First time freeway ride experience...

[Thateguhate]

alright so today before the rain comes in I thought I'd take the F4i on the freeway for the first time. I've logged roughly 100 miles or so on it since about 3 or 4 weeks ago.

I was busy with the holidays, rain has been damper as well as being sick... So I haven't been riding as much as I would have liked too but I said screw I wanna do this anyway.

So as I'm getting on the black mountain road onramp (I-280N) I'm doing fine but as I hit about 70mph or so I start to feel the wind kick me around a bit, Not too big of a deal, I just tucked myself in some more, But I noticed when the turns were coming up I was pretty uncomfortable. Not as in "comfort" but as in my confidence level severely dropped... I sort of tensed up and just rolled off of the throttle.

How as a new rider can I start to overcome this nervousness? I've put most of the mileage on the bike through the streets so far and I've picked up alot of characteristics about this bike that way. But I'm realizing the freeway is a new ball game.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me? And yeah, I did ride solo on the freeway which probably wasn't the greatest Idea since I hear alot of people start to do this by riding in groups.

 

[Angel-be-Good]

It's all in your head, buddy.

 

[mototireguy]

Basically just some additional time in the saddle on the freeway in good weather and low traffic levels.

It sounds like you might be too tense on the bike. Try to loosen up, relax the death grip on the handlebars, hum a tune to yourself and you should become more comfortable.

 

[Thateguhate]

It's all in your head, buddy.

I was afraid somebody was gonna say this. Maybe I just need to build up some more confidence in my riding overall!?


I've been overly cautious honestly, aside from an open stretch on my way to work.

Basically just some additional time in the saddle on the freeway in good weather and low traffic levels.

It sounds like you might be too tense on the bike. Try to loosen up, relax the death grip on the handlebars, hum a tune to yourself and you should become more comfortable.

and that I did. I caught myself so I loosened up a bit but a few mins later by the time I had exited I noticed my hands had fell asleep lol

 

[Kawi_Girl326]

relax through turns, don't tense up at the handle bars... if anything, clench the tank a little with your knees... you don't wanna jerk your upper body through a turn.

 

[Thateguhate]

Good to know, Thanks..I didn't think much about what I was doing with the lower half of my body.

One thing that may have helped me was the ohlins steering damper. The bike itself was as steady as can be but i only weight 163lbs and I was up in an area that gets fairly windy.

Next time I'll get on 101 and maybe have better luck.

 

[Angel-be-Good]

I was afraid somebody was gonna say this. Maybe I just need to build up some more confidence in my riding overall!?

Don't fear the freeway. Honestly, a lot of people work themselves up over the freeway for nothing, like it's some sort of mystical beast. IMO, freeway is 1000x more relaxing and safer than riding city streets. No one making left turns, no sudden stopping, no pulling out of driveway, no coming to slippery stop lights, no waiting in traffic to get rear-ended.

 

[Kawi_Girl326]

you know... before you know it, you'll be BORED of the freeway and wanna do the twisties... so just keep going at it, the more you practice, the better you get.

 

[Thateguhate]

Don't fear the freeway. Honestly, a lot of people work themselves up over the freeway for nothing, like it's some sort of mystical beast. IMO, freeway is 1000x more relaxing and safer than riding city streets. No one making left turns, no sudden stopping.

Yeah, and thats what I've heard.. I figured hell, I love the freeway in my cage I should be good!

I think just a few of my downfalls that I can think of are one, my riding experience... I don't have much seat time.

Secondly the road has those rain grooves.. I kinda tripped myself out a bit when going over them, and lastly .. where I got on is in a heavily winded area. Not so much this time of the day but it still tends to be a bit windy from time to time.

I'll be talking with some friends and see when they go riding next. Maybe If I'm able to just go out and have fun and not concentrate so much on whether not my riding techniques are correct maybe it will just come naturally..

you know... before you know it, you'll be BORED of the freeway and wanna do the twisties... so just keep going at it, the more you practice, the better you get.

Its funny you say that, because I was having a blast coming up black mountain road. I had a car behind me and left them pretty quickly without realizing it. I got all the way to the top of skyline and nobody was in sight any longer.

You guys are right, it is my mind playing tricks on me. It's just hard to forget what I seen in all those youtube videos and what was discussed in the MSF course. The fear is put into us to make us more cautious riders on video, but In a way it kinda screwed with my confidence level.

Why can't I just be more carefree like when I was younger...lol

 

[Dug]

Just like you wouldn't death grip the steering wheel of a car while driving you shouldn't death grip the handle bars of a motorcycle. Shift your weight to the inside of the turn, hug the tank with your legs, apply downward pressure (pushing the handle bar) on the inside bar to get the bike to lean/tip (picture moto tires as being 2 coffee cups with tapered sides put together facing each other) and giving it maintenance throttle to keep you from tipping over completely.


Stay calm, relax, and repeat something in your head like "I am one with the bike", seriously it works because it takes your mind of the instinctual emotional urge to panic.

Overall the biggest hindrance which would prevent a motorcycle from turning correctly would be the rider. Motorcycles can turn just fine without a rider.

 

[Thateguhate]

Pretty good analagy being were just discussing this over a computer. I totally get what you mean about how the tires are designed to be rounded off unlike a car.

I'm trying to understand you on the pushing of the handlebar though. I would have thought the pressue would need to be brought to the outer part of the bar depending on what direction you would be leaning/turning in.

( I say this because I'm going back to that press/roll they taught us in the msf )

I tryed changing my riding habits though because when I did this, it felt like I was fighting the bike so I started shifting my upper body to get the bike to go where I want it too when I'm looking in that specific direction.

What I'm talking about may apply more to street riding than freeway riding though. I haven't spent enough time on the freeway to figure that out quite yet.

 

[Jaxian]

Go south

Having spent 20 years living right in that area in San Mateo before moving down here I can say one thing about the freeway there. It is ten times better than HWY 1/17 right where I live now, which is a traffic clogged nightmare, with only two lanes, pretty much all the time unless you drive at least 15 minutes south.

I would go south from Black Mountain on 280, avoids the whole 380 thing and the down hill sections. That is one thing about 280, people expect you to drive 75mph+ even in the slow lane and that can be pretty intimidating. So take 280 south and its smooth and straighter. I would, depending on your confidence level either turn around at Edgewood or maybe keep going to Sand Hill and loop around and come back.

Should be a nice 4 lane, high visiblity drive. If the speeds are still getting to you a bit, duck onto 92 and take Canada Road speed limit is 50 and it's kind of like a mini freeway and you can jump back to 280 when you pass either Edgewood or Woodside (84) road and head back. Lots of good freeway loops in that area. I used to take them just to relax and unwind. A good relaxing freeway drive near my house is one of the things I miss most of all about moving down to Santa Cruz. Have fun.

 

[gixxerbabe]

I agree with everyone here. The wind bothered me a bit too, when I first started. Hug the tank with your legs, weigh the pegs, light on the bars, and if you find yourself tucking, make sure you are still able to see your surroundings. The more you tuck, the harder it is to see around you, and it also makes your mirrors useless unless you adjust them. Take deep breaths, and relax. Once you get used to the freeway, it does seem safer than riding in the city streets. You just need more miles on the freeway and you'll get comfortable. I can now easily ride a couple hundred miles in an afternoon and not get nervous or uncomfortable.

Also, I'm not sure what helmet you are riding with, but that could make a difference too. When I first started riding, I had a Shoei TZR, which is a good helmet, but not great when it comes to aerodynamics. I noticed that any speed above 65 would drag my head backwards. I recently got a Shoei RF-1000 for the holidays, and I noticed the wind drag is much less with my new helmet. I always wondered why my fiance, who rides with me, never had to tuck as much on the freeway as I did. He wears a Shoei X11, and I guess that makes a lot of difference. I can ride upright with little to no pull on my head now. Just a thought that might help.

 

[Angel-be-Good]

Counter-steering works on the freeway just as well as it does anywhere else. Use it. You could get around 10x more effectively than you are now with zero body movement by just using counter-steering.

 

[gixxerbabe]

Yup, counter steering is very important. It should become ingrained in your brain so that you don't even have to think about it, you just do it.

 

[Thateguhate]

Thanks everyone, I didn't realize how much better it actually would be going south. I might try that on my next freeway run and when I do I'll be hugging that tank a bit more.

I didn't so much feel that helmet drag that you speak of. Either my helmet is find or I just wasn't going fast enough to feel it. I have an Icon Alliance SSR. Its actually a pretty good helmet as far as the air flow and comfort.

Now I kinda wanna gear up and go back out but I got stuff to do this afternoon.

 

[Dug]

Pretty good analagy being were just discussing this over a computer. I totally get what you mean about how the tires are designed to be rounded off unlike a car.

I'm trying to understand you on the pushing of the handlebar though. I would have thought the pressue would need to be brought to the outer part of the bar depending on what direction you would be leaning/turning in.

( I say this because I'm going back to that press/roll they taught us in the msf )

I tryed changing my riding habits though because when I did this, it felt like I was fighting the bike so I started shifting my upper body to get the bike to go where I want it too when I'm looking in that specific direction.

What I'm talking about may apply more to street riding than freeway riding though. I haven't spent enough time on the freeway to figure that out quite yet.

Before I go off rambling I'd just should point you toward books written by Lee Parks (Total Control) and David L. Hugh (Proficient Motorcycling). The part about putting downward pressure on which I mentioned has to do with how you "push" to turn. Doing so basically also applies a downward force on the bars when this happens as you "push" to turn. Yet pushing in the opposite direction also ensures you head in the right direction you intend to go due to CF (centrifugal force) turning your spinning wheels in the opposite direction.

Picture 2 of these taped together and you can visualize the profile of your tires and how you get a bike to tip over to lean. Pushing in the opposite direction ensures you head in the intended direction you wanted to go.

Of course someone can feel free to correct me but this is how I've interrupted the stuff I've read on the act of leaning/turning a motorcycle at speed.

 

[Thateguhate]

That first book was recommened to me at the msf class. I may have to go to borders and check it out.

 

[Ailiaw]

Relax. That's the main point.

100 miles isn't really a lot though...

I just picked up a new bike yesterday and rode that thing 70 miles in one day including SF to Stinson beach with a friend.

Hell even the wind shouldn't be a problem...

I was doing 80-90 fine on my naked 400cc it's All in your head. Just relaxxx

 

[Thateguhate]

Relax. That's the main point.

100 miles isn't really a lot though...

I just picked up a new bike yesterday and rode that thing 70 miles in one day including SF to Stinson beach with a friend.

Hell even the wind shouldn't be a problem...

I was doing 80-90 fine on my naked 400cc it's All in your head. Just relaxxx

I swear I thought I'd have about 400 miles on this thing by now but it just hasn't worked out that way. I cant wait for spring/summer!

oh and vacation.