How Windy Is Too Windy to Ride a Motorcycle?

There is nothing better than being on the open road when the sun is shining and you want to go on a motorcycle ride. However, if there is too much wind outside, the fun ride can turn into a wrestling match against Nature. It has happened to every rider when the wind has caused near-death experiences.

These unexpected side winds can make you hold the handlebars a bit tighter. Most riders ask ‘How windy is too windy to ride a motorcycle? This article will respond to this question. Regardless of whether you are a novice rider or an expert, getting to know how wind affects a two-wheeler can be the difference between a safe and secure ride and a risky struggle.

Motorcycles are constructed with light, nimble, and stable features. That is what makes them enjoyable to ride. However, it also exposes them to heavy winds. When a car is hit by the wind, it does not make much difference. When wind hits a motorcycle, it can make the ride unstable.

Motorcycles do not have four solid tires on the road like cars do. They are not thousands of pounds to keep them down. Your weight and position when you are riding are of as much importance as the weight and position of the motorcycle. That balance can be disrupted in a moment by wind.

The most fatal winds are crosswinds, those that blow at you sideways. Crosswinds can move you off course, unlike a headwind or a tailwind that primarily slows you down or moves you forward. Especially if you are not ready for the heavy wind while riding the motorcycle, you can lose control.

Every rider is different in terms of comfort level, experience, and skills. However, you can have some general guidelines to follow. The measure of wind speed is normally in miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (kph). Here is a practical description of what those speeds feel like on a motorcycle:

This is, of course, just a guide. These figures are not precise. Things such as your weight, the construction of your motorcycle, and the nature of the road you are riding on all matter a lot.

It is not only a matter of the figure on the weather app. There are several important factors that can make wind a motorcyclist's worst nightmare while riding a motorcycle:

Light motorcycles (such as 250 cc street motorbikes) have a tendency to be heavily pushed around by heavy winds.

Touring motorcycles or heavy cruisers provide better grip on the road and are better in terms of handling the wind.

Large fairing motorcycles are like sails. They pick up and react with the wind in a perfect manner to avoid instability and misbalance created by the heavy wind.

Non-faired, naked bikes may be able to zip through gusts more easily, but they tend to expose the rider more, ensuring poor wind protection.

Saddlebags , tank bags , or a backpack on a cruiser or a touring motorcycle adds surface area to the motorcycle and wind resistance.

Wind has more room to grow in highways, open roads, and bridges. Natural barriers such as trees, forests, and urban settings likely limit wind gusts, making rides more controlled and stable in these settings.

• Watch out for these red flags below, before even throwing your leg over the seat and going for a ride:

• Do not go for the ride if you find trees bending over and leaves swirling in the streets, because it indicates that the wind is too heavy to ride.

• If there is a high flag nearby and it is wide open and straight due to wind force, know that the wind is too heavy and is likely to cause problems while riding.

• If you find dust and debris blowing along streets, it is another common indication that the wind may be too heavy to ride the motorcycle.

• If you feel imbalanced or anxious even walking to the street, this is not the right time to ride the motorcycle.

If you are already riding your motorcycle, pay attention to the weather and what your motorcycle is telling you.

• If your motorcycle is leaning into one side or it is pushing you to the adjacent lane, then the wind is likely to be heavy.

• If your motorcycle swerves by itself while riding when a truck or a large vehicle passes in the next lane, it is likely too windy to ride the motorcycle safely.

• If you are gripping the handlebars of your motorcycle too tightly to keep your motorcycle upright and stable, it is also a sign that the wind is too heavy to ride the motorcycle.

First of all, if it is too windy, you must not ride your motorcycle. Also, if you are new to motorcycling, then you must not take the risk of riding the motorcycle in heavy winds. However, there may be instances when you have to ride your motorcycle in the wind, especially if you are already riding and heavy winds start blowing. Here’s how you can ride your motorcycle safely in the wind :

If you ride in an area where it is usually windy throughout the day, you must install a windshield for better wind protection. A windshield can help you stay comfortable through the ride by blocking the incoming wind. It can also help ensure a better vision of the road ahead and can make riders stay more focused and attentive during the ride.

If it is too windy to ride, try to sit aggressively as much as possible. Try to lean slightly forward without compromising the control and balance. Try to tuck in behind the windshield. Keep your core right and elbows relaxed.

If it is too windy outside to ride and the speed of the wind is increasing, the first thing you should do is slow down. Ride defensively as much as you can. If it is getting too hard to ride even slowly and the ride is becoming too unstable, get your motorcycle to the roadside, stop the motorbike, and take a break until the wind slows down. If you ride slowly, you will have enough time to react to a heavy gust of wind.

Don’t hold the bars too tightly. A death grip is likely to make you feel locked, tensed, and can take away your responsiveness to a bad situation. Therefore, keep it loose and stay aware. You may save your motorcycle and yourself from falling against a gust of heavy wind, but even an average crosswind can cause you to lose control of your motorcycle.

A lane on the road is wide enough for a motorcycle. If the weather is too windy, use the whole lane. If the wind is hitting you from the left, ride your motorcycle on the leftmost side of the lane so that if your motorbike drifts to the right, you don’t cross the lane and get in the way of heavy traffic.

Stay aware and alert of trucks and fast-moving cars. As they pass near you in the next lane, they can heavily disrupt your airflow and can cause your motorcycle to slide/drift towards them. Stay away from such vehicles as much as possible, as they can be very risky.

It is not a daring act to ride your motorcycle in the wind, and you will not even get a trophy if you successfully reach your destination. There is always a safe limit and a better condition to ride a motorcycle. If the weather doesn’t meet the safe requirements, you must not ride the motorbike.

You must stop riding and say ‘no’ to yourself if the answer to any of the following questions is ‘no’:

• Am I in control of the motorcycle?

• Is it safe to ride the motorcycle?

• Is it still enjoyable to ride?

Even if you can somehow manage to ride your motorcycle in heavy wind, it is mentally quite draining. You are mostly alert at all times during the ride. You keep your arms and body stiff the whole time. Your heart skips a beat every time the wind blows, especially if it is a crosswind.

Riding with such a physical and mental state can cause stiffness in arms and muscles, and a tired mind. You will not be enjoying the ride anymore if this is happening to you. You will not be physically and mentally there to ride more, which can make the ride further unsafe. So, it is better to make the wise decision and not put your life at risk.

One thing that riders must understand is that the wind, especially heavy gusts of wind, is not their friend, but it is not your enemy either. It is not as much discussed and talked about as rain and snow for motorcyclists. However, it is equally risky for motorcycle riders to ride in the wind.

So, as most motorcyclists ask, ‘How windy is too windy for a motorcycle?’, the simple answer to this question is when you start feeling unsafe.

Everyone loves riding their motorbikes on open roads and highways, but it must be done safely. You have to be in one piece if you want to ride. As a motorcyclist, there are a few limitations. Whether it is rain, snow, or wind, motorcyclists can’t be at their full swing if nature is not in their favor.

As a rider, know your limits and always respect the wind. If you even have a doubt that the weather can go wrong and the wind can get heavy, save the ride for another day.