Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi,
I live in LA, commute a few days a week on my bike and like to ride the canyons. I starting riding about 1 1/2 years ago - it's much harder than it looks. I'm working on the exercises from the Ride Like a Pro video - from the rider who trains police on MC techniques. Very good stuff, much of it is not intuitive (i.e. you won't figure it out on your own).

I have a few questions and am not sure whether to post on the New Riders section. Here goes:

1. Can a strong cross wind destabilize the bike so that you go down? I've felt the bike move sideways in strong gusts. The only thing I know to do is tuck and slow down. Anything else?

2. I'm still not that comfortable going above about 65 mph when there are cars around - it seems things are happening very quickly. Am I better off riding in the #1 lane (going at least 70) than staying in a slower lane to the right? I realize the avantage of the #1 is that you have traffic merging only from 1 direction. I appreciate the information.

1) Yes a sudden strong blast could knock you over, but, as you have noticed, you'll lean against that quite naturally. It can be scary sometimes.

2) Good, things are happening very quickly at that speed. Which lane you use on the freeway depends on the situation and conditions. You can still get run over doing 70mph in the fast lane so keep an eye on your a$$. I like to be in the lane I need to be in before I get to the exit. I will blow right past my exit if I 'm not in the correct lane. I stay to the left side of the lane unless I'm in the far left lane, or if I'm in a group. Don't tailgate If someone is tailgating you, let them by. Flip them off afterwards.

Hi tbsuf, to the TMW family. You'll really enjoy it here, it's very friendly.

I've never been to LA, but I can only imagine the traffic would be something like the 401 expressway in Toronto (12-16 lanes) or Calgary (8-10 lanes). I'm going to assume you've taken an MSF and have rode before by your sig line which lists 3 different bikes.

We do get a lot of strong winds here south of Calgary, so learning to ride with them is learned with practice. A saying here goes "you'll wear out one side of your tire going there and the other side going back". With crosswinds it's important not to fight them with your bars, but to use a "relaxed grip" on the bars and lean that side of the bike into the winds. When it gets really strong it may feel your back tire is about to whip around on you, but it won't, it's just the bike feeling lighter. Slower speed helps and using a 18-wheeler's side for cover helps too... just watch out when you pass that 18-wheeler with the new cross winds. If the wind is blowing to your left, stay in your left lane, that way if blows you across a lane, you won't be in the ditch. Stay away from other vehicles if it's bad so you aren't blown into them. I've seen the wind blow bikes across 1 lane and very very rarely 2 lanes.

Hope that helps a bit.

Mike