Being able to ride on the interstate changes everything. Trying to become a better rider is commendable. So many people are content to get to a certain point and decide they don't need to learn anything else, which is why they'll never get any better.

Make sure to wear ear plugs if you don't already. The wind noise alone can give you tinnitus even with a full face helmet.

It's the opposite for me. Haha. riding at night on city streets is scarier for me than on the highways. I feel very comfortable because there is a lot of space to avoid trapping yourself in potentially hazardous situations. Well done! I too am been only riding since late mid June.

For the highway that bike is a tiddler, so you will never find it easy, so good job for doing it.

This is AWESOME...'reminds me of all the things that went through my head when I first started riding! At age 65, with arthritis, after having stepped away from riding for a few years (moved to Canada during the pandemic and now back in the 'states), I'm now contemplating climbing back on a Honda Rebel 300. And this video walks me back through all the considerations...so thank you for this!❤

Taking breaks. That is very wise. Good job in overcoming your fears!

Great job Rea! That's a huge hump to get over, and opens up new opportunities to get better as a rider. I have never truly liked freeway riding, and most of the time I avoid interstates wherever possible so far. Sooner or later though, you have to get the experience. It will allow you to take longer and longer rides, and pretty soon I bet you'll be touring near and far! 😆 That tunnel looks fun, maybe with a few less cars though lol. It is great sharing these experiences with you, and yesterday I found myself in stop and go traffic on I-65, and I just thought "Calm down old man, just ride like Rea!" It was over soon enough and I learned to handle some traffic and practice some slow speed riding, and I hope got a little better, just like you're doing on each ride you take. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!

So happy for you now that you're on the freeway 😊 please watch out for potholes and glance at mirrors as needed. Ride safe!

I think at expressway speeds, its important not to grip the handle bar too tight or be too tense. Keep your lower body tight and upper body loose. Some times it might feel like the bike is unstable but its not. Its just you transferring all of your body movements into the handle bars. The wind pushes you and you push the bars. The bike just needs you to guide it. It can handle all the rest.

Some really great tips. My wife is literally taking her MSF course as I watch some of your videos. I’m anxiously awaiting her to pass so we can ride together. I wish there were more channels like this that focused more on the new rider experience. There are way too many channels that almost seem to have a huge superiority complex. Kudos to you and great job with your channel!

I started on a zx6r. Dealer was right off the freeway. Don’t know how I made it but it definitely made riding easier. I wish you the best ride safe 🤙

I finished my drivers license extension for motocycles two days ago with the last obligatory ride on a german highway (Autobahn). It was my first fast ride. There's no speed limit most of the time. I felt exactly the same as you. The feel of speed is completely different. The wind at that speed is really intense and I also didn't feel comfortable with it. The same feeling as you I got in the tunnel. The noise is very very loud (time for some earplugs). But in Germany on the Autobahn, with no speed limit, it was very distracting, if cars were passing me with 200 + km/h and I was always hoping, that all the cars with that speed will see me. So I guess, I need to practice driving on highways. I like your videos and showing your honest experiences.

You did great! 🎉👍

Also a beginner rider. Started on a CBR250 for 4 days as a buddy let me borrow his. Didn't like it, felt a bit too underpowered, so made the jump to an SV650. Have been having a blast so far. Been riding about 2 months now. I had a BLAST on the highway. It felt so liberating.

Excellent Rea!!! I feel overwhelmed for you since I haven't been on the freeway before and indeed it feels awesome 😎👍

You did very well for your first time on a freeway...Congratulations!

I felt the wind surprisingly strong too, when I rode it fast the first time.

Get a pair of concert ear plugs, they'll reduce the noise but you'll still hear everything. Too much noise makes me nervous so with the ear plugs I can relax on my bike. Nice job and great advice for new riders to get off and take a break. Thanks Bub, nice video

I have a Puig windscreen light smoked on my Ducati Icon Dark. Never regretted it.

good job.👍

Ya the wind can be a thing. I have a huge "batwing" fairing on mine but even a small one will help. Or you can just get used to it. I remember how scary it was for me the first time too. I had 30 miles to go to get to work and I was alone. Took about a week of commuting before I started feeling comfortable. I got the fairing to help with the rain. You're Doing great =)

You should get an airbag vest :) Klim and Alpinestars make good ones. Everyone should get one. Blessings!

Wow, you did pretty good. Thanks for the info Rea 👍

I agree with the ear plugs for sure, now there are times I will wear ear phones so I can listen to music to help calm me down or even use em for directions if needed

Your videos are interesting to watch.....some friendly advice... the air flow behind big trucks is turbulent so be careful when they pass you and if one is in front of you... when passing them it helps to roll into the throttle to keep the bike stable in the turbulent air flow around them.

My first time on a highway was nerve racking and it wasn’t even a full blow interstate highway. It was just a state highway with a 55mph speed limit. I rode that for a while and once I got comfortable there I graduated to a full blown interstate highway with a 65mph speed limit with traffic of course going way faster than that. Stay safe

I'm impressed! That's an ambitious first foray onto the freeway. My first time was on a rented Rebel 250, which shook so much I got off at the next exit.

Good job! It took a while for me also to get unto the freeway. Didn't like it at all the first time. A windshield is really helpful to protect you from the wind and other debris, like small rocks. Staying loose is the key!

Good for You, Rea!👍👍👍

Ear Plugs at 60-70 mph is a must. Wind buffering inside the helmet suck. Takes a little to get used too, but you’ll fined after about a week you’ll always use them.

Yeah I’ve got to work on loosening my grip also.

I remember first time sneaking out my dad's bike to ride it on iced up street and day after I took it to highway. I recommend going faster than traffic and using a at least 600 bike to have power that it will give you confidence and also use a big mirrors to have a wide view of your both sides. its not a big deal you will get there. cheers!

City freeways are especially tough, they're essentially faster streets with cars merging in and out. The wind will be tough for a couple of days, your neck takes a few trips to bring out the hulk muscles; tucking in a bit does help 😉 Definitely loosen your hands. It helps reduce the fatigue and is safer. Grip the tank tightly with the knees and push your feet down on the foot pegs; your toes should be on the pegs like you're about to sprint. Will be sore for a couple of days. And most importantly, hope you have some earplugs for the highway. Safe riding ✌🏽

That fricking wind!!! thats exactly what made highway riding the worst and scariest for me as well!

short tunnels are great, long ones not so much - "please wind up your windows and recycle air-conditioning" now you're all set to do some overnighter trips 👍. the more you ride the stronger you'll get, the more relaxed your arms will be and the less scary the wind gusts

Outstanding work. 👍

I have been watching your videos from the time you purchased your bike. You are doing awesome!!! If you haven't already, get some earplugs. Its one of the most overlooked of of all equipment and all that noise over time can do some damage. They are cheap and it helps a lot with lowering fatigue over time.

Yay REA!!! Go you!!! Congrats!!

You’ll get use to the wind but it will be a while before you will have stamina to handle it. At 80 I still feel like I need a windshield when riding over an hour but 60-70 it’s calm.

On your next bike, consider a naked or sport with a windshield. Windshield creates a bubble of calm around you, Wind fatigue is a real thing.

I know your struggle. I’ll get on the freeway for the first time probably around this December.

Get yourself a windscreen girl. You’ll experience a huge difference. And always wear earplugs.

I love my rebel 300. Bought it brand new and have 600 miles now. I will say that the freeway is def doable but I will say that I wish there was less vibration at 65 mph

Man I remember pushing my sportster through freeways for years because I hated using my dad's car to go to work, I didn't mind getting beat up by the wind, just as long as I was riding....

The most comon misttake i often see is that peple stay upright when riding faster. Just lean a bit forward to counteract the windpressure.

Wearing all black makes you completely invisible to other drivers. Get a white or hiviz helmet and riding gear. If you ride at night make sure you have reflective gear on as well. It will pay off. Great first Freeway ride!

You should try on a Bell Race Star flex dlx helmet. I noticed immediately it makes for nicer highway cruising and less neck fatigue. Cuts through the wind nice. Great field of view and has magnets 😎

Wind is hard to deal with. Even with 5 years under my belt I can get surprised by gusts at higher speeds. Just hang loose and roll with it. You're doing really well!

well done. ride safe and much respect

Dang girl. I’ve ridden a 300 on interstate. You are brave. So…I know this isn’t possible for everyone but my daughter rode a 300. One day I let her ride my Triumph Bonneville. She couldn’t believe how much easier it was. We swapped hers for a 500. As for earplugs. Yes, were them all the time.

Great video your fearless , been riding almost a year and have been avoiding the interstate even though its on my list of things to do , don't know how the interstates are in your area but here in Florida a bit intimidating think Ill hit it on a weekend morning , looks like a good ride Tkanks for the open and honest review Be safe

Congrats on making the H3 run. It's a lot more chill than dodging cagers on H1.

keep up the riding :D time to invest on a communicator :D I suggest a cardo :D

Ha Rea ..... You should try that tunnel at evening rush hour with people barely moving, and horns blaring...... Hmm yeah, wear ear plugs..... lol Stay Safe.

Bravo to you for taking on the freeway although you were wise to wait till you had built up some skills and confidence. Wind is a problem but you could try fitting a screen to reduce wind on the chest and strain on the shoulders and arms. A palm rest will help with "grip of death" on the throttle. Bike shops will know what I mean. At some point you'll want a bigger bike and you'll find it much easier to manage on the freeway as it won't be as buffeted by the wind. Thanks for sharing your experience. Ride safely and remember it's the ride not what you ride or how fast it goes.

IDK if you are wearing ear plugs but It is something I do even on short rides. Even with a full face helmet the wind noise can be above levels that the human ear can tolerate without loss in the long run. Beyond that, the lack of that noise helps me concentrate on on the visual input better and seems to help with fatigue on longer rides. Try several different sizes and styles to get the right fit. In an emergency I have used a bit of cotton ball wrapped in some stretch wrap. Others may disagree but I hope you at least try it a few times.

I had to drive my first bike home on the freeway because it was 150 mi away (closest that had the bike I wanted). It started to downpour about 30 minutes into the ride despite the weatherman forecasting no rain. Fun times... I about shit myself the first time a semi blew by me at 80mph and I got hit with that gust of air turbulance and splattered my visor with mist. I quickly learned you want to just pass them as fast as you can, riding behind them causes a lot of dirty airflow and buffering that makes riding uncomfortable... even from a fairly long way away. But yeah, overall it's not really a big deal and you get used to it pretty quick.

I still haven’t ride in town lol I still take backroads lol so u doing better than me lol

I just got my 1st bike .a rebel 300.yet to even get it off dirt.im excited like scary.hard to belive I'm a 54 year old man with a somewhat dangerous job.haha

How about now? Are you feeling more comfortable on highway now? Installing a windshield may help reduce the wind. 😊

If the wind bothers you to a point. Just lean over n rest on the tank n ride. It def helps

What was the speed limit, just wandering how fast you were going. Watching from Amarillo, Tx.❤

Great job! How did the 300 ride on the freeway? I have trouble taking it at too high of a speed.

I have been trying I got on my nearest highway a couple of times. It is pretty low key as far as traffic which is good because I am having trouble getting up to speed. I get nervous around 55-60 I am on a rebel 300 but I wonder if that is everything

At least you didnt go on the university on ramp...that is super short lol. As for the wind you wanna wear some earplugs so the noise isn't as bad

Do you live in like Hawaii or something!? I'm so confused by the landscape of your beautiful city. You've got like Palm trees but also mountains.

I still have a hunger, I realized... I've avoided motorcycles all of my younger life because of it. Went on the freeway for the first time and was pushing 85 before I even realized it. 🥴 Wasn't looking down at my panel as merging safely was my most important task. I haven't been on a busy freeway yet but that should prove interesting.

I been riding a week and got lost and ended up on the freeway T_T luckily it wasnt long before there was a turnoff

Did you use helmet comms with your rider friends? Or, were you lead rider?

Riding a Rebel 500 on Dallas highways is one of the suckiest things that ever sucked.

100% get ear plugs. hearing is one of those things that once its gone, its gone

Honolulu? surprising you didn't hit traffic.

What bike? Stock exhaust?

I have a question, can I wear a tank bag?

top speed on HW?

Do you have a name for yours? Mine is named Ruby. Ruby the Rebel

You're doing great!

To overcome the highway for me I added it to my ride every time. I will only ride on it for 10 minutes or so then get off and come back using side roads. And yes I never ride without earplugs. I also wear a balaclava meant for summer to keep my head from sweating too much in the helmet but it also makes the wind even quieter. I got the Axial Base Balaclava on Revzilla for only $15. Worth every penny