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

[JulesMaximus]

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.

Agreed. Sometimes I will pass trucks and SUVs just to avoid riding in their wake. Out in the mountains a cage that won't move over gets passed.

 

[Throckmorton]

Harleys can't even reach the speed limit in Wyoming

 

[Fenixgoon]

Agreed. Sometimes I will pass trucks and SUVs just to avoid riding in their wake. Out in the mountains a cage that won't move over gets passed.

I pass trucks often just so I don't have to worry about poorly secured crap flying out of the bed

 

[JulesMaximus]

I pass trucks often just so I don't have to worry about poorly secured crap flying out of the bed

+1 Yeah, there's that too.

 

[Raduque]

I've only seen two bikes going the speed limit or less, both were big cruiser-style bikes. Everybody else on a bike goes 20-30 over the 75 limit on the highway. (edit) And they all seem to do it in 4th gear so the engine is turning 10,000 RPM the whole way.

Though one time a group of Los Banditos were in the far left lane all going 65 in a 60.

 

[thomsbrain]

When you are moving slightly faster than the flow of traffic, it puts you in a position of safety and control. Cars behind and to the side of you have less ability to put you in danger, and you shift potential dangers to the front, where you already spend most of your time looking. In addition, you can more easily modulate your speed down than up if necessary. This goes for any vehicle, not just bikes.

 

[Greenman]

Harleys can't even reach the speed limit in Wyoming

If Wyoming has a speed limit, my Harley can reach it. Where I live, I can reach the legal limit in just over four seconds.

 

[kamikazekyle]

Around here it's mostly flat, straight interstates or primaries so both cars and motorcycles tend to go pretty fast if there isn't a traffic backup (+15-20 MPH). They've even raised the interstate speed limits over the past few years. Inside the city proper, speed limits are pretty low but most people keep it to +5. Daytime traffic and copious amounts of stoplights tend to whittle that down anyway.

Most of the roads resembling twisties that I haunt are one or 1.5 lane back country roads that are rough enough to make Mexican topes look like gentle rolling hills, so I often putz around more on my CBR250 as bigger bikes like my Multistrada can't take those sharp and rough corners as fast. That combo usually means I have to consciously make an effort to even go +5, and traffic takes care of speeding in the city limits. I've only seen perhaps three or four riders in those areas over the last year.

Weirdly, I haven't seen that many riders so far this year. But I do work 3rd shift with most of my miles being in-city commuting, and my weeks off I haven't been doing much riding. The ones I have seen haven't seemed to really be doing much squidly stuff sans gunning it from stoplight to stoplight. By this time last year I had to watch out for 20+ rider clubs that'd run traffic off the road.

 

[Flash1969]

Harleys can't even reach the speed limit in Wyoming

Good point!

 

[imagoon]

If Wyoming has a speed limit, my Harley can reach it. Where I live, I can reach the legal limit in just over four seconds.

:tup: My Harley isn't even happy in 6th until 65. It had no issue to 80-85. I stopped there because 15-20 over the limit was about the time the cops will get itchy ticket fingers.

 

[Insomniator]

The only motorcycles I see that drive remotely normal are Harleys. Every single ninja bike is weaving in and out of traffic and doing wheelies off of red lights. And car drivers are supposed to watch for motorcycles for their safety

 

[Greenman]

:tup: My Harley isn't even happy in 6th until 65. It had no issue to 80-85. I stopped there because 15-20 over the limit was about the time the cops will get itchy ticket fingers.

I don't like anything over 85, tickets and wind suck.

 

[DigDog]

"speed limit" is something that only exists in the US;

i used to drive at 140Kph+ in the centre of Rome (86mph), and nobody ever said anything.

they do have some weird signs with the number 40 in the middle, but nobody knows what they mean.

 

[imagoon]

I don't like anything over 85, tickets and wind suck.

Same. 85 was just a speed test after I had put 350 miles on my new one. Even at 65 for long distances I have given some serious thought to getting a detachable windshield.

 

[Greenman]

Same. 85 was just a speed test after I had put 350 miles on my new one. Even at 65 for long distances I have given some serious thought to getting a detachable windshield.

Get yourself some kind of wind screen if you do more than bar hopping, it makes all the deference in the world. 100 freeway miles without a screen is draining, with one 300 is an easy day's ride.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Maybe a little bit more than in my car but I've toned down my speeding nowadays. It definitely feels like it's easier to accidentally speed on a motorcycle though.

If you're riding 10+20mph in the city it could be a bad thing. The guy I sold my 250 locked up his brakes and low sided trying to avoid a taxi that ran a red. (This was about a week after he bought it from me) It's probably mostly because he grabbed too much of the brake but in the city you've got to be more defensive. Just blazing through intersections isn't going to do you any favors.

 

[roguerower]

I used my bike to get to and from the DZ in TX going up I-35 from San Antonio to San Marcos...my game was to get there as fast as possible by moving from one pack of cars to the next. I think one time I managed the hour & ten minute trip in 40 minutes...

Now the bike sits covered until I can comfortably leave my gear at the DZ and ride the bike to and from.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I see bikes going approximately the speed limit all the time. I really have no complaints about most riders, they usually tend to be aware of the other cars and generally do not impede my driving. What I hate are people who insist upon going 45 in a 50 zone where there's no passing for like 10 mile stretches... grrrrr

 

[BoberFett]

Other than a senior citizen, do you ever see cars driving the speed limit?

 

[Fenixgoon]

Other than a senior citizen, do you ever see cars driving the speed limit?

student drivers?

 

[LikeLinus]

The only motorcycles I see that drive remotely normal are Harleys. Every single ninja bike is weaving in and out of traffic and doing wheelies off of red lights. And car drivers are supposed to watch for motorcycles for their safety

Came to post this exact same thing. Touring bikes and Harleys generally drive pretty safe. It's these complete a-holes on sport bikes that drive me nuts. I'd say 85% of all sport type bikes drive like that around here.

 

[rodelljohn157]

Here in England, altho they keep dropping speed limits here in the UK, I drive car and sportsbike, and when I drive the car I'm always 5-10mph over the posted speed limit! Aiming for top gear cruise I guess ( economical) and I'd like to think I'm on the law side when driving so I do try keep in the law if possible, however... When I'm on mu motorcycle zx6r, I'm always cruising 130mph down the motorway, I have 5years no claims bonus, never had a collision on a bike, but I'd like to think the point of riding is for that thrill, I lack in the car lol in all seriousness tho, it's hard trying to keep a sportsbike in the law! Difference is, if a cop turns around on you for speeding, witch happens alot in my case, you make quick decision weather get pulled loose ya licence, or keep going lol theirs that side, than there's safety reasons to go abit quicker than cars, if I'm going 10mph faster the car is more likely to see me, as to be in traffic low revs low volume exhuast noise. Theirs many factors, some do go abit too quickly specialy Lane splitting! That's a whole different subject.

This thread is 6 years old.....I think the discussion has run its course.

~DaTT

 

[dave_the_nerd]

All the time. Plenty of responsible motorcycle drivers around here. At least in summer.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I'll just leave this here.