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I got my first bike after being through the MSF course last year. I purchased a 1996 Yamaha Virago 1100 which was a bit bigger then I planned to get but got a deal I couldn't pass up. I picked it up from a individual and decided to ride it home..... Well over to a friends house since we were headed there that night. Took it relatively slow through the city in traffic with stop lights and then got out to a highway and got to speeds of about 60 mph and got a little more comfortable with it. Left the bike at the friends overnight since I did not feel comfortable riding at night yet. Picked it up again and brought it home today once again took it easy, however was on a major interstate to get home no good back roads (I CHECKED). I was nervous on the interstate but made it home without incident but being passed by lots of cars and large trucks was a bit diffrent on a bike. Looking forward to more riding but I think it will be a bit before I get on the Interstate again. For the record I am 29. Thanks for reading.

P.S. put about 25 miles on the first trip and 30 the second.

Congrats.

You'll feel more at ease, the more you ride.

My biggest problem was the wind pushing me around, and wind gusts from other vehicles. I felt like I would be knocked over.

After about 1,200 miles now in the last 6 weeks, those things don't bother me a bit.

Good to hear - sounds like you did great getting it home. Isn't is soooo nice just putting on those first miles and knowing each mile you are putting on is your own... . Enjoy!...still working mine in too

Cool! That's a nice bike. Those first miles are fun. I've put about 450 miles on my bike so far.

Thank you all. It's a great bike and I know it will take some time to get more used to it and comfortable but I'm looking forward to it.

Good luck with it, throttle control is what's important on those big bikes, but don't let it intimidate you, get a feel for how much throttle it takes to go what speed, stuff like that, so if you ever accidently twist the throttle, you'll know what to expect.

I'm puting the first few miles on my ride as well. I haven't been on the interstate yet and, probably won't for a few more rides since I actually have to ride 40 miles to get on one. The newly paved "race track" past my house is more than enough for me at the moment.

I see you're a medic as well? Guess I don't need to tell ya to Stay Safe Out There then.

Pick up proficient motorcycling as someone recommended to me on here... I don't remember where I read this but it is safer to ride on the highway then on local streets as there aren't as many distractions, things lying in the road, etc.... Good luck with your new bike...

secgeek wrote:Pick up proficient motorcycling as someone recommended to me on here... I don't remember where I read this but it is safer to ride on the highway then on local streets as there aren't as many distractions, things lying in the road, etc.... Good luck with your new bike...

I read proficient motorcycling too and it did say the highway is the safest place for motorcycles. They came to this conclusion based on accident statistics.

Statistics aside it does make sense. On the highway theres no traffic lites, no intersections, and everyone is driving in the same direction.

Another thing I got from the book about highway driving is that you should stay in the left or right wheel tracks of the vehicles ahead. Reason is debris in the road tends to migrate to the middle. Not a problem for cages since they can straddle the debris.

[quote="MrGompers"][quote="secgeek"]Pick up proficient motorcycling


Another thing I got from the book ...you should stay in the left or right wheel tracks of the vehicles ahead. Reason is debris in the road tends to migrate to the middle. Not a problem for cages since they can straddle the debris.[/quote

MrGompers, I was always told the same thing...but mostly because the oil slicks, gas spills and other slippery stuff also accumulate between the tracks .

What's proficient motorcycling, a mag? where can I get it?