still learnin'...

just back off & chill thats the beauty of a hack, it don't have to be fast to be fun. Hank

Hi Ophi: The only vehicle I recall over-taking during the past year on our little Sportster rig is a farm tractor. Don't even know if I can pass a semi going 65mph, but the wind buffeting and other factors make me leary of the attempt. I simply try avoid big hi-ways as much as practical and enjoy the ride -- and plan a little extra time for the trip.

So you're saying don't run interstate and if you do don't pass the big rigs. What if they pass you?? I know, being a smart alec! but seems like you should be able to pass if the need arises. Not all trucks creating turbulence run on the interstate.

Hey Barend, I didn't mean to suggest that anyone else not run interstate, just that I prefer not to run interstate, but even then, we drove 20 miles of interstate today. Didn't pass any trucks, but had a half dozen or so pass us -- only a couple of those created turbulence sufficient to affect the rig. Did run the rig up past 70mph a couple of times, so I suppose I will be able to overtake a rig when the need arises, but I just don't like it.

I think whether or not a rider travels at super slab speeds depends a lot on whether or not they feel comfortable doing it and just as importantly whether or not the rig is comfortable and capable of doing it.

I'm riding Dave Keesee's previous rig, a Yamaha V-Star 1100 w/ Hannigan Classic, and it's comfortable as well as capable of traveling at chase me, catch me, give me a performance award speeds. I often nudge the posted limit and the low slung stability and aerodynamic lines of the sidecar make passing and speedy highway travel easy with little buffeting.

How well the rig performs is very dependent on the tug. Smaller displacement or less powerful rigs are sometimes just not suitable for highway usage. If you remain aware of the capabilities of your bike and remain within those capabilities you'll have a lot of fun on the rig. Exceeding those same capabilities can be dangerous,destructive to the rig or disastrous for both rig aqnd rider.

I'm still a newbie but here's my observation.

I ride my rig to work daily. I take a route that's a little out of the way but has a 4 lane road (2 both ways). At first I was concerned that I wasn't able to get up to speed to keep up with traffic. I had not intention to be the fastest vehicle on the road, but I definitely didn't want to be the slowest. The more I've ridden I've been able to get it up there (about 70mph on this particular road). But now that I can do it I've decided I don't really need or want to. I'll pass a semi or two in the morning only to have them get up to speed and blow by me later.

I haven't tackled a super slab and on my current rig I have no intention to even try. I'd much rather run the back roads and enjoy the ride. And I guess I'm weird because I always have actually enjoyed the smell of diesel.

But everyone rides different and for different reasons. As long as your comfortable with yourself and your rig I don't think it matters if your passing or being passed by semi's. But yea the turbulence from the first few are an eye opener.

Originally written by Tomcat101147 on 6/28/2009 2:20 PM

I think whether or not a rider travels at super slab speeds depends a lot on whether or not they feel comfortable doing it and just as importantly whether or not the rig is comfortable and capable of doing it.

I'm riding Dave Keesee's previous rig, a Yamaha V-Star 1100 w/ Hannigan Classic, and it's comfortable as well as capable of traveling at chase me, catch me, give me a performance award speeds. I often nudge the posted limit and the low slung stability and aerodynamic lines of the sidecar make passing and speedy highway travel easy with little buffeting.

How well the rig performs is very dependent on the tug. Smaller displacement or less powerful rigs are sometimes just not suitable for highway usage. If you remain aware of the capabilities of your bike and remain within those capabilities you'll have a lot of fun on the rig. Exceeding those same capabilities can be dangerous,destructive to the rig or disastrous for both rig aqnd rider.

Yes, a lot depends on the rig itself. A whole lot depends on the driver as well. There is no reason a well setup rig with sufficient power cannot run on the super slab if desired. Buffeting from truck traffic is something that one will get used to and deal with. Persaonally I hate the interstates and prefer the back roads but the slabs usually do allow a quicker trip from point 'a' to point 'b' when the needs arises.
If we need to cruise at 75 or 80 on the slab we do so. If not the back roads are much preferred.
Someone said years ago that the creation of the interstate highway system has made it possible to drive coast to coast and not see anything.

I am more comfortable at 55 than at 75. My rig doesn't care ...can do either, but it is nice to have the power to do the slab if necessary. I would much rather do the slab than go trough the traffic of cities and think that it is safer to avoid those areas especially if I do not know the territory. Seldom if ever pass anyone that is moving.

As already posted by others, I believe it is a matter of personal preference. Having the power and ability to drive the slabs usually means we have gotten smarter and choose to avoid them unless time or conditions require it. Knowing we can, does not mean we have to. Maybe riding the back roads at 55 or less is our way of "stopping to smell the roses" along the way (while also increasing our gas mileage).

I think rule of thumb is as everyone else has said, and go at a rate you and your vehicle as one are comfortable with. Although I giggle as I remember passing a truck with the yamaha XS650 and hack loaded with girlfreind and child. No, they didn't get out and push, but it sure wouldve helped. I think it was the 3 of us screaming "Banzai"!!! That got us safely past. Ha ha ha. Much different than my wideglide harley with a 124" S&S with hack rig. You kinda forgot you had a 3rd wheel sometimes. That is until your passenger screamed at you to slow down. "Oh, hey, how's the weather down there? Can you hand me a soda"?

But I had to go to the dentist to have my fillings put back in after riding a freinds royal enfield rig at wide open throttle. I told him next time just take me to sears and strap my head in the paint shaker. Definitely not an all day superslab machine. But fun on the backroads.

I have a 08 Yamaha Venture and a Champion Escort which used to be attached to a Yamaha Silverado 1100. About 4 weeks ago I took the Venture on our first long ride from San Antonio TX to North East Tx to Athens then to Dallas My wife and I had a really wonderful trip on the back roads of Texas. Visited my Son in Dallas and decided to ride I35 south back to SA. I totally enjoyed the ride on that piece of slab. I also enjoyed the looks, smiles and thumbs up from the people that pass us and that we pass also. Even the stop and go traffic in Austin was, I wont say enjoyable but wasn't evil either. It gave others a chance to really get a look at the rig.

The steering dampner and the cruise control took a load off my arms and shoulder. I was tired at the end, but I wasn't hurting.

Looking forward to my next long trip to where ever!!