A Perfectly Stable ST1300 Overtaking A Semi

ddemair said:
I have found the greatest turbulence behind a semi with an empty car carrier. You wouldn't think all that empty space would disturb the air as much as it does.
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Same behind an empty log hauler in Norway... and that guy was flooring it on those twisty rural roads (+130kph/80mph), hence not easy to pass safely, had to follow for quite a while...
 
ST1100Y said:
Accelerating would plant and stabilize the bike even further...
And on rural roads with possible oncoming traffic you'll see to shorten the maneuver/exposure by passing ASAP...
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Totally agrees with you.
Accelerating, even a little, makes the bike more planted on the road and much less sensitive to buffeting, you are just more in control. This also reduce the duration of the exposure to turbulences and swerving truck trailers. I spent 3 days on the interstate between NY and NC a week ago and without exaggerating, most of the trucks where going way other 70 MPH and cars often over 80 MPH.
When you are behind a 18 wheelers at this speed, the tunnel effect is huge and a 740 lb ST feels like ready to be swallowed.
 
Sidekick said:
When you are behind a 18 wheelers at this speed, the tunnel effect is huge and a 740 lb ST feels like ready to be swallowed.
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Way worse on small motorcycles... one of the reasons I upgraded my GF to the NT700VA, her prev Kawa ER-5 got blown around like autumn leaves in those wakes...
 
ST1100Y said:
Accelerating would plant and stabilize the bike even further...
And on rural roads with possible oncoming traffic you'll see to shorten the maneuver/exposure by passing ASAP...
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I was on a four lane highway doing 70.

It seems a lot of people overreact to simply passing another vehicle, and as anyone can see from the video my bike wasn’t blown around all over the place. No drama, just passing another vehicle on a four lane highway. So what, it’s nothing.

I made the video to show how stable the ST1300 is when passing a Semi. Traveling at that speed provided plenty of time to be blown around, which as usual did not happen.

I don’t understand these responses. I get the impression some bikes are not set up correctly. Other than a fork brace my bike is stock and there is no drama overtaking other vehicles at any speed. And I have not found a speed at which my bike becomes unstable.

This misunderstanding is exactly why I made the video.
 
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Just so there is no confusion about overtaking. He was doing 45 in a 55.

 
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ASPC said:
confusion about overtaking
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no confusion here.

ToddC said:
Except for exploding tires, rocks kicked up, having less of an escape spot, and to get past the dirty air faster........ Bet others will think of more reasons.
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These are more or less my reasons. Turbulence is rarely an issue. My bike remains stable. I'll always twist that throttle and get the heck by.

ASPC said:
It is much safer to relax and enjoy the ride.
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I'm quite relaxed and always enjoying the ride.
 
Sadlsor said:
Mine is that stable, even WITH a large Givi topbox, and occasionally camping gear on the pillion seat.
And no fork brace.
But the stability issue has been hammered here and in other threads...
I'm just glad it's no issue on my '08.
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I wonder if it’s tires.
 
ASPC said:
Speaking as someone with a commercial license, I’m sorry they frighten you. It is never a good idea to make fear based decisions. For example what do you do on the interstate when overtaking mile after mile of semi’s all doing 70?, Ride at 100 all day?
That is not at all safe around all that traffic. It is much safer to relax and enjoy the ride.
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Where did I say I was scared? I am always relaxed and enjoy my rides. I am just proactive in reducing my risks. Ride your ride , I'll ride mine.
 
ASPC said:
I’m sorry they frighten you. It is never a good idea to make fear based decisions.
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Not fear so much as common sense. I don't care at all about the turbulence. If and when it happens, it doesn't bother me in the least.

When passenger vehicle's tire blows, it usually just deflates. When a tire blows on a heavy vehicle they explode and send very heavy chunks of rubber flying everywhere. Interstates that are heavily traveled by large trucks are littered with truck tire shrapnel.

All manner of objects are falling off of trucks all the time. Chains, tie-down straps, bungee cords, rocks, pieces of the cargo that they are carrying and didn't secure well enough, mud flaps, etc., posing a much higher risk than traveling beside the average car that has all of its cargo securely restrained inside the vehicle, not tied down on its outside.

There is a significantly higher risk of loose objects becoming dangerous missiles being around heavy trucks than cars, so why stay around them when there is no need to.
ASPC said:
For example what do you do on the interstate when overtaking mile after mile of semi’s all doing 70?, Ride at 100 all day?
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Not a tongue and cheek answer, I get off of the interstate. I ride my motorcycle to enjoy it. I generally plan my routes to avoid them, but I do ride on interstates often enough because sometimes I need to get somewhere and like most of us unlimited time to get there is not an option. I do not enjoy riding on interstates however, so if I find myself on an interstate that has a very high volume of heavy vehicles on it, and I think that it will not change for a very long time, I get off and find a secondary route that I can enjoy until I get back on the interstate later on if time demands that I do.
 
Sidekick said:
...... most of the trucks where going way other 70 MPH ......
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That is curious.
For many years now, all heavy trucks in the US are limited to 65 MPH by law. The use of speed limiters to ensure this is also mandated by law. I am sure that there are scoff-laws that disable their speed limiters, but I can't see it being more than a tiny percentage, so I find it hard to fathom that most were traveling at well above 70 MPH.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
r so much as common sense. I don't care at all about the turbulence. If and when it happens, it doesn't bother me in the least.

When passenger vehicle's tire blows, it usually just deflates. When a tire blows on a heavy vehicle they explode and send very heavy chunks of rubber flying everywhere. Interstates that are heavily traveled by large trucks are littered with truck tire shrapnel.

All manner of objects are falling off of trucks all the time. Chains, tie-down straps, bungee cords, rocks, pieces of the cargo that they are carrying and didn't secure well enough, mud flaps, etc., posing a much higher risk than traveling beside the average car that has all of its cargo securely restrained inside the vehicle, not tied down on its outside.

There is a significantly higher risk of loose objects becoming dangerous missiles being around heavy trucks than cars, so why stay around them when there is no need to.
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Totally agree, why risk the CHANCE that something might happen, no matter what the odds are, the odds are already against us, so why increase them? Equally as enjoyable riding to get past a truck, no tension. I usually do not include Highways in my GPS settings, just to make the ride more adventurous with more scenery.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
For many years now, all heavy trucks in the US are limited to 65 MPH by law.
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Same here, but there are on occasion some truckers that are passing EVERYBODY, easily doing 80+ VERY dangerous. Most likely an independent where they aren't speed checked by a GPS at the corporate office.
 
Beeflips said:
Same here, but there are on occasion some truckers that are passing EVERYBODY, easily doing 80+ VERY dangerous. Most likely an independent where they aren't speed checked by a GPS at the corporate office.
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They would have to disable the on-board speed limiter as well. Very expensive if they get caught doing that, in addition to the speeding fine, which is why I can't see it being most of the trucks were going way other 70 MPH.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
They would have to disable the on-board speed limiter as well. Very expensive if they get caught doing that,
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Yes, a rare occurence but not unfathomable, I figure that something has to be disabled, but it was insane how fast they were going, and when they were cutting backing in after passing, they were not leaving much room, it was almost like the movie SPEED, but with a semi instead.:oops: and I said to my girlfriend, I wonder what the other truckers are thinking.
 
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