| Author | Message | ||
     Jaydub |
I hardly ever venture on the highway, but had to yesterday. The turbulence from other cars is almost unbearable - turned into a white knuckle event rather quickly - is there anything that can help this? - different fly screen - or is it just me? | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I commute everyday in heavy traffic on an 8 lane highway at high speed. There is some turbulence but it isn't unbearable or unmanageable. At this point in my life I could not imagine hiding behind a wind screen, now that probably will change as I get older. With that said, You are the one who needs to be comfortable and confident, anything that makes you white knuckled needs to be addressed. Whether it is adding a windscreen or just more saddle time or a different route, it is your can on the line. What I hate is on a two lane getting blasted by wind from semi's headed the other direction. Nothing and then BOOM. | ||
| Spdkls |
would a steering damper help in these situations. i had the same problem yesterday. driving down the gulf coast hwy 98 with a pretty bad cross/head wind. around 70 the bike had just a touch of wobble. nothing i couldn't handle but just like lost said, when a semi comes by... once we got back in the woods it was nice though. just too many straights around here. very few bendys for the fun. | ||
| Xl1200r |
You're on a 400lb bike. You're gonna get blwon around. Nothing you can do about it. Adding a windsheild isn't going to keep the bike from getting blown any, just you. Ride the highway more if it's something you need to get used to. | ||
| Ccryder |
A steering damper would not help. What helps the most, and is difficult to do, is relax. What you are really feeling is the wind knocking the rider around. If you are "white-knuckled" then you are transmitting your body movement into the steering. From what I hear on the "RR's" and 25r's the aerodynamics are good enough to greatly reduce the blown around feeling. If you add a non-aerodynamic windshield, the blown around effect could then get MUCH worse! Neil S. | ||
| Jaimec |
Adding a windscreen could possibly make things WORSE. Now you have a big, rigid SAIL attached directly to your steering mechanism! Hunker down over the airbox to minimize your profile to the wind and RELAX your arms. Let the bike react to the wind. 99% of the time fighting the wind will only make things worse. | ||
| Midknyte |
Double check your suspension settings and try to relax your grip on the bars - any body movement, whether it be your nervousness or even your jacket catching the wind will be transmitted to the bike and amplified. Myself, I find the wonderful amount of torque/reserve power in the XB to make for a confidence inspiring mount in highway traffic. | ||
| No_rice |
i love playing frogger! as midknyte said. if you have a hard grip on the bars, the more your body gets moved around by the wind the more you try and hold yourself still with the bars. that ends up moving the bars around all the time. just relax | ||
| Jaydub |
thanks guys - as Xl1200r said - i've just got to ride the highway more to get used to it - i forgot it was only 400 lbs! + my 180 = get used to it  | ||
| Sam_07 |
Ride at 100 then back down to 70 and youll realize how smooth it is.... | ||
| Hexangler |
You've got to ride these things like a jockey sometimes. You've got to hold on with your thighs and hunker down. Hold LIGHT on the handle bars. And toes on the pegs (not insole). Hex PS, I usually just ride faster too. You should try it on sidecar rig.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You just need to bulk up:  You just have to get used to it. I hated riding on the interstate. After a while I actually, except for the boredom, like to ride on the interstate. I like the pressure of the wind. I still hate to ride behind semis. I think you just have to get used to it. | ||
| Truk |
Another thing to consider, and did not see anyone mention this... What are you wearing? A loose fitting coat will exaggerate things. Acts like a sail. Proper motorcycle gear makes a difference as well as providing the right kind of protection Good close fitting leather motorcycle/sportbike type jacket works best | ||
| Chainsaw |
...The turbulence from other cars is almost unbearable... I suggest test riding one of XBR models. Can't say I've ever been unnerved riding it on a freeway, but I have heard other "S" model riders complain about wind buffeting above 80mph. | ||
| Nautique4life |
+1 Sam. After doing a couple blast to 100-115, cruising at 80 with one hand will be second nature. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
+1 to proper gear I just realized yesterday that my helmet is too big. It may be that the fairing on the S2 was covering this flaw, or that I lost some weight, or both. But once I took the lightning out on the interstate it became obvious that the helmet is too big. It was catching wind and lifting on my head and making the ride very unpleasant. Anyone want to buy a slightly used XL Icon Domain? | ||
| Glitch |
Come on down here and ride my commute one morning. I85 through Atlanta traffic during rush hour. If that don't boost your confidence nothing will! Like everyone else said, proper equipment, and learn to relax. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Yeah, Dave, but your "harrowing" adventure is done at 3 MPH.  | ||
| Birdy |
Ft_bstrd, Ride that route once...they do 85 in the driving rain three foot apart at night.  1 wrong move and Georgia is going to think Sherman came through again! | ||
| Xb9er |
jaydub, your problem is they're passing you, you need to pass them! | ||
| Pwnzor |
omg... wtf... it's a motorcycle dude... come on... | ||
| Metalstorm |
I'll add a +1 to gripping with your knees and weighing the pegs a little with the balls of your feet and keeping the arms & hands relaxed. | ||
| Xbeau12s |
I drive my 04 XB12S 80mph all the time on the interstate. I think it is something your just gonna have to get used to. I installed a Laminar speed lip which took some of the turbulence off of my chest and put it more onto the top of my helmet. It helped in that respect. Proper riding gear helps too. Baggy clothes acts like a parachute. You just have to get used to and anticipate the turbulence. Like when you pass an 18 wheeler right at the front it's like a sumo trying to push you over sometimes but you just got to belly up and pierce through it. Make sure your tires are aired up correctly, balanced right, good tred life left. It's part of riding these beasts. Like a heavy dirt bike on the highway. | ||
| Jaydub |
i just went for another highway jaunt - i took my visor off my helmet, wound up to 95 an coasted back into about 70 ish - Amazing difference - gripping with your knees and weighing the pegs a little with the balls of your feet and keeping the arms & hands relaxed. | ||
| Ulynut |
+1 on the loose jacket. Another thing to think about is the type of vehicles you are following. A minivan makes a lot of turbulence behind, and to the side of it. A mini cooper makes much less turbulence. I try to find "clean air" on the highway. | ||
| Metalstorm |
I'm glad that went good for you Another bonus to weighing the pegs a little is that it greatly enhances balance at slow speeds too. At a complete stop at a stop sign or light I can stay balanced upright for a good 5 seconds or more before I have to put my feet down. If I have all my weight on the seat I'm lucky to stay upright for half a second before throwing the feet down. | ||
| Glitch |
Yeah, Dave, but your "harrowing" adventure is done at 3 MPH Not for long, it's 3mph, or 90mph. Once you're inside the perimeter it's everyone for themselves. It's mad! Ride that route once...they do 85 in the driving rain three foot apart at night. Been through here I take it. | ||
| Lightningrob |
I'd suggest swapping out the stock bars for some lower ones. The slightly forward position it will put you in will prevent a lot of turbulence on the highway. You will still get wind in your face, but you won't get the helmet-ripping effect the stock set up allows. +1 on proper fitting gear, too. | ||
| Etennuly |
Glitch I've done it many times. It is interesting in a truck where you sit high enough to watch the vehicles bouncing like pin balls on the other side of the barrier as they slide around in the rain at ninety mph. On the Uly, shortly after I got in broken in, I went through Atlanta in the fast lane during rush hour. I was following a Lexus and a Mercedes at 100 mph all of the way through the city on 75S. What a rush. Coming back a few days later I was following a Vette and a 350Z. We were only running about eighty five but it was raining so hard some cars were actually pulling over because their wipers wouldn't go fast enough. Rain-X works great for that. I have always found that I feel safer and there is less conflict with traffic, if I am with the faster traffic. I wait for a rabbit and follow someone going just a little slower. If most traffic is doing 75 mph and someone zips by at 90, there will usually be a group somewhere comfortably cruising at 80 or so. I try to hang with them. When approaching a tractor/trailer from behind I follow traffic up to its rear corner and pause, waiting for everyone to clear the truck before I get beside it. This allows me to get by a truck quickly and it allows the truck driver to see my headlights not just a 'gap' between cars. Hanging beside big trucks is dangerous for many reasons. I have been trapped there for miles at a time before, and 70 mph six feet from 80,000 lbs of mass that is influencing the wind isn't the best place to be. I was hit on my knee by a 2X4 that was fortunately only six inches long the last time I spent too much time there. ATGATT had my riding pants with pads in the right place that day. Brings back the old motto "Go like hell, you'll get there!" | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I have an "S" too and as mentioned above the only real way to get used to it is to ride, alot. One thing that I found that can help is buying a tank bag, filling it with your rain gear and leaning forward to rest your chest on it. If I know I'm hitting the Breezeway, I'll put 2 winter jackets in my tank bag. Works ok if the bag is really full. |
