Highway riding
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,229
Likes: 7,806
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
I get bored too quickly on the common highways.....like an ant stuck in a stream of ants parading somewhere.
Plus around here on the shoreline, during tourist season...ugh, traffic jams. Start...go 15 feet..stop...start...go 20 feet....stop...start.....go 15 feet...stop...start...stop. Sucks. Engine starts getting hot and hits your nuts and they sag down to the primary...sucks.
Even if no traffic...you're just a drone mixed in with the stream of steady SUVs and cell phone yacking drones. Cruise control (isn't that a gold wing thing?) only cements that...even if my bike had that, cruise control takes the input and fun out of riding. Boring and monotonous. Hell my current truck, and my prior one...prior two actually, had cruise control, and I don't use it.
Screw that, gimme the backroads where the bike requires my input, feedback, I can get INTO riding.
Plus around here on the shoreline, during tourist season...ugh, traffic jams. Start...go 15 feet..stop...start...go 20 feet....stop...start.....go 15 feet...stop...start...stop. Sucks. Engine starts getting hot and hits your nuts and they sag down to the primary...sucks.
Even if no traffic...you're just a drone mixed in with the stream of steady SUVs and cell phone yacking drones. Cruise control (isn't that a gold wing thing?) only cements that...even if my bike had that, cruise control takes the input and fun out of riding. Boring and monotonous. Hell my current truck, and my prior one...prior two actually, had cruise control, and I don't use it.
Screw that, gimme the backroads where the bike requires my input, feedback, I can get INTO riding.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 50
From: Gilbert, AZ
I don't mind riding the interstates, what I do mind is when you've got a head of steam rolling up a long, steep grade and a semi truck pulls out in front of you to pass the truck in front of him. You lose your momentum and the truck takes 3 minutes to complete the pass. Anyone who has ever ridden west on I-40 from Albuquerque or east on I-17 from Phoenix knows what I'm talking about.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Love riding on the interstates, especially around here.
I don't ride with traffic, I always try and go faster. FOr me, it's generally 70-80 MPH unless I'm on a back road.
I need to feel the wind on my face, through my jeans. . .you can't get that too well on back roads, or at least I don't. My favorite stretches thus far are going through the Appalachians. The roads are curvy enough not to be monotonous but straight enough to open the bike up, stay at 70 or 80 and take in the scenery. While I ride to keep a clear head, I generally have some place to go, too.
I don't ride with traffic, I always try and go faster. FOr me, it's generally 70-80 MPH unless I'm on a back road.
I need to feel the wind on my face, through my jeans. . .you can't get that too well on back roads, or at least I don't. My favorite stretches thus far are going through the Appalachians. The roads are curvy enough not to be monotonous but straight enough to open the bike up, stay at 70 or 80 and take in the scenery. While I ride to keep a clear head, I generally have some place to go, too.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,750
Likes: 261
From: back home in Michigan
I detest running the super slab, but sometimes there is no choice. Saying its safer that the backroads depends on where you are talking about. Here, backroads riding means very few cars. Animals are always a threat whether on the slab or the 2 lane. At least on the 2 lane you have time to react. Running at highway speeds things happen a lot quicker. Give me the 2 lane anytime....
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: b.c.
Not a huge fan of major highways, especially when they're busy. I prefer two lane, sweeping turn, secondary highways/roadways. Don't like any route that has too many stoplights, either.
...haven't used the cruise once yet and not a fan of the stereo.
Dave
...haven't used the cruise once yet and not a fan of the stereo.
Dave
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 19
From: Dayton
With the proper setup, it's great on the highway. I think you're crazy if you have no windshield or at least a face shield. Was doing about 65 on I-70 (last time I had the windshield on - which as last year sometime) and this guy flys past me doing about 80: No shield, no face shield, no helmet. About 16" apes and this guy was holding on for dear life. Can't tell me that was enjoyable.
