You're first time on the highway - What was it like?

[Brackstone]

Hi All,

Brackstone back with another newbie question

I remember after I got my driving license everything was great until I had to go out onto the highway. The only reason I even went on the highway was truly necessity *mumbles* met a really attractive girl lived about 20 miles away *mumbles*.

So anywayyy I just wanted to know when if people here could tell me when and how they finally decided they were ready for the highway. I really want to ride my Bike to work but I'd be OK if I had to wait a season to do it

[roscowgo]

I've been riding for quite a bit now....and i'm still not ready for the highway. I can't remember if it's 6 or 7 years highway riding now. Interstates both scare the beejesus outta me, and bore me to tears. How in the hell I can be tense enough to outvibrate a vtwin, and at the same time yawning and trying to sing to stay awake i just don't know.

If nothing else, leave earlier and take the back roads.

[Ninja Geoff]

Well, I was like "Hmm, I should go see if my old work buddy is working" and hopped on the highway. It was 9pm, low traffic and all of 5 minutes on. It was cake really, 65 wasn't much faster than what I was used to riding at (speed limit on my road went from 45 - 50 mph). If it makes you nervous, stick to some of the slow highways (the 50 - 55mph kind) and get used to those first.

[jonnythan]

I started riding the highway almost right away. It feels much safer than riding in town, and it probably is. No intersections, no stop signs to run, no red lights to run, no parked cars suddenly pulling out into traffic, no one taking left turns across your lane.

It is damn boring, so I won't travel any great distances on the highway. I take it to work, though, 10 miles each way.

Just don't be afraid to use that throttle.

[Ian522]

At first I was very hesitant to ride on the highway, I wouldnt do it for months. But then I realized that I was missing out on alot of the motorcycling experiance. I live near mostly urban areas and getting out to the twisty scenic country roads requires you to jump on the freeway for about an hour.

One day I forced myself to do it, got on the interstate and rode out to the country. I had such a great time riding up there that I completely lost my fear of highways. The bike actually feels really stable at highway speeds. It is alot more relaxed than in-town riding. Just remember to keep out of peoples blind spots, and leave plenty of space between the car in front of you.

The only negative aspect is the wind hitting you. It is a bit startling at first, but you get used to it. If you have a bike with a fairing or a windsheild it is not rearly as bad.

[dzervit]

The highway kicks arse. After a few weeks of putzing around town I decided to test the waters. Sunday afternoon, next to no traffic... it was exhilarating! Do some test runs, get comfortable with the sensation of the speed, press on the bars to get the feel... and go for it. It's not as nerve-racking as you think. Think, pay attention... and enjoy!

[IcyHound]

I was a bit nervous. The area of the highway I mostly use has very short on and off ramps. Its also populated by 18 wheelers and I don't always like merging on in the car, much less the bike.

After the first trip and going faster then I had gone (rolling on at 80+) I relaxed and didn't die. I don't enjoy it still, but its the big rigs. They are very, very, very large...

But its mostly mental :) On ramps are very big and sweeping not as tight as they feel in a car.

[jstark47]

First time on the interstate was with about a month's experience. I wanted to ride to work, and it's impossible to avoid I-295 and make reasonable time. I was much too tense on the bike, hanging on for dear life, which made it all the more scary. Only after I learned to relax on the bike did it get enjoyable.

Buying a V-strom made interstate driving much better- the engine is more relaxed at highway speed, the suspension is much more forgiving, and there's some wind protection. I rode my Bonneville to work a few times last week when the 'strom was in the shop....... was thinking, "can't believe I used to do this every day!!"

I still don't enjoy peak afternoon rush hour. Seems drivers are more "frantic" in the afternoon. About once a week I almost get tagged moving through other vehicles' kill zones -- it keeps your reactions sharp, believe me.

But on and off ramps are fun........

[Brackstone]

I still don't enjoy peak afternoon rush hour. Seems drivers are more "frantic" in the afternoon. About once a week I almost get tagged moving through other vehicles' kill zones -- it keeps your reactions sharp, believe me.

But on and off ramps are fun........

Yeah I'd say that's the one thing that worries me most about the commute is the 9 to 5ers in their cars. Heck even when I'm in my car people are being (explicitive)s.

The road I take to work is a 2 lane road, so people get VERY antsy. For some reason on 3 lanes the slow drivers know to be in the right or middle lanes. But when you turn it into 2 lanes the slower drivers don't know to all stay in the right lane and still spread out among the 2 lanes. So you have all these race car drivers switching in and out and in and out of the lanes trying to get one car length ahead.

That frustrates me

[ShadowGrrl]

I like the freeways better on my Shadow....my windscreen is bigger! I took the lil' Ninja on I-5 today to work, and it seemed windier than usual...I was being blown around a bit. The West Seattle bridge sometimes has big wind gusts that come over it, and that's kind of a pain in the arse. But if you relax into it and countersteer gently against a side wind, its okay.

I hate rush hour too....cagers seem to stop at the very last second in front of me, and stop right on my arse behind me. The sudden lane changes that cagers sometimes do without a signal, bother me alot too.

Other than that, the freeway is great when the traffic is flowing nicely....it took me a week or so to get used to the wind.