If some of you have read, I have an oil leak on my bike somewhere either the head gasket, the valve cover, or the cam cover gasket, but whatever, I was going to see a guy a shop who apparently knows the GS pretty well.  (I will be sure to clue him in on our site)  I am new to the Memphis area, as I am only living here for the summer, anyhow.  I was looking for this shop, well I missed my turn found myself the new side of a one way street. I turned around to go back to find my street and well it only lead on to 240, which is a very busy freeway here.  I am still a pretty new rider and I didn't want to get try my freeway boots on until all my gear comes in and I can fix this leak of mine.  So there I am, right in the middle of traffic, and I mean this was some traffic.  The ON ramp merged right into the farthest left of the 4 lanes.  I was trying my best to keep my cool, and remember all the rules, I began to merge towards the right.  I finanlly made my way over, and things were fine.  Until my exit ramp, it was a sharp one and I am not sure if it was my tires or my nerves but the bike just want to lean easily.  I am thinking it mainly the tires. The previous owner didn't seem to be to fond of corners and there is a nice even wear spot across the tires.  I found myself taking the few curves I encountered wider than the ones I had taken at slower speeds. Anyways, thought it was a cool story to share. So, what about you? What was your first freeway experience?

Mine was on my DT175 bout 10years ago had my freinds at the time talk me into going on the Toy Run (Charity event put on by the Salvo's each year in which motorcyclist meet and then ride to a set destination to give toys to needy children at Christmas) I'd only heard about it before and had not actually gone on one I had my licence for about a month and was only riding around my area when it was quiet.
So imagine my surprise when I was chucked on the Highway with approx 300 other motorbikes all riding about 1 to 2 feet away, had the horrible vision of me be the first domino to go down but all went well didnt fall and had a great time now I try to make them each year but it was a bit of a baptisim of fire but the good thing was the police escort that stopped all cars coming onto the Highway while we were on it you could tell all the Tin Tops were pissed off. But I say  :nana:  them.

My freeway experience was pretty recent as well.  Although we don't have any highways to compare to that here in Winnipeg.  The drivers are just as bad though.

I was coming back from work at 4 in the morning and the weather was gorgeous.  I decided it was an excellent time to stretch the GS's legs a bit.  All was fine until I heading up an overpass and it started to die.  Just made it over the overpass and it quit completely.  I pretty much knew I was out of gas and had to switch to RES but I couldn't remember which way to turn the switch.  Got off the bike and was in pitch black.  Luckily I guessed right and was off and running to the nearest gas station.  Whew!

Good times!

 

YO Ed,

Same goes for me; I have plenty of experience in the dirt but little when it comes to the street. Glad to know I wasn't the only one.

As for the rest of you guys/gals, was it not more dramatic than your first cager experience?

Gee, I think I had my bike for a week before I took it on 880.  The only cavet I have is making SURE I have enough gas to get where I'm going, and if I think there's an IOTA of possibility I'll hit reserve during the drive, I flip it over before I get on the on ramp.  Still not very comftable reaching behind my leg on the freeway to flip the petcock.

hehe you guys are lucky you don't live in Big D, we have the mixmaster, the Hi Five you should see traffic 635, I-35 and I-75 during regular and especially rush hour grrrrr!!  :x

Thanks for the stories, dudes.  This weekend I just might screw my courage to the wall and head out for the gas station.  There's no freeway between here and there, but I will have to get it up to 35 mph.

At least most of my buddies can't laugh at me.  Their wives won't let them have bikes.  You guys, however, can go ahead and  :lol:

Smooth Dave

even on our Sunday rides, me and Krushchev have to fight traffic on the interstate till we hit the turnoff to get to our backroads.

Smoothdave,
Do not feel bad because of your ole lady.  My lady was freaking out!  She was at work while I was on my little 'adventure'.  Needless to say, she was worried but once it was over she seem to feel much better about my riding capablilities.  

Don't be discouraged about getting up past 35 it's not that bad. You can do it.  

my first highway experience was on my 1967 yamaha YCS1, check the wall of fame.   I was late for work one morning and had to use it instead of my usual backroads.  Just so you know, this bike was only good for about 65 tops.  Well needless to say I was pushing it to about 80 that morning on the parkway.  You guys think the Gs tires are too skinny.  The tires on this thing are a whopping 2.5 inches.  Oh yeah,just so you know, this was like 3 years ago, so the bike was also about 35 at the time I was doing this to it.

Speaking of freeways though, I took the GS to work today and somehow wound up going for a about a 25 mile freeway blast before I actually made it to work.  Talk about a good way to begin your day.  Specially when I dropped it into 5th and toasted this guy on a sportser.  

jake

Quote from: b1k3r 3li+3hehe you guys are lucky you don't live in Big D, we have the mixmaster, the Hi Five you should see traffic 635, I-35 and I-75 during regular and especially rush hour grrrrr!!  :x

I'll give  you that.  I35 and 635 are an absolute MESS.  I love how coming out of Ft Worth, its like the straight away at Daytona.  You slow down, you're gona die.  And the construction doesn't help much either.  There is no way I'd want to be on a bike, at any time, out there.  Hell, I don't like driving rental cars out there...

I guess I could chime in about the highway experience too.  Well, kind of...

Here in the great state of Wisconsin, there really isn't all that much traffic, but people are totally brain dead behind the wheel of an automobile.  It's as if they don't just don't know how to drive without snow on the roads.   Anyways, I had taken a few back road runs, and went on a lunch run through the twisties w/ some friends, so I was feeling pretty good about myself and decided to jump on US41.  Had an a-hole tail gate me (couldn't even see him in the mirrors he was so close, could BARELY see him when I turned my head around...), cut off twice, and got to watch some general stupidity.  I swear, the times that I've been in the highway, I feel like I'm in that scene in Matrix: Reloaded; everyone is trying to kill me....  

So, that's my lame highway story..  

i had a friend from the DFW area, all he did was Buddha Loves You about the traffic. my first was on I-75, up to about 90'ish, getting blown all over the place by big trucks and wind gusts. just gotta be ready for them

I still haven't worked up the courage to go on the interstate.  I go on main roads and ride to work everyday, but I am so scared to get on the highway for some reason.  Maybe is has something to do with living in Tampa.  It's the mixture of drivers here, it's really a cluster fuk.  I grew up in Minnesota, and I see more roll overs and random crashes into things on the side of the road.  I mean wtf there isn't even snow or ice here.
I guess I have been riding almost two months.  I need to get some nutz and get out there.  Excellent job that you guys did it.  I think I'm also kind of waiting until I rejet and put on my new exhaust.  The GS is kind of sluggish on the high end, and the mechanic said that it needed to be rejetted.  The highway is not a good place to be sluggish.

This is knida a funny topic...  Do some poking around and you will find that statistically you are less likely to die on the freeway...

Well, I just bought my first bike this monday (a 2004 gs500f) and because i kive in Grand Forks on the Air Force base the only way to get around is on the highway.  I took it on there my very first day,  and hit 78mph.  It was fun as hell.  too bad it has been in the 30s (degrees F) for the rest of the week.  I am jonseing to ride it some more

Like you my first highway was hairy...Manily because I live in one of those states where highway speed limit is 75!! I just cruzed down the ramp in 5th gear doing 55ish when the "lady" in front of me decides to hits to the brakes. needless to say I had to keep cool but I'm glad I had power. I merged on drop it into 4th and wound her up for the very first time [8k   ] and zoom I was off flying pass Mrs. brake....I still avoid the highway even now because w/o a fairing at 75mph the wind is really rippey and if a truck/suv passes by it gets hairy every time.

Thanks newbieone.  Someone once told me that the speed of light was 35 miles per hour, and when you hit it, your headlight falls off.  


Smooth Dave

really the freeways arent to bad, ijust have to watch for the people not paying attention the soccer moms on cell phones etc...; its the decreasing radius ascending or desending clovers with some one up your tailpipe that you have to watch out for.