How windy is too windy?

[nc73]

To ride of course...I find that 25mph is ok...When do you all decide to take the car instead? Well for those that commute to work most days. Pretty soon I won't be able to take the car so will have to cummute on the bike 90 percent of the time. It's just always freaking windy here in Scotland.

[Jeppo]

As long as trees aren't being blown across the road, or any other debris likely to flatten me
Wind is annoying as your riding as it is not something you can adjust for as a constant like rain.
I remember when i first started riding I hated it and would avoid riding in it, but you get used to it and now it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Though i hear scotland can be a litte more windy

[nc73]

I'm just not brave enough Just don't want to be blown across the lane and hit a car or something. Rain and cold don't seem to bother me much.

[Jeppo]

Just lean in to it. But then just beware of things that are gonna provide cover such as buildings or lorrys, as you will just veer off to one side!! lol

Aa the joys of UK riding lol

[stug]

Wind has never stopped me riding to work....... yet.
It has in the past had me virtually stopped in the middle of the road gagging for air, trying to keep the bike in a semi-straight line, but just grin and bear it and carry on.

Any side wind makes filtering REAL fun especially going over the Kingston Bridge 2-up.
I have also been hit by a large plastic plant pot and ridden through a sheet of plaster board that blew in front of me on the M8, but it just makes your journey to work a bit more interesting.

Roll on autumn.... if we actually get a summer that is.

[Caz]

you get used to it quick enough, and if you have to deal with it you do! had a nasty ride back home from Dover once, the ferry crossing took 45mins longer than usual (Dover - Ostende) because the weather was so bad. Had only just passed my test, and didnt have any choice except to ride home! It's not as bad as you think its going to be as long as you're smart

[RedexRobB]

its never bothered me that much, but i cant let a something like wind stop me when my bike is my only transport. Ive got Orwell bridge to contend with on the way to work, and on a windy day id easily get blown half way across the lane im in if the winds in the right direction. Weirdly tho, the faster i go the less i seem to get blown about. Maybe the increased gyroscopic force of the wheel with speed has something to do with it?

[rene]

i've riden 80+ winds, just ride smart, things like lorrys, openings in hedge rows ect will blow you all over the place if your not ready for it.

Plan bends well in advance as well theres nothing worse than hanging off the bike trying to pull it down yet still going straite on!

[Jamz]

Weirdly tho, the faster i go the less i seem to get blown about. Maybe the increased gyroscopic force of the wheel with speed has something to do with it?

I'm sure that's a factor too, but it's mainly because sportsbikes are more stable the faster they go. Call it kinetic energy or the stabilising effect of the drag over the fairing. Absolutely true and tested though.

The main thing I change in strong winds is when approaching a junction or another reason to stop, I'll brake more heavily to come to a stop sooner, rather than slowing and trying to balance without putting my feet down for as long as I can.

I'd also recommend getting both feet on the floor (if you can) and keeping both hands on the bars rather than keeping your right foot on the peg covering the brake.

The only real scare I've ever had was riding an XT660 last year, and ending up stood on one leg with the other sticking up in the air like Jean Claude Vanfucking Damme at a 9busy with lots of witnesses) junction as I tried to keep the bike from blowing over!

[lewisdale]

Ive always been told to accelerate through it

[carlingboy]

its never bothered me that much, but i cant let a something like wind stop me when my bike is my only transport. Ive got Orwell bridge to contend with on the way to work, and on a windy day id easily get blown half way across the lane im in if the winds in the right direction. Weirdly tho, the faster i go the less i seem to get blown about. Maybe the increased gyroscopic force of the wheel with speed has something to do with it?

quicker and easier for you at silly oclock in the morning to go through town and less windy

[Scott221]

Get tucked in and go for it!!!

[RedexRobB]

its never bothered me that much, but i cant let a something like wind stop me when my bike is my only transport. Ive got Orwell bridge to contend with on the way to work, and on a windy day id easily get blown half way across the lane im in if the winds in the right direction. Weirdly tho, the faster i go the less i seem to get blown about. Maybe the increased gyroscopic force of the wheel with speed has something to do with it?

quicker and easier for you at silly oclock in the morning to go through town and less windy

Along felixtowe road? I did wonder about that, but theres a guy at work who goes that way, and saw him one morning by the train station, we arrived at exactly the same time but went different ways, i suspect he werent going as fast as me tho. Least the way i go i get to open it up

[carlingboy]

Was he on a motorcycle or in a motorcar ????????

if he was in a car then surely town is quicker for you, think of the petrol you will save ...that can go toward all them beers you are going to buy me in the summer

[deviant]

the ferry crossing took 45mins longer than usual (Dover - Ostende) because the weather was so bad.

OT, but I once ended up on a Dover-Calais ferry for 12 and a half hours (it's a 90 minute crossing normally). They closed the port at Dover just after we left due to the weather, which meant nothing was leaving Calais, which meant that there wasn't a free berth for the ferry to pull into. They just headed up the coast a bit, pointed it into the wind and kept the engines ticking over to hold station.


Back to the OP, too windy is when I actually get blown off the road, which hasn't happened yet, despite the DR8 having a side-on area comparable with the Titanic.