Do I really ride too fast?
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 69
From: Northford, CT
I have been told that I am to aggressive in the turns they can't keep up with me. I don't ride more than 5mph over the speed limit. So I went to the rear and found the problem. Most of the complaining riders slow down in the turns. They come out of a turn slower than they went into it. Each turn they are farther behind if there is no straight away they loose sight of the group. Their problem not mine! I'm 66 and ride a trike.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,808
Likes: 285
From: Green Country Oklahoma
I ride close 10 over or keep up with the fast moving traffic sure gas mileage sucks but that's not my priority. I only ride with few friends but most of the time give them head start or meet at the next stop.Only my wife keeps up with me every time she rides, guess she doesn't want to get lost. My favorite place to ride is to keep fast moving vehicle ahead of me in my eyesight and stay ahead of everyone behind me to avoid traffic tickets.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 247
From: Tulsa, OK
I'd have to call BS on this... I find it a little hard to believe that you go into a posted 45mph corner at 90mph and find yourself turning so tight that you have to get on the gas
or a 25mph corner which is a right angle you take at 50mph
Maybe they post the corner speed differently up there in Indian country to account for the fire-water.
or a 25mph corner which is a right angle you take at 50mph
Maybe they post the corner speed differently up there in Indian country to account for the fire-water.
I used a little more caution when I was in Texas on the 3 sisters in the middle of April but I don't know the area so I slowed down a bit.
When the posted cautionary speed gets up to 40 or more I usually just roll in about 20 over. The Streetglide is not my old CBR it doesn't have have the legs, suspension, or the lean angle to do much more than that.
I have one posted 15mph turn up here I don't mess with it's hurt and killed too many people it's a decreasing radius double apex we call the horseshoe, I piled into once just a little too fast on the CBR one time and wound up halfway into the oncoming lane.
Never seen a right angle turn with a posted limit but 25's about the most for a flat right hander I'd do anyway, speed limit is 25mph in my neighborhood. If I don't slow down boards grind.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: N/A
I came from agile sport touring bikes so I'm all about scraping my pegs in the corners. I was amazed to find my new 2014 Ultra Limited just loves to lean. Its just as agile if not more so then any other bike I ever rode I'm amazed just how well this bike handles. With that said, this bike encourages me to move fast in the corners. Im usually about 20-30 MPH over the speed limit on many of the deserted twisty country roads around my home. When on the highway around others I usually keep my speed about 10 MPH over the speed limit. This bike's sweet spot is doing about 55-70 MPH on the highway and thats about where I keep her. If the speed limit is 55 Im doing 65 if 65 I'm doing 70 unless everyone else is speeding faster. Thats when I drive faster for safety reasons.
I recently rode some twisties with a group. I like to ride last or second to last so I can hang back and run fast through the corners. At one point I had a new Gold Wing behind me. I kept falling back and opening the throttle hard to get max lean. When we stopped he came up to me and said "That Ultra Glide is faster then any other Glide I ever rode with" He asked me what I did to it. I then explained it was a new Rushmore wet head. I did no mods to the engine. He claims he was having a hard time keeping up with me and claimed whatever Harley did this model year is much faster then others. I had no idea if that was true since I never owned another Harley. Is there any truth to that statement? Is the new Ultra Glide Limited really that much faster or is he just not use to chasing someone who likes to drive as aggressive as I do?
I recently rode some twisties with a group. I like to ride last or second to last so I can hang back and run fast through the corners. At one point I had a new Gold Wing behind me. I kept falling back and opening the throttle hard to get max lean. When we stopped he came up to me and said "That Ultra Glide is faster then any other Glide I ever rode with" He asked me what I did to it. I then explained it was a new Rushmore wet head. I did no mods to the engine. He claims he was having a hard time keeping up with me and claimed whatever Harley did this model year is much faster then others. I had no idea if that was true since I never owned another Harley. Is there any truth to that statement? Is the new Ultra Glide Limited really that much faster or is he just not use to chasing someone who likes to drive as aggressive as I do?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 459
From: Here and now
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.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 67
From: Saint Amant, Acadiana
Find some friends that aren't sissies!
I like to ride fast....Most of the guys I ride with like to ride fast too.
The cool thing about it is....
I never hear any of them whining about gas mileage.
They never discuss the importance of looking cool.
They aren't concerned about whether you wear a vest or not.
They don't ever ask what color do-rag looks best.
They don't get too concerned about whether you wear a full face helmet or a beanie.
They don't care if you do or don't wear chaps, sneakers, t-shirts or whatever.
They don't trailer bikes that are not broken down.
They don't get too concerned over some guy with a badge not approving of their actions.
These types of people are getting harder to find in the USA....They're called men.
Good times!
I like to ride fast....Most of the guys I ride with like to ride fast too.
The cool thing about it is....
I never hear any of them whining about gas mileage.
They never discuss the importance of looking cool.
They aren't concerned about whether you wear a vest or not.
They don't ever ask what color do-rag looks best.
They don't get too concerned about whether you wear a full face helmet or a beanie.
They don't care if you do or don't wear chaps, sneakers, t-shirts or whatever.
They don't trailer bikes that are not broken down.
They don't get too concerned over some guy with a badge not approving of their actions.
These types of people are getting harder to find in the USA....They're called men.
Good times!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 10
From: Oklahoma
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
Alone
80 to 85 on freeways/interstates except in St Louis. Too many 200+ dollars tickets to ignore limits in St Louis.
Back roads usually let road and traffic set pace
When I group ride it usually with the same group(7 riders). Standard rule is 1 to 2 seconds off rear wheel of lead bike staggered in lane. Keeps pack tight and you can see and know where everyone is. Speed, twisties, road debris and stopping, require coordination or you'll run over each other. Speed is usually 10 to 15 over or you'll get to ride the drag/sweep position.
80 to 85 on freeways/interstates except in St Louis. Too many 200+ dollars tickets to ignore limits in St Louis.
Back roads usually let road and traffic set pace
When I group ride it usually with the same group(7 riders). Standard rule is 1 to 2 seconds off rear wheel of lead bike staggered in lane. Keeps pack tight and you can see and know where everyone is. Speed, twisties, road debris and stopping, require coordination or you'll run over each other. Speed is usually 10 to 15 over or you'll get to ride the drag/sweep position.
Last edited by bigskyroadglide; Jun 2, 2014 at 07:15 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 643
Likes: 9
From: Georgia
I'm with the 10-20 over when alone folks. In a group, it just depends on who is with us but usually 5-10 over. I know I ride too fast. I have to constantly remind myself to slow down. It just doesn't feel natural to me to ride the speed limit and I hate following people.