Been riding for a while, but I have managed to not need to hop on the highway. Yesterday I was taking advantage of the beautiful weather in the Sacramento Valley and took the bike out for a spin. After about an hour I decided to pop my highway cherry. The trip was short and wouldn't even require any merging into traffic. Get her on, get her up to speed, take her off.
As I started down the on-ramp, a 270 degree turn, my nerves got to me and I meant to shift up, but shifted down (very odd). I got my head straight, shifted up twice and enjoyed the turn, telling myself "look through the turn, look through the turn". I brought the bike up to 65mph and noticed two things, 1) my helmet started to ride up and, 2) my jacket, which I thought was a tight fit, felt like it was ballooning a bit. I got her up to 70mph and she felt real stable. The off-ramp was a gentle right hand merge onto surface street traffic. I definitely picked the right on-ramp/off-ramp to try this out.
I suppose that I will get used to the feel of all that wind blasting on me, just like I got used to it when going 50-55, but the whole time I kept thinking, "Jeeze, if I'm going to do this regularly, I'll need a bike with a fairing!" I think I'll also have to make sure I've got that helmet on tighter.
...maybe getting lower to the tank will help, but to do that comfortably I'll need to change out the handlebars. I'm sure all you pros are quite used to it by now and will tell me that I'll get used to it and there's no need to change the bars, but I was looking for an excuse to do it.
Ride safe,
David.
you do get used to it. remember to hold your body up by squeezing with your legs and using your abs/back, not by holding yourself up with your arms.
One you get up to 100 you'll look back with a smile at those
early days. :laugh:
same for 150....
yes i was at the track.......
My GS tops out at about 110 mph... how'd you get 150? Downhill with a tail-wind?
Quote from: TarzanBoy on February 26, 2006, 05:07:18 PM
My GS tops out at about 110 mph... how'd you get 150? Downhill with a tail-wind?
Probably not his GS! :laugh:
Quote from: TarzanBoy on February 26, 2006, 05:07:18 PM
My GS tops out at about 110 mph... how'd you get 150? Downhill with a tail-wind?
... or switching to the metric scale (KpH) ;)
Congrats! I remember the first time I opened it up on a straight onramp, like it was yesterday :)
1st gear - yep, been here, done this.
2nd gear - ok, after 7k in 2nd this thing really hauls.
3rd gear - Yippeeee!!!
I think the first ride this spring after 5 months in a 4banger accord will be yet another revelation! :thumb: