tall windscreen potential safety issue

[peabody99]

I got the tall windscreen last week and love it. A couple of cyclers mentioned the screen could act like a sail in wind gusts which makes sense. I was in my scooter shop today talking to the owner Phil (who rocks, btw) and he said he was concerned about the light weight of the scooter and how mindful you need to be of strong wind gusts with a tall windscreen on. He said b/c it is attached to the handle bars it will affect the steering if a wind giusts hit and you are not prepared. I am still keeping the screen on but will take it off as soon as I wont freeze without it (truthfully I may not have gotten if I had known this! But now i am addicted) . I do not think I will ride on the very gustiest days (ie 35 + MPH winds) and I will really be prepared at anytime to have to stabilize the bud. I am somewhat reassured by all the pics of italy I saw on modernvespa.com...nearly all the scoots had tall screens, so if it were outragously dangerous I cannot imagine they would even sell the things. Thanks for listening. I am feeling really guilty about touting the tall screen on here and would hate to see someone get hurt without having all the info. The more you know....

[lobsterman]

I do not think I will ride on the very gustiest days (ie 35 + MPH winds)

I don't think I want to ride in 35MPH winds at all, and I have no windshield.

As a tailwind it would be fine, as a headwind it would really slow you down, and any other angle is gonna push you all over the road. The Buddy is just too light for that kind of thing.

As always of course, I could be wrong. It's happened before, just ask my wife.

[Keys]

I think high winds are kinda fun! Tests my abilities. Makes that whistling sound when it goes across my ears....

--Keys

[vitaminC]

When you're riding in high winds, the main factor is to stay relaxed. If you get hit by a big gust, let the scoot blow around a bit. Don't ride tensed up with stiff arms, as that will just make things worse.

You may find in a heavy wind that you're getting a pretty good lean angle while still going in a straight line, so just be ready to make any corrections needed when the gust lets up!

The Buddy's low center of gravity and short height will also help, as it will minimize the impact that the wind will have.

[sunshinen]

I have been in wind both with and without my tall windshield. It has been scary either way. I was riding home the last time a cold front came through, and it was surprising how quickly the gusts could move you over in your lane. If the wind is coming from the right, ride in the right-hand side of the lane and lean into it, and as VitaminC said, be prepared to adjust quickly. I chose not to ride today because of strong winds, but I would not have felt any safer taking the windshield off, because I know I had a similar experience before I installed the windshield.

[peabody99]

in our downtown on gusty days(City of Cleveland on a bluff over lake erie where you get a strait shot of unbroken wind from the great white north) , my husband and I both noticed at stops it is hard to hold the scooter up in a strong gust- but these are the same gusts that knock unaware pedestrians down and turn umbrellas inside out. if I know its coming I guess I wont ride but sometimes in the winter the wind can pick up w/o notice.