Highway riding with a lightweight bike

[Ian522]

I took the MSF class a couple months ago and recently bought my first bike, a '78 Yamaha XS400. After some TLC and a tune up it will be ready for the road in a week or two.

Naturally, after getting used to the bike around town I would like to eventually take it on the highway. It can do highway speeds but im more concerned about the bike's weight. Its a 400cc parallel twin and has a dry weight of only about 365 pounds. In your opinion, is this too light of a bike to safely operate on the highway? And by highway riding I dont mean tearing down the fast lane at 85, but rather mild cruising around 60-65.

[VermilionX]

I took the MSF class a couple months ago and recently bought my first bike, a '78 Yamaha XS400. After some TLC and a tune up it will be ready for the road in a week or two.

Naturally, after getting used to the bike around town I would like to eventually take it on the highway. It can do highway speeds but im more concerned about the bike's weight. Its a 400cc parallel twin and has a dry weight of only about 365 pounds. In your opinion, is this too light of a bike to safely operate on the highway? And by highway riding I dont mean tearing down the fast lane at 85, but rather mild cruising around 60-65.

my current gixxer is 361lbs.

i have no problem blazing pass trucks and other large vehincles on the freeway. it's heavy enough even if im a lightweight.

although... i am scared of gust of wind. i have been pushed around by gust of wind in the canyons and it was scary.

your 365lbs bike should be fine even if you're lightweight like me.

[sharpmagna]

Lots of sport bikes are around 400lbs and they don't seem to have any issues

I think you'll be fine

[jonnythan]

My XV535 is 400lbs and does fine on the highway

[Ian522]

Yea im only about 145 pounds which doesnt help I guess.

I didnt realize sportbikes were that light. That makes me feel alot less apprehensive. Plus the highway I plan to travel on (garden state parkway in nj) doesnt allow trucks.

[Shorts]

You won't have any trouble riding that around. Not to say you won't feel it, but the bike can handle it. DH rides a 400cc Vulcan that weighs in around 360-380lbs as well.

[Kal]

You'll be fine. My first bike was 250lbs. It did get pushed araound in the bad weather but I just learned to adjust my riding. At the end of the day my partners 3500lb Ford Escort gets pushed around on the motorway.

[flw]

Being aware of it is the first step.

Next is knowing where to expect the gust from trucks or vans etc. are likely to begin and end so your prepared.

Last is for trucks/etc... pass like you mean it, not barely. Too slow and you'll be in the blow zone for even longer. BTW I don't mean 90 vs 55 mph.

My opinions

[jct]

My husband started with a late model Yamaha Virago 250 after his MSF (weighs around 300 lbs). Loved the bike, but highway driving definitely gave him pause (he is also small at about 140 lbs) -- he felt a bit "tossed around" especially by trucks (short stretches of I-95) and wind gusts (Hutchinson River Parkway in Westchester, NY). The key for him became anticipating issues before they happened and if it was excessively windy he would take the cage.

He demo'd a heavier bike "just for fun" (uh-oh, yes, he now owns it) and his first comment when he came back from the ride was how much more "stable" he felt on the highway.

Best,

JT

[storysunfolding]

I had an 81 xs 400. I rode it at 70-75 mph for a snibble past 100 miles, stopping for some lights and what not along the way. Didn't have any problems with trucks even the ones I past on a two lane highway at 55 mph. The only problem I had with it at high speeds was the vibration in the handlebars... I've also been told that the vibration was like a constant morter assault on my soldiers though. The idea being that after an hour of constant morter fire there aren't many soldiers left.