First time on a motorway, any advice?

[ttr]

Right, so having sold on the BROS project, I've put a deposit down on a friend of a friend's viffer. Only problem is, she's on the other side of London. Which means I need to ride her down the M25 and the M3 tomorrow to get her home.

So alien bike, more power than I'm used to and motorways in the same day. Oh and coupled with not really knowing where I'm going (I'll be alright for route once I'm on the M25, I'm assuming. Just follow it round 'til turning off onto the M3... From there I *DO* know where I'm going)..

Any advice here?

Needless to say I'm petrified.

Not taking the motorway route involves a million stages on roads I don't know. I don't have a tankbag to put a map in either!
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Kickstart]

Hi

Keep left unless overtaking. Make very sure to do a shoulder check before changing lane. Watch out for side winds when going past large vehicles such as buses and lorries (hopefully not windy enough tomorrow for this to be a problem).

And take some ear plugs.

Depending on where you live in Winchester you might be better turning off the M3 earlier on and going onto the A34 (cannot remember if that way is signposted Winchester, might be signposted Andover).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[ttr]

Yeah had a couple of thoughts about where to turn off. Was thinking either up at winnall or on to the A30 (33 maybe? I forget, Basingstoke to Winchester anyway.).. That would be the quickest route as I can turn off the a30/33 onto the b3047 (I think, heh) and be home 5 minutes later..
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[neatbik]

Hi mate, keith has just about summed it up
Lots of shoulder checks when changing lanes, i drive up and down the motorway all week for work in a big car transporter and i still get the odd driver who doesent look properly before pulling out of their lane
To be honest as long as you are sensible its not hard riding on the motorway, you'll be fine

[Stiffler]

Just to add that if you've ridden on a dual carrige way you'll have many of the skills required. It's basically the same just a little quicker. Relax and have good observations, leave safe gaps and you'll be fine.

Oh, and this is a probably common sense, but if you're still not feeling confident with the new bike by the time you reach the motorway maybe it'll be worth going for a bit of a longer spin on the normal roads. It's easier to pull over and stop if needs be to gather yourself, which sometimes in the past I've found very useful when getting used to something new.
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[ttr]

[deanoet]

You ever ridden on a dual carraigeway with a central reservation?

Add a lane, and you got a motorway
Same speeds, same rules, only difference is the signs change to blue for directions.

The signs first appear a mile away from the junction, then half a mile, then you get a lll, ll, l countdown for hundreds of yards to the junction.
The M3 will be clearly signposted.
There may be two junctions for it, one for East bound and one for West bound
Follow the signs and you really cont go wrong, if you do miss one just get off the next junction and it will 9 times out of ten be a huge roundabout so you can spin round and go back on the M25 the way you came to try again


Think and plan ahead, if you see a lorry that you will need to get passed dont leave it till the last moment to get into the middle lane to get passed it.
If you find that it is just a solid line of traffic stick your indicator on, someone will drop back and let you in, normally flash their lights to let you know, but do NOT assume that is a signal to move out, it could equally be a signal to show you that they are there and NOT to move out. Be sure of intention before you move out.


The biggest problem with motorways is the boredom factor, as they are pretty much straight and you are holding the same speed for what is possibly hours on end.
Keep yourself alert and if you feel your concentration wandering pull into a service station for a drink and a wander around


Dont get pressured into a speed you arent comfortable with, even if it means slowing down. People drive motorways all the time and quite happily sit 3 feet from your rear tyre as they wait to get passed. If you come off you aint winning that battle, so look after yourself.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[Kickstart]

[Pie-Roe]

I doubt this will apply to you on your first ride of new bike, but when I got my friend to follow me on the motorway for the first time we got up to all sorts of stupid antics, undertaking, weaving through and that, 85+ filtering etc. All because we got annoyed waiting for the idiot cagers doing 70 to move over. They didn't, don't be tempted to go through a gap thats there, it might be there for a reason.

And have fun, motorways can be great for relaxing and getting a feel for riding position in the right conditions.

Pyro
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[ttr]

Ah yeah fair enough man, that would make sense.

Not wholly sure yet, I think I'll head off at winnall purely because I may well go into town upon arrival for a smoke and some lunch!

I'm joining the m25 at junction 23 and heading towards the m3, is that westbound or southbound or what?
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[deanoet]

will be westbound
Will prob signpost the A1, or Watford.
U want that direction.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[Stiffler]

Probably be signposted for Heathrow... or M1, M40


Tim
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[jonchivers]

[ttr]

Hijacking my own thread, but does it have any way to carry it easily like rucksack straps etc off the bike?

Looking at getting a tankbag to use for college so I'd need some kind of strap to lug it with likes.

Either way wouldn't have the time to pick one up tomorrow, unless I spot an aldi around where I'm picking the viffer up from. Which I expect I wont, but we'll see!
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[nick606]

Also if your in the fast lane and want to move over watch out for the people in the slow lane moving over to the middle lane.

[Kickstart]

[jonchivers]

[ttr]

Sounds pretty nifty, will head down to eastleigh some time.


I ended up going entirely the wrong way and nearly getting to bedfordshire before realising something was amiss.



It's far too easy to go far too fast on this beast!


all in, 200 mile trip, and I'm VERY sore. Not used to the somewhat focused riding position!


Motorways were a piece of piss though.

Cheers for all the advice guys!
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550