SPEED! How to get comfortable at speed???

[Grainbelt]

Drop your elbows, drop your shoulders, and breathe.

Looking farther ahead is great advice as well.  

[bomber]

there's some great advice in here, as well as some good advice that has little to do with being comfortable at speed. (there's also some plain old opinion that masquerades as fact, but that's to be expected.)

Spd's right -- you're ready for more training.

You area ALWAYS ready for more training.

That said, noting in the MSF basic or intermediate courses will directly prepare you for interstate riding. They are good to teach, and refine, skills,and can certainly increase your confindence. These are worthy and worthwhile goals.

A screen might be for you, but it might not. Millions of riders reach 80+ speeds daily with no screen whatsoever -- you can too, should you choose to.

Mostly, to get more comfortable doing something, do more of it.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be fun.

;-}

[Cars5585]

Do not use the rear brake. I rode with a new rider on the highway and he paniced and locked the rear brake. The bike went down and he slid on his back for at least 300ft. Also, my experience has been to relax my body as much as possible. Be in control of the motorcycle, but you will wear yourself out if you have a death grip on the bars and your thighs squeezing the tank. The bike wants to stand up at highway speeds so there is not reason to try and muscle the bike where you want. Instead use your body weight to control the bike. You will be able to go longer distances and be much more enjoyable. But I also agree with other posts that say to avoid the interstate. They are boring anyways. Stay alert of cars and avoid their blind spots. Most people wont even check their blind spot before switching lanes. I cant tell you how many times I have been cut off while riding.

[Mhbouch285]

Time and experience should make you more comfortable

[bikerfish1100]

Do not use the rear brake. I rode with a new rider on the highway and he paniced and locked the rear brake. The bike went down and he slid on his back for at least 300ft. Also, my experience has been to relax my body as much as possible. Be in control of the motorcycle, but you will wear yourself out if you have a death grip on the bars and your thighs squeezing the tank. The bike wants to stand up at highway speeds so there is not reason to try and muscle the bike where you want. Instead use your body weight to control the bike. You will be able to go longer distances and be much more enjoyable. But I also agree with other posts that say to avoid the interstate. They are boring anyways. Stay alert of cars and avoid their blind spots. Most people wont even check their blind spot before switching lanes. I cant tell you how many times I have been cut off while riding.

So is that the new corollary to "stay away from the front brake, it'll kill ya!" ??

and you would recommend what instead? flapping those thighs in the breeze?

[ConPilot1]

Do not use the rear brake. I rode with a new rider on the highway and he paniced and locked the rear brake. The bike went down and he slid on his back for at least 300ft. Also, my experience has been to relax my body as much as possible. Be in control of the motorcycle, but you will wear yourself out if you have a death grip on the bars and your thighs squeezing the tank. The bike wants to stand up at highway speeds so there is not reason to try and muscle the bike where you want. Instead use your body weight to control the bike. You will be able to go longer distances and be much more enjoyable. But I also agree with other posts that say to avoid the interstate. They are boring anyways. Stay alert of cars and avoid their blind spots. Most people wont even check their blind spot before switching lanes. I cant tell you how many times I have been cut off while riding.

Whaaaaaaaaa?? Bike wants to stand up at highway speeds? Don't use the rear brake??  

No offense pal but I would seriously question your qualification to be advising anybody of anything motorcycle-wise.

And a 300 foot slide would equate to a rider down at about 80 MPH. You're taking a new rider without the sense not to panic and rear brake slam on an 80 MPH or better highway run? Sliding on his back? Gear? Leathers? Backpad? God I'd like to know because the only thing I know of that MIGHT survive a 300 ft slide would be full race competition grade leathers or a full on Kevlar suit. Newbies tend not to have those.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Do not use the rear brake.

"use the rear brake judiciously"  

You sound one of those "other guys" who say "Never use the front brake. I had a buddy use the front brake once and he went over the bars  "  

Anyway, you have two brakes for a reason. Use them both, but learn to use them correctly.  

[Justin]

Do not use the rear brake.

30ish % of your stopping power is in the rear brake. That could be the difference between new underwear or a new bike.

[Papa Lazarou]

Different experiences I guess. For me the Bonneville T100 (no windscreen) is as comfortable on freeways as it is on 2 lane roads. I do feel the wind increase as speed goes up, beginning about 70mph, but no sense of the wind pushing me back in the seat, no need to grip harder, hands can relax no problem.

The wind blast will start around 80 on a Bonnie. It gets a bit tiring to ride at 80 on a naked all day. I find I can do bursts of 95 or so for 20 minutes at a time but then drop my speed back to 80.

[Shirker]

If it's cold.............all bets are off. If it's freezing, don't even take the bet. If it's below -24F/-7C have the right equipment or counting 'em when you get off doesn't mean they will still work. Ever.

[Kootenanny]

If it's cold.............all bets are off. If it's freezing, don't even take the bet. If it's below -24F/-7C have the right equipment or counting 'em when you get off doesn't mean they will still work. Ever.

I'd never suggest a novice rider attempt riding at anything even approaching those temperatures.   Never mind the fingers (and the fact it can be really hard to operate the controls when you can't feel them), at that cold there are traction issues even before you consider the possibility of ice on the road...