Mean ol' Wind (knocked Buddy over, again)

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:52 pm

Okay so both my Kymco Cobra and my Buddy are lying on their sides this morning after a very windy night.

This is the 2nd time in 6 months my Buddy has been knocked over by the wind while covered. Any suggestions on how to prevent this??

EBee · Post by **EBee** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:24 pm

I would put it up on its center stand rather than the kickstand...did you have it on the kickstand? If you had it on the center stand and it went down, that was one hell of a breeze!!

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:28 pm

Nope, I always put it on the centerstand.

Yes, it's a rather blustery day with gusts up to 60mph. Not sure what the max was last night...

DO3 · Post by **DO3** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:06 pm

How about leaving the cover off on the windy nights? Is the cover acting like a sail and catching the air/wind where as without the cover the air could move through the scoot better? I'm thinking the step through area should let lots of air thru with out the cover. Just a thought.

Elm Creek Smith · Post by **Elm Creek Smith** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:56 pm

Park it in the garage?

Sorry.

ECS

Steezy · Post by **Steezy** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:08 am

I came home to a scooter on its side as well. The only damage (that I know of) is a scratch on the front. This East Coast weather is really starting to piss me off.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:55 am

What kind of surface is under the centerstand? Some people have been able to thread bars or plans through the bottom of the stands to provide extra stability.

When I'm forced to park outside during huge winds here, I try to park close to buildings and orient my scoot so the wind isn't coming directly at the side. Counterintuitive as it may seem, leaving the cover off those days may also help.

Or you could try chaining 'em to a post...?

Elm Creek Smith · Post by **Elm Creek Smith** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:25 am

I had the wind on Fort Carson, Colorado, pick my Honda twin up and drop in on my patio. My wife went out (brave girl) and put it back on its wheels right next to our building. The wind picked it up and dropped it again before I got home, wrecking the crankcase cover on the right side. (Winds at the airfield were clocked at 100 kts that day.)

ECS

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:27 am

DO3 wrote:How about leaving the cover off on the windy nights? Is the cover acting like a sail and catching the air/wind where as without the cover the air could move through the scoot better? I'm thinking the step through area should let lots of air thru with out the cover. Just a thought.

Yeah, the first time, it happened I thought that, and had been trying to finagle ways to make the cover more... aerodynamic, leaving room between the bottom of the cover and the scooter floorboard, etc. And when I wrote the post, I was still kind of blaming the cover... but that wasn't very well thought out on my part.

The Kymco had lost it's cover much earlier in the night, and it still fell over. The first time my Buddy was knocked over, the cover had mostly come off and was hanging by a dangling cord, and it had a few scratches from the fall. This time the cover stayed on completely, and there were no scratches (heavier weight BBQ cover attached via bungee cord). So... I don't know which is better: a layer of protection from hitting the ground, or less of a sail to try to prevent the knockdown.

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:33 am

ericalm wrote:What kind of surface is under the centerstand? Some people have been able to thread bars or plans through the bottom of the stands to provide extra stability.

Unfortunately, my parking opportunities are very limited: a parking space. So it sits on asphalt.

Can you describe what you mean by threading bars or plans through the bottom of the stand?

Thanks!

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:42 am

Steezy wrote:I came home to a scooter on its side as well. The only damage (that I know of) is a scratch on the front. This East Coast weather is really starting to piss me off.

Yes, earlier they were saying there was a 30% chance of snow tonight, for heaven's sake. And now it looks like the wind advisory will be back just in time for the morning commute. Grumble, grumble, grumble...

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:02 am

sunshinen wrote:Can you describe what you mean by threading bars or plans through the bottom of the stand?

Haven't looked at the Buddy stand to see if this would work, but you may be able to hack a similar solution:

There are a couple other solutions in the MV thread that came from:
http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6986

Another idea is some type of chock or stand. Something like this:

Or, the economy version, a chock you could probably mount to a 2x4:

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:05 am

Here on Nob Hill there have been 50 to 60 mph winds. If a scooter has a
cover, forget about it, the wind is going to blow it over.

So you can pass on the cover during those times.

Or you can get one of those half covers that limit the "sail affect" that a full cover has.

The only other solution I used to use [before I got parking in a garage]
was to park the scooters on a sidewalk, against a building and putting the
scooter in the direction of the wind.

You might want to try that, parking the scooter in a sharp angle so the
scooter is not getting blasted from the side.

Also, park it on the kickstand, so it is leaning against the wind, it will
not be so easy to blow over [using the center stand, it's easier for the
wind to tip the scooter].

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:09 am

ericalm wrote:
sunshinen wrote:Can you describe what you mean by threading bars or plans through the bottom of the stand?
Haven't looked at the Buddy stand to see if this would work, but you may be able to hack a similar solution:

Boy those look nice. Thanks for posting.

x-mojito50mod · Post by **x-mojito50mod** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:41 pm

I park mine next to an iron fence and use a bike-type lock/chain on the rear suspension, which is about a foot off the ground=no longer top heavy in wind.

BlueMark · Post by **BlueMark** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:38 am

My scooter seems pretty safe from wind in the scooter port. It isn't closed in, but there is a lattice barrier to break the wind down a bit. Some 80 mph winds a while back were enough to set the alarm off, but the scoot held its ground.

If I was worried about the wind I'd probably bungie it down, or use canyon dancers to secure it.

-Mark

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:36 am

Excellent options, Eric thanks!

BlueMark: scooter port? canyon dancers?

Anyone: How does one put anchors in asphalt?

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:04 am

sunshinen wrote:Anyone: How does one put anchors in asphalt?

Anchor like one of these?

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:44 pm

ericalm wrote: Anchor like one of these?

Yes.

vitaminC · Post by **vitaminC** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:57 pm

Canyon Dancers

Securing stuff to concrete: Concrete fasteners

BlueMark · Post by **BlueMark** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:43 pm

sunshinen wrote: BlueMark: scooter port? canyon dancers?

Anyone: How does one put anchors in asphalt?

You could attach the Canyon Dancer or bungie cords to a set of anchor points set in the concrete or asphalt (you already have one for your chain, right?), but all you really need as a sturdy hook or loop which could be set in the concrete, or screwed into a wood sill or wall stud near the ground, Or into a fence post, or the screw in lawn anchor you use for your dog's chain.

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:49 pm

I thought they were parking in a public/private street or apt. complex.

If so, don't think the landlord or whomever is going to let them put
anything into the asphalt.

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:15 am

BlueMark wrote: (you already have one for your chain, right?)

No my neighbor has a bike and has a giant storage bin filled with concrete. He locks his bike to one side and lets me lock my scooter to the other. Now that I have 2 scoots, I lock the second scoot to the first scoot.

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:17 am

San Francisco wrote:I thought they were parking in a public/private street or apt. complex.

If so, don't think the landlord or whomever is going to let them put
anything into the asphalt.

Townhouse complex, assigned parking space. I think I could get away with it, if it could be done inconspicuously. I just have no idea what it takes to put anchors into concrete.

Steezy · Post by **Steezy** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:57 pm

Just FINALLY heard back...$565 worth of damage to my Buddy. Thank God for insurance. At this point, in the four weeks that I've owned Scootz, it's been in my actual possession (and not back at the dealer) for 2.

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:25 pm

sunshinen wrote:
San Francisco wrote:I thought they were parking in a public/private street or apt. complex.

If so, don't think the landlord or whomever is going to let them put
anything into the asphalt.
Townhouse complex, assigned parking space. I think I could get away with it, if it could be done inconspicuously. I just have no idea what it takes to put anchors into concrete.

Well, anything done to install an anchor would draw attention to you.
Plus afterward the landlord would certainly notice an anchor(s) in the
asphalt.

So if you are renting, better ask permission, but I doubt you will get it
because the anchors would have to be permanent [removing them would
be a pain and they would leave scars]. I don't see many landlords letting
tenants drill or sledge hammer anchors into asphalt/concrete.

Many townhouse and apt. complexes have patios on the first floor. Any
chance you can wheel your scoot into the patio area [assuming there is
a gate on the patio fence]?

Other than that, consider those stands that were posted herein.

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:27 pm

Steezy wrote:Just FINALLY heard back...$565 worth of damage to my Buddy. Thank God for insurance. At this point, in the four weeks that I've owned Scootz, it's been in my actual possession (and not back at the dealer) for 2.

Oh my. What all was damaged???

Steezy · Post by **Steezy** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:51 pm

Damage to rear break and turn signal, twisted stand, dinged up body, etc.

Blackeyes24 · Post by **Blackeyes24** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:03 am

I have also seen covers that are more fitted to the shape of the scooter so the wind doesnt catch.

jgalar · Post by **jgalar** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:23 am

As posted above try to park with your bike angled towards the wind. If possible with the wind hitting mostly from the front and if on a side stand a little wind pushing the bike into the stand.

A few weeks ago I rode into work on a VERY blustery day. There was just my bike and an older Goldwing parked in the motorcycle parking area. I parked mine angled into the wind the Goldwing was parked with the wind hitting on its side. When I got off work my bike was fine, but the Goldwing was dead on its side.

Its not just scooters that the wind picks on.

codemonkey · Post by **codemonkey** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:17 pm

D'oh! The guy with the Goldwing must've been pissed!