Ninja 250 - Ride Quality - Full tank of gas

[RhadamYgg]

Hey Everyone, I hope you are all well and accident free.

I've been riding my Ninja 250 for a short time now. I've put 210 miles on it - about half of that is highway miles - I commuted to work once to a special day-long meeting that involved a minimum of local roads.

For a bit there I was getting a little worried about riding the Ninja 250 on the highway. The wind was just tossing me around and the solution was to slow down - and I wasn't driving fast.

The Tappan Zee Bridge on the way home was a harrowing experience. Parallel lined road surface with lots of wind from the front and sometimes from the sides.

I noticed today though, I filled up my tank (3.525 gallons) that my wind resistance went up significantly.

Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon. Gasoline I believe is less dense and is around 7 pounds per gallon. The difference this 24.5 pounds makes is incredible.

I weight approximately 170 lbs. Now, I certainly don't want to gain the weight back, and even if I did I think it wouldn't be positioned in the same place as when the gas is filled.

So, what can I do to increase the weight of the bike in the general region of the gas tank by about 25 pounds?

RhadamYgg

[Thumper]

Loaded tank bag?

Really, I wouldn't worry about it. As you gain experience, those highway miles will be much less harrowing. When I first started riding I was positive I was going to blow off the back of the bike at over 45 mph--it was everything I could do to hold on for dear life.

Within 6 months I was laughing at my former newby self, and really enjoying those (much) higher speeds. Eventually it became "whoa...slow down" instead of OHMYGODI'MGOINGTODIE! when I went faster or the wind picked up. Big bus and semi-truck blow-by became nonissues for the most part.

Just give it time and practice...you won't need extra weight, just your mad skillz.

[RhadamYgg]

OHMYGODI'MGOINGTODIE!

Hey, that's exactly the feeling - especially on the Tappan Zee Bridge. I took video of the trip home - but it is mostly 1 hour and 16 minutes of cars passing me... I was actually going between 60 and 70 most of the time.

Maybe I'll post it on youtube - but it is really really boring.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

Well, I can't really say if the winds were any less or any more today. It seems logical that if I'm riding at 80 mph, it would feel like I'm walking against a hurricane force wind.

So, I think I've gotten over that - took the bike up to 80 today and now riding at 65 doesn't seem like such a big problem. Also, it seems that I've gotten at least partially over my fear that the wind will blow me off the back of the bike.

I'm not quite sure how folks who ride pillion get over it, though.

RhadamYgg

[Brackstone]

Make sure you lean forward!

[RhadamYgg]

Make sure you lean forward!

Yep! That actually helped me a lot today - before the rain came in.

It was a like a light going on in my head *ooooh so that's why the super sport motorcycles have a seat position like that* - It isn't just because it is uncomfortable or aggressive looking - it is because it helps when riding at speed.

RhadamYgg

[jstark47]

Rhadam- mostly you're going through normal noob stuff. In difficult riding conditions, make sure you grip the bike with your legs, but keep everything above your waist as loose as possible. Easier said than done, it took me months to get that down. Does a world of good for wind riding, though - keeps you from transmitting each wind buffet through your arms to the bars. Gotta give ya points for ballz - I wouldn't have done the Tappan Zee on a windy day in my first month of riding - awfully open out there.

[Dragon on Wheels]

If you do a lot of highway riding, you might want to get some earplugs. I went on the highway once without them and the wind noise made my ears/head hurt so much that I wouldn't ride on highways without them again. I found the wind noise to be much more annoying and distracting than the actual highway riding. That said, I still prefer under 50 mph speeds...or maybe it's because of that.

[RhadamYgg]

Rhadam- mostly you're going through normal noob stuff. In difficult riding conditions, make sure you grip the bike with your legs, but keep everything above your waist as loose as possible. Easier said than done, it took me months to get that down. Does a world of good for wind riding, though - keeps you from transmitting each wind buffet through your arms to the bars. Gotta give ya points for ballz - I wouldn't have done the Tappan Zee on a windy day in my first month of riding - awfully open out there.

Well, I don't know if it was balls or stupidity. In any case, I don't think I have any balls left after that - my 4th and 5th time riding the bike at home going over the Tappan Zee... I think next time I'll be better at it. My normal commute is over the George Washington Bridge, which should be easier, slower and have less wind.

The next bridges I need to be able to do - just to get to my parents house is the Thomas A Edison / Garden State Parkway Bridge.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

If you do a lot of highway riding, you might want to get some earplugs. I went on the highway once without them and the wind noise made my ears/head hurt so much that I wouldn't ride on highways without them again. I found the wind noise to be much more annoying and distracting than the actual highway riding. That said, I still prefer under 50 mph speeds...or maybe it's because of that.

I've used ear plugs once on my highway rides - and the others without. I agree I definitely prefer riding on the highway with earplugs in. I didn't have the same experience as you - but still, my ears ring enough from all the Metallica I listen to and the concerts I've seen.

RhadamYgg