For those of you who use the superslab, (especially on long-range touring rides), what are some strategies and tips for not ending up as roadkill, out there?

What lane do you generally try to stay in, on a six-lane highway?

What are the special dangers of the highway?

Increasingly, I'm looking at making 100-mile+ trips, and eventually, possibly culminating in a cross-country ride from Tennesee to my parents' home near Bakersfield, California and home to Tennessee again.

I don't ride the highways often. When I do I don't like to be by surrounded so I usually keep to right hand lane giving myself the shoulder to bail if I have to.

I've heard you are safer there than anywhere else. Feels that way to me too.

I try to, as always, stay out of blind spots. Keep my eyes peeled for the jokers who jump multiple lanes at once while maybe heading for an exit or an opening in traffic. Also I don't hang out around big rigs because I don't want one of those big old shoulder gators to get me. I usually run in the middle lanes.

It's a lot of fun to plan the longer trips, and so cool to realize that the bike you own is a great one to do it on. A few words of advice from MY perspective, riding on the Phoenix area freeways and highways, and from quite a few roadtrips:
I prefer the left edge of the left-side lane (on divided highways), it gives me a bail-out lane on that shoulder if necessary. It also avoids most of the memrging, slowing, and lane-changing that happens in the right-side.
Look out for gator-backs (truck-tire sheds). The ones lying in the road will scare you enough. The ones flying at you thru the air will create a new crease in your seat.
Have rain-gear readily available, and easy to stow again onmce you ride thru the storm.
If you don't normally ride with a helmet, at least take yours with you for the states that require them, and for the weather (raindrops at 60-80 mph hurt like hell!)
Be super careful riding near dusk or dawn. We've all heard stories of deer and elk accidents. If you have to, use your high beams or stay as close to another vehicle (cager) as possible to let THEM scare the beasties off the road. You CAN ride over a squirrell, snake, or a raccoon with no problem, while swerving to avoid them could get you killed.
Sleep where you can. If you're not picky, a dirt road and a shadetree make a great spot to bivouac for the night.
Stay hydrated. In the sun and wind it's easy to get too dry, and hard to get enough back in you very fast.

I'm sure there are a ton of others who will chime in, but these are what I've learned.

Have fun planning,
DKLAZ!

Good advice DKLAZ. Only add to make sure you have good sun screen and lip balm.
Papa Bear

Advice on how to ride the super-slabs will be varied, as we all have our own comfort zones. Also riding a 4 lane across Kansas is much different than a 6 lane through central California.
If I have to ride the big roads, my main concern is always trying to keep a large open area around me. Somtimes this requires speed, and sometimes just forward planning and fitting into the traffic pattern.
The best idea, whenever possible, is to plan trips that don't require huge chunks of miles everyday, and take the routes less traveled. I would rather spend 3 days enjoying scenery on a two lane country black top than 1 day running full-bore on a packed super hiway hoping I live through the day.
If your plan is to set records of miles ridden each day, then go on without me. If your hope is to stop and smell the roses and forget the hours ahead and behind, then count me in. Love those long, leisurely trips where the overnights and the sightseeing are just as important as miles per day and/or miles per gallon.
Plan carefully and have fun.....

I've done quite a bit but I usually try to stay off the Interstates, they are boring. State highways are more fun but much more dangerous.
Stay far away from 18 wheelers, you dont want them in front or behind you. Hard to do on some cross country routes but work at it.

For me the biggest thing is taking lots of breaks, forget about 6-700 mile days. I get off about every hour, hour and a half to stretch or fill up or get a drink of water. Walk around a bit. It keeps you much more alert and you dont get so used to the speed. Just like in your cage you will find as time goes by you keep running just a bit faster and faster. You lose focus and thats what will get you rear in a bind.

Needless to say have your bike in top shape.

Great advice! This is the kind of stuff I'm looking for.

My strategy for longer trips, is going to be trying to take a break every 100 miles, even if it's only pulling off for a whiz, a bottle of water, a smoke, and a stretch.

Before I head out for a 600-1200 mile trip, I plan on dropping the bike by the dealership and having them go through the whole bike. If there are any major problems impending, I'd rather deal with them here, than by the side of the road. Eh, mechanically, I'm kind of a dumb-azz when it comes to the Roadie. (Still galls me that I have to remove the fuel tank to check the damned spark plugs!)

I'm going to set 4-500 miles/day and see how I feel, and then adjust accordingly. I probably won't be doing any riding at night, but if I'm going from Tennessee to visit friends in Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, or wherever, those trips are the ones where I'm going to be riding primarily on the highways, since time will be of the essence.

For other leisurely trips, yeah... I think I'd prefer to remain off of the highways.

DKLAZ

I've been on a couple of rides in the Phoenix/Tucson area and have become a one man chamber of commerce for them. I believe it was Southeast of Tucson last year that a friend took me on a ride that entailed a lot of two lane blacktop with the desert flowers growing right up to the edge of the pavement. Each clump of flowers you passed gave you a different smell as the flowers were only a few feet from you nose. I swear I could close my eyes after awhile, and describe the flower just by the smell.
We visited a ranch settled in the 1800's and a state park on top of a mountain. Took the whole day and what a beautiful trip made even more special by the 3 to 4 hours on this great bike!

You're a lucky man to live in that area.

Papa Bear wrote:
Good advice DKLAZ. Only add to make sure you have good sun screen and lip balm.
Papa Bear


This is something that you will over look if your not careful. I have ridden from Pittsburgh to Rolla Mo. in a day and wound up burnt and never felt a thing. The wind will burn you too after a while.
Out there with the wind in your face you never think of this...lol.