How long did it take to get comfortable on the highway?

[qwerty]

Some bikes just like to move around under you. My TW200 is like that. Light weight, knobby tires, rain grooves, cracks in the road, etc. Even the Boss Hawg moves around some on rain grooves and metal grate draw bridges. Just relax, look where you want to go, and let the bike do its thing. Correct variance from the intended direction of travel, don't bother with all the movement.

Keep an eye in the mirror and ride the center of the lane when a semi is passing.

[ofblong]

I dont know if I posted on this thread or not but it only took me 1 time of riding the highway to get used to it. Of course to get the bike home I had no choice (no one to help me due to other obligations well no oneother than my wife but she dont got a motorcycle liscense) but to ride 50 some odd miles on 70mph speed limit highway. Let me tell you I was doing 55 and was scared for quite a ways to go any faster. after about 20 minutes I jumped up to 65 and stayed that way until the end where I jumped to 70. My wife said thats the slowest she has ever seen me go on the highway lol. Second time I rode the highway I did 95 pretty much the whole way going north and south on the highway . It all depends on your ability to learn and learn to handle. My first time I was scared because it was my first time EVER riding a motorcyle other than in the motorcylce safety course. The second time I knew what to expect and was prepared and ready for it. I did not have a scared feeling because I knew what to expect and how to handle it. Luckily the first time I had a blocker. My wife was in the minivan behind me but not so close that someone would whip around her and whip back into the lane. Just because the speed limit says 65 or 70 does not mean you have to go that fast. As long as you can do 45 (which I wouldnt recommend) you can ride the highway. I would say try doing a joyride sometime on the highway when there is little traffic. Less traffic means less chance of getting run over and makes for an easier time of getting used to it. I know my first ride with my bike I made sure and picked up the bike after rush hour traffic. Next to no cars on the road and made me feel a little better that first time. The only time I got really worried was when I had to pass a car who was doing 45 in a 70mph highway. thats when I took my time doing a lane change so I could get a feel for that "hump" in the highway that they put in to make water flow off the sides of the highway. I havent riden onthe highway with my windshield yet though so I dont know what thats like. Hope I didnt reiterate what was already stated in this thread as I ddint read but the first page.

BTW I read a few more statements. I have never had a semi pass me so I dont know what thats like. I am the one normally doing the passing .

another edit dont listen to anything moto150 has to say. I learned that within the first couple of posts from when I joined this site.

[darsek]

I think only one other person mentioned wearing earplugs. Just popping those helped me immeasurably on the freeway. It is so windy here in the Bay Area, and when riding on the freeway I was getting blown around and it was so LOUD inside my helmet. For some reason it is easier to just chill out and relax...and to me it's easier to hear my shift points because all of the wind noise is cut out.

[Media Weasel]

And if you bought a mid sized cruiser thinking it was a "High powered street bike" then sorry. You should have researched your expectations and whats avaliable out there. Actually what has been considered a fast and powerful bike has changed CONSIDERABLELY over the years of motorcycle history.

How come folks in Britain can ride two-up for two-week touring vacations on 500cc bikes without problems, but North Americans think 1,200 cc is "too small" for long-distance, single-rider touring?

Just curious.

[Nalian]

That tends to be the mindset in North America. While there are larger mountains and such here, it's more a mindset of 'why go small when you can go big'.

[qwerty]

And if you bought a mid sized cruiser thinking it was a "High powered street bike" then sorry. You should have researched your expectations and whats avaliable out there. Actually what has been considered a fast and powerful bike has changed CONSIDERABLELY over the years of motorcycle history.

How come folks in Britain can ride two-up for two-week touring vacations on 500cc bikes without problems, but North Americans think 1,200 cc is "too small" for long-distance, single-rider touring?

Just curious.

That is a very good question. I have a coworker who lives a couple miles closer to work than I do. I pass his house on my way. He bought a 1200cc bike. I bought a 200cc bike. The speed limit is 60mph. The road is heavily patrolled. We both ride 60mph. Of, course, he never rides ANYWHERE except work and back, and then, only when the weather is nice. What a waste of a good Harley.

[ZooTech]

How come folks in Britain can ride two-up for two-week touring vacations on 500cc bikes without problems, but North Americans think 1,200 cc is "too small" for long-distance, single-rider touring?

Just curious.

Well, how come dental and orthodontics aren't a couple of booming industries in Britain?

To answer your question, Brits are used to everything being econobox-sized. Tiny cars, narrow streets, shoe-box flats.....and their licensing laws require starting with small displacement bikes and working their way up over many years. Not to mention the price of petrol which probably has an impact on Boss Hoss sales over there. I mean, come on Man...England is about the size of just one of our states, and they're sharing the little island with Ireland. I make no apology for the size of bike I ride. Gas is currently $1.83/gallon, I have a good job, and there's a highway just south of here that'll run me nearly all the way to the Left Coast of this continent. So it's not that I can't 2-up tour on a moped, it's just....who would want to?

[Koss]

And if you bought a mid sized cruiser thinking it was a "High powered street bike" then sorry. You should have researched your expectations and whats avaliable out there. Actually what has been considered a fast and powerful bike has changed CONSIDERABLELY over the years of motorcycle history.

How come folks in Britain can ride two-up for two-week touring vacations on 500cc bikes without problems, but North Americans think 1,200 cc is "too small" for long-distance, single-rider touring?

Just curious.

Becuase all the power you need to carry a whole family at once can be found from a 50cc scooter. Asia and the Middle East do it all the time.

Hehe, I guess you mistook what I was saying. I dont think that midsized cruiser are under powered. Heck, the vulcan 500 is the same engine thats in my ex500. I was just was trying to say that they were expecting the same power from a much larger engine in his smaller one. I actually prefer smaller displacement engines. I can't imagine myself ever needing an engine larger than a 650, like a Sv650 or a Ninja 650r. I'd prefer the feel of a 600cc sport bike more than a 1000cc. I still can't use a my 500 to its absolute limits.

[Gene Frenkle]

I just got my bike about a month ago. Boulevard C50 with windshield.

Windshields are for cars, and cars (not bikes) are for the highway. Ditch the windsheld and stick to the back roads.

Just my 2 cents.

[Nalian]

I just got my bike about a month ago. Boulevard C50 with windshield.

Windshields are for cars, and cars (not bikes) are for the highway. Ditch the windsheld and stick to the back roads.

Just my 2 cents.

Now thats just silly.