Long Distance Advice

[viewdvb]

I'm going to go against the "the S10 is the bestest in all conditions" grain here also.

I used to own a FJR and have ridden thousands of miles behind other big sport-tourers (RTs, ST11, ST13, K16GT, Connies) and even logged quite a few Wing miles. There is no doubt in my mind that they all are superior bikes aerodynamically. The S10 is pretty nasty in crosswinds, not any worse than other big adventure bikes, but when you have a tall bike with a relatively narrow windshield so far from the rider, there is only so much you can do.

Having said this, there are other areas where I like the S10 better for touring (e.g., legroom, heat control, etc.), so overall, I think the S10 is about as good as it gets and if I were to take off for the opposite coast tomorrow, I'd just as soon be on the S10 as a FJR. But it is not the equal of these other bikes aero-wise, so if this is your hot button, you can do better.

- Mark

I have to take issue with this one. I've crossed America coast to coast and back a couple of times on an 1800 Goldwing and that was damn scary in crosswinds on the wide open Interstates and worse on high bridges. Had to cut my speed to no more than 50mph at times and was passed by a Harley with apehanger bars travelling at 80 plus. My ST1300 was better but not by much and my 2005 FJR1300 was acceptable but only just. I believe it is the acres of plastic on full blooded tourers that catch the cross winds. The S10 is NOT scary, neither was my Ducati Multistrada 1200 - neither cluttered by full fairings. All my rides are two up with side cases and a 45L top box (or whatever the Goldwing has). I wouldn't use the top box solo as I have experienced some strange effects in the air flow behind the rider. Of course you get battered around in crosswinds but the bars and riding position of adventure bikes seem to inspire more confidence. I CERTAINLY wouldn't recommend a move to a full tourer if wind worries you.

 

[RogerJ]

OKState.......when the wind blows and hard I take that as a practice opportunity. The more you ride in it and study the winds coming over various types of terrain and how they affect your chosen bike the better it gets. Now riding all day in 100 kph winds coming from any quarter is not necessarily fun but is doable when you have to. Nothing does it like doing it.

 

[Bill310]

I think it is all relative. I have ridden coast to coast quite a few time (20+) on the following bikes BMW 1150 GS, 1150 GS Adventure, Goldwing, KTM 990 and BMW K1200GT & K1200 LT

The have all been set up the same way with the same basic modifications . All bikes will blow around sometimes in certain winds. Packing low and not running a top box makes significant difference as does custom suspension because it helps to plant your bike on the road.

I like the Jesse on my Tenere because when running solo and can move them forward centralizing mass and increasing stability.

As soon as Scott's makes a steering stabilizer for the Tenere I will buy one because nothing improves a ride in blowing conditions more that having that helping hand.

THE KTM is notorious as a windy head buffeting motorcycle and it is the quietest motorcycle I have ever owned after the K1200LT that was designed in a wind tunnel.

It is the little things that you need to do to modify your bike to quiet it down. You want to more the airflow to a calmer place or push the turbulent air out and away from you. I can irde with either an Arai XD or a Vestor helmet on all my bikes at speed with no buffeting because I have learned how to make the air move around me.

Generally an adjustable windshield is a big help none of my bikes, with the exception of the KTM which has the optional taller windshield and is amazingly quiet.ever kept the stock screen and over time I have gravitated to the California Scientific screens.


Buy mirror extensions they are inexpensive way to adjust airflow, really good hand guards can help they are in the wind stream and redirect air flow how they work needs to be managed. Mounting your soft duffel along the MC's axis instead of across it can make a difference.

I ran PIAA 600 HID's on my Goldwing, they took 2 mpg off the bikes mileage but the wind resistance put more weight on the front of the bike and made it seem more planted. On a ride across the US on my GSA the headwinds reduced my fuel economy to running though 11.3 gallons of gas in 180-190 miles where normally I had a 370-380 mile range. The Aeroflow windshield was like a sail and I stopped using it and went back to the stock shield after that.

I use the front Aeroflow deflectors on my K1200 GT along with a Cal Sci screen and it is quiet and stable.

The Tenere has a Cal SCi screen, a Modstad bracket, I had the Australian one first and it wasn't strong enough and created a vibration in the cal sci screen edges.

My upper dash layout Garmin 478, Valentine One and Garmin XM-30 antenna restrict my windshield angle a bit but the Tenere is still reasonably quiet without any buffeting, the mirror extension arms really helped

I guess what I am saying is that it takes time, money and experience to learn to manage the wind. Don't give up

 

[jrb_nw]

Re: Re: Long Distance Advice

I'm going to go against the "the S10 is the bestest in all conditions" grain here also.

I used to own a FJR and have ridden thousands of miles behind other big sport-tourers (RTs, ST11, ST13, K16GT, Connies) and even logged quite a few Wing miles. There is no doubt in my mind that they all are superior bikes aerodynamically. The S10 is pretty nasty in crosswinds, not any worse than other big adventure bikes, but when you have a tall bike with a relatively narrow windshield so far from the rider, there is only so much you can do.

Having said this, there are other areas where I like the S10 better for touring (e.g., legroom, heat control, etc.), so overall, I think the S10 is about as good as it gets and if I were to take off for the opposite coast tomorrow, I'd just as soon be on the S10 as a FJR. But it is not the equal of these other bikes aero-wise, so if this is your hot button, you can do better.

- Mark

I agree 100% with Mark (and xdriver), having owned most of those bikes, espec the BMW RT's - they are all better than the S10 in big winds like we get out west. My R1200rt was excellent. They get blown around less and most importantly you can fine tune the windshield height as conditions change - a huge advantage when touring. I'm on a trip right now and mounted my bigger screen for rain protection (and noise) as it was very heavy rains Mon/Tues this week, but then it was too tall when offroading yesterday - grrrr... and will be too hot in expected 110 deg temps going back north Sunday. Non-adjustability sucks when conditions change.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[10 ER AY]

I've owned a K1200LT in the past and I've ridden my dads '03 Goldwing... While the S10 is nice on the interstate, lets not kid ourselves. Riding a Goldwing or other big bike is night and day difference from the S10 or any other big ADV bike. The large tourers are a roof away from being a Caddy. It took Arizona sandstorm winds for me to feel unsettled on the LT while a semi going the other way can shake the S10.

I'm an average rider. Definitely not one of the IBA mileage whores, but I have done an 1100 mile day on my LT. At the end of the day (middle of the night) I was worn out. It only takes me about 500 miles on the S10 to be at the same level of exhaustion.

To each their own.... But if I was doing routine interstate mileage, I would have a Goldwing, GT, or LT. Not an ADV.

 

[Ramseybella]

This may sound crazy but My friend and I have agreed that the faster you ride in a cross wind it cuts down on the buffeting.
We have some crazy April winds I-40 I-25 are insane wind tunnels as a matter of fact any open plane out west gets nuts.

Anybody try this? :-\

 

[markjenn]

This may sound crazy but My friend and I have agreed that the faster you ride in a cross wind it cuts down on the buffeting.

Makes complete sense. The buffeting is caused by a eddy turbulence as air spills over the edges of the screen and attempts to fill the low pressure area behind. The location of this turbulent zone will be directly downstream in non-crosswind conditions, but tilt to one side in a crosswind. It is the same as if you were in a wind tunnel and you placed the bike at an angle to the tunnel. My experience with the S10 is that with any major crosswind, you're completely out of the wind shadow of the screen and you might as well be riding a naked. And naked bikes don't buffet.

- Mark

 

[528Hz]

Riding a bike in strong winds is like sailing, just learn how to counterweight at the right moment. If the winds are strong enough, it may require a similar position as if you were setting up for a tight turn at the track or street at high speed but with variable seat contact. Except in this case you just want to go straight. You may also want to experiment with seating position such as leaning forward quite a bit to reduce being thrown around. During my most recent long trip, going through Ohio, ND and Montana, due to prolonged high and gusty winds, especially with a high load on the back I rode pretty much in such position while rolling either on the left or the right portion of the tires with occasional center contact depending how the road turned and which way the winds blew. After a while of riding like that, especially on a pavement that is very smooth, your tires will show the effect of such riding. And then on certain occasions you just have to stop and hide under the overpass if one is available, that is when you notice that you are headed towards a spinning cinnamon bun in the clouds just ahead and ask it not to form and touch down where you are but go elsewhere.
::021::

 

[Ramseybella]

Riding a bike in strong winds is like sailing, just learn how to counterweight at the right moment. If the winds are strong enough, it may require a similar position as if you were setting up for a tight turn at the track or street at high speed but with variable seat contact. Except in this case you just want to go straight. You may also want to experiment with seating position such as leaning forward quite a bit to reduce being thrown around. During my most recent long trip, going through Ohio, ND and Montana, due to prolonged high and gusty winds, especially with a high load on the back I rode pretty much in such position while rolling either on the left or the right portion of the tires with occasional center contact depending how the road turned and which way the winds blew. After a while of riding like that, especially on a pavement that is very smooth, your tires will show the effect of such riding. And then on certain occasions you just have to stop and hide under the overpass if one is available, that is when you notice that you are headed towards a spinning cinnamon bun in the clouds just ahead and ask it not to form and touch down where you are but go elsewhere.
::021::

I didn't get into that detail but sailing comes to mind as well.
With increasing speed I also tend to put my leg out with my foot still on the peg on the side the wind is hitting you from, it cups the oncoming foreword wind and pulls you towards the side wind sort of like using a rudder on a sail boat thus keeps you in check.
Keeping low behind the screen dramatically cuts the buffeting.
Never the less it sucks it beats you up and your are going to encounter it one day or another, use of body English or common sense to stop and take a break is your choice.