6 Tips for Riding a Motorcycle in Strong Winds
Motorcycle riders know how quickly the weather can change when you’re on the road. Your peaceful ride can take a turn when Mother Nature decides to create gale-force winds. When you’re exposed to potentially unsafe riding conditions, you have to act carefully and decisively. If that happens, remember Cycle Trader’s six tips for riding a motorcycle in strong winds.
1. Position Yourself in the Center of the Lane
As you start to feel wind gusts pick up, navigate your way to the safest lane to ride in. This will depend on the type of road you’re on and the other vehicle traffic. Make sure you’re leaving a safe distance between you and any vehicles around you, particularly large SUVs and trucks. Position yourself in the center of the lane so you have some space in case the wind pushes your bike around.
2. Countersteer
Crosswind creates a huge problem for motorcycle riders. This is when the wind is blowing from the side instead of infront or behind you. A riding technique that can help you in crosswind is countersteering.
To countersteer, maintain a firm, yet flexible, grip on your bike’s handlebars and lean into the wind. Apply pressure to the handgrip that’s upwind to keep your bike straight. Countersteering is actually a natural reaction for many motorcyclists, so this might not feel too out of the norm.
3. Watch Out for Wind Tunnels
Many motorcycle brands, such as BMW, Ducati, and Kawasaki, test their bikes in a wind tunnel machine before production. These tests help make sure riders will have the necessary aerodynamics to safely navigate windy conditions.
In the real world, you can easily ride into a wind tunnel, especially on city roads. If a gust of wind blows when you’re riding between tall buildings, you could enter into a wind tunnel that will move your motorcycle around. The best thing you can do in this situation is to prepare your body and maintain control of your bike.
4. Wear Functional Gear
If you know ahead of time that your route could be windy, prepare yourself by wearing the right gear. Avoid clothing with loose or flapping pieces that could get in the way while you’re riding. You should also make sure that you’re wearing a full-face helmet with a face shield for a number of safety reasons. If you do have a half helmet, consider wearing goggles in strong winds to keep debris from getting in your eyes.
5. Slow Down or Pull Over
When riding in windy conditions, you’ll have to assess your skill level and the road conditions to make safe decisions. If the wind gusts become too much, don’t be afraid to slow down or pull off the road. If the riding conditions are too rough, get off the road and away from other traffic and vehicles until the wind subsides. The last thing you want is to feel out of control when you’re riding on two wheels. Even if you’re riding a trike, you should still err on the side of caution.
6. Remain Calm
Whether you’re riding in headwinds, tailwinds, or crosswinds, remember to stay calm. Keep your body loose and relax your grip if you start to tense up. If you’re going too fast, decrease your speed and keep it steady until the gusts decrease.
While you can’t always predict how the weather will change, you can prepare yourself as much as possible. These tips can help keep you safe in strong winds, making these rides a little less stressful.
Strong winds are one thing, but you certainly don’t want to get caught riding in a hurricane. When hurricane season rolls around, get a plan in place with our tips for preparing your motorcycle for a hurricane. And, if you’re searching for a motorcycle to ride in any weather, browse the nationwide inventory on CycleTrader.com.
Arielle Patterson
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