What is Your Sustained Highway Speed?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 792
From: Kansas City, Missouri
I like runnin' 5 or 6 over the speed limit. I run faster than than the slow people and slower than the people who drive faster. Seems to work for me but once in a while I'll let a rabbit get ahead of me then follow if I need to make up time.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,634
Likes: 2,904
From: Mostly Florida, some Michigan
I do the exact same thing. Normally I'm in no hurry to get where I'm going and really don't want to risk a ticket. 🐢 🐇
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,420
From: USA
Varies tremendously for me. But as a general rule, I'm a little faster than the traffic flow, just so I can decide when we're going to pass one another.
I'm no longer interested in seeing how fast I can go. I'd rather relax and enjoy myself and look around to enjoy the scenery.
I'm no longer interested in seeing how fast I can go. I'd rather relax and enjoy myself and look around to enjoy the scenery.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 437
Likes: 107
From: Indiana
Definitely this for sure! Highway in the 75-85 range but for the most part Id rather take the back roads to wherever Im headed and enjoy the ride and scenery.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,431
From: Idaho Panhandle
I dont have much use for cities or even congestion, and we rarely use limited access hwys. If I can take two lanes, even adding a few days to our ride, thats our route. In the old days, wed divide up. One group, eager to get to Sturgis quickly took I90 in a horse race (except for the stop at the testy fest while my group went north to glacier or south through Yellowstone. As long as we arrived on Lynyrd Skynyrd night, we called it good. I do have a magic speed on my bike. I dont get to use it often. When I do, I know real magic exists. At 88 mph my bike, in its configuration goes through a transition, absolute quiet, just the throb of the engine, still air surrounds me. No vibration, no wind noise, engine doesnt labor, just purrs. If I smoked, I could light a stogie and not have smoke or ash flying around. Its only been a few times that Ive been able to spend an hour our more in that bubble.
I must be old, I must be on my first cup of coffee to rant like this. What a great way to start my day. Thanks.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 1,803
From: Newnan, GA
Reason I am asking. Coming back from visiting my sister-in-law and her husband in Deep East Texas. As far as you can get before going into Cajun Land. 110 miles west back home. Deer country. One hundred foot tall pine trees though the National Forest. Like a two lane pine tree ally. 9:00pm. Already seen 3 deer. Thought I was doing good. 80 85 mph. Came up behind a pickup Looked in my rear view. All I saw was headlight. Where did that come from? Pulled out to pass. Rider passed me with a passenger onboard and pickup in a blur. Mind you. I am riding my 2018 Ultra. 107 CI. Because came up from nowhere. I decided out of curiosity to see how fast he was running. By that time he was 400 yards ahead of me. 80,85,90,95,100mph. Before I could keep up. Tracked them for about 5 miles And. He did not let up.. Let em go on their way. Got more guts than me. Any riders I seen run like that were 1%. I will maybe run like that on the Super Slab. I am just an old geezer. Sorry for the long post that does not mean anything.
On the Blue Highways in the woods I'll slow down to what ever the speed limit is (40,45,50MPH). The best thing you can do for your safety is get a very good Head light.
My LED ebay china lights saved my bacon just after I installed them. I was going to work at 2:30 AM on I-85 North bound heading into Atlanta, Just cresting a bridge when a very large doe was in my lane side ways about 100 yards or more, occupying the entire lane. It scared the snot out of me. I slowed down and maneuvered around her, and continued on to work.
The LED head light with LED Auxiliary Lamps will do you a great service, allowing you to see further down the road than an incandescent lights.
I just Ordered a Head lamp to update the Ebay China LED Light.
Last edited by Mongo1958; Mar 24, 2025 at 09:20 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,175
Likes: 12,747
From: South Carolina
I don`t ride fast enough to get a ticket, so I`m not one of those who instinctively hits the brakes when they see a police car.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Mar 24, 2025 at 09:18 AM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 3,495
From: Wake Forest, NC
Highway 72-75 unless traffic dictates otherwise. Speed limit here is 65 or 70. I don't really like riding above 80 but will if reqd. If I'm choosing the route, 2 lane and about 63-68. If I'm riding/leading with less experienced riders, 2 lane and pretty close to speed limit. Maybe 5 over at most. I use cruise control whenever possible.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 1,803
From: Newnan, GA
I think the reason for the allowance of 10 MPH thing is to guarantee (in some states) a conviction that is over the margins of error on the Radar.