I was in the same situation last year. But not only had I not ridden in years, back when I did ride, it was always on country roads, ditches, and prairie trails on a dirt bike. So needless to say, when I picked mine up it was back roads all the way. Although the next day my buddy got me out on the highway were I proceeded to white-knuckle it for an hour and nearly killed myself trying to figure out how to take a curve properly (so yeah, don't get yourself in that situation -- I speak from experience.)

It took me forever to get home. But don't think of that as a bad thing. What's that saying? "It's not the destination, it's the ride." Enjoy the ride, take it easy, get use to your new ride.

 

I would just put it in the back of your truck. Start out slow and at your own pace once your home and if you havent taken the MSC take it.

 

Like someone else said find you a parking lot to tool around in till you get your self comfortable and then take the back roads. You'll never forget this ride, I promise! It'd be a shame to haul it home...

 

Phew, what a day, I just back driving my Nightster home. I ended up taking the back ways and around 50-60 mph.. I'd let the cars pass me up if they got too close. It started drissling for a bit but nothing too major, Glad I'm home..thanks for the advice everyone, I'm gonna go take a nap now haha

 

HELL of alot better than throwing in in a truck wasnt it?

 

The Insterstate Highway can be scary to new riders but I believe
It is one of the safest places to ride.
If your prepaired for it, If you develope the skills and If your bike Is
In top shape.
The Basic's :
Following distance,
the 2 second rule has been In use for along time
as well as a car length for every 10 mph of speed.
2 1/2 or better yet 3 seconds following distance Is much better for a motorcycle.

Reading Traffic,
This Is most Important. Are you reading It right?
watching all the cars Is not what I'm talking about.
You need to watch the flow of traffic, how It reacts to weather, road conditions, density and driver tensions.
How a car driver responds to someone ELSE making a lane change can
be more Important to you than what the lane changer Is doing.

The Driver that jams up on someone who just changed lanes and got Infront of him,,
Thats the one who can hurt you. He Is ready to Dart arround the lane changer
because His Manhood has been threatend, He thinks he has been cut off.
This Is what I mean, you can't over focus on the lane changer because
you will miss another cagers reaction.
Move away.

Speed:::::
You better keep It Up !
A timid motorcyclist will become the problem triggering more lane changes, more tailgating and tension.
If you ride below the traffic speed You are the one causing many lane changes and often more tailgating.
I'm not talking posted speeds or practical speeds I'm Talking Traffic speed.
Be prepaired to ride a few mph above the pace with frequent drops to just
below the pace and only below when your not gonna slow up other traffic.
If you Blend in and match speeds It will appear as tho all the traffic
Is Sitting still In relation to each other.
Guess what, you just went Into "Stealth mode" and the only cars that can see you
are the ones at your six, thats behind you,
the one next to them and the one directly next to you.

Multi lanes,,,
The right lane Is a Killer, drivers often see the exit they want and Dive for It with no warning.
If you have cars to your left and exits on your right,,,Move!
Move By pulling ahead of that car on your left or changing lanes.

The Center lanes get busy, I use them, to move through Traffic to gain position or change lanes for a better view.

The Left lane,,this one is where I work from, Its where I work the traffic to my advantage.
Over here a few miles over the traffic speed feels safe and If someone comes up behind me thats fine,
thats what the middle lane Is for. I can move back and forth between these two lanes as needed
and this also Increases my foot print or profile.
Remember my "Stealth Mode" comment ?
A moving target Is easier to see and,,,Harder to hit.

We've heard It all "If I leave a good following distance people will cut me off", True,,so Move
DO NOT tailgate to protect your space you will loose.

Never settle in behind a vehicle that you cannot see through or over or arround.

Remember to look far ahead, scan as far as possible. Yes I'm talkin
a mile or so. When you top an overpass take a quick look out to your visual limit.
When the traffic gets real dense I use the truckers eyes.
Watch the Pro's In the fleet trucks, they can see what you cannot.

I really Like the Super slabs,,,,,can't ya tell ??

 

Your Bookin down the road and deeply focused on the ride, all aspects of it, Your chit is tight an your on top of things.
Something happens out infront of you, a car's sudden no signal lane change, a sudden brain fart by another driver a car, truck, or bike,,whatever. You react correctly, you had your front brake coverd with two fingers right? You were ready with a "way out", a speed adjustment,,again,,,what ever, Hazard avoided, everything is cool,,,
NOW at this instant you are in danger. Maybe your pissed or your shoulders are tense,,or you wanna flip somebody off. DON'T Do It.
You need to make an Immediate "Threat Scan".
You Must check your six and more.
Combat soldiers are taught this, As soon as a threat is Iliminated they Must make an quick precise scan of the area, all directions.
They are taught to swing their head from side to side,,to "Take It all in"
Don't forget to check your Six,,Thats look behind you.
While you were focused on the problem everything changed all arround you.
People who are involved in a deadly encounter, Police,,civilians who ever get "Tunnel vision".
It has been proven that your field of View, your Peripheral vision can be reduced to as little at 1 or 2 degress.
Thats like looking through a 2 inch pipe, you see nothing to the sides.
Your brain has temporarily been denied road input, You MUST update all visual information ASAP.

 

Hammer lane (left lane) Powerful sport bike doin 75 mph easin up on the Mini Van in the center lane doin 73 mph,,
easin up on the Semi rig in the right lane throttle on doin 68,,52' van on a Freight shaker grossin 70,000 lbs or more.
I'm out back bout 75 yards behind the Mini van,,Got a stadium seat for the comming chit your pants moment.

 

Osco,

Well said!!