After owning 2012 DL650, in 2014 I've traded it for 2014 DL1000. With 650, riding in high cross winds was a bit of a challenge. I had bike wandering arround a lane quite a bit. Installed fork brace and it got much better, but still had to fight against a cross wind.
Now, with DL1000, the story is completely different. When I get hit by strong cross wind, I feel my body being push arround but the bike keeps going in its trajectory. Almost hard to belive. Now I have to take care of my body and its position but not about the bike anymore.

 

I have had 2006 DL650, 2012 DL650 and have a 2015 DL1000.

The 2006 had the front lowered and fork brace added. Never an issue in side winds.. literally could ride hands off in 40 to 50 mph gusts. Bike would move around and correct itself as long as I didn't mess around with it.

Same thing with the 2012 and the 2015 although apargt from a fork brqace o nthe 2012 they were never modified and I think the highest cross-winds I had on them was probably 30 to 40 mph.

Stroms are tall bikes there is a lot of cross-section to catch the wind. Add being relatively light for the size and they will react to gusts.. the secret is to let them move around a bit. Your job as the rider is to gently guide it as opposed to tightly control it.

..Tom

 

It's more the rider than the bike that has difficulty in cross winds and gusts. http://www.stromtrooper.com/riding-proficiency/253650-wee-bridge-wind-=-wow.html

Fighting the gusts is the wrong process. Staying loose and letting the bike change lean with the gusts is the way to go. You don't try to keep the wheel track in a straight line but rather keep the center of mass in a straight line while the bike lean and tire tracking changes to compensate. The wind is your dance partner and it leads. If you fight or tense up, the wind on your body will cause your arms to input bad moves into the handlebars. Things like fork braces and leaning your body lower and forward over the tank help, but light countersteering inputs to keep the bike leaning into the wind the right amount to keep the center of mass where you want it is the skill that needs to be developed. Taller bikes need more attention but the action is the same. I'm moving this to the rider proficiency section along with all the other threads on the same subject.

 

The wind is your dance partner and it leads. If you fight or tense up, the wind on your body will cause your arms to input bad moves into the handlebars.

Perfect analogy and it explains why my wife enjoys a gusty ride more than me. But I'm starting to enjoy it lately. It starts with an attitude change .... this is gonna be fun, like a twisty road vs a straight one.



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Sudden gusty winds are always exciting with "adventure" themed bikes. Worst ride I had was on the R1200GS I had then, crossing Nebraska on a very, VERY windy day. Gusts from the north at about 45-50 knots. It was open highway and light traffic but I didn't dare go faster than 45, lest the wind kick me hard and send me down.

I was leaning into the wind at almost a forty-degree bank. And then if a truck would pass me, suddenly I'd have a momentary shelter from it...and I'd almost fall over, losing that push.

Same day, I came up on one of those triple-trailer trucks on a four-lane stretch...tractor was in the passing lane and the two trailers were blown off so much the rear trailer was almost squarely in the right lane.

 

I have had two 650s and just purchased my second 1000 - a new 2014 leftover. One of the main reasons for my purchasing the 1000 was the extra stability at speed on the major highways, especially the Interstate Highway with all those crosswinds and turbulence.

I took her for a run on the Interstate and was very pleased with the results. I cruised at a steady 70 mph in fifth gear and the ride felt very stable. Also, At that speed, the 1000 still had PLENTY of passing power.

I usually take my bike for a ride on a windy day 25 to 35 mph winds (not to crazy) to perform a controlled test. I have only owned my new 1000 for a few days; so, I haven't had a chance to test this one

 

...
I took her for a run on the Interstate and was very pleased with the results. I cruised at a steady 70 mph in fifth gear and the ride felt very stable. Also, At that speed, the 1000 still had PLENTY of passing power.
...

Off topic: why would you be in fifth gear at 70 mph if you were cruising? I understand being in second or third of you are full throttle winding it out but if cruising wouldn't you be in the highest gear chilling?

..Tom

 

A fork brace does three things for a V-Strom. It improves handling on curves/twisties, improves straight line stability, and drammatically reduces the evil effects of side winds. Especially in the Vee.

It's a no brainer upgrade and ours comes with a happiness guarantee.

Fork Braces - AdventureTech, LLC.

 

Fork brace...Good. +++++

 

Last week i rode thru Hurricane Hermines 30 mph gusts on my Vee2 (just occasional gusts) and i could not believe how well it handled it.

 

I agree with most of the comments above but would like to add one more thought. Any surface that is facing a gusty crosswind can cause a wandering problem. Wind hitting the front end is a big culprit in my opinion. Remove as much as you can from the bars like tall mirrors, hand guards, GPS. You can also cut the profile of your fender down. It all helps. Just ask a person that put one of those solid billet front wheels on.

 

Maybe the wheels might make some difference but my experience is handlebars probably don't matter.

On the handlebars of my 2015 DL1000 I have:

1. Napoleon Long Stem mirrors on extenders (Both Sides) These stick out pretty much even with the end of the handlebars and are large and high.
   
2. Garmin 590 GPS (far Left Side)
   
3. Garmin 660 GPS (Left side)
   
4. Jenson JHD910 Heavy Duty All Weather Radio (Center Right side)
   
5. iPod in medium Ram Aquabox (Right Side)
   
6. Antenna for Jenson radio
   
7. Plus factory Handguards.

With all that crap on my handlebars I have no issue in high winds and as I mentioned previously I enjoy actually taking hands off the bar and letting the bike find it's way in the wind. It is remarkable how stable Stroms are (and probably most other bikes!) when we let them find their way!

..Tom

 

I've been away from my computer for a few days and come back to an absolute feast of good advice, thoughts and recommendations. Thank you all very much. It seems like, and thank you Bosnjo for this, the new 1000 is going to be better in winds than the 650. I think I see a visit to my dealer coming up. I have no doubt that there are other bikes which may fit the bill but the Suzi dealer where I live is simply the best: warm greetings from the mechanics, the ladies in the clothes and accessories dept, the parts guy, the manager, and offers of coffee whenever I go in. Totally different in the other dealers near me. So Suzuki I am and I see a Strom 1000 on the horizon!

Re the general advice on windy riding, many thanks. I'll have to give it a go. What made me give up the 650 was a ride across the open plains of Spain on a day of high winds and massive gusts. I got so messed up in my head I stopped and thought, I just can't go on. 10 minutes of severely talking to myself and I was back on but you are all right: the fear engendered a "death grasp" on the bars which didn't help. I'm nearly "four score years and ten" and ride in everything: lashing rain, fog, pitch black nights, below freezing temperatures but wind has always been my achilles heel. So thank you all.

A fork brace was mentioned in the posts. Would this help on the new 1000? What's the general view?

Once again, great stuff chaps and many, many thanks.

 

The 2014 and later 1000, unlike all other Stroms, uses what are commonly known as upside down forks and a large diameter axle. A fork brace is neither needed nor plausible.

 

It isn't possible to mount a fork brace on the upside down forks used in the 2014+ DL1000 and it isn't needed anyway.

..Tom

 

Thank you for that. I have yet to examine in detail the new 1000. In fact, I haven't seen one on the road in the UK or the Continent. Dozens of 650s but no new 1000. I suppose that gives it a bit of a rarity value.