Riding in High Winds

I recently read an interesting article about riding in high winds in the HOG magazine. The article was titled “Riding in High Winds” by Becky Tillman. It has a number of good pointers about how riders can avoid accident due to windy conditions or just make your ride more enjoyable in general even if the wind does kick up.

Some of the points brought up in the article are the differences between the bike models. All Harley-Davidsons are pretty heavy bikes, which has major benefits because the bike isn’t blown around as much. Harleys also have a lower center of gravity which makes it easier to cut into the wind. One of the things that can make it more difficult are add-ons like touring packs that can act like sails in high wind and allow the bike to be blown around. Even fairings can act as sails if the wind hits you at a cross, something I never thought about.

Probably the most important thing you can do to prevent getting blown over is just be able to predict where the wind is going to sneak up on you. Some prime examples of this are when you are passing a truck or driving under an overpass. The wind will ebb for a bit and then hit you full force. This can catch you off guard if you aren’t ready. Also, look for appropriate signs that say if a location has strong winds or a crosswind.

The last point that was brought up was having appropriate gear to handle the wind. Make sure you have adequate eye protection to keep debris out of your eyes. A helmet with a facemask or a simple scarf over your mouth would be enough for most people. Avoid having any loose clothing that could flap in the wind and distract you from the road.

Be sure to check out the article in second edition of HOG magazine!