Motorway Riding

[Mister James]

Ok chaps, I popped to oxford to meet up with some old mates yesterday, which involved my first motorway riding.

Going down during daylight was pretty cool, the bike handled like a dream, although I have to admit the wind buffet caught me by surprise. It was a quite a windy day, but I wasn't actually expecting such a severe pasting! Ducking behind the half fairing sorta helped, although I think I probably need to experiment a bit with that to get the full effect.

Coming back was a little trickier, as it was in the dark. I found this a lot more stressful and tiring, especially when the motorway (m40) went from lit to unlit constantly, for no apparant reason. However, I was jut getting into my stride and making reasonable progress when fog warnings started popping up, drizzle started dropping, and I ended up doing the last 15 miles in the pouring rain!
Gave me a bit of fright, but it was quite satisfying to get home in one piece and in good time.

To cut to the chase, anyone got any decent tips for motorway riding, ie for dealing with night riding, coping with the buffeting, what kinda speeds you can get away with, that kinda thing?

[TheShaggyDA]

Keep an eye on artic lorries - you may be leaning into a sidewind that will disappear when you start to pass one, so be ready. Likewise, when completing the pass, be ready for the sudden reappearance.

Passing junctions can also "hide" sidewinds, so be ready for that too.

When approaching a junction you don't intend to get off at, move over to the middle lane as early as possible, and be ready to get into the outside lane. This gives people joining a free lane, and it also gives you time and space to react to those those who didn't move over.

If on a long journey in the cold, keep your fingers moving. Nothing worse than finding you can't use the clutch or front brake after a 100 mile ride from Caterham to Northampton at 2am in just above freezing temperatures when coming off at the junction

Although this is a standard motorcycle tip, it applies moreso on motorways - assume everyone is stupid, myopic and is trying to kill you
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[stinkwheel]

Look well ahead, if you start to see brake lights cascading ahead of you, slow down. If you think the traffic ahead is slowing down a lot, give it a 'slowing down' hand signal as well, people are more likley to pay attention to this. Check your mirrors for anyone haring up behind you at high speed, watch EVERYONE. Try to open up a big gap in front of you so you can move away into it if someone is coming up on you too hot If the traffic is coming to a halt, now is the time to start filtering, get some depth of other peoples metal between you and the fast moving traffic coming up behind you.

I was once riding along the M6 when I saw the traffic starting to brake, I slowed and left a gap ahead of me. The traffic eventually stopped and I stopped too with about two car-lengths clear ahead of me. Next thing I heard was the screaming of tyres, I looked over my shoulder and saw a mondeo heading towards me with all four wheels locked. I quickly dived up the right side of the car ahead of me (between it and the central barrier), when I looked back, the mondeo had come to a halt sideways accross the carriageway and was actually touching the back bumper of the car that had been in front of me.

So, always plan your escape route, I will not sit at the back of a line of slow traffic on a motorway anymore, even if this means some pretty inconsiderate filtering or even diving up the hard shoulder.

Use your mirrors when driving past sliproads to look right up them, you may see some fast moving traffic which is going to cause you a problem (or a sneaky copper!)

Observation is the key, be alert, pull out well before you come accross slower moving traffic and always assume that if someone is sat behind slower traffic, that they are about to change lane suddenly.

Motorways are some of the safest roads you can ride on so don't be intimidated by them, the real danger occurrs when traffic is changing speed because people start braking and chopping lanes, if you see brake lights on the motorway, keep your wits about you.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[stryker]

You wearing leathers? IF your wearing an all weather coat you'll feel the wind tugging on you more.

[McJamweasel]

[Demonic69]

As stinky said, the middle of 2 lanes is a damn good escape route, also gives you plenty more braking room if the traffic suddenly stop or if the weather's bad. Remember most wagons can only do 56mph, and damn near all will slow down on a hill, so be careful when sat behind one as they will slow down with no indication.

Have you got or can you get a double-bubble screen for your bike? I've fittted them on my past 3 bikes now, it's the 1st thing I buy. They give much better wind protection on most bikes.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Bendy]

Be on your guard near junctions for last minute divers who think that cutting across from the outside lane to the the slip road is an acceptable manouvre.

When the traffic slows down, expect idiocy. People randomly changing lanes cos that one looks like it's moving 2mph faster than the one they're in.

Personally, I sit in the outside lane as much as possible cos I'm nice and far away from all the people randomly organising themselves on and off the slip roads (assuming a busy motorway).

On an empty motorway, I'll sit in the middle lane - it gives me more time to sort out anything that goes wrong before I hit something hard. Plus the surface of the inside lane is usually bolloxed by lorries anyway.

Remember that modern cars with abs and all that gubbins can fairly anchor up and it won't always be immediately apparent that they're braking harder than normal, so leave yourself a decent space to stop in. My car doesn't have abs and you will be able to tell I'm braking hard by the clouds of smoke and slight sideways attitude. And if someone's right up your arse, pull over and let them pass you - your average cager doesn't think as far ahead or have the reactions of a bike rider but knowing you're mentally superior doesn't help when you've just become bmw boy's new dashboard accessory.

Lorries take a lot to get going and a lot to stop. Give them a wide berth for your own safety and their comfort. (I dunno about anyone else but when I'm driving my car and sitting behind a motorbike I'm acutely aware of just how much damage I could do to poor bikey if he decided to stop more quickly than I could).

As shaggy says, assume everyone's an idiot and nothing will surprise you.

[Mantzy]

Remember, as with all filtering, that cagers will always try to move to the quickest moving lane. They will change lanes all over the place and some will not look too carefully for bikers coming up the middle. Some will not indicate. Always ride with a few fingers hovering over the front brake and watch EVERYONE very carefully, if someone sways towards you be ready to stop - who knows what they're trying to achieve.
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Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[stryker]

I've commuted on the motorway for nearly 10 years now. That has given me a very healthy fear of lorry drivers. They will change lanes without so much as a glance in their mirrors and with very little signaling. I'd be extra, extra careful when overtaking them as statistically my experiences show they are in/cause the majority of accidents.

There are some good truckers out there, just many seem to surcome to the fury of driving every day for a living.

[Demonic69]

[Neoluke]

I wouldn't know since I can't go on the motorway yet.
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Neoluke

[Visitor Q]

First off fair play for doing quite a large journey first time on the motorway. You got balls mate
I got the 'well lead you onto the motorway if you like son since youve passed your test, we did it with the girls etc etc'.
Second morning of riding i just nipped on and nipped off a couple of junctions up.

I went on them a hell of a lot after that even tho i had nowhere to go

Anyway the worst thing i ever had/did was when i was riding back in the pissing down rain. And my visor lug on one side is a bit dodgy. Anyway going along, couldnt see much but since it was night i could tell lights/catseyes etc infront of me. Anyway went to change lanes, lifesaver. And the visor was in just the right angle to rip the visor up. Getting a faceful of rain at about a ton suddenly and completely unexpectedly is really really not nice.

Never actually had any dealings with motorway traffic or any problems with other cars. Altho the lanes slow/normal/overtaking etc mean jack shit to others. I was doing 90 in the slow lane and traffic was moving away from me quite sharpish. And this was during the day.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[bazza]

Next time you're on a motorway (preferably as a passenger), take a look at the crap and debris on the hard shoulder/central reservation.

Exploded truck tyre debris, car exhaust bits, various brackets, bolts, panels, shoes, plastic bottles, etc. etc. The chances are you'll meet some of this stuff lying in the lane you happen to be riding in at some point...
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[stryker]

On that point, also keep a very close eye on the condition of the road ahead. Our midland motorways are appalling. There are tracks, holes, bumps, dips and esp in the 1st lane, dirty great grooves from queuing lorries during the rare hot summer days.

[Robin]

Some very good advice so far.


Don't forget your own comfort.

Wear good quality clothing that will keep you warm/cool enough (depending on the weather). And make sure that it is well fitting to avoid it flapping and draughts getting in.

Make sure that you are not hungry or thirsty, as this will affect concentration. At the same time don't jump on the bike for a long ride just after a large meal, otherwise you will still be digesting as you ride.

Tiredness is a killer never ride when tired. Those signs telling you to take a break are there for a reason. If you feel a bit tired pull into a service station and take a break, have a good cup of coffee (carry a flask), and if need be don't be ashamed of crashing out and having a power nap in the service station. If anybody complains tell them to fork orf, would they rather you had a nap there or at 80mph in the outside lane.