How Dangerous is Wind...Really?
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 648
Likes: 3
From: San Tan Valley Arizona
I hit 50 mph winds a month ago down in Arizona, and although it's not my favorite, it beats the hell out of not riding.
Couple times got blown across my lane with some shifting winds, but nothing scary.
I've heard people say the bat wing isn't good in winds, but I've never noticed. I could tell on my fatboy with the solid wheels, but not on my SG.
Couple times got blown across my lane with some shifting winds, but nothing scary.
I've heard people say the bat wing isn't good in winds, but I've never noticed. I could tell on my fatboy with the solid wheels, but not on my SG.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
Death Valley a few years ago was the site of a death on a bike because of high winds. An off duty LEO who rode a bike on the job was on vacation with his wife and the wind blew them off the road and ended up taking his life. Wind does suck.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Northern CA
I was riding just outside of Ventura CA heading east...terrible crosswind. A huge gust came up from my left and blew me completely across the lane and pinned me against a car. We were both going about 50. Lucky for me the driver was a young guy, he didn't panic, didn't swerve, just let off the gas and we kind of slowed down in unison. Got down to about 40 and I was able to veer off and get stable again. We both stopped and I thanked him for keeping his cool. His car got a little scratched up, so I had that fixed for him. Nothing really happened to my bike.
I still hate riding in high winds, but if I get caught out I have no problem slowing down...to walking speed if necessary. I just need that cushion of extra time to react that I don't get when I'm going 50 or 60 and get lane-changed by the wind.
I still hate riding in high winds, but if I get caught out I have no problem slowing down...to walking speed if necessary. I just need that cushion of extra time to react that I don't get when I'm going 50 or 60 and get lane-changed by the wind.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
Let me see now
...knowing the diameter of the wheel and the velocity we could begin to calculate the gyroscope effect.
Then factor in lateral surface area, the friction coefficient between the asphalt and tire we can probably calculate the maximum wind gusts one could tolerate
..wait a minute, wtf am I saying? And who cares. I'll just shut up an d have a beer.
...knowing the diameter of the wheel and the velocity we could begin to calculate the gyroscope effect. Then factor in lateral surface area, the friction coefficient between the asphalt and tire we can probably calculate the maximum wind gusts one could tolerate..wait a minute, wtf am I saying? And who cares. I'll just shut up an d have a beer.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 836
Likes: 4
From: NC / SC between the Mtns and the Ocean
I went through Death Valley in March (PICS) and ran into winds also. Locals told me we picked a bad time to come through as high as the winds were, but I didn't have too much problem w/ them. Not sure what the speeds were, but this is what I remember...
Riding an 08 Ultra coming into Bad Water in Death Valley, where the low lying desert road zig zags back and forth from the edge of the mountain, going towards the mountain it felt like winds hitting me at 2 or 3 o'clock that felt like riding my RKC w/ no windshield at 70 mph, then riding away from the mountain it felt like still air as I was going w/ the wind.
When we stopped at Bad Water, I parked the bike at an angle that I thought would have the wind hitting it at an angle from the right side tour pack, put my helmet and gloves down on passenger seat protected by the tour pack, or so I thought, since I thought we were mostly behind the mountain protected somewhat from the wind direction we had experienced. A couple minutes later I cam out of the restroom to find my helmet had blown about 100 yards away down the road, and my gloves were 50-75 yds away up the side of the mountain in a different direction, and didn't even see my fleece neck warmer, it was gone.
Standing out there on the salt flats at Bad Water, the wind would almost knock you over when it gusted, just standing there it felt like 70 mph w/ no shield on the RKC at gust points. That's when I realized how bad the wind really was. My friend was complaining about the wind, he was having a hard time w/ it, also on an Ultra. Maybe I was just enjoying myself so much and was just naturally leaning into the wind I didn't notice it was a problem, I would just notice it when the fairing had blocked all front wind, and suddenly I'd get blasted from an angle like I had no fairing at all, I just thought it was all part of the experience, guess we were lucky not to have more serious issues.
Riding an 08 Ultra coming into Bad Water in Death Valley, where the low lying desert road zig zags back and forth from the edge of the mountain, going towards the mountain it felt like winds hitting me at 2 or 3 o'clock that felt like riding my RKC w/ no windshield at 70 mph, then riding away from the mountain it felt like still air as I was going w/ the wind.
When we stopped at Bad Water, I parked the bike at an angle that I thought would have the wind hitting it at an angle from the right side tour pack, put my helmet and gloves down on passenger seat protected by the tour pack, or so I thought, since I thought we were mostly behind the mountain protected somewhat from the wind direction we had experienced. A couple minutes later I cam out of the restroom to find my helmet had blown about 100 yards away down the road, and my gloves were 50-75 yds away up the side of the mountain in a different direction, and didn't even see my fleece neck warmer, it was gone.
Standing out there on the salt flats at Bad Water, the wind would almost knock you over when it gusted, just standing there it felt like 70 mph w/ no shield on the RKC at gust points. That's when I realized how bad the wind really was. My friend was complaining about the wind, he was having a hard time w/ it, also on an Ultra. Maybe I was just enjoying myself so much and was just naturally leaning into the wind I didn't notice it was a problem, I would just notice it when the fairing had blocked all front wind, and suddenly I'd get blasted from an angle like I had no fairing at all, I just thought it was all part of the experience, guess we were lucky not to have more serious issues.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Ride from Eagar to Show Low, AZ and you'll see signs every few miles that say "Caution: Dangerous Winds Next XX Miles." The wind is so constant and expected they put up signs. I asked a local LEO at a gas fill up how serious those winds were. He told me "last week we peeled a rider off the road who was blown into an on-coming semi and we regularly have semi's flip." I rode the road and held on for dear life. You have to be on your A game and constantly counter-steer and re-adjust to not be blown either off the road or in to on-coming traffic. It is fairly tiring.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 2
From: Cocoa Beach, Florida
I'm only focusing upon this segment DP, but I grew up (as a rider) back in So Cal and Arizona. I also learned, DON'T EVER ride through a dust devil!!!! There's a reason they look a lot like a tornado.
Last edited by RangeRat; Apr 28, 2009 at 05:06 AM.