| Author |
Message |
    
Dynasport
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 10:34 pm: | 
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I remember my first interstate ride on my FXDX. I hadn't had the bike but a couple of weeks and was still getting used to riding again. I couldn't get out of my head what would happen if I went down at 70 mph. I had to be gripping the bars really tight. I felt every little bit of movement from the wind and the other cars. I wasn't sure I liked it much at all. Now, these years later I don't notice the windblast movement nearly as much. I know I am gripping the bar much looser. Interstate riding is still not my favorite type of riding, but I no longer fear it. I even did an Iron Butt ride on the interstate. By the end of that, cruising along on the interstate with cars and trucks all around me was old hat.
Of course my bike weighs over six hundred pounds and I have a much larger windshield which has its good and bad points. My advice is like the others. Good well fitting gear and more seat time. Or a big touring bike for the highway riding. |
4cammer
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 11:12 pm: |
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Try it on a 300lb Ninja 250..... talk about a butt pucker. I think even PT Cruisers would move the bike just passing at speed. |
Swordsman
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 11:54 am: |
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I did a 50 mile round trip run on I75 just N of Marietta a few weeks back in some relatively heavy traffic, about 75-85 mph on my Ss. It was rough, but not so much that I thought, "Man, this is rough!". I actually prefer riding behind semis more than behind SUVs. SUV buffeting is the worst... all angles for mean turbulence, but not enough size to actually move the air out of the way like a tractor trailer. I worry more about a rock to the face shield than anything else. If that can crack a window, imagine what it'll do to plastic!
~SM
(Message edited by Swordsman on March 04, 2008) |
1324
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 12:48 pm: |
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Aside from all the really good information here, I'll reiterate Lightningrob's comment. I noticed MUCH smoother highway riding when I swapped the stock bars for the 0 degree crossroads. The difference was night and day! |
Badlionsfan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 04:07 pm: |
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i took my visor off my helmet
one of those stupid dirt bike things????? surpised that sail didn't break your neck.
(Message edited by badlionsfan on March 04, 2008)
(Message edited by badlionsfan on March 04, 2008) |
Jaydub
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 04:30 pm: |
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looks like this...
and it sure felt like a sail |
Saint
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 04:40 pm: |
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Generally the advice on this has been good - 1 thing though: When a tire goes on a semi (& they do on a consistant basis), you don't want to be anywhere in the neighborhood! |
Badlionsfan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 05:38 pm: |
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no doubt jaydub. the air is coming off the windscreen and right under that visor.
now go do yourself a huge favor-- BUY A FULL FACE HELMET!!! last summer in a period of 5 minutes i took little pieces of windshield glass from a wrecked car on a roll back then got swarmed by mulch from a landscaping truck. all that crap would've been pelting me in the face at highway speed were it not for my full face helmet. |
Jaydub
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 06:20 pm: |
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Thanks Badlionsfan!
I've got my eye on an HJC CL-15 or a Scorpion EXO-400.
Hoping to go this weekend, and try on / fit |
Bikertrash05
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 02:34 am: |
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You were wearing THAT while riding?! 
Dude, full face, PLEASE! |
Swordsman
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 09:34 am: |
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I took the liberty of highlighting it for you. Chin bar is a MUST.
~SM |
1324
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 09:38 am: |
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Ah, the hurt report. After reading that, I'm not sure how anyone could justify NOT wearing a full face helmet. Oh well, to each their own I suppose! |
Jaydub
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 10:53 am: |
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i know, i know - i was in denial
i keep telling myself "How come Ponch and Jon never wore full face helmets? they must know something I don't" |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 11:29 am: |
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Cops don't wear full face helmets for "Social" reasons. Bad enough you're being pulled over, but to be approached by someone looking like an extra from "Plan 9 from Outer Space" was deemed to be too stressful.
I'm wondering why the police don't start using modular helmets, though. Full face protection, but they can swing the jawpiece and visor up to present a "Human Face" during a traffic stop.
Ideas?? |
Froggy
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 01:36 pm: |
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+1 to that chart.
 |
Dogdaze
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 08:37 pm: |
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Froggy,
In my Shoei helmet manual, it specifically states not to use Windex or a 60 grit belt sander to clean your faceshield. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 10:27 pm: |
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That's only step one. Now he has to buff out the scratches and it'll be as good as new. |
Towjam
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 10:52 pm: |
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I'm wondering why the police don't start using modular helmets, though. Full face protection, but they can swing the jawpiece and visor up to present a "Human Face" during a traffic stop.
Just a guess but maybe some LEO agencies won't approve full face helmets that aren't Snell certified (Snell doesn't certify modulars). On the other hand, modulars seem to almost be the norm outside of the US. Go figure. |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 11:08 pm: |
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and there's a SNELL approved half helmet? |
Mtg
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 11:22 pm: |
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Btw, anybody else ever think it's funny that the motorcycle cops where the 1/2 lid brain buckets? You'd think they would set a good example on safety equipment. |
Buellinachinashop
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 11:25 pm: |
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"Btw, anybody else ever think it's funny that the motorcycle cops where the 1/2 lid brain buckets? You'd think they would set a good example on safety equipment."
Ponch and John loved their spandex riding pants too much to sacrifice them for safety reasons. |
Towjam
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 11:28 pm: |
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and there's a SNELL approved half helmet?
No - I didn't mean to imply that Snell certification was a must for any helmet. I'm just wondering that given typical government bureaucracy, if someone doesn't think "Hey, these modulars don't have the same Snell certification as a solid full face so we won't approve them for the department..."
On a side note, Snell has recently announced a change to their testing and certification process. Although they haven't officially acknowledged it, the change is no doubt due in part to the June '05 expose in Motorcyclist Magazine (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcyc le_helmet_review/index.html) |
Strmvt
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 11:33 pm: |
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Hey Jaydub what size Helmet fits your brain bucket? I have a small Scorpion EXO 700 I'm selling link is
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/21/ 341415.html?1204757702 |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 01:24 am: |
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and I didn't mean to imply that I was serious  |
Azxb9r
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 02:20 am: |
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Ah, the hurt report. After reading that, I'm not sure how anyone could justify NOT wearing a full face helmet. Oh well, to each their own I suppose!
Not to mention keeping the bugs out of your teeth
The biggest problem I have with my xb on the freeway is the combination of cross winds and expansion joints. |
Hogs
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 06:27 am: |
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Jaydub
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 06:45 am: |
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Strmvt - a medium - but might have to go to a large |
Azxb9r
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 03:23 pm: |
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Is that Dark Helmet? |
Firebolt32
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 05:15 pm: |
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The modular is great. It's great for shaving on the way to work, women to put make-up on while riding, picking your nose, etc. But I don't recommend spitting directly in front of you while riding. For some odd reason it comes right back at you. |
