Kinda a Newb ?

Up until now I have only been on the interstate on a bike twice. It isn't the speed that get's me it's that people in Tennesse can't drive, and I like the curves of the Tn back roads. I've lived here my whole life, I know. I've recently moved to an area that has an all but abandoned stretch of interstate (I840), so I've been wanting to take that route to work.
On my recon in my car I notice that where the concrete on ramp meets the asphault interstate there's about a 1.5" CLIFF type increase in elevation between the concrete and asphault. I've never tried to merge thru a lane that's that uneven. What's the best approach to that type of lane change? I'm thinking stay wide on the ramp and cut alittle harder than usual so the approach is more head on and less of a merge.? Is this right, or will the bike just roll right over it w/normal lean? I may sound paranoid, but I totaled a Nija this time last year (some kid pulled out infront of me four days after I bought it) and I still can't seem to shak the jitters ....

Thank guys
James

 

Better to think about it than die!

Good question!
Wasteing a Ninja will give you the jitters.
You never approach uneven pavement slowly and parallel to it. Always be as perpendicular as you can. If you can, hit it straight on. Hit it as straight as you can and hold the bars tight so that the edge does not jerk them away from you. And it will try. If you need to cross it from the side lean hard into it, never drift into it. Stay away from grooves too.
It's sure better to be carefull than sorry. Soon you will feel more confident and be able to relax. When I got back on a bike after being off for 20 years, I spent an hour a day for a few days in a parking lot just practicing hauling it down to a stop from 60 and 70 mph. Then doing figure 8s untill I could do them lock to lock, and that's hard to do. Then drive through a parking space and do a U-turn within the width of the next space over, left and right.
This is much easier on the VF bikes than the cruisers.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I was also off a bike for a Long while and I practice some of the exercises you described, but I'm not sure anything can really get you used to a possible merge w/a 80mph 18 wheeler and a thick line of uneven pavement. This thing has ZERO slope to it. I can't belive the DOT hasn't fixed it. I hit it in my car @ 60 and I thought I'd hit something in the road. The highway isn't really ever that busy but it never fails (Murphy's Law) something or someone stupid always happens.:smile:

Thanks for the advice

 

Don't take that route?

 

That is an option but I have to be at work by 7am. If I take the interstate I can shave almost 30mins drive time off my commute and catch an extra half hour of sleep. Plus I feel like I should atleast learn to drive on the interstate since there isn't always a state road that I can take with out going around the sun to get to the moon.

 

Suggestions:
As was said before - attack it aggressively and as straight on as you can - holding the bars firmly.

Might I also suggest a tip I use to go over speedbumps: just before the bump, I hit the brakes and then gun it over. The quick slowing and accelerating bounce the suspension to extend out further than if running over it at a constant speed.

Now I don't recommend this exact procedure for highway riding, but you can certainly let off the throttle and then gun it just before the "cliff".