Phoenix freeways come to mind. 80 - 85 is normal.

 

I agree it's totally fun to travel at high speed for an extended time, but I don't do it due to my desire to reduce my frequency of visiting gas stations.

In order to improve my gas mileage when riding at high speed for an extended time, I'd need to draft behind a car and ride in that low pressure zone (as you've already done) . The effectiveness of drafting on gas mileage is directly proportional to the distance I keep behind the lead vehicle: the closer I'm to the car's bumper, the better my gas mileage will be. But then the issue becomes one of safety. Here are some some actual results from MythBusters (tested behind a semi). The data is from Episode 80 – "Big Rig Myths" (original air date: June 6, 2007):

• In scaled wind-tunnel tests, driving 100 feet behind a semi at 55 mph will reduce drag on the follow car by 40%. --> 40% drag reduction is good. I like that.

• The drag reduction increases as the follow car approaches the bumper of the truck until the follow car gets a 93% drag reduction at a distance of 2 feet. --> 93% drag reduction is better. I love that.

• In road tests, the testers achieved an almost 20% improvement in gas mileage at a distance of 100 feet (at 55 mph) and a 45% improvement at 10 feet. --> These are all great numbers. I love them! But.........

• MythBusters also calculates that at 100 feet (at 55 mph) the follow car has 1.25 seconds to respond if the lead vehicle slams on the brakes, and at ten feet the follow car has 0.124 seconds. --> This is NOT good enough for me. My reaction time is not that great even though I cover my front brake lever the whole time I ride. My preferred minimum reaction time is 2 seconds at 55 mph and 4 seconds at 90 mph.
  

Since I never want to put myself in a situation where my motorcycle helmet can punch through my innards and come out of my anus, I find these short reaction times exceedingly unsettling.

When I was 17, I was much braver, because I was invincible. Now, however, I just want to keep my helmet out of my anus.

 

I most certainly do. In Nor cal, I-5 and I-505 have long stretches of open road, with no on or off ramps. I know the road intimately from driving it for 40+ years. I know where I can do it, and where I can not. That is important if your speeding. That being said, I regularly run at 80, and sometimes 90. I drove my cage down to LA a couple of months ago, and that Hwy is NASCAR!!! I am telling you I was being passed as I did 90. I saw 100 in a few places. Those folks roll once south of Stockton.. I don't even get into 6th gear until over 80! That's where the power band is. If your running in 6th any slower than 75, your lugging the bike and doing more harm than good. Sounds cool though.

 

Nah.My gal don't get beat ....75 is enough.

 

The speed limit on rural two lane roads in Montana is 70. In the Dakota's it is 65. Texas it is 75.

Texas has some 80 and 85 interstate sections. S.D is 80 on the interstate and Utah has some 80 mph limits on the interstate.

Illinois roads are 55 and 70 on the interstates. I-80 from Iowa to Indiana is hyper patrolled by the ISP. They will stop for the tiniest infraction. One court case in the paper recently the driver was stopped for passing using only one flash of his signal for lane changing. The judge found him not guilty.

I did 80 mph on I-90 in S. Dakota earlier this year on the Freewheeler with a 120ST. I ran with a full tank until the low fuel light came on. The result was 30mpg. At 65 the Freewheeler will get 42 mpg and 38 at 70.

I generally am not in a hurry and do 70 on the interstates but I will hold at 65 on local roads.

 

Ya done it on stock 88 inch FLH a few times, out west.

 

Ya but what about interstate?

Wide open, can see for a mile, straight as a preacher.



Damn it the other week got stuck behind some Harleys. The hazard is the pissed off people trying to pass them.

 

my zx12r didn't wake up til 130 but the ultra is really comfy about 85. I run her up every once in a while, but 85 seems to be her sweet spot.

 

Make sure your tires are aired up properly running those high speeds and duration. Lot of heat down there being underinflated.

 

In Wisconsin that would be pretty hard to do, without getting a ticket. In Texas no big deal.
Buddy Holly did it routinely. In his car. His recording studio was in Clovis, New Mexico. 100 miles, and a change in Time zones. So Buddy and the Crickets would try to leave Lubbock, and arrive in Clovis at the same time.
Found this story about Buddy almost becoming a Harley owner:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/music...ddys-bike.html