Crosswinds

I usually avoid interstate highways whenever possible, but on a number of occasions have been able to cruise confidently at 80+ mph at the posted speeds in West Texas (I-10) without issues. However, on a recent trip I had significant gusty crosswinds on an interstate and did not feel comfortable going over 65 mph where the posted speed was 75 mph. Overpasses were downright scary and I had to endure a 60-mile stretch until I was able to exit.

I have never ridden a heavy cruiser like a Goldwing or a big touring V-twin. Do these typically handle crosswinds significantly better than the S-10, with it's taller profile and higher CG?

I generally ride or drive a speed that is safe for the current condition's no matter what the posted speed is.
Posted speed is under perfect conditions, a cross wind severe enough can be considered unsafe for some vehicles which will mean slowing down to a slower safe speed.
Do you go 75mph on compact snow because the speed is posted as 75mph...LOL...some do and most find out the hard way it is not a good thing.

lund said:

. . . . Do you go 75mph on compact snow because the speed is posted as 75mph...

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Of course not . . . . we don't know what compact snow is. Anyway, I've found the Tenere to be quite stable in a crosswind. If it's a steady crosswind. But gusty wind is a different kind of monster. This year we've had a lot of wind. Most of it steady. But there was a day or two that got a little sporty. I was exiting on road, N/S, onto another road, E/W. I was leaning over to the left when a gust hit me on the left. For a split second, I thought that my tires had been pushed/lifted off of the road. It felt really weird, like I was falling to the left, but I was able correct and continue on. So, I don't know if my tires left the ground or not, but I didn't fall and that's all that counts.

So, to answer your question . . . . maybe. The 'Wing is heavier, but I'm almost positive it has a larger wind cross section. I think it's more what the wind is doing, the speed it's doing it, and the angle it's doing it at.

cross winds are a challenge but a doable challenge . I cant say I like a strong cross wind because it increases the work and fatigue level. so now about a story .
a few years ago my bud 'super man ' and myself left for fort Davis (from Buda Tx,) . we had a nice lunch in Sonora Tx. and then the fun began . not far out of town going west on 10 we hit a cold front . not unexpected just not ready on how strong it was . 30 to 40 mph cross winds with stronger gust occasionally just to keep us interested.
now the speed limit out that way is 85 I think or maybe 80 (been awhile since I've been there ) and the 18 wheelers run that speed and the cars a bit faster . and I was not to great at cross winds . be we ran 80 plus all the way to Balmorhea Tx. so the wind was hitting us at 2 o"clock to 3"oclock position ,trying to shove us into the median . passing 18 wheelers with a blast of speed and a diving motion to counter the push of air from the truck and the front .
one time the gust was so bad I watched 'superman ' lean into the gust so far he was almost dragging his right peg. I found a bit of humor in this till a second later I was healed over just as far.
in short we didn't slow down , but had to really focus especially around the trucks . super man was riding a 650 v-strom ( he told me latter that at one point he didn't have the power to make the pass ) I never had a problem with power , even got better milage than the over worked v-strom .
not fun but doable . and when one is that focused it uses up a lot of energy. our bikes were loaded with camping gear and full panniers.
cant say I would be that aggressive on a solo ride . in fact on my solo trip back from Moab I endured strong cross winds but being alone I ran under the speed limit . and amazingly no 18 wheeler traffic to Roswell N.M.
no shame going slow , one might even feel the need to stop , no shame in that . the Tenere handles the wind just fine, it is a persons experience and comfort level that counts.
my recommendation is ride your ride at your comfort level , its your bike and you life. but with caution and practice one can handle a lot with this bike.

My experience says a Goldwing handles wind way better than a Tenere. It’s not because of the weight it’s because of much better aerodynamics and a much lower center of gravity.
Travel at speeds you are comfortable with.

I used to ride an 800+ lb bagger and a good gust of wind would shift me in my lane. A steady crosswind was doable but unpleasant. My S10 handles a steady crosswind sufficiently, but not as well due to the higher center of gravity (I believe). Seems I have to lean into the crosswind more with my S10 than I did on my bagger. It also sat much lower with much wider tires, so that could play a role as well.

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i've limped home many times over the years with my tail between my legs in super windy conditions. no shame in that, all part of the education. the xr650 was the worst i think...the s10 feels like a semi in comparison. saftey first. always listen to instincts. if it dont feel right, it probably aint!

I’ve ridden many times across Kansas on different motorcycles where the side winds were so fierce that I couldn’t ride at the posted 75 mph speed limit.

I am with you robp. I can't say I enjoy interstates but as far as getting someplace when you have limited time they are great so that leaves me running them several times a year. Yes by all means do what feels right and also while you are in a uncomfortable situation try to learn from the situation or use some riding skills that you have learned so you can evolve further with your riding. I like to think back on what I felt and what I was doing at the time of the uncomfortable condition and try to think of what I did wrong or what adjustment to the bike would have made that better. I feel pretty comfortable in wind even though I really don't live in a windy part of the country. there have been several times I was out and there were so many gusts of wind my neck was hurting. I would hold my chin bar on my helmet with my left hand till my left arm was so tired i could no longer hold it up. Not fun at all but didn't feel bad about riding through it. One time I got into a storm that really did scare me. Like Sierra 1 said it felt like the wind picked the tires up off the ground! I was already about to scrape the left foot peg going straight. My buddy with a Electriglide Harley was in front of me and had I of not had my hand so full i would have sworn i saw his tires leave the ground! I didn't actually see that though but out of the corner of my eye it looked that way. Of course we both stayed in some what control. I found a exit and we ran off the interstate into a rest area. I rode straight up into the little building that had the candy bars and pop machines. the back of the building was facing the storm. just as we pulled in the rain hit and wind like you would not believe. cars were pulling in off the interstate and we watched them shaking and rocking in the parking lot. I guess it scared the people in the cars and they ran up to the building with us. It was best we waited that one out. As far as the Super T goes I feel good on it in the wind. I can say I have ridden better bikes in the wind but this one really is not too bad to get through some heavy wind. A crazy as it sounds I like a little wind sometimes when I am riding. Guess it depends on the temperature though. haha.

I used to ride a Goldwing. Yes, it is a heavier bike but it is like riding a sheet of plywood in a crosswind. I road the Tenere in western CO last year in 50 -60 MPH crosswinds it wasn't great but a whole lot easier than a GW. I always ride at my comfort level.

Wind gusts mess everything up....I think the reason I like the ST better is because it is more nimble than my heavier bagger is.

Lstayner said:

I used to ride a Goldwing. Yes, it is a heavier bike but it is like riding a sheet of plywood in a crosswind. . . .

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Sierra1 said:

. . . .The 'Wing is heavier, but I'm almost positive it has a larger wind cross section. I think it's more what the wind is doing, the speed it's doing it, and the angle it's doing it at.

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Cycledude said:

My experience says a Goldwing handles wind way better than a Tenere. . . .

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Cycledude should know, I mean he has over 500k miles on his 'Wing. But Lstayner confirms what I heard from other 'Wing riders. But all crosswinds are not the same. When shooting long distance, part of the formula is how much input a crosswind will have on the round. A motorcycle is no different. It all depends on the angle of the wind, in relation to the bike, as to how much it influences the bike. The chart below might explain it better than I can. I was up in Grandfield Oklahoma at a rifle range. I've never been to OK when the winds were calm. We were shooting at 1kyd. We had 5 feet of correction dialed in for the round to hit where it was supposed to.

Last August, I bought my S10 from a guy in California for a fly and ride back to Georgia. First part of the trip home was Sacramento to Barstow where I spent the night before meeting my SIL in Kanab, UT. I left I5 at Bakersfield for CA58. Somewhere around Andrews AFB, I hit the first strong crosswinds of my riding career and oh boy, I was scared to death for a while. I finally got the hang of it, but it was really sketchy for a while and never easy. The wind was coming from my right so passing trucks was really dicey. Day 2 found me on I15 north of the Mojave and lucky for me I got an early start before the winds picked up., Of course, that mean's I hit Las Vegas at lunch time which was a whole 'nother type of scary shit.
I had originally planned to ride CA50 (The loneliest hwy in America) and then head south to Kanab but this was during the worst of the Caldor fire and it was blowing tons of smoke across 50 so my son and his friends convinced me to head south on the interstate.

Personally I always found the Tenere a very good performer in crosswinds. It was very competent when we found ourselves in Hurricane Irene. Those were some crosswinds. Also crossed a cold front pushing away a heatwave. News said there were 50MPH gusts, and it felt every bit of that. I was riding leaned over pretty far and laughing my fool head off. DM was following right behind me. She was not as amused. I think the word idiot burst through the intercom more than once during that episode.

Different riders tolerate wind different

if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. that's why we ride ,were not like the huddled masses.
wind is not fun , can be down right dangerous , but its part of the journey.

If it's windy (35+) and I'm staying local I'll take the panniers off as they're like barn doors on a DC3. On long rides you're just plain old subject to the winds and the cross section of your outfitting. Keep your packing and weight as low as you can and hope for dry days.

On mine with OEM panniers, 65L or 110L drybag, and a lg tankbag high wind can be challenging and depleting over long days. While riding the northern part of the country on Rt2 this past summer I leaned right for 3 days and left for 3 on the way back. Lots of back exercises after that.

Riding in wind is a necessary acquired skill alongside good judgement and excellent gear affixing. Glad this topic wasn't "camping in the wind".

I run 99% of the time with my boxes on the bike .... full Touratech side and top box. I'm always using them . wind or no wind .

My son in law rides a Victory Cross Roads. There is no question he handles cross winds better than I do.

Wallkeeper said:

My son in law rides a Victory Cross Roads. There is no question he handles cross winds better than I do.

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Is that the one with the 10' wheelbase? A lot of departments were looking at them for work bikes, but the wheelbase made them hard to do the cone patterns.