we dont get any rain, to speak of, but riding in the wind is a pretty regularly occuring event. i have found the extra rake on the savages forks are great to maintain straight line stability, as it also ads wheel base too, bigger is better. it's light weight, however, is not a freind in winds that gust or change around terrain like bridges, haystacks, rocks, hillsides etc. when riding along side my harley, debby is affected quite a bit more by the gusts than my hawg. dont over-react/over-correct and allow some lane drift and all should be well. i haven't tried riding faster,"but officer,,,i was smoothing out the wind gusts"