P
ping
Guest
Hi, new to this, so here goes. My R1150GS (2000) seems very much not to like cross winds. Very scary at loads above 30 mph. Any one else find this a problem?
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GSs and Crosswinds
The stock windshield on the GS isn't really for full-body protection, but for sport-touring, enduro, etc. If you're looking for something to give you more protection from the wind while riding at higher speeds you might look at an Aeroflow. I have one on my 1100GS and it has made a big difference. Of course I live in southwest New Mexico where it seems the wind is always blowing, so maybe I'm just getting use to it.
I'm sure others here will also have some good ideas or suggestions.
The stock windshield on the GS isn't really for full-body protection, but for sport-touring, enduro, etc. If you're looking for something to give you more protection from the wind while riding at higher speeds you might look at an Aeroflow. I have one on my 1100GS and it has made a big difference. Of course I live in southwest New Mexico where it seems the wind is always blowing, so maybe I'm just getting use to it.
I'm sure others here will also have some good ideas or suggestions.
PacWestGS
25-MPH NEXT 1OO MILES
ping, not quite sure I understand the question, cross-winds at 30-mph or your speed at 30-mph?
What kind of load? Top case and baggage or just rider?
Cross-winds can be tricky, steady; you just lean into them, gusts; you just have to constantly counter-steer and make second to second adjustments. Some of those can use up the whole lane.
I've literally gone down the road leaned over sometimes to the point of draggin' pegs to go straight, after that I pull over and wait for the winds to change.
Details please, we can help, but we need to know more info....
Doc
What kind of load? Top case and baggage or just rider?
Cross-winds can be tricky, steady; you just lean into them, gusts; you just have to constantly counter-steer and make second to second adjustments. Some of those can use up the whole lane.
I've literally gone down the road leaned over sometimes to the point of draggin' pegs to go straight, after that I pull over and wait for the winds to change.
Details please, we can help, but we need to know more info....
Doc
I wasn't happy with an Aeroflow, it sat too far from me. I've had much better success with Tobinators to pull the GS shield down and back. For 34 pages of GS windshield info go here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2841
Good luck and get back to us.
Sarah
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2841
Good luck and get back to us.
Sarah
S
screwtop
Guest
I have a Cee-bailey on my GS 4" taller than stock, and I like it alot. Good weather and wind protection at a fraction of the cost of an Aeroflow. With respect to crosswinds, I have had some scary experiences, and I tend to stay off the bike on those real windy spring days we have in the northeast. Unexpected gusts are particularly hazardous. A couple years ago I was out for a spring ride and a front came through - it got real ugly, real fast. At the same time, a microburst (windshear?) had hit Baltimore's inner harbor capsizing a water taxi and they lost 5 people.
robdogg
New member
hmmm, I guess it's all realative - to me the 1150 GS seems like an imoveable rock on the highway
try riding across the plains of southwest Utah on a DRZ 400 or across the Dalles Bridge going over the Columbia River in near gale force winds on a KTM 640
now that was scarey
oh, and regarding the Aeroflow; I'd say it actually make things worse in a crosswind; it acts like a big sail; it's great otherwise; best wind protection money can buy for the GS; yeah they are expensive, but I put a WTB add up on Advrider; and had two offers within a few days; paid just over half retail for the used one I got.
gotta know how to work the system guys
try riding across the plains of southwest Utah on a DRZ 400 or across the Dalles Bridge going over the Columbia River in near gale force winds on a KTM 640
now that was scarey
oh, and regarding the Aeroflow; I'd say it actually make things worse in a crosswind; it acts like a big sail; it's great otherwise; best wind protection money can buy for the GS; yeah they are expensive, but I put a WTB add up on Advrider; and had two offers within a few days; paid just over half retail for the used one I got.
gotta know how to work the system guys
A GS has the aerodynamics of a small building and it is just something to get used to that is all. cross winds are pretty hard to be protected from unless you are in a car unfortunately, even crotch rocket fairings do you no favours when the wind is coming from the side, in fact the greater the surface area the greater the impact of the wind. I find the gaps in the GS frame etc actually help to dissipate some of the effect of minor wind better than an older sport bike with fairings.
P
ping
Guest
R1150GS/wind
Thanks for the info everyone. The worst we have ever seen was in Wyoming last June, we did park it twice in one day, the worst I have ever made it through. The wife was freaked!!
For the record, we were two up, system cases, top case and Sargent Super bag. Areoflo half faring, driver 215lb rider,115. I don't know how fast the wind was blowing from the right but it was bad! Under more normal conditions the GS is a rock. The Aero is the 4th shield I tried and the only one that took the severe turbulence off of the wife, it is now so smooth for her she has fallen asleep on several occasions. Anyone wish a Givi tall?
ping
Thanks for the info everyone. The worst we have ever seen was in Wyoming last June, we did park it twice in one day, the worst I have ever made it through. The wife was freaked!!
For the record, we were two up, system cases, top case and Sargent Super bag. Areoflo half faring, driver 215lb rider,115. I don't know how fast the wind was blowing from the right but it was bad! Under more normal conditions the GS is a rock. The Aero is the 4th shield I tried and the only one that took the severe turbulence off of the wife, it is now so smooth for her she has fallen asleep on several occasions. Anyone wish a Givi tall?
ping
PacWestGS
25-MPH NEXT 1OO MILES
ping, thanks for the reply. It sounds like you had quite a 'Sail Mass' going there. A cross-wind of 10-15 mph will catch you pretty well and send you all over the road. Gusts over that make it all the harder to keep it between the lines.
David Hough, has some great ideas in 'Proficient Motorcycling' and gives a good description of how a motorcycles turns into a sail with top boxes and two-up riding.
I doubt your windscreen has much effect on a cross-wind so use the one you find comfortable.
As far as riding in a cross-wind, it's a lot of 'counter-steering' like entering a turn, only there is no turn. If there is then it's using more counter-steer. Dealing with those gusts requires constant counter-steering (pushing on the windy side handlebar and leaning the bike over into the wind than pulling it back up or pushing on the windless side to straighten things up again and again and again.
At some point you just have to give up; find a nice coffer shop and eat some pie.
On several occasions I have been dragging foot-pegs going straight (at least within the lane) and sitting on the up-side of the seat with the bike leaned over underneath me. Deserts can be a b!tch sometimes, same with the 'Plains states' but what can you do.
Bridges are especially dangerous and take you by surprise. If there is a wind-sock on the leading end or somewhere that you can see, use it. The other thing I'll do is pace a larger cage or semi-truck across the bridge on the down-wind side until I get across.
Last piece of info, be careful passing or being passed by trucks and RVs when riding a cross-wind, they steal the wind away and that perpetual turn you are in, will become a 'turn'. If I expect to be sucked in or blown over in some direction or another I plan for it early and give myself more room in the road before I get to the windless or windy zone.
I hope that helps, but sometimes you just have to stop and eat 'Pie'
Doc
P.S. it's not the GS, it's all motorcycles, and the higher the load, the more effect wind has on it.
David Hough, has some great ideas in 'Proficient Motorcycling' and gives a good description of how a motorcycles turns into a sail with top boxes and two-up riding.
I doubt your windscreen has much effect on a cross-wind so use the one you find comfortable.
As far as riding in a cross-wind, it's a lot of 'counter-steering' like entering a turn, only there is no turn. If there is then it's using more counter-steer. Dealing with those gusts requires constant counter-steering (pushing on the windy side handlebar and leaning the bike over into the wind than pulling it back up or pushing on the windless side to straighten things up again and again and again.
At some point you just have to give up; find a nice coffer shop and eat some pie.
On several occasions I have been dragging foot-pegs going straight (at least within the lane) and sitting on the up-side of the seat with the bike leaned over underneath me. Deserts can be a b!tch sometimes, same with the 'Plains states' but what can you do.
Bridges are especially dangerous and take you by surprise. If there is a wind-sock on the leading end or somewhere that you can see, use it. The other thing I'll do is pace a larger cage or semi-truck across the bridge on the down-wind side until I get across.
Last piece of info, be careful passing or being passed by trucks and RVs when riding a cross-wind, they steal the wind away and that perpetual turn you are in, will become a 'turn'. If I expect to be sucked in or blown over in some direction or another I plan for it early and give myself more room in the road before I get to the windless or windy zone.
I hope that helps, but sometimes you just have to stop and eat 'Pie'
Doc
P.S. it's not the GS, it's all motorcycles, and the higher the load, the more effect wind has on it.
FredRydr
Danger: Keep Back 500 Ft
In the Dave Hough books, there are several pages of advice about motorcycles in crosswinds, including riding techniques and different equipment setups. For example, he compares the impact of crosswinds on fork-mounted windscreens versus chassis/faring-mounted screens.
Fred
Fred
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