Highway Speeds

[JJKJR]

I'm approaching 500 miles on my new Volusia 800. Little by little I've increased the difficulty on my rides. On some of the rural roads I've been up to 55-60 mph and been able to control the bike but I feel that 70 mph is still out of my league. So I have not attempted a highway ride. My question is, Is there a different way to sit, position oneself, etc. when riding on the highway. At 60 mph (without a windshield) the wind is hard at times. Any advice from you "seasoned" riders would be greatly appreciated. Buy the way I find this site a great help to us new riders. Thanks.

[prekarious1]

lean forward

[Clint]

Just be aware that you need more room to do everything, including turning and braking, at higher speeds. Always leave yourself a way out. Consider wearing earplugs under your helmet since there's no such thing as a quiet helmet at 70. Your seating position will only change if the wind pushes you back and you need to compensate. Rember to stay relaxed. Stiff arms are the enemy.

Otherwise, just keep your eyes open. Many bikes actually feel more stable at speed. All the rotating parts create gyroscopic stability.

[Jonathan]

Sit a little further back on the seat and lean forward.

[ctx46]

with U being on more of a cruiser bike not a sport bike, leaning forward isnt really a bike deal, @ first the wind will feal very power full but its nothing that U cant handle, just sit in yur normal riding position, stay relaxed, and make sure to leave yur self plenty of room, like it has been said befor, it take more time to do everything @ higher speed eccept go faster.
the key thing is though, keep yur self relaxed!!!
also what might make the transitions a little smoother is find a old country farm road, and get going about 55, make a couple of short bursts to say 65 70, but DO NOT jamm on yur breaks to slow down, just let the motor do it, and just progress in this pattern, steady, jump up 10-15 mph, coast back down.
I hope this helps ya out man,
later
joe

[TomStromie]

I understand your feeling entirely. The first few times I went over 50 mph on my Honda XL350 I thought I was literally going to be blown of the bike. By the time time I had gone 700 miles that feeling was almost entirely gone and now I can ride either my XL350 or my V-Strom 650 at any speed I wish (which isn't much over the speed limit since I'm old, want to get older, and maintain my clean driving record).

Go out and ride 20-30 minutes each day (after work if necessary) for a week or two. The hard-wind feeling will go away soon enough.

[JJKJR]

Let me thank all of you who contributed. I went out today and tried the forward lean on some rural roads and it did help a lot. I can't say is would be comfortable for long rides. I did notice that each time I brought the bike up to higher speeds I did feel more comfortable with the wind hitting me. I even got caught in my first rain storm today. The glasses get clouded over pretty fast. But I hung in there and rode through the storm. When it finally ended I pulled over in a parking lot and cleaned up a bit. Some of my friends have told me that to ride on the highway I'm going to eventually need to buy a windshield. I just really hate the thought of that. It is soooo nice to have the wind hitting you at slower speeds (40-50mph). Excuse the newbie question but is there such a thing as putting a windshield on for highway ridding and taking it off for the city? Is putting on/off a windshield that quick of a procedure? What are all your thoughts and recommendations for one type/brand to fit a 2004 Volusia 800?

[DrBob]

Memphis shades make some nice windshields for the Volusia. They can be removed fairly easily, and put back on for long trips. Make sure you get a tall one, because if the shield does not go up high enough it will just deflect all the wind onto your helmet, buffeting your head and making your neck sore.
I personally don't like windshields, and refuse to put one on my bike. Still, I ride on the highway at speed of up to 80 MPH, and ride 300-400 interstate miles a day on long trips. I wear a leather jacket or vest to break the wind on my chest, wear a lightweight helmet, and make sure I sit up straight rather than hang back off the bars. I guess I am just used to it, but I don't get any more tired than my friends with windshields, though I do get a lot more wet in the rain than they do, and they stay cleaner on road trips.

[NomadTurk]

i have a gsxr so i do what others have suggested, i sit back and lean forward, the wind pushes me even closer to my bike, we become like a bullet at high speeds.

since you cannot lean forward, only suggestion that I can think is for you to wear fitted clothes.

because even the regular shirts and regular pants flaps so hard in high speed travel, that they can give your body distracting sensation.

I suggest you wear something aerodynamic (leather, nylon) and if they can fit your body little tight, you'll have a smoother ride.

i hope my suggestion helps out.

happy and safe riding buddy.

[TL chris]

Don't forget to breathe also. Your arms and other extremeties will get tired sooner without properly oxygenated blood. Motocrossers will back me up on this one.

[Jonathan]

Didnt think about that one...Good post.