Sunday we had 20mph+ constant wind and gusts up to 30mph. It really makes you think twice about riding too aggressively. Nothing like leaning into a turn only to be hit broadside by a gust. Kind of takes the fun out of it.

It's like running a gauntlet of linebackers beating you senseless with kingsize down pillows.

 

Up on Mt. Washington one year I could not put the bike on the side stand or the wind would blow it over, even with the stand on the leeward side.

Also I have put the bike down on the pegs on straight roads due to wind several times.

The one that got me was when I was crossing a river by way of a steel deck bridge. That bridge is always windy. One day it seamed really bad but on the other side I discovered it seamed that way because my rear tire had gone flat. The back end was all over the place and I was thinking,'"Hey man, look at me go".

 

Friday was 25mph winds with gusts up to 45mph. I rode for about 20 miles before I said to hell with it and turned around. By the time I got home I felt like I had ridden for hours because I was fighting the wind the whole way.

 

Storm blew in once and I was constantly being blown across 2 full lanes. Don't know how windy that was though. It was bad I was riding in full lean to the right and the wind was keeping me straight.

 

if the wind is over 30, i usually avoid the interstate/main highways and stick to the back roads. seems like the wind gets broken up better on the small roads, or it's easier to counter at lower speeds (and they're usually more interesting, anyway...)

 

Ahh...Vegas. That reminds me of the time back in Nov. 2009 when we went on a mini vacation there. Wife and her sister wanted to go shopping one day (ugh) so my brother-in-law and I decided to explore Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon and some other areas via bike.

He had arrived in Vegas on a borrowed bike. I rented a 750 sport bike along the Strip. I was surprised that it hadn't already been reserved for the day. I soon found out why.

The locals had warned us about higher than average winds. I guess I didn't know how high until I got out there. The residents have a name for this monster wind thing that occurs now in then in the area but I don't remember what they called it.

Anyway, there were sustained winds of 40+ mph, with an occasional gust of 50. I'm on a rented bike and it was my first time riding ANY motorcycle in over 20 years. I had an open face helmet on and there was nothing to block the wind from blasting me in my eyes. I wore sunglasses but that didn't help much. My eyes were watering and I lost one contact lens somewhere during the ride. Trying to do 70 mph on the highway and keep up with the traffic flow was probably entertaining to people in their cars as I was trying to stay in my lane but was being whipped around by the wind and beaten by my rented helmet strap and trying to see through my watery eyes.

We finished the day with no major problems but the experience probably wasn't as fun as it could have been.