for motorcycle riders?

get out of town and try some country roads, city driving sucks for a new rider. take a scenic run to lands unknown, spend time on the twistys and if you survive those you will have gained a little more confidence, Eventually you will find you self in a situation where you need to get on the big highway to get home. happy motoring

Use the neighborhood then take a surface street to the highway, the highway is just a long street with limited access. Map out a way home some highways have right lane exits and a overpass, some use a left lane to turn around. The right lane exits are safer.

Except for the higher speed limit the highway is safer in many ways than the street, everyone is going the same direction, the curves are longer.

Buster's advice is good, as usual!

Some statistics: Because of the lack of traffic lights & intersections there are far less accidents on the freeways. But because of the higher speeds, it's a little more likely for an accident to be fatal. Wearing All The Gear All The Time helps a lot. Remember that people can die just as quickly of blood loss from extreme road rash as from a sever concussion from not wearing a helmet.

I'd say, don't ride during crush hour until your bike control skill are comfortable and you grok traffic strategies. I'm also one who recommends dirt bikes/dual sports for beginner riders. I learned a huge number of skills on my XT500s, and had so much fun that I'd love to get another one even though it's not a very good freeway bike.

Riding around the roads is fine, but getting on and off the highway gives you the opportunity to learn shifting all the way through the gears. It also starts to give you a chance to get used to speed. Someone mentioned a highway on a Sunday morning, and it's great advice. When I was teaching my wife to ride, as soon as she was ready, we got on the highway. She had a feel already because I took her on the highway as a passenger. If you have this option, maybe it would be a good idea. It is potentially more dangerous riding on the local streets, actually. That's where more accidents occur.

Your question illustrates what makes a dual sport bike such an excellent trainer. While a new rider certainly need to learn roadcraft, traffic management, and hazard recognition and avoidance, he also needs to improve his bike control skills to where they become second nature. Heavy traffic is a rough place to learn how to ride your bike.

A dual sport bike allows you to practice off road, where there is no question of traffic, the perfect environment to concentrate on your bike control skills. At the same time, you can ride in as much traffic as you are comfortable with, a proposition that becomes easier the better you can control your bike, and the more you can focus on the problems of the road.

Learn at your own pace. Never drive over 70% of your ability (leave room for accident avoidance).

Take your time, learn in your neighborhood. Then hit the town. Then go for the highway when you know you are ready.

It's better to be called a wuss for driving safely than to have the paramedics mop you up off the highway.

Ride safe and keep the rubber side down.

Maybe there is a lightly traveled highway you could try, or lets say go out early on a Sunday morning when there is lighter traffic?

yea get used to the bike on roads you are familiar with first, then hit the highway.

one short answer ==Never but never do anything on a bike you are not comfortable with doing

when you feel its time cant anyone say how you feel