Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forums here as well as a new rider. I just took the MSF course (yay!) and got my license, AND bought a bike all in the last couple months.
I am riding a Kawi Ninja EX500 and am finding to be an excellent beginner bike (as many on the forums suggested, thanks for that). I do have a question for all of you who are more experienced...how do you handle the wind? My commute is over the Golden Gate Bridge and north a few miles and it gets extremely windy through there. Any tips/suggestions? Do I just need to buck up?
Thanks,
Jeanette

You could allways try to lean into the wind a bit while riding, or get as low on the bike as you can. Anywats welcome ot the fourms

and get those knees nice and tight against the tank

the Ninja 500-R is a bike I can't say enough good things about! Congratulations.

Griping the tank really helps low speed maneuvering. That bike is so nimble, you can steer it with your butt when you grip the bike well. It also helps keep the weight off your hands. I slide as far forward as I can, grip the tank, and the wrists feel no pressure.

As far as laying forward, it definitely helps on the highway. The high fairing on the 500 keeps you from having to lay on the tank and still keep the wind away. When you feel it flowing over your back, you are probably low enough. Laying forward also seems to help keep the front end steady when you roll on the throttle heavy.

--Dave

Welcome to the forum¡

You will get a lot of information here, from his members.....

Welcome aboard! Ditto to knee-hugging the tank. Also, relax enough so that you're able to flow a bit with the wind (obviously not so much that you let it knock you over). That which will not bend, will break (or fall over in this case). Being stiff in the wind can cause fatigue and make it harder to control your bike. You will get used to it.

Enjoy the forums!

Cheers,
Loonette

Thank you for all of the advise! And to safety-boy, yes I am finding my Ninja to be an excellent beginner bike and very nimble as you said. It is night and day between the intuitive handling of this bike compared to the MSF's Honda Nighthawks.
As for the wind, I am getting used to it. and getting down over the tank a bit is helping as well as leaning into the wind . I am also finding that the attitude you ride with makes a difference! When I was more timid and afraid of the wind it was blowing me all over the place...now I say "bring it on!" and I am much more stable and confident.
Stable mind-stable bike.
Cheers to you all, I am having a great time learning to ride.

darsek wrote:My commute is over the Golden Gate Bridge

I am very envious of that commute. San Fran is one our favorite cities in the US. Anyhow welcome to the board. As others have said. Knees tight to the tank. Lean a little into the wind. Lower yourself a bit.

Safe riding.