Windy Days are for the Birds

[SoonerJones]

I’m new to the Spyder World, 2017 RTS.. I’ve got a little over 1,000 miles under my belt, mainly riding the 26 or so miles back and forth to work!! No long trips as of yet, and probably will not take any until Spring or Summer living in Oklahoma. My only thing I do not love about the Spyder is riding in windy conditions. I find myself watching the local newscast and decide to ride the Spyder the next day based on the forecast and strong winds. I’ve not been scared while riding but feel exhausted after fighting it and seem to be blown all over the road…. I’m sure there are other post about this, but anyone else feel like this. All equipment is stock, and Spyder has less than 2500 miles on it…. Just a thought from a new Spyder owner!!

[bigbadbrucie]

I’m new to the Spyder World, 2017 RTS.. I’ve got a little over 1,000 miles under my belt, mainly riding the 26 or so miles back and forth to work!! No long trips as of yet, and probably will not take any until Spring or Summer living in Oklahoma. My only thing I do not love about the Spyder is riding in windy conditions. I find myself watching the local newscast and decide to ride the Spyder the next day based on the forecast and strong winds. I’ve not been scared while riding but feel exhausted after fighting it and seem to be blown all over the road…. I’m sure there are other post about this, but anyone else feel like this. All equipment is stock, and Spyder has less than 2500 miles on it…. Just a thought from a new Spyder owner!!
You’re definitely not alone feeling that on your Spyder. I feel that also and felt it on my GoldWing as well as on my Virago and my VTX. Bikers feel a crosswind no matter what they ride. I was going from Calgary, Alberta to Drumheller, Alberta at approximately a 15° off centre angle on my ‘Wing because of the wind. We adapt and live with it.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Loosen your grip. The Spyder is sensitive to handlebar input. Most likely you're gripping the handlebars tightly, and as the wind pushes you around you inadvertently move the handlebars causing the bike to track back and forth. A Spyder with properly aligned wheels will track amazingly straight in side winds. Learn to let the wind push your body around without you moving the handlebars. You'll feel a more secure ride.

[Piratezz]

Agree with all the above, but also look on this site, for BajaRon's Antiswaybar, It made a huge difference to me, then cartyres front, and you will have a dream of a machine

[Steve W.]

My wife has likened it to riding a horse; you need to let the horse move around under you. As IMS mentioned above, you might be gripping too tightly, and every time the bike moves (wind, road ripples, etc.) your tight grip instinctively tries to bring the bike back into line. Yes, it moves, but it's still stable. In other words, it might have moved sideways an inch, but it's still pointed (and moving) straight ahead.

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[troop]

Traveling high plain interstate I-90 at 80mph across South Dakota, I much prefer the stability of the Spyder over multiple bikes I road over that same road. Some nasty north > south winds can make motorcycle riding interesting..

[daz]

So you have a new Spyder with only 2500 miles in four years? I would wonder why the first owner sold it. Did it handle poorly for them? I concur that the wind sucks but suspect the need for a sway bar and a good alignment. It made a world of difference after I took care of the front end on my first CanAm. Including different tires. Just something to think about.

[Saluda]

Lot of profile on a Spyder to catch the winds which seem more prevalent than in past years. That said I would much rather be on a Spyder in the wind than any prior bike I've owned.

[cruisinTX]

Loosen your grip. The Spyder is sensitive to handlebar input. Most likely you're gripping the handlebars tightly, and as the wind pushes you around you inadvertently move the handlebars causing the bike to track back and forth. A Spyder with properly aligned wheels will track amazingly straight in side winds. Learn to let the wind push your body around without you moving the handlebars. You'll feel a more secure ride.

True on a Spyder just as it is on a bike. Here in the Texas Panhandle, we get very high wind gusts pretty much year round and it's something you just learn to deal with. In fact, today's forecast is calling for winds at 25 to 35 with gusts over 50mph.

As IMS said, learn to relax and go with the flow. It's similar to learning to relax with undulation of road conditions. I've had only one bike I would prefer to ride in the wind over the Spyder and that was a fully faired sport-touring bike that would track almost dead straight in all conditions up to about 50 mph cross winds. That was the BMW R1100RT whose fairing was so efficient, wind hardly made a difference for the upper part of the bike while the wheels were pushed to the side. That made for and "auto-correct" in cross winds. With the other bikes, they perform pretty much like the Spyder and learning to be at ease with a little shift now and then is the key. It would be pretty rare for most wind gusts to move you more than a few inches even though it feels like a lot more. Staying calm, relaxed and aware of the need for minute adjustments is the key. But those adjustments should NOT be sudden and jerky; just ease it back on line smoothly and you'll be fine.

[ARtraveler]

IMS and others are right on. Over-control can lead to fatigue early on. The Spyder reacts to all inputs from the driver. Try to relax a bit and it will get better. It took me over 1500 miles back in 08 when I got started. Now...I have no problem riding in any conditions.

Here is a link you might find to be helpful: since you are new to the site.

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?41346-quot-Do-s-and-Do-Nots-quot-for-new-Spyder-owners

[dpetrick]

Yesterday I rode in my Spyder about 120 miles with sustained winds of 25-35 mph and gusts of over 40 mph. Keeping a loose grip on the bars and the Spyder tracked nice and straight. Keeping a light grip on the bars is the key for me.

[canamjhb]

I agree! WINDY DAYS ARE FOR THE BIRDS. I hate wind! In 2016 I picked up my used 2014 RTL with 622 trailer in Tulsa, OK. Never rode a Spyder before but figured I would learn as I rode it home over 1,000 miles. U.S. 60 passes about 2 miles from my house so I got on it just outside Tulsa and followed the road signs. There were lots of tornados in Oklahoma. The cross winds stayed at 40-50+ MPH almost the entire way across Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. New Mexico wasn't quite so bad but that is where I discovered that both front shocks were leaking (and bouncing like a rubber ball) and that my rear tire had suddenly become bald in the center (Kenda crap). Did a detour and had a new rear installed in Albuquerque then finally made it home.

I have been is similar cross winds on Goldwings in the past. In spite of the mechanical problems, I found myself more comfortable on 3 wheels in those adverse conditions. I can't say that I was very relaxed on that ride from Hell but over time I did learn to trust the bike. I found that a properly set-up Spyder (with good tires and shocks) handles very well as long as I didn't tense up and introduce unneeded steering input. As others have said, relax and go with the flow. Good luck..... Jim

[cruisinTX]

Be thankful you don't have to deal with this on a regular basis like we do here in the Panhandle.

[Pooch]

Lived in west Texas (Midland) for 45 years…first 2 then 3 wheels… LOTS of high side-wind gusts and nose-wind riding.
Gave a whole new meaning to “being in the wind”. LOL!
Either you ride in the wind or you don’t ride.
The wind out there is constant but does die down at night unless there is a weather event going on.
Honestly, I have to shake my head and grin when friends here in the TX hill country don’t want to ride because “they say the wind might gust as high as 25mph”. That was a normal day out there.

After the first time or two out in it you realize you aren’t going to fall over… on either 2 or 3 wheels.. just keep on rolling.
As everyone has said here..just relax your grip, keep calm, keep it between the lines, nice and steady.

[Big F]

I feel the Baja Ron sway bar helps a lot on side winds, etc.
BIG F

[RayBJ]

I rode across the plains in 2019 on 2 wheels and again this spring on the Spyder RT.
On 2 wheels the bike was on a ~15-20 degree tilt while crossing Texas. No added calories, just maintain the lean going straight.
On the RT with BajaRon sway bar, car tires, elka fronts, & alignment the RT tracked fine in the crosswinds and I felt no added strain.
As stated and applicable to 2 or 3 wheels, relax and let the machine do all the work.

[canamjhb]

Be thankful you don't have to deal with this on a regular basis like we do here in the Panhandle.

That wind forecast looks exactly like what I experienced when riding through that area. I stopped for a bite to eat and a break in a little town named Higgins, TX. right at the Texas, Oklahoma border. I asked the lady in the café if it was always as windy as it was then. She said to be glad I wasn't there the day before when gusts were up to 80 MPH!!!!!

[cruisinTX]

canamjhm, did you eat at the Haystack Cafe'? They have some mighty fine home cookin' goin' on there. One of my biking buddies did some growing up around that area and knows just about everyone in town. We occasionally venture up to have a burger at the Haystack and meet his uncle Phil for lunch. :yes:

[linda502]

I’m new to the Spyder World, 2017 RTS.. I’ve got a little over 1,000 miles under my belt, mainly riding the 26 or so miles back and forth to work!! No long trips as of yet, and probably will not take any until Spring or Summer living in Oklahoma. My only thing I do not love about the Spyder is riding in windy conditions. I find myself watching the local newscast and decide to ride the Spyder the next day based on the forecast and strong winds. I’ve not been scared while riding but feel exhausted after fighting it and seem to be blown all over the road…. I’m sure there are other post about this, but anyone else feel like this. All equipment is stock, and Spyder has less than 2500 miles on it…. Just a thought from a new Spyder owner!!

Try lowering your windshield along with all the other excellent advice folks have posted. Definitely a whole new experience on a Spyder but oh so much fun!

[canamjhb]

canamjhm, did you eat at the Haystack Cafe'? They have some mighty fine home cookin' goin' on there. One of my biking buddies did some growing up around that area and knows just about everyone in town. We occasionally venture up to have a burger at the Haystack and meet his uncle Phil for lunch. :yes:


I didn't want a big meal, just a snack. But mostly I wanted a break from the windy ride. I stopped at the Donut House Café and thought I'd just have a donut and soda. I was the only customer in the place. A little red headed lady told me they didn't have any donuts on the day I was there. At her suggestion, I settled on a grilled cheese sandwich that came with a plate full of chips and a soda. Best grilled cheese sandwich I ever had. I bussed my own plate and asked the lady how much I owed her. She paused for a second and said "I guess 3 dollars will cover it". Told her that was not enough and gave her a five. They had a guest book that she asked me to sign, which I did. Just one of those nice friendly experiences that is never forgotten..... Jim

[PMK]

Very seldom is actual wind a concern for our Spyder. Even at highway speeds +10 it is very stable.

It will get some buffeting if at speed a huge bus or semi truck passes. Like that wall of air in front of them spills over into you just as their bumper goes by.

If there is one turbulence we do notice is when we encounter a full size pickup truck, with the tailgate up, in our lane, even being a reasonable distance behind, our helmets get buffeted about.

I do my own alignments. It is imperative that with the rider onboard to have toe in. If the toe is zero or toed out, the Spyder is a turd to ride and becomes nervous and twitchy. Even on straight roads.

[gkamer]

I’m new to the Spyder World, 2017 RTS.. I’ve got a little over 1,000 miles under my belt, mainly riding the 26 or so miles back and forth to work!! No long trips as of yet, and probably will not take any until Spring or Summer living in Oklahoma. My only thing I do not love about the Spyder is riding in windy conditions. I find myself watching the local newscast and decide to ride the Spyder the next day based on the forecast and strong winds. I’ve not been scared while riding but feel exhausted after fighting it and seem to be blown all over the road…. I’m sure there are other post about this, but anyone else feel like this. All equipment is stock, and Spyder has less than 2500 miles on it…. Just a thought from a new Spyder owner!!

I don’t think it’s the wind pushing the bike around so much as it’s pushing you around. Instinctively you push back against the wind, probably without really noticing or thinking about it. This causes slight steering inputs to the bike, which is really sensitive to steering input from the handle bars.

I’ve learned to just let the wind move me. Or perhaps I move with the wind not against it. Though I admit, there have been a few times when I’ve been smacked with a side wind so strong my first thought was “Where the heck did that come from”. But like riding in the rain, that’s just one of the things we learn to deal with while enjoying open air riding.

[Lew L]

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Cross winds don't bother me or the :spyder2:. I think the stiffened front springs and the anti-sway bar up-grade help but I think the grip of the nut holding the bars is the biggest factor. :joke::joke::joke:

Coming from an old, slow, V-Max----- It WAS the nut holding the triple tree to the frame.

Lew L