Grumpy Old Biker wrote:
My worst moment was when I was stopped at some traffic lights. A massive gust hit and I thought I was going to drop it!. Both feet down, and well spread, saved the day - just.
I find there's an optimum speed of about 40mph in those conditions. Must be something to do with the apparent wind vector. Slower than that and I was blown everywhere - any faster and it was clenched buttocks time.
I'm lucky enough that, at 6'5, I have been able to get both feet down on any of the bikes I've riden, even the largest. I confess that it saved some very expensive plastic repairs on more than one occasion when I was new to the VFR, not to mention some considerable embarassment when I nearly dropped it going down the kerb at an angle outside Cupar motorcycles while based at Leuchars.
I think you've cracked it with the wind vector, and we are subject to some 'odd' aerodynamics on a bike. I had a particularly harrowing journey down the (rather exposed) A42/M42 in a decent crosswind, with soft luggage and a rucksack on. It was almost as if, at certain speeds and relative wind headings, the panniers would 'lift' slightly (although well secured) and then give me a wobble every time the weight was 'dropped' back onto the bike. I imagine this was due to an oblique angle of incidence causing the airflow to take considerably more of the weight of one side than the other.
Unfortunately 40mph isn't really an option for a bike on a free-flowing motorway!