#1 & #2 - Take a MSF (Motorcycle Safety Course) Most places offer 2 or more courses... No matter how long you have been riding - They are GREAT Courses..

Never Ride in the center of the lane (other vehicles will leak fluids in the center of the lanes (and if WET it like a slip & slide) Same thing when going thru a toll of pay road
If road is wet stay away from the lines painted on the road...
Never allow anyone to force you to ride beyon what you feel comfortable with...
Always watch you rear view mirrors (In Calif you 'll see some A\H's climb up your you butt...

 

Find a riding buddy, one you know is experienced and is also a safe rider. Ride staggered behind him and shadow his moves. Watch how he scans around him and how he signals his movements. It's not a race, but when you have some miles to burn the interstate can't be beat. Good luck

 

Not possible to give you all the information you could use. A good book: Proficient Motorcycling.
Unlike local traffic issues (cross traffic violating your right of way, stop sign violators, etc.) the freeway has it's own hazards. Trucks and RVs that make it hard to see and to be seen. Lane changes by other vehicles who aren't paying attention or who have control issues. Try to put yourself in a good position to be seen at all times, but don't count on what people should do. Anticipate hazards and try to keep them from developing. Avoid crowds, clumps of vehicles. Pre-plan escape routes. Don't just rely on your turn signals before you change lanes. Look quickly over your shoulder. Some folks blast down the freeway and will be on you before you know it. They also will try to beat your lane change, thinking they can blast past you before you get into their lane. If they guess wrong they figure they'll just force you off the road. Some RVs could care less where you are, they drive like they are on the ragged edge of control and if they think they need to switch lanes to keep control they will and you are on your own. Don't follow any vehicle very close, especially trucks. You can't see the road ahead and if the vehicle in front of you drives over a hazard (piece of tire, 2" by 4", rock, muffler, etc.) you might not have time to avoid it, especially if their tires send it at you.
I don't like three lane freeways in traffic, the middle lane is often a trap. I want some place to go in event of an emergency. One of the worst hazards is simply someone slowing down. Folks on freeways don't expect others to slow or stop. Even if the nearest following vehicle sees the problem and reacts, the reaction time for each successive vehicle is reduced until someone who isn't fully tuned in piles into the hazard.
Well, that's enough! Try not to get stiff armed on the handlebars and white knuckled on the grips. Do a little freeway then get off and do some slower riding. Pick a manageable freeway with little traffic and go at a good time. Give yourself a good learning curve. Experience is a good teacher but it can also be a hard teacher.

 

Thanks for the replies guy..I did take the MSF course in november..The main reason I need to start riding on a highway is that most of my family live across the interstate bridge and tunnel.. so it would be nice to show up with the new bike. I have heard and please chime in that highway riding can be safer in the sense of the traffic is flowing in one direction without the constant headaches of intersection..thanks again for everyone input and i def like the idea of having an experienced riding buddy to tag along

 

Please be very aware around 18 wheelers. Try not to follow directly behind them as they will not be able to see you, the air turbulance (dirty air) will really push you around, and if they run over something, they will miss it but will "you" have time to react to miss it as well.When you pass an 18 wheeler, be aware of the blind spot area you will be in as you pass it. Sometimes there will maybe a slight "pull" or vacuum twords the big rig. Best to get by as quick and safe as you can.
As mentioned in a post above, a Motorcycle Safe Riders Course would be highly recomended for "any" motorcyclist.

 

Sunday mornings have less traffic, pick a destination for breakfast 70-100 miles away. On the return trip you'll know how to handle yourself. Andthe saying istrue, the world needs more 'lerts.

 

Is it possible to purchase common sense? If you have to ask how to stay safe on the highway maybe you should reconsider having a bike.

Now since I got your attention... buy the book that the one person recommends "Guide to Proficient Motorcycling" It will give you a bunch of scenarios that you would rather hear about prior to experiencing them first hand. The book covers a lot of information and points out some of the odd things that can happen to you while riding.

Good luck and drive like you are invisible.. the cagers don't pay much attention so you have to.

Stay SAFE!!!

 

G'Day mate
All great advice from everyone. The hard thing is to absorb all the years of knowlege form these guys in one postingand be able to use it when ya have to. I have covered hundreds of thousands of miles in my 28 years and i have found that 4 basic priniples have saved me many many times.
1. All other road users are idiots
2. All other road users are blind
3. Most, if not all, cant ride or drive
4. You are not bullet proof
What i am trying to get across is that YOU have to think for everone else out there and not assume that others actually give a toss about you on the road. They don't
Key point for me are
1. Ride at a speed you are happy with. Dont be pressure to ride outside your comfort zone. With time your comfort zone will increase and you will be able to rock along at will.
2. Keep a good distance between you and the vehicle in front a good guide is the 3 second rule. This is where you pick a mark, say a guide post or any stationary object and count the time from when the veh in front passes it until the time you reach it. If this is 3 or greater seconds you are at a good distance. This usually gives you enough reaction time to swerve break etc if needed.
3. Road postion is crtical. Position yourself where the veh in front can see you. I try and get in a position where i can see the drivers face in his own mirrors. his esures that IF they check their mirrors they wilsee you. THE KEY WORD HERE IS "IF". As mentioned earlier beware of painted surfaces, rainbows on the road when wet (Oil).
4. be aware of what is happening 200 or so yards down the road ie. accident ,bottle neck or deviation of traffic as this gives advance warning that you will have to adjust your riding soon.
If you can remember theese things you should be lright, but there is no school like the road and preparing for it by doing a course which you have. All there is to do now is get out there and do it.
Just remember give way to everything......just because you "were in the right" doecn't mean it's the right thing to do.

Skippy

 

+1

 

Lots of good info !
One other thing bout the big rigs .
Listen for A flop flop flop . The noise I am trying to
describe is when the tire starts to come apart !
I dont want to be behind one when it happens !
If they have one starting to come apart , The flop type noise
goes as fast as the tire rotation !

Jack