Harley Davidson Forums

Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Top speed

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:44 AM
Share
  #41  
bwana1's Avatar
bwana1
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 11
From: TN
Default
A lot of these posts really deserve the "BS" flag. In reality, Batwings above 105 mph (actual, not speedometer) are rare and talk of 110 -130 mph are delusional unless there is major engine work. After 100 mph, aerodynamics take over, torque doesn't mean squat as it takes HP to push that barn door.

Bwana
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 12:00 PM
Share
  #42  
mkekid's Avatar
mkekid
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 136
Likes: 2
From: N/A
Default
Did a little over 100 mph with the wife on the back coming home from Tomahawk. Was trying to keep up with another group heading back to Milwaukee. Not the smartest thing to do. It's o.k. for just me, but not putting my wife's life on the line like that. I won't do that again. Handled great though and still had more in her even running stock!
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 12:55 PM
Share
  #43  
sargek's Avatar
sargek
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default
85. Didn't buy the bike to go fast and am not a go fast guy.
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 01:02 PM
Share
  #44  
rochkes's Avatar
rochkes
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 461
From: Illinois
Default
Originally Posted by bwana1
A lot of these posts really deserve the "BS" flag. In reality, Batwings above 105 mph (actual, not speedometer) are rare and talk of 110 -130 mph are delusional unless there is major engine work. After 100 mph, aerodynamics take over, torque doesn't mean squat as it takes HP to push that barn door.

Bwana
I agree with most of what you say, but I don't really know what you consider "major" engine work. My Zumo 550 seems to be dead on with the speed. It says I have ridden 117 before. 112 mph comes pretty quick and easy. All conditions have to be right and have to have alot of road left to climb from there though.

BTW, my speedo will be pegged when gps says about 105 mph.

Dennis
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 01:06 PM
Share
  #45  
CurtisO's Avatar
CurtisO
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Pearl River, LA
Default
30 years ago 135mph on a KZ1000, yesterday 100 on Roadglide.
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 01:41 PM
Share
  #46  
NoCoLoco's Avatar
NoCoLoco
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: Northern Colorado
Default
90 mph is fast enough for me, never felt the need to push it beyond that.
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 01:47 PM
Share
  #47  
streetg7's Avatar
streetg7
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: northeastern ohio
Default
90 fast enough for me,,,thats passing a 18 wheeler
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 04:31 PM
Share
  #48  
rg_dave's Avatar
rg_dave
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 19
From: Cypress, TX
Default
Originally Posted by bwana1
A lot of these posts really deserve the "BS" flag. In reality, Batwings above 105 mph (actual, not speedometer) are rare and talk of 110 -130 mph are delusional unless there is major engine work. After 100 mph, aerodynamics take over, torque doesn't mean squat as it takes HP to push that barn door.

Bwana
No major engine work here and GPS has shown 121. Speedo had been pegged for a while. Maybe I was going with the wind and downhill. Run over 100 lots. Cruise at 80-90.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 05:23 PM
Share
  #49  
smithbrl's Avatar
smithbrl
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
Default
100 mph a couple of times.
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 17, 2011 | 07:49 PM
Share
  #50  
FloridaFLHX's Avatar
FloridaFLHX
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 931
Likes: 11
From: Orlando, FL
Default
92 is it for me. I get over 90 and I start thinking about how much chrome money I'm gonna spend paying the ticket I might get, and I slow down. I'm a wuss, I guess.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:47 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE