 High Wind riding
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 84
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OP
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 84 |
Rode from Rosemead to Fillmore along the 210 freeway around 6:00 PM yesterday. If you're in Southern California you know the wind was kicking. I must say while it wasn't a great ride (riding in wind never is great) the bike handled the gusts very well. Matter of fact I don't recall any bike I've owned handle high winds (cross winds, gusts etc) any better than my Speedmaster. Gone are the days of getting blown into other lanes..... for which I'm happy. The more I ride the bike the more is grows on me. 8300 miles and loving it more every day.
Steve
bigsteve
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Steve,
Yes sir-ree! It WAS one windy mother of a day, yesterday.
It was bad enough down in the basin, but I can just imagine how much those zephyrs were blowin' up your way, in the canyons.
That's one of the things I've always liked about my BA...The low center of gravity. Even with strong cross-winds, it's never felt like the tires were going to be swept-out from underneath.
Cheers, Dwight
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,240
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,240 |
You are so right about these bikes. I have no experience with any other motorcycle, but just got back from a 20 mile "errand run" this evening, and the winds were really gusting. Harder to keep it still at a red light though, than to keep it in my lane on the roll. Rode a good 160 mile round-tripper last fall with a front blowing in - after dark - temp in the low 50's, winds in the 20's from the north (it was an east to west and back run out I-10). You're definitely conscious of the wind, but don't really feel "threatened" by it. I do not have a windscreen, and fear that one would be more of an issue in those kinds of conditions. I am curious as to how the flyscreens handle when the winds kick up. Anybody have any comments on them? 
Keith Houston Ridin'Texas '04 Speedmaster AI removed, Pingle, UNI Filter, 1 shim, straight-through slash-cut TORs, Stage 1 DynaJet, 140 mains, 3 turns, 16/42 final drive, 115K 2020 T120 Black
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425 |
i have had a deflector on my first bike, a full shield on my KZP with the police fairing, and now a shield that i have cut down on my BA. you do have to be aware of the wind, be ready to correct yourself while leaning into it and a semi blocks it for ya, :-). But its all relitive to what you get used to.
Mal: "Y'all see the man hanging out of the spaceship with the really big gun?{ref, Jayne} Man's lookin' to kill some folk. So really, it's his will y'all should worry about thwarting."
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,847
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,847 |
Never had a windscreen on any bike. What happens when the big loggin' truck goes past you on the two lane road at 80 MPH? It buffetts me about greatly, is it worse or better with a windscreen?
Warren
04 Caspian Blue and Silver America
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 95
Member
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Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 95 |
Both my America and my Valkyrie have wind screens, and I just have to say I will never go back to riding without one.
"The right bike is the one you like."
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 503
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 503 |
I haven't found high winds, or semis to be an issue with my wind screen. Elgato is right, I'll never ride without one. On long runs it's a life saver.
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152 |
at one point I had a 19 inch fats on my america set almost dead upright. I found that with any real speed or headwind the bike would 'shake its head' in a really scary way when I hit a bump. tilting the screen back cured it.
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 140
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 140 |
I have the Triumph summer screen. It keeps me from having to grab the bars tight to hold against the wind at highway speeds so I keep it on now.
Last week coming back from LA we rode 3 hours through a good solid rain front with 20+ mph gusts from the SSW (we were headed west). I could feel the wind pushing but it was no big deal; even with the wet conditions it held firm to the tarmac. (I remember riding smaller bikes where I was pushed sideways in the lane, dry road, and had to correct at each gust.)
As for the buffeting caused by a screen, mine is small and it doesn't seem to matter much. On my brother's HD with a really big windscreen I could feel the front wheel wiggling when in the vortex behind a trucker, kinda unnerving. I would rather look over the top of my small screen and have the wind in my face than ride his with no wind where I have to look through the plastic, like being in a cage.
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Gary
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 Re: High Wind riding
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726 |
Quote:
As for the buffeting caused by a screen, mine is small and it doesn't seem to matter much. On my brother's HD with a really big windscreen I could feel the front wheel wiggling when in the vortex behind a trucker, kinda unnerving. I would rather look over the top of my small screen and have the wind in my face than ride his with no wind where I have to look through the plastic, like being in a cage.
Gary, you didn't say how tall you are. I'm 6'0" and also have the summer screen. I haven't had any problem from winds, trucks, etc., but the wind hitting me in the face is uncomfortable at speeds over 60. I only ride with a shield on my helmet now. Hopefully, a replacement that fits the summer screen brackets will be available soon. ClearView Shields is offering a replacement at 1/2 price for someone that will send them their Triumph Summer Screen with brackets to use as a template. Stock is only 13" high and I probably need a 17" or more to get the wind to the top of my helmet. They plan to make a couple of different sizes. You still want to be able to see over the top, but the increased wind shouldn't hit you in the face.
ClearView is in Denver, CO. I'm in Florida and still riding in pleasant weather. If no one has taken them up on their offer in another month, I'll send them mine. If you're interested, contact John Lauk at Clearview: info@clearviewshields.com.
Bob
2005 America, 904cc - sold. 2014 Trophy SE.
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