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Cruiser
Posts: 150
Las Vegas, Nevada USA baby! | Riding in the wind; meaning; windy-wind, tumble weed chasin', dust scatterin', sand blastin', whip-up-on-you around those desert mountains, wind! 35-40 MPH winds, gusting over 60mph.
There is a set of mountains just north of Las Vegas called the Spring Mountains. Yeah, we got a ski resort an hour out of town! This ride is a circle from 'Vegas around the mountains, and back. I elected to stay as close to the desert floor as possible. Heated grips, and bun warmer is nice, but I didn't want to wear too many layers like I did last weekend.
Riding solo north by north west out of 'Vegas on US-95 is a slow climb from our 2,000ft above sea level to about 3,160' at Indian Springs. Then changing westward as the road gets to a little over 3,600' going by Mercury, NV and there's a couple of mini-mountains to go between when the wind gusts started buffeting a bit. All of the time I was always running the speed limit on cruise control. Enforcement was out in force. I saw them offering their special tickets to some folks thinking the place was "deserted". LOL.
Then the road goes down a little and there's Pahrump Junction for a switch south onto NV160. I stopped for a sip of H2O, and the two m/c riders that had been behind me since Indian Springs caught up and we chatted there for a few minutes. I'm 280lbs on a 900lb/wet Vision. The one rider was a heavier guy than me on a Kawasaki Vulcan 2000, so he also had a bit of stability. However his buddy was on a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14, which weighs in just shy of 500lbs/wet. The guy appeared to weigh maybe 170lbs. Anyway the Ninja guy was a bit shaken because of the gusts.
I headed South to Pahrump, NV (about 30 miles) and by then the winds were a-blowin, and the gusts around the mini-mountains were really doing their "bob-n-buffet buffoonery"! I took a mental study of things, trying different adjustments on the electrically operated windshield, lean angle, and butt placement. All things considered, keep the windshield up, center my butt, and use pressure on the handlebars (push left to steer left, push right to steer right) to be able to oppose the constantly changing forces of the wind. READINESS. Compared to riding my Vulcan Nomad last year... lots better. I think riding in gusting wind without the trunk will be a bit better.
When I got to Pahrump, NV (Death Valley, CA is just east of there about another 30 miles) I took a break and got a chance to talk to the riders I spoke with earlier. They were just arriving as I was about to leave. The big guy on the Kaw 2000 sez: "whoo-eee, was that wind somethin', or what"? He told me that he did okay, but his buddy on the Ninja 1400 got blown into the opposing lane. Luckily there was no-one coming at the time!
I left solo after a short chat, and, buckin' the wind headed on back into 'Vegas. I would nearly swear that as I rode, the realtor flags, and banners were blowing different directions every time I looked! Out of Pahrump and back up to speed of 70 on cruise, I switched my bun warmer and handlebar heaters both on low. Once I realized my Pegasus could take care of itself, I found a classic rock station, and like Jackie Gleason sez; "Away We Go"! I didn't realize that the pass was that high, Pegasus didn't care. I only had a long sleeve shirt, a lined windbreaker, my bright green surveryor's safety vest, and jeans and boots. I got a wee bit brisk over the top, but the bun warmer and handlebar heaters make a big difference.
I caught up with some pokey folk going over the 5,491' elevation mountain pass in the curves near Mountain Springs. This is when Pegasus just swooped through the curves, and I had to cut the speed a bit (for the sake of the pokey folk). Downhill now back into Las Vegas and it's 2,000' elevation, heaters off, and wondering if I should stop and take off my wind breaker as the temps quickly rose to near 80 degrees. I find the curves very much less work on this bike than my previous bike the Nomad. Intuitive, telepathic input it seems! Like riding a horse that really knows you.
The only problem I had was when I reached the I-15 to head north to home. As I was getting on the big road, some CA SUV driver in 'Vegas for the weekend was in the middle of the get-on lanes (3 get on-lanes). I am one to watch drivers heads, faces, and where they appear to be looking. He looked to the right, not to the left, and was pushing his own lane, and just as I thought in my mind "he's coming over", sure enough he did. I was just backing off and stayin' to the left out of his way, and I laid on the horn. He swerved, looked and saw me, was already passing the car that was in front of him so he gunned it and jammed onto the freeway. He stayed in the slow lane and let me get on and pass him. I think his wifey was chewin' him out!!
Today I just rode locally and met my Ladyfriend at TGI Fridays. I was kinda glad she didn't want to go for a putt. It was quite a bit cooler today, and still windy. She carries a bit of weight too, so I'd really like to ride a bit more solo, so I can feel even more comfortable carrying her with me, especially in the wind!
So the wind effect is there, but I think the Vision just needs the handlebar attention and READINESS on the rider's part. Wasn't spooky at all. The elevation didn't make a bit of difference, that I can tell. So... there you go! 150 mile circle round trip, wasn't tuckered out, and I know I could've kept going, but, supper time back at the EdCave was looming on the horizon!
EdRadio
Edited by edradio 2008-03-03 12:40 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | I agree 100%. I've ridden 2up in soma 30-40 mph gusts and it does take some extra attention & readiness. But my Vis cuts through it like hot butter and I'm becoming more & more comfortable with her at any speed/condition. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Great write-up Ed. The biggest crosswinds I've been in so far have been about 35kts, constant. The bike shimmies around a lot but actually tracks within 6-12 inches of my intended path. On my Concours I would have been really fighting it just to stay in my lane. It would actually feel like the bike was about to be lifted off the ground. Passing a semi-trailer that was on the windward side (blocking the wind as I passed) and then breaking back out into the crosswind was a white knuckle event on the Connie. Much more predictable on the Vision. I did the same thing as you did with the windshield position and changing speeds but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. I found that if I just force myself to relax and let it track it will do just fine, even though the chassis is getting blown around. I saw lots of cars and trucks having a much tougher time holding their lane than I was.
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | I rode in pretty decent wind gusts yesterday, no problem, no input that I really remember to the handlebars. I did notice that the bike tended to lean into the wind and then right itself. Like Songfan probably no more than 6-12 inches movement from my intended path. Then again I am way more relaxed than most people when riding, so when the body of the bike starts swaying or moving, wiggling around I tend to let physics do their part to keep me upright. However, I have been just North of LA on 15 right before you get into the mountains and there is a stretch of highway that likes to blow 18 wheelers over. That stretch tends to set you on the edge of your seat and give you some pucker factor.
Good ride edradio, got to be fun. Out of that entire ride and the best place you can find to eat at is TGIF, Surely there's a tasty venue somewhere out there. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | We had a windy day in the Houston area yesterday. Took a ride out east toward Louisana on I-10 which is pretty flat. With the wife and I on the Vision, did not have any issues handling the cross wind except for the wind flipping up our helmet visors. Once it actually turned my head to the side, so I'm guessing maybe 40 mph gusts. I feel the Vision handled the wind gust very well. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Thanks for the write-up. I rode in to work a few Sunday's back to pick up my computer to do some homework. It was the same day the winds was busting so hard it blew a semi-over on the James River Bridge. I had cross over the Appomattox bridge just a few miles away and I thought I was going over. However, the Vision stayed stuck to the rode as I was leaning into the wind to keep 'er on track. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 904
29 Palms California | PRIMAL, MASTERFULL! I live by the "windmill" farms. I have more concern driving a 4 wheeled vehicle than the vision thru the area. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 904
29 Palms California | PRIMAL, MASTERFULL! I live by the "windmill" farms. I have more concern driving a 4 wheeled vehicle than the vision thru the area. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | He posted twice hehehehehe! So that's where you get all that hot air for your typing tirades.
Edited by pollolittle 2008-03-03 11:33 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | pollolittle - 2008-03-03 11:32 AM
He posted twice hehehehehe! So that's where you get all that hot air for your typing tirades.
Wheewee! I thought I had double Vision there for a minute.... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 904
29 Palms California | i was dealing with aviation and a ground accident at the same time...give a brother a break. you bunch of over paid buzzards! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 256
Florida | SongFan - 2008-03-03 8:08 AM
Passing a semi-trailer that was on the windward side (blocking the wind as I passed) and then breaking back out into the crosswind was a white knuckle event on the Connie. Much more predictable on the Vision.
Okay guys, here's a question: When you're passing a semi that's blocking the wind, do you find it more stable to strongly accelerate through it? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Stay to the far left side of your lane while you are next to the truck in the calm wind. No need to blow past, just stay consistent. As you start to hit the turbulent air again, accelerate and ease to the right hand side of your lane as you clear the front of the truck. This gives you some fudge factor in case you catch a sudden heavy gust from the right side as you clear the truck. Continue to pull away from the truck until you have a nice cushion built in. Works for me anyway. I hate being stuck next to semi's.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 619
Southeast Iowa | By the way............Don't ride next to semi if at all possible. Pass them rather quickly and here's why. Tires blow and re-treads fly apart! I've never been next to one while it has happened, but I was about 1/8 miles behind one when "stuff" went flying everywhere. It would have been a nasty sight if I was a few seconds further down the road. |
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Riding in the Wind, and Elevation changes.
