Interstate highway riding advice

Hi new rider here. I am getting bounced around a bit on my 2003 K1200GT bike. Going the normal speed. Yes there was a bit of a cross wind.

I paced myself in right lane center. Moderate traffic here in Chicago area. 50s weather. Good spacing. Bike performed well. New tires. Recent service. No recommendations on shocks or alignment. 26k miles the bike. Rear shock set middle. No baggage weight. Rider 6ft 250 lbs. Speed between 60 and 70. Plenty of power available if needed. Road resurfaced and clean.

Tried screen up, then down, flatter riding on the bike. Then more normal seating on this K1200GT. I didn't feel stuck to the ground like I wanted it to be.

Any suggestions?

jrmull said:

Hi new rider here. I am getting bounced around a bit on my 2003 K1200GT bike. Going the normal speed. Yes there was a bit of a cross wind.

I paced myself in right lane center. Moderate traffic here in Chicago area. 50s weather. Good spacing. Bike performed well. New tires. Recent service. No recommendations on shocks or alignment. 26k miles the bike. Rear shock set middle. No baggage weight. Rider 6ft 250 lbs. Speed between 60 and 70. Plenty of power available if needed. Road resurfaced and clean.

Tried screen up, then down, flatter riding on the bike. Then more normal seating on this K1200GT. I didn't feel stuck to the ground like I wanted it to be.

Any suggestions?

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Wind and turbulence will move a motorcycle around a bit. The lighter the bike, the moreso. But, for many riders the effect is exaggerated because the wind is actually moving the rider's upper body and this movement is transmitted via the rider's arms to the handlebars. So in crosswinds and turbulence it is important to relax the grip and keep the arms "loose" so as to not let the wind on the body move the bike around.

Avoid tensing up when gusts from wind or trucks hit you. Keep a relaxed grip on the bars. It will take quite a strong wind to move a 1200 around much you just need to get used to it a bit. Spend a little time thinking about relaxing your neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs and feet. Once you start paying attention to it you will recognize it. Stay out of the hurricanes for awhile.

The first year I had my 2003 K1200RS it would feel like it had a slight weave when riding in dirty air of large vehicles.
Warranty replaced the front ball joints and that fixed the problem.

One of the great things about riding on the Interstate Highways is the time to travel is greatly reduced absent heavy traffic or an accident.

One also gains a much greater appreciation for the so-called blue highways or back roads where the pace is slower, one can meet interesting folks, traffic is often very low, and the scenery is often spectacular.

A book was written about travelling the blue highways -

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Highways-Journey-into-America/dp/0316353299

Here is a presentation about the Blue Highway book ...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wbfr3TuZgOI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Illinois Riding

In Illinois just because the road has been recently repaved does not make it smooth, I have been bounced off seat many times by imperfections in newly repaved roads. If the problems not fixed before repaying old imperfections show up again, one very fine example west of Peoria on US 24
Also if you have heavy truck traffic on road the road get slight ruts or wheel tracks in pavement the right and left wheel track will be smother than the center try riding in the left or center wheel track see if it makes a difference. Older bike suspension may be not so good.

Some good advice already here. More will come along in the next day or so.

My only added suggestion is to examine your expectations of motorcycle riding. As a self-named new rider, perhaps you expected riding to be similar to driving your car? If so, you will get over it soon enough. Riding a motorcycle is supposed to be different--even travel on a Goldwing (the standard of luxury two-wheel travel) is bouncier and twitchier than a car (unless you are in a 50s vintage MG or some equivalent). If motorcycling is in your heart and soul, you will quickly forget to notice anything except the exhilaration and delight of the wind in your face. And for some folks, motorcycling never penetrates to the heart and soul level. Those folks keep the bike in the garage except for weekends with nice weather. We refer to those machines as butt jewelry.

Hope you reach the gut level quickly. Good luck.

Thank you for the suggestions. I found several good youtube items on highway riding. I will keep up the research.

An example is MCrider. Pretty good guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEZqDZwrCOg

I like your point on what my expectations are. After 8 years of riding back in the day, one family life ago, retired now. I just enjoy riding. We would call is motorcycle Spring fever back in Iowa and the early 70's. Something about no helmet, wind in the face, no windshield, no goggles, on a Honda 160 then later Honda 350. Always admired the BMW R75 though. One long trip from Chicago to Tucson on that Honda 160 was for need and later a commuting vehicle in AZ.

Fast forward, yep good idea to have a full face helmet. Bright safety jacket, pants, boots. ABS is a must. I already had the70s experience locking the fronts and road rash with shorts and flip-flops.

Today, I try to riding daily (when dry) an hour just tooling around the town. The 2003 K1200GT so far has been pleasure. I know exactly the feeling I had in the 70s when ever I forget to pull the face shield down. Wind hitting the face like old days. Those darn state laws and law of probability. Aside from the frequent dodging cars, it hasn't been too bad. After a month to local, I ventured to the interstate for some practice. BMW dealers are a good hour trip on interstates. Good excuse to be on it.

A future bucket list is another expectation for a long trip out West though Utah and such. No need for me to go 120 mph but I prefer to have a solid bike and keep up with traffic. Can't afford the $30k new bikes. This 2003 was $18k when new and well taken care of I think. The K1600GT and K1200LT seems too big for my taste. The K1200 has plenty of power. The K1200GT seems right, well so far until I got my first taste of Interstate riding.

However is it bike tuning, rider technique tuning, or riding experience? Ok for me to keep adding to experience as long as this K1200GT isn't a twitchy mistake to use. I am into more touring style than knee dragging turns. Although I do have a mild fever problem.

Is an R1200 better or worse for my condition? Would an upgrade to 2007 K1200GT improve this? K1200C style. Your experiences

In the meantime, I will look into a weak damper and ball bearing topic. Recent mechanics road tested and declared it road worthy.


Regards John

Ride experience

If you go to the MOA.org page on toolbar at top heading called tools go to charted clubs and check out local clubs you will find a couple good ones in Chicago area talk to them get together with them I am sure you will find an old experienced K bike rider willing to take your bike for a spin and let you know it’s ok

I found a seasoned BMW K rider in town. We will take a couple rides together. Might take a week or so but let you know if in the head or mechanical.

robsryder said:

One of the great things about riding on the Interstate Highways is the time to travel is greatly reduced absent heavy traffic or an accident.

One also gains a much greater appreciation for the so-called blue highways or back roads where the pace is slower, one can meet interesting folks, traffic is often very low, and the scenery is often spectacular.

A book was written about travelling the blue highways -

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Highways-Journey-into-America/dp/0316353299

Here is a presentation about the Blue Highway book ...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wbfr3TuZgOI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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WOW what a great video! I had heard about the book but never read it. I plan on reading it now for sure and the follow up book as I have a fondness for Kansas and the Fly Over status. thanks for sharing

Another Great Travel Book

I've been using a travel book for cross-country MC trips for years. It's well worth the $20.

Here's a screenshot of the Amazon page:



One interesting place to which it guided me was the site where Bonnie and Clyde met their demise:

ExGMan said:

I've been using a travel book for cross-country MC trips for years. It's well worth the $20.

Here's a screenshot of the Amazon page:

View attachment 71472

One interesting place to which it guided me was the site where Bonnie and Clyde met their demise:

View attachment 71473

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Thanks for the tip...just ordered the book.

Larry - You'll like it a lot. Lots of good advice in it, and I think it's revised every year or so.

Bend, OR, eh? Been there, and like it a lot! You're in a good spot.

JG

jrmull said:

I found a seasoned BMW K rider in town. We will take a couple rides together. Might take a week or so but let you know if in the head or mechanical.

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This is a good idea.

ExGMan said:

Larry - You'll like it a lot. Lots of good advice in it, and I think it's revised every year or so.

Bend, OR, eh? Been there, and like it a lot! You're in a good spot.

JG

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We love it here. Lived all over the U.S. during my corporate career...once I retired and we found Bend, it was an easy decision to move here.

powwow said:

We love it here. Lived all over the U.S. during my corporate career...once I retired and we found Bend, it was an easy decision to move here.

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Annie and I were in La Pine in September for Reuben Run VII: it’s a FJR event. Wonderful place to ride, beautiful scenery and weather much like it is here in west central Montana. The traffic on Hwy 97 was surprisingly unpleasant, but once we were there we were able to avoid it for the most part.

akbeemer said:

Annie and I were in La Pine in September for Rueban Run VII: it’s a FJR event. Wonderful place to ride, beautiful scenery and weather much like it is here in west central Montana. The traffic on Hwy 97 was surprisingly unpleasant, but once we were there we were able to avoid it for the most part.

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Hwy 97 unpleasant is an understatement...best avoided if at all possible. Of course, it wasn't built with the intention there would be 100,000 people living in Bend, OR, given there were 12,000 in the 70's!