Windy conditions.....

Rexford

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Okay....I have Jesse panniers and love them! But when it is windy I'm thinking that they are really catching some wind, so with the racks on and the bags off... does anyone have any suggestions for some soft throwover bags to just carry incidentals ie: change of gloves, jacket liner and such. I have a tail bag and would move my tools and tire compressor up to that location. Of course this would only be used for short 200-300 mile day rides, so I do not want to get to expensive.
Or maybe these bikes just catch alot of wind anyway and I should just deal with it? I'm talking 20-35 mph winds by the way.

Thanks guys,

Rexford
 

Caddoview

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I have the Yamaha cases and I have really noticed that wind moves this bike around more than others I've had. It may just be a matter of a high center of gravity.
 

stevepsd

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Rexford said:
Okay....I have Jesse panniers and love them! But when it is windy I'm thinking that they are really catching some wind, so with the racks on and the bags off... does anyone have any suggestions for some soft throwover bags to just carry incidentals ie: change of gloves, jacket liner and such. I have a tail bag and would move my tools and tire compressor up to that location. Of course this would only be used for short 200-300 mile day rides, so I do not want to get to expensive.
Or maybe these bikes just catch alot of wind anyway and I should just deal with it? I'm talking 20-35 mph winds by the way.

Thanks guys,

Rexford
I have Jesse's on mine and 35mph is just a slight breeze out here in the desert (or the coast). I have not really noticed much of a change between having the bags on or off. (I did not have the bags until June, btw). I noticed much more of a change when I went to a lager windshield.

Since the Jesse's are super easy to remove, just do a quick test yourself.
 

rem

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I guess it would also depend on the velocity, direction and duration of the wind as well. I'm thinking any bike that is not obscenely heavy would be subject to deflection due to some serious cross winds.


As we came up through Alberta in early September, we encountered some very significant and sustained cross winds in the flat country. There were even signs warning of the winds. We were actually leaning to the starboard by a few degrees just to maintain balance. But I never at any time felt threatened with a loss of stability or whatever. I had the Micatech V-2 panniers on the bike at the time. Bike and all associated gear and rider likely tipped the scales at close to but < 900 pounds I figure. FWIW. R ::003::
 

limey

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I have 30,000 km on the S10 and don’t notice any difference with the Jesse on or off. I leave them on most of the time.
 

tiogajoe

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I installed tabassco's lowering links because of being inseam challeged. A pleasant side effect was greatly improved handling in crosswinds. I run with carribou 36l side cases and a 22" parabllum screen. Sold my Wing because of it's poor handling in windy conditions. I'm sure each rider is effected differtly in windy conditions. If it's really howling out there I tend to sit it out and wait for things to settle down. Riding is supposed to be relaxing.
 

zamfield

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I think it's just a case (!) of getting used to a bike with cases... I've ridden thousands of miles with and without hard / soft cases and it's no worse than without - on a windy day.
 

tomatocity

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A few months ago I rode in 50+ mph left side winds. I was on I-5 North in open plains. It felt like the wind was trying to blow the rear wheel out from under the Tenere. Strange feeling. The front end was held its line like it was glued to the road. I was riding to the right of #2 lane at 40-43 mph. A truck pulled up to try and block the wind but it started to suck me into the trailer. I waived him by. The citrus orchards and hills could not get their soon enough.

If I had a place to stash my OEM bags I would have, in a very rapid heart beat.
 

RMac

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Not so much a comment on how handling changes with and without cases in windy conditions, but in general I find the S10 to be much superior to my old DL650 in windy conditions. The DL would have me white knuckled in high, gusty winds. The S10 does get shoved around (I have my OEM cases on 99% of time), but I never feel anxious like I did on my Wee.
 

pteppic

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Re: Re: Windy conditions.....

RMac said:
Not so much a comment on how handling changes with and without cases in windy conditions, but in general I find the S10 to be much superior to my old DL650 in windy conditions. The DL would have me white knuckled in high, gusty winds. The S10 does get shoved around (I have my OEM cases on 99% of time), but I never feel anxious like I did on my Wee.
I'm glad to hear this. My worst experience was heading south across the Carson Valley in NV on my DL650. I don't know what the wind velocity was coming off the Sierra, but more than once I was blown all the way across both southbound lanes. I don't know that I've ever been so thankful to reach my destination.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2
 

DubbleJay

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White knuckled for ten miles south on the 62 out of Joshua Tree NP this weekend. I've never experienced a ride like that in the wind. I've been through that area more times than I can count. First time on the S10. Wind coming from the right, Scared me to death. I was in the slow lane in full tilt into the wind... Cars were not passing me as every gust nearly blew me all the way across both lanes. I was too worried to ride on the far right as with every gust my compensation sent me flying right back across and almost off the road.

I can only assume that it was because the bike is so much taller than others Ive ridden. I honestly felt like the wheels were going to be blown right out from under me. No bags... Couldnt decide if slowing down was better or throttling on was better... maybe some of you guys have a idea on this?
 

nondairycreamer

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Slower when battling heavy gusts is safer. You want to travel less forward distance when being pushed off your line to give you a chance to avoid the bridge pillar, tree, Harley crew hiding under the bridge, etc.
 

RMac

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One trick I sometimes use with gusty conditions is to squeeze the tank with my knees and lean forward. For some reason this seems to help for me. Got to say though that in most places in Sweden I think we get it relatively easy in so far as winds go. Place is thick with pine forest from North to South and East to West. I remember from my time in North Texas that the winds could be vicious.
 

tomatocity

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DubbleJay said:
White knuckled for ten miles south on the 62 out of Joshua Tree NP this weekend. I've never experienced a ride like that in the wind. I've been through that area more times than I can count. First time on the S10. Wind coming from the right, Scared me to death. I was in the slow lane in full tilt into the wind... Cars were not passing me as every gust nearly blew me all the way across both lanes. I was too worried to ride on the far right as with every gust my compensation sent me flying right back across and almost off the road.

I can only assume that it was because the bike is so much taller than others Ive ridden. I honestly felt like the wheels were going to be blown right out from under me. No bags... Couldnt decide if slowing down was better or throttling on was better... maybe some of you guys have a idea on this?
You had the same feeling as I did "I honestly felt like the wheels were going to be blown right out from under me." Were you in the mountains or on the flat lands? I have wanted to ride that road for years.
 
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