First go on a motorway, any tips?

[thewhyoffry]

Hi All,

The ER6F is nicely broken in now so I am going to give the motorway a go on my way home as it is suppose to be a quicker route home.

I have never drove a car and this is my first big bike so never been on a motorway before. I know the 'rules' of a motorway but wondering if anybody has any handy tips for me?

The road I usually go home on is a 3 lane 50mph road so I assume it shouldn't be too dissimilar to that?

Sounds a bit silly because its just another road but new things are always worrying before you actually do it!

Thanks,
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The why of fry

[DrSnoosnoo]

It's easy!

Keep glancing in your mirrors to be aware of what's around you. Don't follow too close to lorries and whathave ya because you'll become invisible to them.

Enjoy it and stay loose.

EDIT to add, if you're going to overtake somebody, overtake them, don't do it slowly because you'll end up in their blindspot and the numpty won't look before they want to change lane.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Islander]

Match speed carefully on joining. Use your mirrors regularly and use lifesavers before any manoeuvres. Don't underestimate your speed when you come off the motorway - going down to 30/40 after extended periods of high speed is deceptive.

It's just a road.

[mudcow007]

just take it easy, motorways are safer than normal roads as everyone is travelling in the same direction plus there are no kittens to kill

keep on the inside lane, just watch out for junctions etc

[arry]

Don't get bored and fall asleep.

[doggone]

Expect the odd car to dive across in front of you having left it late for an exit.
Be wary of trying to move into a gap in the adjacent lane at the same time as someone wants it from the far side.

When things bunch up it sometimes happens *very* fast.
In good weather no big deal but you are vulnerable at the back of a braking line.

Mostly you can many miles without the slightest worry which is a risk in itself as it becomes an effort to maintain concentration

[thewhyoffry]

Thanks for the tips all,

Luckily its only about 5 miles so concentration shouldn't be a problem!

To be honest I am looking forward to giving it some beans for a change rather than being stuck at traffic lights.

Sure once I have done it once I will be thinking what was all the fuss about!


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The why of fry

[Kris]

Lifesavers!
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[CaNsA]

When joining the motorway get your speed right, better to be going a little faster than slower.

When approaching junctions, be prepared to move into the middle lane.

You will soon realise how many people have no idea how to merge.

FWIW, i spend most of my time in the middle or right hand lane.

[dydey90]

According to every other person who I've seen on the motorway:
-Never use the left lane
-If somebody overtakes you and then moves into the left lane, you must speed up and overtake them
-If you want to go faster than somebody else, tailgate them until they move, regardless of traffic or weather conditions
-Upon seeing traffic, wait until the last possible second to brake and fight your way into the lane with the shortest queue.
-If somebody leaves a gap of more than six feet between themselves and the person in front, this means they want you to move over into their lane
-In the evening, the last one to turn on their lights wins the game
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[Wonko The Sane]

Watch people's front wheels, that's more accurate that they're going to change lane than their indicator.

Coming up to a junction expect people to be moving across for it

Watch out for lorries changing lane when your alongside, especially next to the cab, at this point fuck the speed limit, move and re-adjust speed when safe.
Don't swerve across a lane unless you've checked it really is clear.

Look beyond the cars in front, keep space around you, keep an eye on where you could move to if the dozy Audi driver does actually do something stupid.
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[Rogerborg]

[thewhyoffry]

Great tips thanks all! - So to sum it up, don't be the knobber who is going 40mph holding everybody up, keep your wits about you and plan well ahead.

Quite excited!
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The why of fry

[CaNsA]

I forgot to mention,

If you are in the middle lane with cars either side you must pretend you are in a Tie-Fighter and flying in attack formation.

[Notj7]

Always do your lifesaver. The number of times I have looked over my shoulder and nothing was there, then 2 seconds later done another one and a car had moved into my blind spot is daft.

It doesn't matter if you've just done one and a few seconds later you then want to make the move. Literally perform your lifesaver just before you move. Keep an eye on your mirrors at all times, you should know exactly what's happening around you at all times. Finally, if in doubt, don't do it.
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Left the forum.

[thewhyoffry]

[Wonko The Sane]

I find if I'm not careful doing a lifesaver can cause the bike to wander towards the white line, not an issue if clear to lane change but have to be careful.
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Be aware that the blind spots on FOREIGN - i.e. left hand drive - lorries can be loads bigger than for their homegrown brethren (so try to get a glance @ reg plates / markings / livery lingos, if possible).

When joining the motorway get very early visuals of what awaits - if going UP a ramp to join this can be more difficult, but still eminently possible. Be taking glances over your right shoulder for early cues to enable you to slip seamlessly into the miasma.

Note that warning speeds flashing maniacally on gantries are in fact advisory only.

When it's raining, remember that the chapter of very correctly attired GS1200 riders picnicking on the hard shoulder under the flyover are just that - a chapter of GS1200 riders. So don't nod at them cos they ain't gonna nod back. EVER.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Monkeypony]

Be prepared to use all 3 lanes to make reasonable progress. Mainly due to retards being unaware of how a motorway system is supposed to work and not moving the fuck over when they've finished overtaking a slower vehicle
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[iMark]

[SQL]

[CaNsA]

This might just be me but...

After joining the motorway I try to hit 90-100 asap for about a minute, then roll back to 80.

80mph doesn't seem so fast, feels like the other traffic has slowed down, and kinda "tunes" your reflexes to deal with the increased speed from the 30/40mph you were doing before you joined the motorway.

If you get what I'm on about.

[iMark]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Wasn't "over" taking on the inside an instantly bannable offence not so long ago??
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Recluso]

For your first go, DON'T hit it in the middle of rush hour. People aren't thinking about the road, they're thinking about their meetings, work plans, getting the sprogs to school.

Go for a quieter time of day that isn't too long (i.e. 10 miles or so before the next familiar junction) so you can get off if you feel you need to.

i.e. My first go was Weston-super-Mare to Clevedon on the M5, about 6 miles of very gentle, open motorway. It was nice and quiet which meant I wasn't being bombarded by 20 billion cars but enough to let me get the feel for it without being overwhelmed.
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