How much wind to push over a C14?

[Durandal]

With all the storm activity we're getting in my neck of the woods, I got to wondering:  How heavy a wind gust would it take to push over my 2010 C14 when it's parked?  Anyone hazard a guess?

My first bike (2001 Suzuki LS650) would go over if you sneezed on it, it was so light.  My previous ride to the Connie was a V-Star 1100.  That thing practically laid on the ground already it was so low, so I never worried about it.  With the Connie's relatively high COG, I admit to being a little concerned.  I live in a townhouse, so no garage.

[jimmymac]

Don't sweat it.

[stevewfl]

if you put your KiPass on the seat the bike it will untwist tornados into a soft spring breeze filled with the smell of jasmine

[Cold Streak]

You mainly need to worry if you have a cover on it.  Those things catch the wind and act like a sail.  Mine has sat out in some heavy wind, 40+ mph and been fine.

[Tactical_Mik]

Mine sits in 40ish gusts or so almost daily and hasn't fallen over.  I do expect it everyday though and take the time to park in a way the wind is hopefully pushing against the right side of the bike.  My friends bike went over in gusts in the 50's so it's possible.  2900 bucks damage for that one.  He has no luck.

[Conrad]

For some reason a few folks think that it's a good idea to park the bike on the center stand. Not a good idea in the wind or if it's hot and you're parking on asphalt. If you’re worried about the wind, just make sure that you park the bike on the side stand with the right side facing into the wind.

[bob14]

For some reason a few folks think that it's a good idea to park the bike on the center stand. Not a good idea in the wind or if it's hot and you're parking on asphalt. If you’re worried about the wind, just make sure that you park the bike on the side stand with the right side facing into the wind.

+1

I saw a guy at work drill/tap the steel plate in the parking lot .When he parks he screws an eye bolt in and straps his KLR down with a tie down

[Lonerider]

For some reason a few folks think that it's a good idea to park the bike on the center stand. Not a good idea in the wind or if it's hot and you're parking on asphalt. If you’re worried about the wind, just make sure that you park the bike on the side stand with the right side facing into the wind.

Transmission in first gear. One guy posted that he suspected the wind had rocked or pushed the bike forward enough to release the stand.

[Stasch]

Another option if possible is to use the CS and point the nose into the wind.

[mike]

Park it in 1st gear on the sidestand wheel to the left stop.

[Conrad]

Another option if possible is to use the CS and point the nose into the wind.

I don't understand why anyone would park the bike on the CS when it's outside? (unless you're working on it or washing it) The bike on the CS is WAY more unstable than the side stand.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

I don't understand why anyone would park the bike on the CS when it's outside? (unless you're working on it or washing it) The bike on the CS is WAY more unstable than the side stand.

+1 on that.

[Mister Tee]

I don't understand why anyone would park the bike on the CS when it's outside? (unless you're working on it or washing it) The bike on the CS is WAY more unstable than the side stand.

+2 on that.

[Tom J.]

My 08 recently got blown over in the wind, onto her right side.... see, it's not ALWAYS the left side.  Broke the right mirror assembly, but that's about it.  the underside of the mirror's outter plastic was scratched, but the mirror itself did not break.  The real damage was to the aluminum structural piece underneath.  That was cracked, almost all the way through into 2 pieces.  I put a bunch of JB Weld on the top side, let it dry for a day, then applied ot to the underside of the aluminum bracket.  Put everything back together and you can't even tell (except for the scratches under the mirror).
I had the Dowco cover on, and they warn you about "ballooning" -  the cover catching air and causing a lot of drag.
-Last point, this bike had been lowered when I bought it.  I will be returning it to stock height, as a fellow COG member has sent me some of the stock brackets.  I'll take the Muzzy brackets off this weekend and send those to him.  I'll also push the forks back down- looks like they've been adjusted too. 
Long story short, if you lower the bike, get a shorter kickstand to compensate.  You think it's top heavy now--- lowering it makes it worse, at least when it's sitting still. 

[mcclaskeyj]

Had my '08 get blown over as well with the stupid cover on it. Right side damage including total devastation of the mirror and saddlebag dashed to pieces. I think there were 45MPH+ wind gusts. I think the major reason was the cover and the bike was facing the LEFT side into the wind. I didn't realize we were supposed to get major wind gusts that day until it was too late. 

[Tom J.]

I guess I got lucky then- the right-side saddle bag barely got touched.  I suppose your bike has not been lowered, and it still blew over? That sucks!  At least it wasn't your '09.  I put mine on the centerstand every day now.

[Conrad]

I guess I got lucky then- the right-side saddle bag barely got touched.  I suppose your bike has not been lowered, and it still blew over? That sucks!  At least it wasn't your '09.  I put mine on the centerstand every day now.

Why the centerstand?   

[Tom J.]

Because until this weekend (when I switch out the Muzzy brackets for the stock brackets), the bike is very close to being upright- I mean straight upright.  There is very little weight on the kickstand.  On the centerstand, the bike can take more wind before blowing over.  After I raise it back to stock height, I'll go back to using the kickstand.

[Stasch]

Quote from: Conrad on Today at 08:26:19 am
I don't understand why anyone would park the bike on the CS when it's outside?

Interesting that 3 people seemed to lean against this (no pun intended -  ), so I'm curious to know why.

My reasoning is that CS is more stable than the sidestand, at least on my C10 - perhaps this is why the difference of opinion.

If I bump the C10 while on the SS, it off loads some of the weight off the suspension, which rises up and moves the bike closer to the center, often to the point that it wouldn't take a whole lot more force to get it past dead center and over on its side. 

Depending where I park and the wind, it doesn't seem as stable to me as the centerstand which doesn't have that 'flex' building into the scenario.

Interested to hear the reasoning for the dissenting opinions.

[Conrad]

Because until this weekend (when I switch out the Muzzy brackets for the stock brackets), the bike is very close to being upright- I mean straight upright.  There is very little weight on the kickstand.  On the centerstand, the bike can take more wind before blowing over.  After I raise it back to stock height, I'll go back to using the kickstand.

Oh yeah, I forgot that your bike is lowered. That makes sense.