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**Noor** · 09-16-2011, 05:04 PM

Query approved

**aargee** · 09-16-2011, 05:09 PM

Simple - Crouch; Not sure if P220 can handle the wind blast at high speeds effectively as I haven't ridden one; but I did this on my C250R & it did a brilliant job. On crouching, I could only hear the tire noises, air hitting the fairings & minor rumble of the engine. You can control to a certain extent with high quality helmet, but, I was wearing Vega which I'm sure is not capable of arresting wind noise.

**Ananth** · 09-16-2011, 05:17 PM

Is your helmet loose in fitting? Ofcourse, you would have to crouch for speeds above 100 - But if your helmet doesn't fit on your head tight - it is bound to be moving around.

Either add a new chin pad (bigger size) or wear a balaclava or something to hold up your head snugged on to the helmet.

**yellowspunk** · 09-16-2011, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

Hey guys
how does one handle head on wind blast from a tourer's point of view? The continued exposure to high speed wind makes my head feel weak.

Originally posted by aargee View Post

Simple - Crouch; Not sure if P220 can handle the wind blast at high speeds effectively as I haven't ridden one; but I did this on my C250R & it did a brilliant job. On crouching, I could only hear the tire noises, air hitting the fairings & minor rumble of the engine. You can control to a certain extent with high quality helmet, but, I was wearing Vega which I'm sure is not capable of arresting wind noise.

Hey aargee
thanks for your reply. Crouching works for short bursts but am asking from a touring point of view. The continued blast of wind at >100kmph is very tiring when you do say 200-300kms ride.

**yellowspunk** · 09-16-2011, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by Ananth View Post

Is your helmet loose in fitting? Ofcourse, you would have to crouch for speeds above 100 - But if your helmet doesn't fit on your head tight - it is bound to be moving around.

Either add a new chin pad (bigger size) or wear a balaclava or something to hold up your head snugged on to the helmet.

hey ananth

my helmet fits snugly. How do you manage to ride such long distances crouching? Your recent maharastra trip, you must have obviously done more than 100kmph on your ninja right? for long distances? how did you do that? that is my question.

**aargee** · 09-16-2011, 05:26 PM

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

>100kmph is very tiring when you do say 200-300kms ride.

Oh!!! ok...then I'm not the best person to answer, I'll wait for someone else to answer.

I was just trying to answer from my experience of Chennai-Pune (1172 Kms) in 15 hours & this is what I was following to overcome the wind blasts.

**yellowspunk** · 09-16-2011, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by aargee View Post

Oh!!! ok...then I'm not the best person to answer, I'll wait for someone else to answer.

I was just trying to answer from my experience of Chennai-Pune (1172 Kms) in 15 hours & this is what I was following to overcome the wind blasts.

sarcasm?

but crouching for such a long ride isnt enjoyable right? and very tiring?

**aargee** · 09-16-2011, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

sarcasm?

Sarcasm??? Why would I want to be sarcastic with you? If you think it is so, then I'll remove my posts!!!

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

but crouching for such a long ride isnt enjoyable right? and very tiring?

And one doesn't crouch for all 200-300 Kms also right?

That's why I said, I'll wait for someone else to answer

**darkknight** · 09-16-2011, 05:47 PM

ok-- for someone who tours it's well known that you donot continuously keep speeds above 100, rather you cannot due to practical conditions

for the times between & occasional speed bursts crouching & altering the body position is the best method

I am still not getting the purpose of your query but hope above helps

**Ananth** · 09-16-2011, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

hey ananth

my helmet fits snugly. How do you manage to ride such long distances crouching? Your recent maharastra trip, you must have obviously done more than 100kmph on your ninja right? for long distances? how did you do that? that is my question.

On my Ninja, I can ride till 130 without a need for crouching. I crouch only for speeds 140 - 165+

Also, On the GQ - A safe speed would be 100 - 120, which can be done without crouching.

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

but crouching for such a long ride isnt enjoyable right? and very tiring?

You dont crouch extensively. Unless you are gunning for a saddlesore, you can maintain speeds you are comfortable with.

Originally posted by aargee View Post

And one doesn't crouch for all 200-300 Kms also right?

Exactly. No Need to crouch for long, unless there is heavy crosswinds (which is anyway much better to do in P220 than on a ZMA/ZMR)

If you feel tiring, ride around 90 -100 or any speed you are comfortable without crouching. Crouch only when necessary, like overtaking - crosswinds, etc.

**The Monk** · 09-16-2011, 06:04 PM

Originally posted by yellowspunk View Post

Hey guys

I tried searching on this specific topic but couldnt find anything.. anyway this thread isnt about cross winds though it might be related.

With bikes getting faster and faster or atleast having the option of buying faster bkes, how does one handle head on wind blast from a tourer's point of view? The continued exposure to high speed wind makes my head feel weak.

I owned a FZ before and did around 80kmph while touring. the wind blast was manageable, right now i ride a P220 and at the speeds this machine can do >100kmph i find my head going for a toss ! bike is stable, body is stable but my head goes around and around. Cross winds just add to it. Even keeping my head straight ahead at 120kmph is super tiring.

I wear a 1.5kg LS2 helmet before i used to wear a 1.2kg Studds and i had this problem with both the helmets.

How do you guys manage from tiring out from the wind blast? i follow the rule of 100kms or 1hr for resting to the tee. while my body feels that it can do more kms my head just wants to fall off.

How do you guys with SBKs manage it? I cant seem to handle 100kmph while a SBK can easily do twice that speed. I fear a further upgrade of my bike will be a waste on me since i cant seem to handle this specific problem.

Is it my helmet? is it that P220 fairing doesnt protect the rider from wind blast? or there any specific way to hold you head? Your reply would be of much help. Thank you.

Well bro, when I started riding two years ago, I had the same problem. But for me it was a heavy head, but the main culprit was a weak neck. Your neck is not used to the additional weight of the helmet, add to that the fact that your neck is getting bombarded by wind chill. So I asked a physiotherapist friend of mine to show me a few neck exercises to strengthen the neck muscles.

After that I did a Kanpur-Kanya 7000kms ride. I have ridden from Kanpur to Gurgaon (about 500kms) many times. I only take a 10 minute break. I never ride below 100kmph. And yes I have a P220 as well. My vega weighs about 1400gms as well. Now I have almost no problem. Just regular fatigue. Also a good posture, not crouching, can let you cruise the entire day at 120kmph, without breaking a sweat. Its not a quick fix solution, but physical fitness in the long run will help you out with your biking. Be it touring, racing or stunting.

**yellowspunk** · 09-16-2011, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by aargee View Post

Sarcasm??? Why would I want to be sarcastic with you? If you think it is so, then I'll remove my posts!!!

And one doesn't crouch for all 200-300 Kms also right?

That's why I said, I'll wait for someone else to answer

it sounded like sarcasm cause you do have experience but you suggested someone else would explain it better.

Originally posted by darkknight View Post

ok-- for someone who tours it's well known that you donot continuously keep speeds above 100, rather you cannot due to practical conditions

for the times between & occasional speed bursts crouching & altering the body position is the best method

I am still not getting the purpose of your query but hope above helps

Well i'm a novice, the max distance i've done is 500kms. I vary my speeds too between 80-120kmph. 80 is manageable but 120 gets tiring but someone with a ninja or cbr will do more than 100kmph so wanted to know how you guys who do 1000-3000kms do such long distances at high speeds without tiring from wind blast.

Originally posted by Ananth View Post

On my Ninja, I can ride till 130 without a need for crouching. I crouch only for speeds 140 - 165+

Also, On the GQ - A safe speed would be 100 - 120, which can be done without crouching.

You dont crouch extensively. Unless you are gunning for a saddlesore, you can maintain speeds you are comfortable with.

Exactly. No Need to crouch for long, unless there is heavy crosswinds (which is anyway much better to do in P220 than on a ZMA/ZMR)

If you feel tiring, ride around 90 -100 or any speed you are comfortable without crouching. Crouch only when necessary, like overtaking - crosswinds, etc.

thanks ananth for your reply. 130kmphs without crouching is cool, your neck muscles must have become really strong from doing all those kms. I will keep this mind the next time i go for a ride. Manageable speed seems to be the operative word. Planning a ride to mysore so all these doubts !

**blackside** · 09-16-2011, 06:17 PM

I don't know pretty much the answer's here.. not much to it. It's almost like obvious. Only during windy conditions it's hard to sustain 120 odd cruising speeds, otherwise its fine. I own a p200 and extensively done 100 for long distance and had no reason to crouch or had any issues with turbulence on normal wind conditions. And I mean around 200kms long ride. Besides its impossible to maintain the speed with traffic in and out here. Don't know about Mumbai - Pune express way sort of stuff..

If the crosswind or head wind is too strong, obviously the only way out is to either crouch or slow down and just enjoy the ride at what ever speeds comfortable. The only issue existing in this question is why isn't it comfortable cruising at steady 100kmph in strong winds. It just isn't!

Option would be to get a proper cruiser like the Thunderbird or avenger get a full on wind protector and cruise at 100 or 120 as you like. But as for as what the wind can do to our chest and head without protection, not much to say about it. That's just the way it is. If you love it, you'll crouch even for a 200kms stretch or even be strong enough to just bare through it sitting up and still pushing it. It's just us who have to choose what is best, or what is comfortable

**yellowspunk** · 09-16-2011, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by blackside View Post

I don't know pretty much the answer's here.. not much to it. It's almost like obvious. Only during windy conditions it's hard to sustain 120 odd cruising speeds, otherwise its fine. I own a p200 and extensively done 100 for long distance and had no reason to crouch or had any issues with turbulence on normal wind conditions. And I mean around 200kms long ride. Besides its impossible to maintain the speed with traffic in and out here. Don't know about Mumbai - Pune express way sort of stuff..

If the crosswind or head wind is too strong, obviously the only way out is to either crouch or slow down and just enjoy the ride at what ever speeds comfortable. The only issue existing in this question is why isn't it comfortable cruising at steady 100kmph in strong winds. It just isn't!

Option would be to get a proper cruiser like the Thunderbird or avenger get a full on wind protector and cruise at 100 or 120 as you like. But as for as what the wind can do to our chest and head without protection, not much to say about it. That's just the way it is. If you love it, you'll crouch even for a 200kms stretch or even be strong enough to just bare through it sitting up and still pushing it. It's just us who have to choose what is best, or what is comfortable

Yes the answer seems obvious. I do speeds i find manageable as speeds above 100 get tiring but when i read trip logs which says they did 100s of kms at >100kmph i wanted to know what was wrong with me. is it me, my bike or my helmet or was there any trick to it. I guess it just has to do with strong neck muscles.

Also if i cant do 100kmph in a P220, what are my chances of doing more speed if i get a faster bike.

I suppose this thread will help novice tourers.

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