Beginner Rider - training schedule - getting conflicting adv

[bd32322]

Hi,

I am a new rider (2 weeks into riding). I took the MSF course and liked it and got a Alphasports (also known as Hyosung) Comet 250. It is a v-twin with 28 hp at rear wheel and decent torque and modern engine technologies which I wont pretend to understand.

Anyway I have been gradually working on increasing my skills. I started out the first day practicing all the MSF course maneuvers in a parking lot. Then went to some local roads and local state highways (1-lane roads) at 6 AM (nobody awake then on a Saturday).

Eventually, I went on the interstate in the middle of the night to get a feel for the bikes acceleration. Now I commute to work using almost empty local state highways (1-lane road with very few intersections) and come back from work on the highway after rush hour.

I am getting some advice from people saying that I should not really be on the highway until I am comfortable with the bike (Around 2-3 months). However, the person giving me this advice started out on a 1998 Yamaha YZF-600r and it took him 3 months before he went on the highways.

It seems that all I have to do is stay in the right lane and keep an ample gap and keep checking my rear left. No animals or intersections to worry about - pretty peaceful

How did you guys learn?

Thanks,
Bodi

PS - I have been driving cars for about 5 years now on interstates and stuff - so the interstate itself is not new to me. Only thing new is the bike.

[bok]

i was on the highway my first day on the new bike. if you feel comfortable there, then it should be fine since only you can truly know your skill level. As long as your bike can get up and go and you are aware of your surroundings then you should be fine.

don't forget to go back to the parking lot and practice a couple more times over the summer and each spring too.

[DivideOverflow]

It sounds like the type of highway riding you do is fine. As long as you feel comfortable and always keep "escape plans" available.

Truthfully, intersections are much more dangerous than highways.

Nice bike choice btw, I had the GV250 as my first bike, the engine is really good for a 250. Nice and smooth!

[bd32322]

thanks bok .. feel a lot better after hearing about you taking it on the highway the first day

yeah I am practicing all the msf maneuvers every weekend. Including emergency braking - have skidded my rear tires already but heck it stopped in an amazingly short distance and left some cool rubber trails

[sharpmagna]

Every rider's comfort level is different so it depends on you really. I was on the highway 2 days after owning my bike myself. First day I stuck to my local neighborhood, then connecting streets and finally a parkway. Then next day I did the same and then hit the highway after peak hours to acclimate myself to the speeds of the highway.

Like you said check your mirrors often for the speed demons coming up behind you. Also be aware that passing cars will kick up wind so be prepared for it because it will push you around.

[bd32322]

Nice bike choice btw, I had the GV250 as my first bike, the engine is really good for a 250. Nice and smooth!

thanks .. the gv version of it looks really nice with the chrome double pipe and all - but in the end i opted for the lighter weight for the time I drop the bike

[dieziege]

I was on interstates within the first 300 miles though I was taking it easy (had the break-in to worry about since it was a new bike). I've been riding it to work daily (60 miles each way) since about 600 miles... now have 3300 miles and will have more before the day is through.

Personally, I suspect that's part of what people mean when they say 250s are better first bikes than 600 race reps and the like. If it takes more effort and skill just to control the bike, you are going to need more time before you can get out on the highway.

Don't get lulled into a false sense of security though. What we do doesn't matter.... it's what is right for you that matters.

[bok]

truthfully i had no real choice since i live just on the outskirts of town. i rode home and then the next week was spent mostly in the neighbourhood brushing up the low speed skills. just be safe out there, as DivideOverflow said, city streets are statistically more dangerous than the freeway.

[DivideOverflow]

thanks .. the gv version of it looks really nice with the chrome double pipe and all - but in the end i opted for the lighter weight for the time I drop the bike

Looking back, I kinda wish I had gotten a Comet. I realized I need more cornering clearance than cruisers can give me.
Sport/standards are a lot of fun!

[jstark47]

I was on interstates the first couple of weeks after my MSF - there's a stretch of I-295 on the way to work that's kinda hard to avoid. At first I tried to stay in the right lane, but quickly found out 1) the pavement's in the worst condition of all 3 lanes and 2) I was constantly dodging slow cars who don't know how to use an acceleration lane to get up to speed. After a few weeks I found out faster is better - I like to go just a little faster than the prevailing traffic speed, and the far left lane is the best. I don't have to worry about being passed, and the cagers notice me more because I'm moving relative to them.

Learning to handle cross winds, potholes at 80mph, wind blast from large trucks, seams between lanes that have turned into jagged grooves, idiot cell-phone-talking SUV drivers and their kamikaze lane changes..... all that just takes time and doing it. Scan traffic way ahead, all lanes - learn to anticipate the effect someone's kamikaze lane change 1/8 of a mile ahead will have on the car to your right, etc....