Highway Riding - Monster 696

[tlh235]

Question to all monster owners:  when riding on the highway, do you tend to sit normally on your bike or crouch down over the tank.  I am new to riding and have recently got brave enough(new rider) to venture out on the highway with some consistency.  I'm no speed freak, but i ask for this reason... the wind resistance is somewhat of a big deal when on the highway(65 and above) vs on a normal street(65 and below).  I am also a smaller dude(5'7, 135).  i find the wind resistance huge at higher speeds, so i tend to crouch down more...not that it helps a huge amount but it does lessen the feeling that i'm gonna fly off the back end.  I was just wondering if this is the case for most?  do you crouch or just deal?

oh and one other thing, the motorcycle wave...when seeing another rider, the low hand wave...when traveling at a higher speed, i just don't feel comfortable taking my hand off the grips...so i've been giving a head nod.  thoughts...hopefully that isn't too much of a dick move.

[Nomad]

I'm not sure how different the seating positions are, but I have an older monster with clip ons and find that up to about 80mph for any sustained length of time is okay, anything over that and I tend to lay down more.  But up until that time, as long as you point your head down a little, grip the tank with your knees, and lean forward a tad, they wind should prop you up nicely and actually sort of adds to a comfortable position... but that's just me.
     As far as the wave, worry about safety first, if you're not comfortable, don't do it.  After a while you'll be comfortable enough to take a hand off the bars if you want.  That said, the bike is going to want to stay upright and going in a straight line at speed, it isn't going to do anything crazy if you take your hand off the grips for a second.

[Raux]

Question to all monster owners:  when riding on the highway, do you tend to sit normally on your bike or crouch down over the tank.  I am new to riding and have recently got brave enough(new rider) to venture out on the highway with some consistency.  I'm no speed freak, but i ask for this reason... the wind resistance is somewhat of a big deal when on the highway(65 and above) vs on a normal street(65 and below).  I am also a smaller dude(5'7, 135).  i find the wind resistance huge at higher speeds, so i tend to crouch down more...not that it helps a huge amount but it does lessen the feeling that i'm gonna fly off the back end.  I was just wondering if this is the case for most?  do you crouch or just deal?

oh and one other thing, the motorcycle wave...when seeing another rider, the low hand wave...when traveling at a higher speed, i just don't feel comfortable taking my hand off the grips...so i've been giving a head nod.  thoughts...hopefully that isn't too much of a dick move.

depends on the speed, what i'm wearing and actual wind speeds (ie crosswinds).

with my tighter leathers, 110mph i can still stay up a bit. with my loose fitting fabric... forget it, feels like i'm wearing a sail at 85mph.

but don't get so low that you look like your humping the tank. no need for that anywhere below 100mph.

if you have massive crosswinds that are pulling you around you'll want to go a bit lower the sail effect as well.

as for the wave... a nod, a finger lift (clutch side of course) or a wave are fine. but safety first. If I'm in a corner I don't even think about it. But on the highway slab, sure why not. and it's a low one off the bar a bit. high ones are like sticking your hand out your window of dad's car as a kid, like flying  a kite.

by the way, i nod like a bow, not like a 'whatsup'.

but above all, if you don't feel comfortable doing something don't. you know your limits, stick to them. ride safe. 

[bikepilot]

I'm a little bigger than you (block more wind) and don't find wind resistance bothersome at freeway speeds on my wife's 620.  I think its probably just a matter of you getting used to it.  Tucking in a bit is perfectly fine.  You should use your legs and feet mostly to maintain body position and keep the arms loose and free to steer, they shouldn't be what keeps you from blowing off or falling forward.  Maybe try scooting back on the seat a little bit too. 

Don't wave if you aren't comfortable, but if just crusing down the highway has you that tense and uncomfortable I really think you should get some training and practice before riding around on roads with cages.  Maybe a rider course then a track day school to get comfortable on the bike in a controlled, safe environment.

Good luck! 

[stopintime]

When we're new riders, any new experience on the bike will feel..... new. Maybe even scary.

You will get used to it. Gripping the tank with your thighs will help. Lean forward as much as want, but not by pulling the bars.

If you can't wait - maybe a higher windscreen for Christmas.

http://www.monsterparts.com/c/WS-M696-796-1100/WS-M696-796-1100.html

[ManaloEA]

The wave at highway speeds is not so much of a problem, when you stop pulling on and death gripping the bars.

Also, to grip the tank better, you could try getting up on the balls of your feet on the pegs, almost to your toes. When you do this, leaning forward is more natural. Also, relax and loosen your shoulders, and tuck your elbows in.

[Twizted]

oh and one other thing, the motorcycle wave...when seeing another rider, the low hand wave...when traveling at a higher speed, i just don't feel comfortable taking my hand off the grips...so i've been giving a head nod.  thoughts...hopefully that isn't too much of a dick move.

The head nod is fine. It is all I use as I am not keen on taking my hands off the bars at speed either.

[CDChase1981]

I sometimes do a head nod instead of a wave, especially if I'm turning. I just try to make the nod exaggerated enough to be visible.

On my 696 I usually sit normally, but if I'm facing a cross wind, I'll tuck in a little more. I found my mesh gear has a lot more drag than my tighter fitting leather gear.

[Goat_Herder]

tlh235 - we are basically the same size (a little heavier than you).  Since we are shorter, the normal riding position has us leaning forward a little bit more, reaching for the bars.  On hwy, I found it more comfortable if I move back a little bit on the seat.  I would drop my elbows and lean forward more.  I would also lock my knees in the tank (squeezing knees and feet pushing up from the peg).  That helps me stablize in head wind and cross wind. 

[thought]

for body positioning on the highway, i just do whatever is comfortable for me at that moment.  when it's super windy out, then yes, tucking in helps a lot but most of the time i'm at 3/4's.  but most of the time i move around just to stretch the lower back and keep it from getting too tight.  dont forget to loosen up your arms and grip the tank with your knees.  being really tight on the bars will make any movement from the wind affect you a lot more.  you want your body to be loose so it acts like a shock absorber from all those little jarring movements.

and i always wave, normally a quick low one, like raux said sticking your hand up just gets it blown around.  that being said, when i'm on the highway, i dont bother waving.  i mean, if there is a divider btwn us, there's really no point.  a head nod at that point is more than enough imo.

[Privateer]

the wind resistance is somewhat of a big deal when on the highway(65 and above) vs on a normal street(65 and below).  I am also a smaller dude(5'7, 135).  i find the wind resistance huge at higher speeds,

make sure your gear fits properly.  If you're not that big of a dude and feel the wind is excessive, I'd think your jacket is too big.  I know when I wear one of my jackets that's a little bigger (i lost weight) I absolutely feel more wind buffeting.

[Raux]

make sure your gear fits properly.  If you're not that big of a dude and feel the wind is excessive, I'd think your jacket is too big.  I know when I wear one of my jackets that's a little bigger (i lost weight) I absolutely feel more wind buffeting.

+1

[bikepilot]

That's very true on the jacket.  Also I find that leather tends to have less resistance than textiles.