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Saying you don't think it had anything to do with the wind is like saying you don't think the spilled gasoline and lit matches had anything to do with the fire. Ride it again on a calm day and I guarantee you'll feel better.
I’m hoping so. I think I just got in my head a little bit, appreciate the comment brother.
Big jumps and high wind will scare the crap out a guy, at least me. Back in the 80 I lived in one of the windiest cities in the country, Corpus Christi, Tx. We used to ride on a half ass track beside the interstate. Had a big jump which was just a big drainage along interstate 37. We’d click 4th and hit that jump and catch some air. One day after work wind caught my YZ250 like a sail. Was really a wide trail, not a track. How I didn’t eat dirt I’ll never know.
Those were the good old days. We’d gear up and push our bikes down the sidewalk a couple of blocks in the subdivision my buddy lived in. Once we got past the houses fire up, ride through a field to our half ass track. They finally fenced it off where we couldn’t ride and built houses.
1. Don’t panic, don’t mess with the bike. It’s your first day back in 1/3 of a year. Your first ride back was nothing more than reacquaintance with riding. Any take away other than that is likely not accurate.
2. As many have said any wind over about 20mph gusts can be catastrophic. It will make you ride tight and stiff. I have a perpetual ankle mobility routine I earned from having my bike literally blown out from under me on a windy day and falling out of the sky sans motorcycle. It’s not worth it.
I recently got a new bike, rode it for the first time in 3 months, and did it all on a super windy day. I was thinking of quitting the whole drive home.
I rode last weekend and was at about 80% and feeling great. Just go ride again and let us know how it goes. It’s not the bike, and it’s not “you” - it’s rust and a terrible environment.
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I'm just not good enough to jump when its very windy. Those days I'll stick to a whooped out sand track, trails, maybe some single track exc.
If it were me, I'd check over the bike, and if you have doubts, take it to a shop, or have a friend take a second look.
It sounds like it's just the wind. One thing I would check is to make sure the lugs on the forks haven't worked their way loose.
I've had that happen twice on a used set of forks.
Grab the front wheel, and turn it all the way to the left. See if the lug is able to move a bit more once it hits the stop. Repeat on the other side.
Otherwise, I would try riding on a less windy day, and see how it goes. Take it a bit easy until you know it's not the bike.
Wide open in 4th gear on a 125 is about 27mph lol. Kids on 65s are faster than that
On the takeoff of a jump, tighten your grip on the bike with your knees. This will form a straight, steering-damper-effect with your body, through your arms, to the handle bars, keeping the bike straight in the air and landing.
I went to the track again the other day and still am experiencing an issue. I was able to wash the bike today and when spinning the front wheel with the pressure washer, when it gets up to speed it started shaking the bike quite a bit. I could definitely see a little wobble in the wheel. I think I’ll pull the tire off and try to true it up. I did noticed while I was doing the tire there were a few spokes that were loose (that I tightened), I can’t imagine I bent the rim changing a tire, the front went on pretty easy and I didn’t have to fight it, but anything’s possible I guess lol.
Those 65s must have 10 gears then.
Life must be tough being this dumb.
Pretty damn weird man. And all you did was tires over the winter? My front rim has got a little wobble to it but doesn't affect me jumping at all.
First and foremost after what everyones said. It's your first ride of the years so atleast 4 months off the bike. Your gonna feel a little of no matter what. Shoot us a update after the next 4 outings. I know peope that are decent riders that 5 months off the bike look like C riders for a day or 2.
Yeah man, just tires. I swear I’ve had bike with worse wobbles too but when I spun this one up with the pressure washer, it was so bad it was shaking the entire bike all over the place, which is what it feels like in the air. Who knows, maybe that’s not even the issue.
It would be cool if that was the case. Don’t get me wrong, my endurance/strength isn’t up to par yet but this definitely feels like a bike issue. I hope I’m wrong though.
You are jumping the jumps a gear low. Up shift 1 and the bike won’t feel like it’s out of control.
If it’s windy you will have to whip the bike into the wind. The wind pushes more on the bike than you because it is bidder and catches more wind.
Well that's just not accurate...
The internet will solve this issue
Maybe you got a bad tire that is out of balance. Proper truing and balance will make your bike feel much better, especially in the air. (No wobble)
Pit Row
I think either it’s seriously out of balance or it’s due to the rim not being true. The wheel does have a heavy spot, it always settles near the rim lock, which I’d expect is completely normal, it’s not exactly where the rim lock is though. I did pull the tire off and I’m going to try to true the rim up because it does have some side to side and a decent amount of up and down movement.
Try a different bike.
Personally, I hate riding in the wind. Specifically, jumping in the wind. I know people that can do it, "just lean into it". But it's just not for me. Feel like I'm going to break a leg when I get blown sideways and makes me stick a leg out for balance.
Yes, the wind grabs the gyro of the wheels.
I’ve been meaning to update this for awhile now. I figured out what the issue was. Since I have gotten back into riding I’ve developed this habit of always keeping one finger on the brake lever. Well, I bought this Honda about half way through last season so my arm pump wasn’t so bad. I’ve never owned a Honda before and their front brake is insanely touchy. So first ride of the year on it, getting insane arm pump, riding with one finger always on the brake lever, and a touchy front brake led to me locking up the front wheel in the air.
I’m having a hard time breaking the habit of keeping a finger on the brake lever because I can never seem to get rid of my arm pump but I’m working on it. I’m just glad it isn’t a bike issue.
No. Keep your fingers on your controls but stop slowing the wheel down.
I know back in the day I always rode with a finger on the clutch, but can’t for the life of me remember if I did it with the brake lever too. I just know with my arm pump being so bad these days it’s helpful having a finger already on the brake lever, but when my arm pump gets bad, I was definitely dragging the front brake, and I’m not use to this insane front brake this Honda has.
I will happily trade you a 2025 RM-Z450 master cylinder for yours 😁 we’ll both be excited then lol!!
I’ve ridden nothing but Suzukis my whole life, so that exact thought has crossed my mind haha.
It was probably the wind and once it blows you hard once, you start to tense up on the next jump and that only makes it much, much worse. Staying neutral on the bike doesn't work in very windy conditions as the wind will take you where it wants and take you off your center of gravity. All that is usually needed is to move the bike deliberately over each jump, such as throwing the rear wheel a tiny bit to the side so you are in control and not the wind. This will keep your center of gravity tracking in the intended direction and make you feel a lot more comfortable in the air when the wind starts blowing. It is worse when the air is colder as it is a heavier mass. Also not a bad or dishonorable thing to avoid the bigger air time jumps when the gusts get really bad to make sure you can make it to work on Monday
When I see the pros doing big air jumps in the strong wind...and making it look easy, I understand why they're pros.
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