First minor crash tonight

[Lyman]

Many riders with lifetimes of experience understand but cannot explain one of the most critical things you need to "Body learn" which is "Counter steer". Google it, study it, understand it and ...FEEL it. Simply put, as you go faster than parking lot speed the bike steering REVERSES! So to go RIGHT you must push the handlebars LEFT and vice-versa. Additionally as speed increases you MUST PUSH the handlebars HARDER to steer! Thinking that using your body to LEAN is recipe for disaster. The physicality of PUSHING the handlebars is something you should practice on when you have a bit of open road. Practicing and FEELING this effect teaches your body to react properly to emergencies or even strong cross wind gusts. Theres a stretch of road between Phoenix and Tucson with massive gusts. actively counter steering can overcome any gust although the bike can literally be leaning against it the whole time. Please continue to learn and be safe.

I have about 40 years on bikes of all kinds. I never learned this till after 20 of those years. It makes a huge difference. I have met many riders that don't know anything about counter steering. I have to say, It's one of the most important lessons.

 

[ragtoplvr]

My advice is get off the road as soon as possible. Once I got caught in severe winds in western KS with no windbreaks. I was lucky I decided pull off and lay the bike down as the front tire was sliding a little. The really big wind hit right after that. Power line blew down on the other side of the road, away from me. That was good, BIG arc flash and sound like rifle shot. Then I saw a semi turn over. The tractor was on it’s side

The worst was over now, so I went over to help the driver. I was not even going to try to get on the side (top) in the wind to open the door in case the wind came back. The driver kicked out the window and got out that way It did not matter, I am sure the tractor was totaled.. Had I not pulled over, I probably would have been blown into barbed wire fences. Lucky no one was hurt.

There were severe storms all around us but I did not see a funnel, it was all straight line winds. I think we were in an isolated pocket of wind. I saw no other damage. Funny thing I never got wet that day. It was an impressive experience the amount of power and the sound of that wind. I was coughing up dust for a few days. People out there are nice, we had help a few minutes later. It would have ben so easy to have been hurt or dead.

Rod

 

[Leo99]

A sign of character, integrity, and healthy ego that you can share this for others to learn. Kudos to you.

I was thinking the same thing when I read what happened. Nice to see a fine example of self-accountability.

 

[ZeeOSix]

OP ... glad you came out unhurt. I recall going down I-90 on my new ZX-11 way back in 1990 in a huge cross wind and had to lean the bike 25-30 degrees just to keep going straight down the road. The ZX-11 had ram-air, and the cross wind was so strong that it caused the bike to start running weird ... my theory was the cross wind was starving the intake and the A/F was way off. I pulled off the road and waited a little while, then took back off and all seemed fine from then on. It was the strongest cross wind I've ever been in on a bike.

 

[Bonz]

OP ... glad you came out unhurt. I recall going down I-90 on my new ZX-11 way back in 1990 in a huge cross wind and had to lean the bike 25-30 degrees just to keep going straight down the road. The ZX-11 had ram-air, and the cross wind was so strong that it caused the bike to start running weird ... my theory was the cross wind was starving the intake and the A/F was way off. I pulled off the road and waited a little while, then took back off and all seemed fine from then on. It was the strongest cross wind I've ever been in on a bike.

Good call on the wind making a mess of the A/F ratio.
Glad you stayed upright and vertical!

 

[totegoat]

There is a learning curve.........glad you lived to ride another day. More curves ahead, be aware, be careful.

 

[benjy]

glad your OK + having had a 2008 XL1200L + trading on a 2018 triumph T120 IMO sportsters handle poorly with bad brakes, but as noted practice + practice more. MCRider.com has some great tips to become a better safer rider!