Highway riding
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
IMO it pends on where U live. Wife and I ride mostly county roads but, we have VERY little traffic on them.
She loves to just look about (houses, trees, flowers, Etc) as we ride and U can't do that at 75mph on the Interstate.
Living near Indy, if we get on the Interstate which is mostly Semi's I just don't like all the noise vs the quiet, peaceful county roads.
I say each to their own.. Thats why we bought our bikes to begin with.
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She loves to just look about (houses, trees, flowers, Etc) as we ride and U can't do that at 75mph on the Interstate.
Living near Indy, if we get on the Interstate which is mostly Semi's I just don't like all the noise vs the quiet, peaceful county roads.
I say each to their own.. Thats why we bought our bikes to begin with.
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
I sure don't have a touring bike and except for going to and from work, a whole 6 miles one way and not everyday, the rest is on the highway. I even put 5k miles in 5 months on it. And, I mainly ride on weekends. But it's what we do.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
The slab is so much easier and more enjoyable than the urban stop and go I have to deal with daily. Once I leave the Philly metro area, the turnpike is an easy and relaxing ride.
When i'm on a trip I also leave about 0430. It gets me out of the congestion and usually into less trafficked areas by the time the light rises.
When i'm on a trip I also leave about 0430. It gets me out of the congestion and usually into less trafficked areas by the time the light rises.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,784
Likes: 57
From: In The Corn, Illinois
I don't like the interstate, to many people in SUV's doing 90 while using their phones. I prefer 2 lane highways. Country roads are OK but they oil and rock them and don't like riding on that until it's nice and packed down.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,066
Likes: 1
From: West by God Texas
That's how they build almost all of our roads here. Even the US Highways and on some of the interstates. One of the bigger reasons you rarely see a bike without a windshield here. You have not really lived until you hit a flying 1/2" asphalt coated stone at 80 MPH.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
I use the interstate as a trailer or an airplane. In fact, my wife and I are getting ready to leave Deal's Gap in a couple of minutes for home in Ohio. As boring as it is, I know we can be home in 6 hours or so. The interstate allowed us more time riding our bikes down here that would have otherwise been spent rolling thru every little town.
We back road too, but when we have a destination we get on the big road.
We back road too, but when we have a destination we get on the big road.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 82
From: Columbus, GA
If I just need to get from A to B quickly....Interstate all the way. I enjoy setting the cruise and scootin' down the road.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 211
From: Independence, Missouri
Can you imagine how crowded with bikes the interstates would be if everyone was willing to ride them? I know there are tons of bikes everywhere, especially in decent weather, but I think a lot of riders don't have anywhere to go requiring the slab, and also are afraid of the speed and other hazards they perceive on the interstate. This theory doesn't stand up to I-90 in South Dakota in August, of course, but it just seems to me there are way less bikes going down I-70 around here than there are cruising the smaller roads.
Personally, I love the interstate with my cruise control and heavier touring bike. Much more buffeting going past a semi on my Fatboy. Eating up the miles on a Road King is a great way to get there.
Personally, I love the interstate with my cruise control and heavier touring bike. Much more buffeting going past a semi on my Fatboy. Eating up the miles on a Road King is a great way to get there.