newbie basher
Banned
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 21,413
Likes: 18,030
Welcome. Forum could use some fresh blood, I mean members.
Dont take it too seriously. We're still trying to determine what it means to be a real biker
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/off-t...e-a-biker.html
Dont take it too seriously. We're still trying to determine what it means to be a real biker
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/off-t...e-a-biker.html
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 716
From: Pennsyleffinvania
If you are a really new rider, not use to commuter traffic, get some more riding time under your belt in no stress situations. Having time constraint pressure is not the way to learn how to ride. I would recommend that you have at least 2000 miles under your belt of pressure free riding before you start using the bike for commuting in traffic.
Generally, during commuting hours, the flow of traffic is going faster than the posted limit +5mph. Combine that with the "quick stop" that is probably longer on a bike than a truck and you get a longer ride time to work. I doubt you are as attentive to your +5 rule in your truck as you are on the bike. Add in the daily variables of traffic, weather, etc., and your one day of a 20 min. longer ride is not statistically significant.
Give yourself extra time, so it doesn't make you late to get to work, relax, and if "everybody" is passing you it's because you're riding too slow for the conditions.
Unless you are the one passing everybody, the likelihood of a ticket for traveling at the same speed as the flow of traffic is slim.
Giving the "Thanks" button a click is a good way to show your appreciation for people that are offering decent advice or encouragement.
Don't take any wise azz comments on here as anything personal, this is a motorcycle forum, not the garden club.
Generally, during commuting hours, the flow of traffic is going faster than the posted limit +5mph. Combine that with the "quick stop" that is probably longer on a bike than a truck and you get a longer ride time to work. I doubt you are as attentive to your +5 rule in your truck as you are on the bike. Add in the daily variables of traffic, weather, etc., and your one day of a 20 min. longer ride is not statistically significant.
Give yourself extra time, so it doesn't make you late to get to work, relax, and if "everybody" is passing you it's because you're riding too slow for the conditions.
Unless you are the one passing everybody, the likelihood of a ticket for traveling at the same speed as the flow of traffic is slim.
Giving the "Thanks" button a click is a good way to show your appreciation for people that are offering decent advice or encouragement.
Don't take any wise azz comments on here as anything personal, this is a motorcycle forum, not the garden club.
Last edited by LoneWoolf; Nov 4, 2017 at 03:53 AM.
You take the good with the bad and move on, to get upset over replies from people you don't even know n the internet is silly
That said welcome to the forums there is a lot of good info here
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
A lot of stuff you may be curious about has probably been in discussion before and can therefore be found by searching the forums. That effort may prove more enjoyable as you become familiar with this particular sites character, which is pretty darn good by Internet standards I've seen.
Welcome !
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/elect...librating.html
to be honest, looks like you posted about riding like Ol' Grandma and received the a hero's welcome for it.
for what it's worth, you speedo and most stock ones (cars, trucks, boats, ducks, horses,...) are usually set to show you going 5 or so miles faster than you are actually a going. ...liability or something like that. can't say that is the case here but, likely. speed up.
Last edited by cvaria; Nov 4, 2017 at 05:04 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 127
From: Aussie lost in Switzerland
Welcome! Ive gotten plenty of great info and help from members on this site. Sometimes it takes a little while as people are not logged on 24/7, and sometimes you need to bump your own thread to keep it visible.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
I predict this one won't be around long......
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
I have an 02 Hugger 883, this morning I noticed it took me an hour to get to work with one quick stop..... most days it takes me 40 or so on the bike but when I drive my truck it's 30 minutes and maybe 40 with a quick stop. I just started riding and this is my first bike so I go no more than 5 over the posted speed.
So not only did it take a long time this morning, but I get passed by EVERYBODY even in a 25 mph school zone....
Any quick things I can check first before having it serviced?
So not only did it take a long time this morning, but I get passed by EVERYBODY even in a 25 mph school zone....
Any quick things I can check first before having it serviced?
Are you counting the time, from when you leave the house?
As noted... in a truck/car, you simply get in and drive off (unless an older vehicle that needs to warm up), while on a bike... you put on a jacket, gloves, helmet, back the bike out of garage, and then get off to close the door, etc, a much longer process
Then there is the "speed issue"... now, I've heard horror stories about the VA hiway patrol and how they can be strict about traffic infractions, so I salute a lot of caution on the roads...but...
When YOU drive your truck, how is traffic? does the speed vary greatly day to day? or is it a uniform 5 UNDER the limit? or 5 OVER the limit?
If speeds tend to be constant... then either, there is a vast left wing conspiracy against you, and everyone is speeding on purpose..
OR...
your speedo is off... Frankly I've seen speedos be off as much as 10% (reading faster than actual) so I tend to keep up with traffic, and discard the speedo...I have a GPS, and there will often be a difference between the GPS indicated speed, and the speedo...
As noted above... have a trusted person drive your truck.. and set a steady pace... at 50, then 60 (or whatever speed limits exist in your area)
Finally.... sitting in a steel cage, fairly high above the ground tends to cause speeds to seem lower... on a bike, you're right there, and with zero protection... speeds seem much higher.
A wise old fart once told me... "if you want to MAKE good time... take the car.... if you want to HAVE a good time.... take the bike"
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,284
Likes: 7,766
From: West Central FL
This was My02HD's original post (see below), to which he had hoped for a more satisfactory answer.
"I have an 02 Hugger 883, this morning I noticed it took me an hour to get to work with one quick stop..... most days it takes me 40 or so on the bike but when I drive my truck it's 30 minutes and maybe 40 with a quick stop. I just started riding and this is my first bike so I go no more than 5 over the posted speed.
So not only did it take a long time this morning, but I get passed by EVERYBODY even in a 25 mph school zone...."
Any quick things I can check first before having it serviced?
"I have an 02 Hugger 883, this morning I noticed it took me an hour to get to work with one quick stop..... most days it takes me 40 or so on the bike but when I drive my truck it's 30 minutes and maybe 40 with a quick stop. I just started riding and this is my first bike so I go no more than 5 over the posted speed.
So not only did it take a long time this morning, but I get passed by EVERYBODY even in a 25 mph school zone...."
Any quick things I can check first before having it serviced?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 335
Likes: 48
From: VW Ohio
Welcome from Ohio! First your speedometer is probably off. As already mentioned. My 14 glide reads 3-4 mph fast,I can correct with my tuner but haven't bothered to adjust yet. This is a very good forum , my favorite Harley one. Sometimes you have to sort out the sarcasm, always good for a laugh. And someone mentioned taking longer to get to work, well when I ride to work I'm more in tune with my surroundings so time doesn't matter. In fact a couple times I've skipped my turn and kept going, lol, calling in later!!