Wind blast

[dndfindley]

I have a 2013 RTS SM 5. I have over 2000 miles on it. Have ridden for over 40 years on all kinds of bikes. I cannot get used to the wind. Seriously thinking of selling the Spyder and getting another HD. Two wheelers are not affected by wind. Rode all the way thru Georgia on my HD once on I 95 over 90 MPH and never felt unsafe. Wind was gusty.
Jim

95 mph on a Harley? Didn't realize that was possible, but then again it may be that all I see are the one's around here who think they will burst into flames if they exceed 45 mph

 

[strmgra]

!

Hey everyone! I've had my new Spyder RS-S for about a week now and I'm loving it, with one exception. I took it on the highway for about a 50 mile round trip yesterday and it was NOT fun! That being said, keep in mind that I'm fairly new to motorcycles and very new to the Spyder, so maybe it's something in my riding style. I had never taken my motorcycle on the highway, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I was getting hammered by the wind blast. Not so much from front to back, but more from side to side. It was a fairly windy evening, but nothing too crazy, so I don't think it was abnormal wind conditions. My body was getting pushed from side to side enough to make me kind of nervous. I'm a 6' tall 180 pound guy, so I shouldn't be having this problem, in my opinion. Is this common??? It made me wonder how a motorcycle rider could handle it and stay balanced. Something's not right!!! Haha!!!

The Baja Ron Sway Bar is a WINNER. I bought and installed it the end of April. I live in a very flat area so its was difficult to determine if I had made a worthwhile investment or wasted my money. HOWEVER, in early May, I rode the "Dragon". All I can say is WOW, what a difference. My :f_spider: tamed the Dragon with ease.
Since then I have experienced some pretty windy days around home and again confirmed all that is touted about Ron's Sway Bar is fact.

That said, I will also admit, repetition truly is the mother of learning. Now that I have nearly 6000 miles on my:spyder: , I hardly notice the wind as I am too busy noticing "life" as it is to be lived. ENJOY! But, be careful.

 

[lwrydr]

Wind

Since I put the new sway-bar on the wind problem has gone way down. When I was/am riding in the wind on a 2 wheeler I just lean it over a little and ride at an angle. The 1st time I went to Sturgis across Wy in a side wind almost the whole way. It got real interesting when I went thru an underpass.

 

[ARtraveler]

RE: two wheels and the wind.

My first trip to the Badlands (SD) was on my Yamaha Venture (1984 or so). Spouse and I rode two up. We encountered terrible side winds (50+ mph). We both had to lean into the wind to keep the Venture from blowing over. IMO--I would say were affected by the wind and not immune from it.

 

[exwinger]

dealer for alignment

The only dealer in Ohio for alignment as far as I know is JohnnKs powersports in lodi. Excellent dealer , only dealer I've ever had contact me to see if I was satisfied with the service.
Alignment does make a difference .Check front shock settings and adjust to a higher setting also helps but as stated before ..................Light touch on the bars is what you need to do. Trust the spyder to do what it's supposed to do. By knuckling you are actually applying force and causing more of a swerve .

 

[Rockwall]

Wind can be annoying on open highways for everyone on a bike. Until you are comfortable stick with two land backroads. They are a ton more fun and relaxing. Interstates are to save time only!

I may adjust my shocks up though based on the advice here.:doorag:

 

[ekfraz]

wind

A relaxed grip will do wonders with the way your Spyder handles on road and wind conditions, I am on my 2nd Spyder with a total mileage on a Spyder of 27,000 miles and this will work,

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I cannot get used to the wind. Seriously thinking of selling the Spyder and getting another HD. Two wheelers are not affected by wind.

I think, and my opinion only, what you have experienced is not that two wheelers aren't affected by wind, but rather that you have ridden so many miles in so many wind conditions that it's all become second nature. You are so used to it you don't even notice it. The Spyder does react differently, and you're not used to it, yet. But you will in due time.

I rode a GL1800 Goldwing for 8 years and 52,000 miles. It was quite stable in cross winds, but it was affected by the winds. The most perilous time was when I passed a semi in a strong cross wind and nearly got knocked over when I got in front of him and lost the wind protection of the truck. Another time I rode for miles literally leaning the bike into the wind. You can't tell me two wheelers aren't affected by wind, because they are.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Not so much from front to back, but more from side to side. It was a fairly windy evening, but nothing too crazy, so I don't think it was abnormal wind conditions. My body was getting pushed from side to side enough to make me kind of nervous. I'm a 6' tall 180 pound guy, so I shouldn't be having this problem, in my opinion. Is this common??? It made me wonder how a motorcycle rider could handle it and stay balanced. Something's not right!!! Haha!!!

In addition to all the other comments about sway bar, loose grip, etc., add tire pressure. If the front tires are not the same pressure you will get added swerving back and forth. Buy the dual fill air hose from here http://gnipsel.com/spyderstore/index.php?route=product/category&path=25, or build your own which I did. Having both tires exactly the same pressure helps a lot.

 

[MtlBen]

I found on my RT that at highway speed, I would be in a calm bubble but when big transverse wind gusts would happen, the "bubble" would burst, and I would get jerked sideways by the wind blast. After that blast, things would re-settle until the next wind gust strong enough to disturb the air flow.

I replaced the stock windshield by a Cal-Sci XL, and that wind effect completely disappeared.

...Ben...