Have you ever seen someone on a motorcycle go the speed limit?

[Dissipate]

I've seen some motorcyclists go the speed limit, but it is quite rare. All the other ones I've seen are going at least 10+ MPH over the speed limit on the freeway, and 10-20+ MPH over the speed limit on surface streets. I know this is anecdotal but anyone else notice this?

 

[jlee]

I haven't noticed their speed being much different than cars here.

When I had a bike I rode around the speed limit unless I ended up in a clump of traffic, then I'd get ahead and slow back down again. I don't ride with a car next to me unless I have absolutely no choice.

 

[jteef]

thunder beach in town. i've been pretty furious at the amount of motorcycles traveling the speed limit around here this week.

 

[Greenman]

You're right, we do tend to ride a bit faster than the limit. Sometimes there is a good reason for it, like on the freeway riding in grandma's kill zone, it's a place you don't want to be, so you speed up. The same applies when you're anywhere near someone texting behind the wheel, the safest place to be is about a mile in front of them.
Other times it's just speeding because the bike wants to go faster. It's hard to describe, you have this connected feeling to the machine you're on, the lightest twist on the throttle hurtles you forward, and you want to do it again and again. It's also that a bike is so much more nimble than a car, fast just feels right.

The entire experience is just plain fun. Bikers know why dogs like to hang their heads out the window.

 

[IGemini]

I've probably had an equal share of passing and being passed by bikers, and I keep my speed 0-10 over the limit. Those who go slower tend to be those enjoying the cruising weather. More common in places that have some degree of winter weather, perhaps?

 

[DVad3r]

I once met someone that thought motorcycles have a higher speed limit than cars and are "allowed" to go faster lol.

My personally depending on day/mood, I may go with the flow, but usually I'm doing a little bit over.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nope. Never...

 

[waggy]

i would vary speeds. as others said i don't want to be near to many vehicles. so i would speed up to get into a gap.

though i will say on some bikes it's hard to stay a consistent speed. a little twist and you are going 15-20mph faster. I did my best to stay with the rate of other traffic.

 

[SithSolo1]

I rarely see cars go the speed limit. Bikers aren't too crazy around her, either going with the flow or puttering along like its Sunday.

I've only witnessed two instances of incredibly stupid-fast speeding:

One was coming back from a family trip to Key West in an RV. It was late night on the interstate, just us and 2-3 other cars in view. All of a sudden we heard this wailing sound that kept getting louder and louder. Next thing you know 3 sport bikes come screaming by, must of been going 130+.

Other was on 316 coming back from Atlanta. Its a 65mph four lane with a smattering of cross-roads that have stop signs. We were following my uncle, about 8 spaces back. Out of no where two bikes came flying across our lanes on one of the cross-roads. Blew right threw the stop sign, 2nd guy passed about 50ft in front of my uncle. 1-2secs later and he'd have been road kill.

 

[soccerballtux]

I've seen some motorcyclists go the speed limit, but it is quite rare. All the other ones I've seen are going at least 10+ MPH over the speed limit on the freeway, and 10-20+ MPH over the speed limit on surface streets. I know this is anecdotal but anyone else notice this?

where do you live, I was tooling around this morning, did you see me?

 

[justfrank]

Old Harley riders almost always go the speed limit compared to young crotch rocket street racers (the ones you usually hear winding out, hitting at least 5 gears at 10K+ rpms in a 25 mph zone).

 

[jlee]

Old Harley riders almost always go the speed limit compared to young crotch rocket street racers (the ones you usually hear winding out, hitting at least 5 gears at 10K+ rpms in a 25 mph zone).

I'd rather hear a sportbike wind out than have a baffle-less Harley make my ears bleed.

 

[Ferzerp]

I saw a harley rider in a group of about 6 others try to merge in to us (as in, start a merge in to the lane while overlapping with the vehicle I was in, and never stopped, forcing dangerous braking, or letting him suicide on the hood) with an unsignalled merge a few hours ago. He was going the speed limit, but being an asshat in other ways.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I blow by motorcycles all the time. Around here many ride their bikes to enjoy the scenery.

 

[unokitty]

Often times around the Smokey Mountains, I would run into groups of old men on Harley Davidsons going 5 to 15 mph below the speed limit.

Of course, when I lived in Daytona, during Bike Week you'd find a lot of bikes going slow... (That is after their owners rolled them off of their trailers...)

Uno

 

[Greenman]

Nope. Never...

Except maybe when you're late for church, or your evening of helping out at the old folks home.

 

[Ronstang]

A motorcycle going the speed limit becomes a target for idiots in cars who do not pay attention. Part of defensive driving on a motorcycle is going a few miles faster than all the cars around you so you never stay in their blind spot, you are never next to them for more than a few seconds, and you have time to get away from them if they start to encroach. When I pass someone on a motorcycle in my truck I figure no one taught them how to ride properly.

All of the cops I know don't write tickets to motorcycles practicing what I describe. Most of them ride so they understand.

 

[pauldun170]

Me
Sometimes I'm at 55MPH on the dot in the right hand lane (Expressway).
Pull me over now motherfucker. Flashy yellow sportbike
double fucking nickel
like a boss.


30MPH on the dot around town.


No comment on my speed once I get to my riding areas.
wasn't me
Wasn't there

I will admit that on all corners and bends, if there is a yellow sign with a 'recommended speed'...I'll double it.

 

[pauldun170]

A motorcycle going the speed limit becomes a target for idiots in cars who do not pay attention. Part of defensive driving on a motorcycle is going a few miles faster than all the cars around you so you never stay in their blind spot, you are never next to them for more than a few seconds, and you have time to get away from them if they start to encroach. When I pass someone on a motorcycle in my truck I figure no one taught them how to ride properly.

All of the cops I know don't write tickets to motorcycles practicing what I describe. Most of them ride so they understand.

You almost got it right.
You stay out of blind spots and avoid riding next to people but that doesn't require riding fast.

Throughout the years I've heard plenty of "excuses" for riding like an ass.
Always some claim that it's for safety.

This is coming from someone who rides like an ass when no one is looking.

 

[DVad3r]

When I was in Germany last summer we sure passed a lot of bikes on the autobahn going 240 km/h Their comfort speeds were around 160 ish

Also I hate Harley riders that ride slow, which is why I ride with a mixed bag of bikes Although I have come across a few guys on air cooled Harley's that absolutely rip it. Some of them just have 2 throttle positions, max and idle lol.

Also I see 1 %'s always ripping it.

 

[Ronstang]

You almost got it right.
You stay out of blind spots and avoid riding next to people but that doesn't require riding fast.

Throughout the years I've heard plenty of "excuses" for riding like an ass.
Always some claim that it's for safety.

This is coming from someone who rides like an ass when no one is looking.

Who said anything about riding like an ass? I am not talking about hauling ass and splitting lanes all over the place. The secret is to never stay in a pack of cars. You want to be out there between the packs. The only way to achieve this safely is to speed a little. I am not talking about driving 90 every where weaving in an out of traffic.

 

[pauldun170]

Who said anything about riding like an ass? I am not talking about hauling ass and splitting lanes all over the place. The secret is to never stay in a pack of cars. You want to be out there between the packs. The only way to achieve this safely is to speed a little. I am not talking about driving 90 every where weaving in an out of traffic.

Look at it this way...
How can you ride avoiding packs of cars with a police car right behind you?
Speed a little, slow a little...lane changes.

You're right speed a little is alright.
10+ MPH as per OP (the premise my posts were based on) is not speeding a little.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Look at it this way...
How can you ride avoiding packs of cars with a police car right behind you?
Speed a little, slow a little...lane changes.

You're right speed a little is alright.
10+ MPH as per OP (the premise my posts were based on) is not speeding a little.

traffic in my area generally is anywhere from 5-15mph over the speed limit, depending on the time of the day and the pack of commuters you're with

go rural highways go

 

[Baked]

I've never seen a motorcycle getting pulled over by Cops around here. I don't mind the bikes going faster than speed limit, I do the same myself in my car. Driving the speed limit is just so boring.

 

[pauldun170]

traffic in my area generally is anywhere from 5-15mph over the speed limit, depending on the time of the day and the pack of commuters you're with

go rural highways go

Fortunately commuters are never an issue for me since I take public transportation + my feet to get to the office. Just have to drive the 3 miles to the lot.
Most of my riding is early morning on the weekend so I am the flow of traffic (unless you count joggers, bicyclists and critters.)

Once the cagers are out or during the week, flow of traffic + or - 5mph is my norm.