Do I really ride too fast?
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 232
From: Ohio
I am usually way over the speed limit. So are my friends. A few people have complained over the years but I don't ride with them much anymore. Hell most highway patrol will let you get away with 80MPH around here if you are on a HD. In a car or on a crotch rocket it is a different story.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
The larger the group, the less speed you will average. If the guy in front is doing +10 mph the guys in the back will often need to be going +30 to keep up.
Groups can only go as fast as the slowest member.
Better to let the cages flow past your long line of bikes, than to make each biker scramble around the individual cars.
When riding by yourself, you can always set your own pace, however with a group only the leader should be the one concerned with the pace of the pack. Will never be able to run a speed that everyone in the pack agrees is the best for them.
A good option for the guys wanting to ride faster is for them to form their own group, ride ahead and either wait at the next scheduled stop or at the end of the ride where everybody can regroup and party together.
Groups can only go as fast as the slowest member.
Better to let the cages flow past your long line of bikes, than to make each biker scramble around the individual cars.
When riding by yourself, you can always set your own pace, however with a group only the leader should be the one concerned with the pace of the pack. Will never be able to run a speed that everyone in the pack agrees is the best for them.
A good option for the guys wanting to ride faster is for them to form their own group, ride ahead and either wait at the next scheduled stop or at the end of the ride where everybody can regroup and party together.
In groups (which I don't ride in much at all), I will ride whatever the group is riding at. If I'm drag, I slow down in the straights, so when everyone in front slows in the curves I can speed up. 
Riding alone (which is where 98% of my miles are) I let the road and traffic conditions influence my speed. Sometimes it's under, more often than not, there is little traffic on the roads and I may do 10-15 over.
The interstates in my area are posted 70, but most of the times I'm at 80-85.
Country roads, totally depends on the conditions, but usually 10+ over. And forget about those signs that put of for curves, they are ridiculously slow.
When in an area where there is a lot of traffic, I do whatever speed it takes to not get run over, and to keep the most distance between myself and cages.
All that said, I ride MUCH slower than all the 20 somethings at the shop, I'm 55 and am constantly reminding them things can go real wrong, real fast, over 100 mph. Falls on deaf ears. lol
Riding alone (which is where 98% of my miles are) I let the road and traffic conditions influence my speed. Sometimes it's under, more often than not, there is little traffic on the roads and I may do 10-15 over.
The interstates in my area are posted 70, but most of the times I'm at 80-85.
Country roads, totally depends on the conditions, but usually 10+ over. And forget about those signs that put of for curves, they are ridiculously slow.
When in an area where there is a lot of traffic, I do whatever speed it takes to not get run over, and to keep the most distance between myself and cages.
All that said, I ride MUCH slower than all the 20 somethings at the shop, I'm 55 and am constantly reminding them things can go real wrong, real fast, over 100 mph. Falls on deaf ears. lol
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 566
Likes: 70
From: The Redneck Riviera
In a 35 I'm no more than 37 (indicated), higher posted limits, a bit faster than the flow of traffic, on the open stretches, as conditions allow. Open Interstate 9-14 over, again as prudent with conditions.
To me, slower than the flow is more dangerous than a bit faster than the flow...
Riding with some groups is worse than herding cats...
There is a group of very experienced (everybody has at least 200k+ on Harleys) riders that I am fortunate to ride with from time to time that puts the fun back in group riding for me, we all know what each other is going to do, before we do it, everybody looks out for each other, most all is well above the posted limits. Even though the speeds can get way up there, I feel safer with them, than most other groups.
To me, slower than the flow is more dangerous than a bit faster than the flow...
Riding with some groups is worse than herding cats...
There is a group of very experienced (everybody has at least 200k+ on Harleys) riders that I am fortunate to ride with from time to time that puts the fun back in group riding for me, we all know what each other is going to do, before we do it, everybody looks out for each other, most all is well above the posted limits. Even though the speeds can get way up there, I feel safer with them, than most other groups.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 239
Likes: 27
From: Boston
All my friends say I ride too fast. I always say they are old (average age 55 - 60), heck half of them ride trikes and ride too slow but after yesterday maybe it is me...
Yesterday we me a new group and went out to Ohio bike week. The new group (first time we ever rode with them) had an average age of 35 - 40 and rode everything. There was crotch rockets, cruisers and of course Harleys. Lots of Latinos and even some thug riders.
Guess what? the new group wasn't much faster than the old group!
Normally I like to go 5 over if the road is clear and the weather good. So 60 in a 55 on back roads and 75 in a 70 on the slab. I hate having every car and semi pass me on the highway. I just don't think it's safe.
So how fast do you normally travel? Both by yourself and in a group.
Yesterday we me a new group and went out to Ohio bike week. The new group (first time we ever rode with them) had an average age of 35 - 40 and rode everything. There was crotch rockets, cruisers and of course Harleys. Lots of Latinos and even some thug riders.
Guess what? the new group wasn't much faster than the old group!
Normally I like to go 5 over if the road is clear and the weather good. So 60 in a 55 on back roads and 75 in a 70 on the slab. I hate having every car and semi pass me on the highway. I just don't think it's safe.
So how fast do you normally travel? Both by yourself and in a group.
on the interstate if it's 65 I'm probably around 70-75. Every now and then though I like to get on it and do 85-90, not for miles on end but here and there.
On back roads, i've always found the sweet spot to be about 10 mph or so over whatever the posted speed limit is....Slow it down in thickly settled areas/traffic etc.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,429
From: Idaho Panhandle
I ride about 4-5 over, that usually keeps me in sync with traffic. Any slower and cars are coming up on your butt, any faster and you are always slowing down for cars in your lane.
But I have friends that I used to ride with. They were 10-15 over. After riding with them most of the day, I finally said to one of the other riders at a pit stop, "Hey, I'm letting these guys go, I'm tired of racing all day." He agreed and we left some 10 minutes after the main group. They were all pulled over, their guns sitting on the hoods of the police vehicles. It took them over a hour to get back on the road and each had a hefty fine.
Happened a second time, again I got tied of racing everywhere and after 5 or 6 hours of this I told them I was headed home another way. They later told me they all got stopped and ticketed again.
I don't ride with them much anymore. Sometimes I meet them at a destination, but usually I take the less direct route as I really enjoy my time in the twisties. Also, they ride like a bat out of hell for 40 minutes, then stop for 30, then ride like a bat out of hell for another 40 and so on. Sometimes it felt like we spent more time waiting on people than we did riding. Arrive with your gas tank full, bring your lip balm or sunscreen or water bottle or whatever you need with you and take a pee or smoke before we leave or at least, before everyone is geared up and starting their bikes.
But I have friends that I used to ride with. They were 10-15 over. After riding with them most of the day, I finally said to one of the other riders at a pit stop, "Hey, I'm letting these guys go, I'm tired of racing all day." He agreed and we left some 10 minutes after the main group. They were all pulled over, their guns sitting on the hoods of the police vehicles. It took them over a hour to get back on the road and each had a hefty fine.
Happened a second time, again I got tied of racing everywhere and after 5 or 6 hours of this I told them I was headed home another way. They later told me they all got stopped and ticketed again.
I don't ride with them much anymore. Sometimes I meet them at a destination, but usually I take the less direct route as I really enjoy my time in the twisties. Also, they ride like a bat out of hell for 40 minutes, then stop for 30, then ride like a bat out of hell for another 40 and so on. Sometimes it felt like we spent more time waiting on people than we did riding. Arrive with your gas tank full, bring your lip balm or sunscreen or water bottle or whatever you need with you and take a pee or smoke before we leave or at least, before everyone is geared up and starting their bikes.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
General rule is always stay Under 10 over. Keeps you "under the radar" if ya know what I mean.
Second rule: If you are passing more cars than are passing you - you are probably going to fast.
Exceptions:
Obviously weather conditions.
What traffic is doing. Go with the flow as they say.
Highway Traffic has always and will always move in packs. Whenever possible I find the spot between the packs.
Second rule: If you are passing more cars than are passing you - you are probably going to fast.
Exceptions:
Obviously weather conditions.
What traffic is doing. Go with the flow as they say.
Highway Traffic has always and will always move in packs. Whenever possible I find the spot between the packs.