Awesome, BB. I'll take you up on that offer.

Naw, the interstates don't really scare me, but I have respect for the fact that when things go wrong at higher speeds, they can go pear-shaped in a hurry, and the consequences are liable to be quite grim.

When I scuba dive, I am aware that yeah, I stand a very slim chance of being eaten by a shark. It's an acceptable and manageable risk. I can't dive if I don't step off the boat into the ocean.

That's how I feel about motorcycling. I can't do it until I just do it. I'm going to test things out cautiously first though, as part of managing risk.

There have been a few occasions where I've geared-up for a dive, only to get that ugly feeling in the pit of my stomach that says, "Nope. Not this time," and I've always heeded it, even though it sucks to scrub a dive. I did the same thing when I was flying planes and ultralights.

The idea of riding the superslab doesn't scare me, but I do want to be prepared and aware of the things that can go wrong, and the risks inherent in taking the highway versus riding around town.

If I know the risks, then I can manage them and I'll be prepared for them.

Roadhawg, thank you for that advice. Much appreciated.

Frank_W wrote:
That's a relief! I've heard about the BMW Riders' Association, and H.O.G., that put out directories of phone numbers of people willing to help Beemer or Harley riders who have trouble on the road. I don't suppose there's something like that for us, is there?

Frank, I belong to thenewx.org it's just a web site like this, each year at least once maybe several times we all wheel at Rausch Creek. If I had any trouble anywhere, any one who possibly could would come help me in any state. They stick with me to I was running. I seriously would do the same and expect the same from anyone here.

Now, on the Slab, 95% of all my bike miles been on super slab. I took four NSC Defensive Driving Courses. They stress being in Middle of any three lane same direction road. At the Post office where I used to work in DC you were fired if observed traveling in left or right lane when 3 were available unless exiting or entering the roadway. The reason why is in that lane (The travel lane) There are the least reasons for a lane change. They say that the right lane is for enter and exit, and Left lane is for crazy speeding drivers. Middle lane is for sane travelers and in that lane you have an out to left and right if you manage your space properly. (Always have space to change lanes either left or right)

No matter what the lane or number of them, best lane is the one that leaves you an out. (A place to go in a hurry)

Try to keep off shoulders, they have trash such as fallen nails from roofing trucks and so fourth.

The Left lane in any state is the ticket lane, no matter how fast you are going, person in left lane gets the ticket. So be brief in left lanes.

Watch for this at entrances, especially in three lanes. You are in middle lane, People are merging onto hwy into right lane. Jerk who is behind someone entering decides he wants to enter faster and quickly jumps into Middle lane without seeing you because they are in such a hurry. They will run right into your front tire. So in that situation keep your out going to the left lane. I see this happen a lot. Your in the right and they are wrong but remember..... you can be dead right.

Some of the metal seams where a bridge meets the Slab are at an angle and are slippery when even misty. Treat em like Ice. Just glide over them no leaning, turning, braking or acceleration.

Super Slab is not the hood, there are plenty of people on that road that are strangers to it. Be on the lookout for last minute exits and quick moves and lane changes especially around exits. They are basically lost. (same as you LOL)

And stay the heck away from trucks, The tires can blow at anytime and parts and part of their loads also have been known to fall off. (Even dual Wheels)

Because it's limited access, it's much safer than riding country roads IF you manage the space you are moving into.

A crash occurs when two vehicles try to occupy the same space. They call em crashes, it's not an accident unless if could not have been avoided, rarely is that the case.

Move with the flow!

MC

Excellent. Middle lane, for the win! And yeah... I don't hang around trucks anymore than I have to. I either just let 'em go on by, or else I'll rev a little and get out of their blind spots. I have no desire to be a hood ornament. Trucks have chrome, bikes have chrome, and as long as we each keep our own chrome to ourselves, it's all good.

Thanks again.

Well Frank it's pretty much all been said and all good advise. Having been coast to coast several times myself and was lucky enough to have experienced people with me the only thing I will add is to have a spare key somewhere you can retrieve it on the bike and take all your important stuff out of you wallet,drivers license,insurance papers,credit cards and such,put them together on a copier and pack the copy away with some cash incase you misplace your wallet.
My .02cents anywho. Enjoy!

Good idea! I hadn't thought of that. I was reading another article by a guy who said he always kept two wallets: The one with his important stuff and most of his cash, was kept in an inside pocket. The "throw-away" wallet had $10 in it, and that's the one he kept in his back pocket, in case he was held up. I thought that was pretty clever...

I forgot to mention that when I was trucking, I lost a complete set of duals off of my tractor, complete with the axle one time. Keeper ring broke in the differential and the axle on one side slid completely out with the duals still mounted on the drum. This was no junk truck either, it was almost a new Peterbilt. Stay away from trucks. The rubber coming off the tires is not due to blowouts. Those are recaps peeling off. Truck companies routinely use recap tires on the trailers to save money. When a tire on the tractor wears out, they are recapped and put on the trailer.

If I find a whole freakin' AXLE bouncing down the road at my azz, I'll pretty much figure the Man Upstairs has punched my dance card.

kayakguy wrote:
IMO, the biggest danger to bikers on the SuperHighways is the Semi-truck drivers. Some of those guys are a piece of work. You'll be cruising down a highway and see a couple of Semi's in the slow lane ahead. One behind the other. You swing into the left lane to pass. You'll be going 80 and they're doing about 60. The idiot in the rear semi will wait until you're right on top of him and will pull out in front of you, half the time without even signaling. I've had this happen to me numerous times on I-5, I-80, and I-15. My guess is this is common manners for truckers all over the U.S. I came close to locking up my brakes not to long ago. Flipping these guys the bird only gets a grin back. On an interstate, this is the one thing you really have to be aware of.

As a truck driver when an idiot trucker pulls out in front of you after your shure he saw you!Do the rest of us mc riding truckers a favor get the trailer number ,who he drives for,you'll have time being he pulled out in front of you turn the idiot in we don't need anymore people out there that doesn't care!slezy

slezy wrote:
kayakguy wrote:
IMO, the biggest danger to bikers on the SuperHighways is the Semi-truck drivers. Some of those guys are a piece of work. You'll be cruising down a highway and see a couple of Semi's in the slow lane ahead. One behind the other. You swing into the left lane to pass. You'll be going 80 and they're doing about 60. The idiot in the rear semi will wait until you're right on top of him and will pull out in front of you, half the time without even signaling. I've had this happen to me numerous times on I-5, I-80, and I-15. My guess is this is common manners for truckers all over the U.S. I came close to locking up my brakes not to long ago. Flipping these guys the bird only gets a grin back. On an interstate, this is the one thing you really have to be aware of.

As a truck driver when an idiot trucker pulls out in front of you after your shure he saw you!Do the rest of us mc riding truckers a favor get the trailer number ,who he drives for,you'll have time being he pulled out in front of you turn the idiot in we don't need anymore people out there that doesn't care!slezy

Right on Slezy, a real trucker is very professional and safe.

Frank_W wrote:
If I find a whole freakin' AXLE bouncing down the road at my azz, I'll pretty much figure the Man Upstairs has punched my dance card.

Don't forget the two bigazz dual wheels and tires that were still attached to one end of it.