Also, Ive been riding a Fatboy with solid wheels for over ten years now and even toured on it. I really have no more problems with wind on it than on my Street Glide. I dont think the wheel has any effect at all. As was said, a solid wheel is a very small part of the overall size of the bike and with discs that are almost as large as the wheel, even spoked wheels could be a problem. I cant imagine the small holes in the new wheels having any effect at all. JMHO.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 950
Likes: 19
From: Southcentral, OK
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 950
Likes: 19
From: Southcentral, OK
Once spoke wheels are spinning, they're just as solid to the wind as fatboy wheels.
I saw a guy do a demo once. He took a fatboy and put it on a set of rollers, and started it up. He let it idle, back wheel spinning away. Then he took a air leaf blower on one side and a piece of paper on the other. The wind from the leaf blower didn't move the paper.
Then he took a bike with spoke wheels and did the same thing with the exact same results.
The purpose of the demo was to get the Fatboy owner to stop whining.
I'm sure there's a difference, but it's minimal, and not a reason to replace solid wheels.
I saw a guy do a demo once. He took a fatboy and put it on a set of rollers, and started it up. He let it idle, back wheel spinning away. Then he took a air leaf blower on one side and a piece of paper on the other. The wind from the leaf blower didn't move the paper.
Then he took a bike with spoke wheels and did the same thing with the exact same results.
The purpose of the demo was to get the Fatboy owner to stop whining.
I'm sure there's a difference, but it's minimal, and not a reason to replace solid wheels.