Highway riding tips.

[yak]

When i bought my PCX 150 i never expected to use it on the freeway. Today i took a 60 mile trip using the freeway ( 55 and 65mph speed limits). THe other drivers were courteous and the drive went fine. I stay in the slow lane. I would never have gone on the freeway without the positive comments on this forum about the PCX ability to handle it. i wore a high-viz safety vest. What tips do you have for highways?

I made the trip to buy a mesh jacket (Firstgear) from Craigslist. Temperatures are 75º and the jacket let the air flow nicely. Not sure about our Phoenix 115º temps in June.

[SECoda]

http://www.her-motorcycle.com/Highway_Riding.html

[Steph]

The speed limit on our expressways by me is 70 and everyone goes 80. Too fast for me. My husband has gone on the expressway on his PCX 150 My tips are wear hi-viz gear with body armor, protective gloves and boots and a full face helmet.

[you you]

When i bought my PCX 150 i never expected to use it on the freeway. Today i took a 60 mile trip using the freeway ( 55 and 65mph speed limits). THe other drivers were courteous and the drive went fine. I stay in the slow lane. I would never have gone on the freeway without the positive comments on this forum about the PCX ability to handle it. i wore a high-viz safety vest. What tips do you have for highways?

Ride them without angst?

[you you]

The speed limit on our expressways by me is 70 and everyone goes 80. Too fast for me. My husband has gone on the expressway on his PCX 150 My tips are wear hi-viz gear with body armor, protective gloves and boots and a full face helmet.

...chastity belt, welding gloves, full life insurance, elephant skin leathers painted bright yellow and leave you sense of humour locked up in the safe at home..

[Mel46]

That about says it all. :-) when we ride we stay in the slow lane and try to keep the bikes at between 55 and 60. We use to sometimes push them to their max until i found recently that belt with 10,000 miles on it will only get you to 64 mph. I put my new belt on my wife's bike and am waiting till i feel up to riding to get the new belt i bought put on mine.

[SECoda]

The PCX is fine for about 55 mph and less. The Forza's longer wheel base and heavier weight not to mention the engine is better on the interstate.

[Steph]

@you you - You are too funny!

[homie]

only go around 3am when its just you and the truckers... at least it will be over with quick if there is a problem.

[Valiant]

Buy aftermarket parts to make the thing go faster .

Seriously though, while nobody was honking at me, I ended up going about 47 mph on a slight uphill incline for the better part of a mile, and passing traffic were going at least 70.

It's perfectly fine for short hops where the speed limit is 50, but I hate ending up in a 60 zone.

Stay in the slow lane, wear bright gear, and watch out for people who change lanes without signaling. Also, give large trucks and trailers a wide berth, the wind from their passing can shove at your scooter pretty good.

[sendler2112]

To get the best handling on the highway I scoot back on the seat (seat hump removed) and crouch down a little to get out of the wind so the top speed is better and cross winds have less to blow on and to get the stiff weight of my arms off of the handlebars so the steering geometry can respond and make the bike lean into the cross wind gusts. I also try to find something big to follow. Not drafting but following. Following is much safer than leading out alone and the people coming up behind you will already be thinking about getting over to pass the bigger vehicle and won't blame you for being the slow guy. Adding a windshield really helps. And I wear AGAT.

[sendler2112]

http://www.her-motorcycle.com/Highway_Riding.html

Of course she misspoke about passing on the right except in the UK. Not that we get to pass very often. But any vehicle should only pass in the passing lane.

[Mel46]

I was wondering about that passing on the right. Who does that, except in England? If I tried to pass on the right, where would I do that, especially since we ride in the slow lane most of the time.

[wojtek_pl]

In Poland you can pass on left or right. It's legal. It's not that bad idea, considering that very often you can encounter a slow-poke on left lane too afraid to ride on the right lane, because he will have to turn left after 2 kilometers ...

[sendler2112]

Passing on the right is never a good idea in the USA. This puts you in a position where drivers do not expect you to be. Passing on the right is usually only done by people who are dangerously weaving through traffic.

[Mel46]

I actually passed a semi on the right once when i was young and foolish. It scared the crap out of me so i never did it again. The semi had decided to change lanes while i was passing him. I ended up passing him on the shoulder!