Need advice for highway riding

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I cant believe then im the only one that will admit that the first time i hit the highway, i went WOT

passed anything within sight, giving people the look, as i flew past them....

reminded me of the biker video games we used to play in the arcades.

ok, it was really stupid in hindsight.. but man, it was fun
 
this is my first full season of riding on a ninja 250. i get on the highway daily on my commute from warden to bayview. Ii find i need to get to the left lane as quickly as possibly to avoid the vic park and 404 on and off ramps. speed gets above 100 all the time and it's usually windy.

I tuck to reduce wind pressure on me, keep legs tight on gas tank and relax your grip on the bars, I find this gives me a very smooth ride.
 
I was on the highway within 2weeks of getting my bike. Best advice would be to look ahead and to pay full attention to the road. (I almost went on to the shoulder while I was fixing my keychain strap)
 
jeero said:
With time and experience you get so used to it that you feel like you'll be able to read a book at 120kmh (average flow of traffic).
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haha..wow!
 
sid_for_speed said:
haha..wow!
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It sounds weird but its true. My first time on the highway I couldn't believe the wind that was there, because you never really notice it in a car. I remember thinking to myself the bikes you see cruising at 120-130 with the flow of traffic sometimes in the left lane are just crazy, and couldn't believe they could do it. I had to tuck right in to stay away from the wind. You get used to it pretty quick though, it wasn't long before I was the one in the left lane cruising along with traffic sitting up, unless there's a bad crosswind I barely notice the wind now for anything under hta 172 speeds

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You will get used to the forces (apparent wind, cross wind, pressure waves from trucks, etc.) VERY quickly when slabbing it in a straight line. As in just a few times out there -- especially if your gear fits. (Loose helmet or jacket magnify forces.)

HOWEVER, don't become too confident too quickly -- declining radius ramps and/or obstacles coming up quick on ramps with blind corners (backed up traffic, slow moving vehicles, HUGE potholes, etc.) require both skill and judgement that comes with time. And your newbie instincts for when things get hairy (grabbing a bunch of brake) are exactly the wrong thing to do in a curve (stands the bike up quick and launches you high-side!).

AND while the forces are greater around big trucks at least they have professional drivers -- I worry most about giving lots of room to distracted soccer moms, rental trucks and especially pick-ups with loose cargo in the back!
 
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Systematic desensitization. Little bits at a time so as not to overwhelm, and each time it gets easier. You have to get used to the overstimulation of the wind / speed / noise.
 
Most of everything I can think of has already been said here, but the one thing I'll add is remember to 'mentally switch gears' when going from city to highway and highway to city. The one thing I noticed after starting to use the 401 myself was it took me a few minutes to get used to double-checking intersections, plazas, pedestrians, etc and focusing a little closer down the road than I was doing at highway speeds (since speeds are slower).

Also remember to check your speed, as 60 and 80 don't feel like 60 and 80 after coming off the 401.
 
I find that 60 and 80 never feel like 60 and 80 anymore :(

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sid_for_speed said:
I went up north on Mccowan all the way to stouffville today at 80+ kmph just to get a taste of highway riding...it gets windy...very very windy...I dunno how the guys in SS manage to stay upright...at 95 kmph I was forced to tuck in...when I did ,it was calm( it's amazing that countersteering still works at those speeds:P)

I tried touching 100kmph and as I neared it...it became almost impossible to do a shoulder check because the winds were so strong....again,tucking in helped.

Guess we will get used to it...
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Weight. My SS weighs around 420, 640 with me on it. Keeps it nice and steady, and the wind isn't bad until 120+
 
Try riding a supermoto, the handlebars become shaky at 120. I started using major highways this season and it didn't take much to get use to them but I did however get comfortable with that speed on 80 km/h highways (Just watch out for radar if you decide to ride like you're on a 400.)
 
I always stay in the left lane which provides a good blocking position and just keep an eye out for potential cars that will try to get in front of you. But just like when driving, you should be able to predict the possibility of somebody wanting to change into your lane- ie if you see a guy in the middle lane quickly driving up another guy's rear bumper, chances are that he is looking to switch lanes soon.

i basically just cruise at 140 in the fast lane just like when I drive (I do consulting, so I do about 50,000kms a year). I ride a Suzuki katana, so it's about 500lbs, and I find that things don't get hairy until about 200+. I ride fairly upright unless I'm accelerating quickly (then I tuck) or passing trucks. I find that I can use the wind to help take some weight off of my back and arms.
 
Also be prepared for grooved pavement, it can make the bike feel very squirrelly, just remember to keep light on the bars and let them do their own thing

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Gsus said:
Systematic desensitization. Little bits at a time so as not to overwhelm, and each time it gets easier.
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i tell a lot of girls that, but they dont believe me
 
MLadin said:
Not much scares me, if anything, but going on the highway on a 250 does.
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A couple of years ago I had to go from downtown Toronto to Brampton for two weeks to work. I rode the 427/401 on a Vespa GTS250. Crosswinds on the 427 were horrifying at first, but I quickly learned to just shift my butt a bit, an lean slightly against the wind. I still like taking that thing for quick zips across the Gardiner or up the DVP.
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