I haven't had my bike long and so far I've been very cautious with it. This is the largest bike I've owned (only 250's before this), and when I bought it I'd been off riding for 5 years. So in a ways getting use to the duc has been like learning to ride anew.
But I've got up some miles now and thought today would be a good time to have a go at the freeway. Up to now I'd only been on it twice and it was not a pleasant experience. The buffeting headwind (I've ditched the fairing) made me want to hang on too tightly to relax. Worse still were the cars coming up behind and around me all wanting to do over the speed limit. Nevertheless, time for another go at it. There's a section of freeway close to where I live that I'm quite familiar with. I can go up it for 10 minutes, then come back 10 minutes, back and forth like that. So I start off in the slow lane. That way I can do the speed limit or back off a bit if I feel the need and anyone can get past me easily enough.
So on the fourth run, I don't know, I start to relax. I'm getting some headwind buffeting but it's not too bad. The bike is quite stable and I realize a little headwind buffeting is of no concern. My grip is very light on the bars now, only really enough to hold the throttle open. I start to move around on the seat and pegs a bit. The bike stays very solid beneath me. And then I get the feeling she wants to go. I'm in 6th gear at 4500 revs. I find an opening ahead and open her up. She loves it! She just pulls and pulls effortlessly up to 90 mph. The cars behind me are just specs in my bar ends. Again and again I do this. After a few more runs up and down I decide I better call it a day before I get nicked or worse. Think I've finally got to experience something of the monster's true character >
But I've got up some miles now and thought today would be a good time to have a go at the freeway. Up to now I'd only been on it twice and it was not a pleasant experience. The buffeting headwind (I've ditched the fairing) made me want to hang on too tightly to relax. Worse still were the cars coming up behind and around me all wanting to do over the speed limit. Nevertheless, time for another go at it. There's a section of freeway close to where I live that I'm quite familiar with. I can go up it for 10 minutes, then come back 10 minutes, back and forth like that. So I start off in the slow lane. That way I can do the speed limit or back off a bit if I feel the need and anyone can get past me easily enough.
So on the fourth run, I don't know, I start to relax. I'm getting some headwind buffeting but it's not too bad. The bike is quite stable and I realize a little headwind buffeting is of no concern. My grip is very light on the bars now, only really enough to hold the throttle open. I start to move around on the seat and pegs a bit. The bike stays very solid beneath me. And then I get the feeling she wants to go. I'm in 6th gear at 4500 revs. I find an opening ahead and open her up. She loves it! She just pulls and pulls effortlessly up to 90 mph. The cars behind me are just specs in my bar ends. Again and again I do this. After a few more runs up and down I decide I better call it a day before I get nicked or worse. Think I've finally got to experience something of the monster's true character >