Modern Vespa

Had quite of a bit of a scare today going home. Summer has suddenly poofed here in the SF Bay (it was a heat warning last weekend) and we have cold air and wind gusts up to 30mph.

I work in Foster City, which has wicked cross-winds most of the time anyway as it's on the other side of some hills and next to the SF Bay.
In any case, I have to access the interstate (101) via a 'skyway' (flyover highway 92). The winds gusts there were terrible, mostly because of heavy traffic on the exit ramp, I could only travel about 25 mph. I was stuck on the highest point of the ramp/highway structure praying not to get blown over. I really had trouble keeping the scoot in the lane because I was crawling along and not able to take advantage of the gyroscopic effect of speed on the stability of the scoot. Plus I think at that elevation (about 50 feet over the roadbed) the wind gusts were much stronger than 30 mph.

I do have a tall windscreen, but that wasn't so much an issue until I had to travel down the ramp onto the 101 highway below. The ramp is a steeply curving cloverleaf, and as I was leaned to turn, the crosswinds were still hefty. A really strong gust caught me at the wrong moment and I wobbled enough to make my forehead pop out sweat.

Once I was down on the freeway and going 65 mph + in the 'black diamond' or carpool lanes, wind was still very gusty, but not so much an issue because of my forward speed.

I will be cutting down the windscreen due to visibility issues (too tall), but I really don't think it was acting like a sail in this respect. It was more of the gusts striking my profile perpendicular to their direction which was an issue.

How do you folks who live in windy areas deal with strong winds (I would say strong was > 20 mph)? Especially leaned over in turns.

PS. I did try to keep my hands relaxed on the bars and trust the scoot, but it was damn scary. And this was on my GTS 300.

We all feel the same way as you did, last April I road in a wind farm area by Palm Springs and that was scary, I also almost got blown off the a Mountain in Palm Springs area. Its just best to stay calm

We get strong Chinook winds around here for about half the year (or at least, it feels like it). The winds will literally go up to hurricane force... sometimes over 100mph. Usually if the winds are expected to be over 25 or 30 for more than a few hours, they issue a wind advisory.

If they issue a wind advisory, I just limit my travel as much as possible. Over 20mph crosswinds, and it can really screw with a scoot. I only have a mid-sized screen, and it still freaks me out. I don't bother going on any stretch of road that requires me to go over 50mph for very long, because I know I won't be able to sustain the speed limit and fight the crosswind at the same time.

This past February, we had some winds that I thought weren't quite so bad. Although, maybe I should have reconsidered when I noticed my GTV shaking on it's center stand, parked 3 inches away from the wall of a building facing away from the wind. I rode from Longmont to Boulder without too much trouble, 55 to 65mph on one longer stretch. But a few hours later on the return trip, the winds had picked up. A gust through a 55mph zone literally blew me right off the road. I luckily kept upright, but it scared the crap out of me.

If you have to ride through high winds, try to plan your route. It might be a little unpredictable, but I try to make sure there's obstacles between me and the wind. I'll go through slower longer neighborhoods to get somewhere, but I know I'm less likely to get hit by a gust, and I won't have to fight it at higher speeds. I feel like, at least in dealing with wind, I have more control the slower I'm able to go. A little more reaction time.

I was riding near SFO today, making my way to SF, when some gusts made me finally pull a u turn. My Aprilia is a decent sized scoot with a screen but today was out if hand.

I was actually happy when I parked it. Glad nobody was hurt cruising around.

Kent

ps- As if the wind wasn't strange enough we have a tsunami warning on the coast tonight!

I was thinking the same thing on my way home today from Redwood Shores. Calm (but chilly) ride this morning and then boom.....super windy this afternoon. I felt like I was all over the place even on the small roads. Heading over 101 towards El Camino Real was interesting.

Glad everyone kept their cool though....

Yeah, today sucked. I took Central Expy from San Jo up to Palo Alto for lunch, and I thought I had to fight it going north. After lunch and a coffee, the winds were so strong, I elected to take El Camino back south. Sitting at the red light/on-ramp to El Camino from University Ave. in P.A. - while stopped, 2 feet on the ground - a gust came along strong enough to nearly push me over. I was just thanking my lucky stars that I wasn't moving at the time, as it's quite possible that one could've dumped me. The only other time I'd felt winds that strong were up on Skyline just south of Alice's, and there was a complete fog-over of the road plus 30+mph crosswinds running perfectly perpendicular to the road. I quite literally considered parking it @ Alice's, saying "F it," and calling the wife for a pick up ride home. Once I got some time off the bike to settle down and have a bite to eat, I had the nerve to get back on and go home - mostly for the sake of pride - and I made it without incident. Today conjured up many of the same thoughts at times, if only briefly, and they weren't pleasant.

Last year I was vacationing in a Greek Island when then winds got up to 8 on the beaufort scale.

While driving a 75cc liberty around the mountains the wind changed direction suddenly and caught us with such a surprise I saw my life pass by. luckily enough we had a low speed and I could quickly shift my weight against the wind direction.

In some way it's comforting to know I wasn't the only one who felt dicey about riding yesterday. But you know it's bad when you start talking to your scooter: "Please don't blow over, baby" over and over.

After one rally in the Sacramento area, a friend and I rode from Sacto to San Francisco in 55+ mph cross winds. It's fine as long as you...

Step 1 - don't freak the hell out. You'll live.
Step 2 - loosen up on the bars a touch. Death grip doesn't solve anything.
Step 3 - let your body move a bit. Don't be so rigid that the wind gust moves your body sharply only to have your bike go with.

If you are stopped, resist the temptation to give the bike a good lean in the direction of the wind because if you're not paying attention you can lose your balance when the gust eases.

I think there are some people who post on here from Oklahoma, particularly central Oklahoma. I grew up there, and it is windy. They don't even issue a wind advisory unless it's over 40 or 50mph. 30mph is an average day.

We have been rather stormy here, and the wind has been a bit wild. It doesn't sound as bad as you guys though. I am not comfortable in the wind yet.

It has been pretty windy here today, expecting more tomorrow 10 - 25 mph winds, gusts 25 - 35/40 mph - didn't even think of riding.

Hey Leia--

I live in SF and work in Pacifica--I know what you're talking about. Here's what I've learned:

The first several times, it's scary as hell. Then, you start to realize that it's not so bad. Finally, you begin to know where on your regular route the gusts are, and you anticipate them. (e.g. the 280/101 connector, Highway 1 at 35 in Daly City, etc.)

Slow down a bit, relax, and be patient.

Wind can be fun...after a while it just becomes part of the ride.

Like road conditions, visibility, congestion, etc....

The part of your brain that takes care of keeping the bike upright does just fine unless you consciously fight it...think about that......

Rubber bits down now....

R

8)

A bit windy today in Kansas as well. 25-30mph all day long. We're used to it here. I agree about route modification during high wind days. On days like today I take the residential streets and stay off the interstate. I try not to overcompensate for crosswinds by shifting my body too much. I'm just more aware of my position, particularly at a standstill where I can get moved by the wind when taking off from a stop. I've never had high winds keep me off the bike, but then again I'd never ride in a storm, at least on purpose!

I made up for the crappy windy ride on Tuesday by taking my new scoot up 92 and down Skyline to 84. What a fun ride, even on the "cruiser" Mojito 150.

As windy as Tuesday was... today was that calm. What a day for a ride!

Kent

ps- If I only had my 150 in my SR50 (great handling scoot)... that would be fun!

I rode home Monday and we had 50 degree temps with 40 mph gusts. I had to take the interstate 35 miles home from my girlfriend's house. Couple that with heavy high speed traffic and a million semis and it gets even better. It sucked. I have been riding for 15 years but the lack of reserve power on a scooter is new to me.

As far as the wind you just have to relax a little and remain calm. You won't blow over. I too have a windshield on my 300 and I will admit it can act like a sail but if you expect if you will be just fine. I've never heard or seen anyone blow over in the wind.

The fun part of my trip happened when my change in direction put the wind at my back. Got the 300 up to 92mph indicated.