I might try it this summer

[ShirleySerious]

Looking back at it, I think taking a trip the whole way would be too much for me. I don't have the best patience in the world, so driving 2 weeks in the middle of nowhere might make me a little on edge. Plus I don't have that kind of money. So I'm thinking about going about halfway, like Chicago to Dallas. I've done that before, although not on a bike, and it's a pretty easy drive.

Since I got my bike, I haven't taken it on any interstates. I'm OK driving a car on them, but something about taking a bike and being on two wheels going that fast. I mean I got new tires and everything, but I'm not sure what speeds my bike can handle. I have a 550. My worst fear is going 80 and then wobbling out of control. Are my fears rational or no?

[airportcop]

Okay, I think I now understand the concept of interstates being safer for the most part. But wind blown and boring just don't suit me at all. Not much scenery either unless you are on the right road or a hot chick drives by in a convertable!

[tkent02]

My worst fear is going 80 and then wobbling out of control. Are my fears rational or no?

No.
A nice tight 550 can go as fast as it can go all day long safely.
Mine did. Many a time. Never a hint of a wobble over 100,000 miles, mostly all riding it hard, quite often as fast as it would go.
Just keep up with the nice tight part.

[Bert Patterson]

Okay, I think I now understand the concept of interstates being safer for the most part. But wind blown and boring just don't suit me at all. Not much scenery either unless you are on the right road or a hot chick drives by in a convertable!

Yes.

A few years ago, I rode out to the Adirondacks in NY. Incredible once you get to the NY border and get off 90 onto 17, but from here all the way to Erie PA is dreadful, flat, ugly and boring. That's where mp3 players and earbuds are necessary.

[mark]

Yes.

A few years ago, I rode out to the Adirondacks in NY. Incredible once you get to the NY border and get off 90 onto 17, but from here all the way to Erie PA is dreadful, flat, ugly and boring. That's where mp3 players and earbuds are necessary.

Actually, its just the opposite. Flat and endless sky is beautiful. Who needs all that earth acne anyway?

[marvinsc]

Actually, its just the opposite. Flat and endless sky is beautiful. Who needs all that earth acne anyway?

I Fear You've been a FlatLander WAY too Long Mark!*

[mark]

I Fear You've been a FlatLander WAY too Long Mark!*

Too friggen true......

[mdole]

There is an organized ride that has been going on for quit a while that covers route 66.

http://www.hhjm.com/rally/

[bwringer]

The problem isn't speed, it's buttheadedness.

I think I'll go get that engraved on something. Truer words have never been typed.

[bwringer]

For the purpose of safety, the danger on the interstate lies in deviation, not speed. Since the design speed was approximately 100 mph, 85-90 is safe as long as the flow of traffic is 85-90. So, the safe speed to travel is basically whatever the rest of the traffic is going. When I asked, because I ride motorcycles, what the absolute safest speed was, I was told that the safest speed was about 5 mph faster than the flow of traffic – still only deviating slightly, but reucing the chances of being stuck in a blind-spot and, by moving relative to the flow, maintaining higher visibility.

Yes! Yes! YES!!!

And the safest lane position is in the far left lane (in the US and other LHD countries). It drastically reduces the amount of stuff you have to look out for on the left.

Maintaining a higher speed than surrounding traffic helps reduce danger from behind you.

You have to use your vehicle's advantages -- in the case of motorcycles, your advantages are speed and agility.

[caffinated1]

the only regret you'll have not doing it is not doing it. You only get one turn on this big rock and I plan on ruining as many tires on it as I can.

[jimcor]

The spirit of 66 will never die, just find a copy of Nat King Cole's
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Route 66

If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on route sixty-six.

It winds from Chicago to LA,
More than two thousand miles all the way.
Get your kicks on route sixty-six.

Now you go through Saint Looey
Joplin, Missouri,
And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.
You'll see Amarillo,
Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona.
Dont forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino.

Won't you get hip to this timely tip:
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on route sixty-six.

Solo

Won't you get hip to this timely tip:
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on route sixty-six.
Get your kicks on route sixty-six.
Get your kicks on route sixty-six.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Go chase that road. I too was lucky enough to ride a goodly portion of the original highway back in the early 70s. Lucky enough to have been in some of the businesses you see in the histories of the 'Mother Road'. Yeah, I made that California trip, spent two years on and off a bike for better or worse, but I made that ride...and maybe I'm still on it...

[ikazuki]

hey serious: this sounds like an iron butt possibility,should you want to try. anyway , no matter how you go, good luck and enjoy, ikazuki

[themess]

Looking back at it, I think taking a trip the whole way would be too much for me. I don't have the best patience in the world, so driving 2 weeks in the middle of nowhere might make me a little on edge. Plus I don't have that kind of money. So I'm thinking about going about halfway, like Chicago to Dallas. I've done that before, although not on a bike, and it's a pretty easy drive.

Since I got my bike, I haven't taken it on any interstates. I'm OK driving a car on them, but something about taking a bike and being on two wheels going that fast. I mean I got new tires and everything, but I'm not sure what speeds my bike can handle. I have a 550. My worst fear is going 80 and then wobbling out of control. Are my fears rational or no?

If you don't feel completely comfortable, don't do it. Let me restate: Don't do it. You won't have fun and you won't be safe.

You're a neophyte motorcyclist. You need to build good riding habits. You need to learn proper instincts to react automatically to sudden gusts of wind when passing semis, to slippery spots in the road, to idiots pulling out in front of you when you're too close, and to dozens of other situations. Motorcycling will teach you defensive driving at an entirely new level.

For someone with tens of thousands of miles of experience on a bike that she's comfortable with, and knows to be reliable, following Route 66 to LA would be a dream vacation. You can carry everything that you need on the bike. At the end of the day, the experienced biker is tired, but she doesn't need to think through routine situations, because she's seen them thousands of times, and the reactions are habitual. A newbie is tired by the middle of the day because it is necessary to think through most situations, which tires a person out early.

Get your bikes running, and start racking up the miles. Take 100 and 200 mile trips. You'll learn about the bikes and about yourself. You'll start changing little things to make yourself more comfortable - and safer - after hours on the saddle. Little things, like which kind of ear plug feels best after 8 hours. What handlebar angles works best for you? Hand grips. Throttle lock. Foot pegs. Windshield? If so, what kind? How often do you need to stop, and for how long? How to dress comfortably in what weather conditions. But those little things add up, and result in a huge difference in comfort.

You'll be ready to ride Route 66 some day, and you'll know when.

[argonsagas]

If you don't feel completely comfortable, don't do it. Let me restate: Don't do it. You won't have fun and you won't be safe.

You're a neophyte motorcyclist. You need to build good riding habits. You need to learn proper instincts to react automatically to sudden gusts of wind when passing semis, to slippery spots in the road, to idiots pulling out in front of you when you're too close, and to dozens of other situations. Motorcycling will teach you defensive driving at an entirely new level.

For someone with tens of thousands of miles of experience on a bike that she's comfortable with, and knows to be reliable, following Route 66 to LA would be a dream vacation. You can carry everything that you need on the bike. At the end of the day, the experienced biker is tired, but she doesn't need to think through routine situations, because she's seen them thousands of times, and the reactions are habitual. A newbie is tired by the middle of the day because it is necessary to think through most situations, which tires a person out early.

Get your bikes running, and start racking up the miles. Take 100 and 200 mile trips. You'll learn about the bikes and about yourself. You'll start changing little things to make yourself more comfortable - and safer - after hours on the saddle. Little things, like which kind of ear plug feels best after 8 hours. What handlebar angles works best for you? Hand grips. Throttle lock. Foot pegs. Windshield? If so, what kind? How often do you need to stop, and for how long? How to dress comfortably in what weather conditions. But those little things add up, and result in a huge difference in comfort.

You'll be ready to ride Route 66 some day, and you'll know when.

EXCELLENT ADVICE !!





Unquestionably you can carry what you need on the bike. I have packed up everything I needed to go on that exact trip, alone, and then took the trip.

I got onto Route 66 outside Chicago, after riding there from Toronto. It was a very interesting trip. I was planning to go all the way to LA, but got sidetracked with someone when I reached Oklahoma City and as my vacation time diminished I had to look at return instead of continuing onward and westward.