what size cc/lbs. min. for highways?

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MordantMonkey · Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:29 pm

I want to get ~550-650cc UJM. would this be enough for highway riding if/when i want to take a road trip?

Flting Duck · Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:35 pm

In general, you should be fine with a UJM of that size. If you think you're up to it (I don't know what your experience level is), take the prospective bike out for a test ride on the freeway/highway and see how it feels to you.

MordantMonkey · Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:38 pm

i'm a complete beginner. I don't plan on riding on the highway for a while, i just want to know if the bike will be up to it when i am.

I've done long haul highway bicycling at speeds of up to 50mph. which i think is more dangerous than being on a motorcycle (less mass, braking ability, etc.). You think 6 months of constant riding and a few MSF courses should get me up to par for highway riding?

Kal · #4 Unread post by **Kal** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:47 pm

I wouldn't tackle a motorway with anything less than 125cc's, although I'd wouldn't be really comfortable unless I was strapping at least 250...

tchaftantouri · Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:50 pm

I was on the freeway within the first month for short jaunts.
It isn't so bad if you've already been driving a car for some time, as you will find that you have a good sense of traffic flow.
A 500 cc will do fine on a freeway.

#6 Unread post by **Wrider** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:06 pm

You'll be fine with two months and the MSF... Here in Colo Sprgs we use Interstate 25 regularly to commute to and from places, and I was on it literally three hours after I got my MSF completed...
Wrider

Sev · #7 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:38 pm

A 250cc would do you just fine.

MordantMonkey · Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:51 pm

good to know, Maybe i'll look at 4-500cc instead. How are vintage 75-83 bikes at handling long distance highway riding? specifically one in very good shape with low miles. i'm talking several days to a few weeks.

Scott58 · #9 Unread post by **Scott58** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:05 pm

If my Rebel can do the interstate any 500 will do. Out of the 17,000 miles I have on my Rebel at least 12,000 of that has been interstate.

Flting Duck · Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:00 am

MordantMonkey wrote:good to know, Maybe i'll look at 4-500cc instead. How are vintage 75-83 bikes at handling long distance highway riding? specifically one in very good shape with low miles. i'm talking several days to a few weeks.

I once owned an 82 Honda 650 Nighthawk which I thought was a fine bike and was easy to ride - even 2 up. I think you'd be fine on something like that. (Honda also made a 450 Nighthawk but those are rather rare.) A 650 from the early 80s is much slower than one of today's 600cc sport bikes so don't go by CCs alone.