What's your speed limit on the street...?

[RJprod]

I usually go up 5 to 10 mph above the marked speed limit. I figured if you're doing the speed limit or below it, you're gonna find yourself behind cars all the time which is not a position to be in for long if you can help it.

lemme know how you ride on the street.. do you go above, below, or right around the speed limit..?

[csmith12]

Depends on traffic and conditions but slightly faster than the average pace. In my area, cops love bikes, so I am not the fastest but not the slowest either.

On the old twisty, country backroads where I live, I must admit.... I am slightly over the speed limit most of the time.

[Snake]

I normally ride slightly above the speed limit.

[lgk]

Depends on the conditions, but usually
+10% on the freeway or speed of traffic whichever is faster
+5% between 45-55mph
-5%-0% between 25-35mph

[skilletmo]

Originally Posted by lgk

Depends on the conditions, but usually
+10% on the freeway or speed of traffic whichever is faster
+5% between 45-55mph
-5%-0% between 25-35mph

[Alex]

v-max

[Old Lemon]

slightly faster than cops. like i pass them going 2 mph over what they are doing. all the cagers around are going like 15 below because of said cop so once i pass him there is a nice safe buffer zone where no one will be but my self

[nickjpass]

I go around the speed of traffic. I always want to go quicker that traffic, but I feel like I'd get a ticket pretty quickly. I'm still unsure whether I'd get pulled over for going with the flow or slightly quicker than it.

[ai4px]

I usually go the speed of traffic and get passed by a few cagers, give or take.

Dunno if its a national phenomenon, or just a state of our culture, but more and more people are not considerate of others and just camp out in the fast lane. They don't seem to want to be bothered with moving over... Maybe if they moved over, they might have to wait to get back into passing lane and it would upset their cruise control settings?? dunno... but.....

On my long trip this weekend, I got really annoyed with these sorts of people. A long string of cars in the fast lane stuck behind one car that could move over but won't because he's creeping up upon someone in the slowlane 1/2 mile ahead at +2mph. What dawned on me is that in the vacant slow lane I'm shielded from radar of any cops coming the other direction. So I found that I could "zoom zoom" up the slow lane for sometimes 3/4 of a mile and was amazed at the spaces between some of the cagers who were zoning out on the fast lane. These were LONG stretches of slow lane with no cars in them... I was not zig-zagging between cars. When I got to the front of the line I was tempted to brake check that guy gumming up the works, but never did. I really can't believe the time I made up on this trip by passing in the slow lane... plus I got an occasional burst to 100mph in the slow lane... safe from radar (evil laugh).

[S1att3r]

At the speed limit.

[mgentz]

just slightly faster than traffic. reasoning: reduces the risk of being rear-ended and keeps you out of people's blind spots since you are moving through them. I am also an offensive-defensive rider/driver.

[BRad704]

In town/in traffic, I always ride with the flow but make sure to position myself out of blind spots. Sometimes that means riding a bit faster to pass a car or slowing down a bit. It's all about "flow".

Out in the county, a few MPH over...

[subxero]

all depends on what is happening around me. if things are clean and clear, 5-10 on roads. stick the limit in town and residential, 10-20 over on highway.

but again that all changes with what is happening, will often drop to limit or slightly slower if i notice erratic driving, an indecisive person, or just poor visibility.

In short, i ride for the conditions.

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Depends on traffic and conditions but slightly faster than the average pace. In my area, cops love bikes, so I am not the fastest but not the slowest either.

On the old twisty, country backroads where I live, I must admit.... I am slightly over the speed limit most of the time.

yea, of course traffic plays a big role. You can't always be riding like these people I see on youtube. I wished the cops like bike over here in Tampa

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

I go around the speed of traffic. I always want to go quicker that traffic, but I feel like I'd get a ticket pretty quickly. I'm still unsure whether I'd get pulled over for going with the flow or slightly quicker than it.

I feel the same way. Usually when I pass a cager, I would slow down in the next light, worried that I might get pulled over or something

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by mgentz

just slightly faster than traffic. reasoning: reduces the risk of being rear-ended and keeps you out of people's blind spots since you are moving through them. I am also an offensive-defensive rider/driver.

That's the reason I ride slightly faster than the traffic.. sometimes they get so close to you even at stop light, you feel like even a little gas would result in them rear ending you..

[GSchneider]

I ride around 5 to 10 over, just depending on the situation.

[RJprod]

I am glad that I'm not alone in doing this. I also noticed some cagers don't like it when you pass them.. Oftentimes I would change lane to pass a cager, and just a few moments later I'd see them speeding up changing lanes after lanes to pass me.. ah ah.. It's stupid if you ask me because I never try to race anyone.. That's not y I ride .. But it's fun to see...

[TheDementedDrummer]

In the city, i don't have a choice but to go the same speed as traffic, I like being alive
On the highway, i have gone like double the speed limit, but i usually keep it around 20-30 over, if it's not crowded

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by TheDementedDrummer

In the city, i don't have a choice but to go the same speed as traffic, I like being alive
On the highway, i have gone like double the speed limit, but i usually keep it around 20-30 over, if it's not crowded

I hope you do not pass cars going 30 MPH faster then them?

[CC Cowboy]

Warp 3, unless there is a cop. Then, the speed of light.

[lgk]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Warp 3, unless there is a cop. Then, the speed of light.

its impulse drives only until you exit the solar system...

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by RJprod

I usually go up 5 to 10 mph above the marked speed limit..........

Soon, you will find out that your approach is too rigid to be practical.

Survival rule of thumb:
You constantly adjust your speed and road's position according to the best judgement that you can make after collecting all the information that you can from your five senses.

A commercial zone marked for 25 mph is an easy trap for LEO's looking for collecting some tickets: stick to 25.

A limit of 65 on an interstate slab is meaningless, when all the cars around you are moving at 80~85 mph, even in presence of patrol cars: go with the flow and get ready to speed up or stop quickly, according to what your eyes and ears tell you is your best interest. Making 65 or 95 for no reason in those conditions would be uselessly unsafe.

Happy to see that you keep asking and learning !!!

[NevadaWolf]

I'm the weird one on the steets. In town, always the speed limit. Highways, 65 or lower (depending). I live in the slow lane, and typically ride on the center/right side to avoid anyone passing me and oncoming traffic.

My reasoning is I like my awesome gas mileage, and don't like getting caught up in the typical traffic rage that goes with trying to stay with the pack. I let the pack flow around me and stay in the bubble behind them.

But I know and am actively aware I am going slow. So I keep an eye on my mirrors, stay consistent, and move over to let faster drivers pass. Once, when riding with my stepdad and mom, he rocketed away from me going around 80-90. Since I knew where we were going, I simply putted along at the speed limit (55!) and eventually caught up. He asked if my bike was broken cause I was so slow. :-/

Edit: I should add that on the twisty roads that I know really well and am confident on, then about 10-15 over the limit (so, typically 45-50 in a 35 zone). But that segment is well known as a bike's playground and cops ignore you as long as you aren't being overly stupid.

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Soon, you will find out that your approach is too rigid to be practical.

Survival rule of thumb:
You constantly adjust your speed and road's position according to the best judgement that you can make after collecting all the information that you can from your five senses.

A commercial zone marked for 25 mph is an easy trap for LEO's looking for collecting some tickets: stick to 25.

A limit of 65 on an interstate slab is meaningless, when all the cars around you are moving at 80~85 mph, even in presence of patrol cars: go with the flow and get ready to speed up or stop quickly, according to what your eyes and ears tell you is your best interest. Making 65 or 95 for no reason in those conditions would be uselessly unsafe.

Happy to see that you keep asking and learning !!!

I mean I don't ride up 5 to 10 mph till I reach my destination. I ride according to traffic, but it's just that I've seen some other riders doing well above the speed limit regardless of what kinna traffic they're in... So I thought I was doing something...

[krolinked]

+20mph 90% of the time.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by RJprod

... So I thought I was doing something...

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by Motofool

yea... I thought there was something else they knew that I didn't know about..As far as safe riding concerns...

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by krolinked

+20mph 90% of the time.

really? do you ride like this anywhere.. highways or residential roads?

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by RJprod

yea... I thought there was something else they knew that I didn't know about..As far as safe riding concerns...

They may have just more experience and riding time than you.

I understand that these are your first steps in motorcycling.
If so, speed is not your friend.
Speed and the energy that you carry are not directly proportional.
Consequences from a fall or braking distance at 40 mph are not double the ones at 20 mph.

I would recommend you to ride as slow as the traffic around you allows it, at least for some weeks, until you develop a finer sense for safe speed in different conditions.

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by Motofool

They may have just more experience and riding time than you.

I understand that these are your first steps in motorcycling.
If so, speed is not your friend.
Speed and the energy that you carry are not directly proportional.
Consequences from a fall or braking distance at 40 mph are not double the ones at 20 mph.

I would recommend you to ride as slow as the traffic around you allows it, at least for some weeks, until you develop a finer sense for safe speed in different conditions.

ummm... If you read my other posts you'll notice that I've progressed much faster than most people probably would expect in just a month and a half. I am confident in the way in which I ride in the streets whether slow or fast. I've put 1500 miles on the bike.. now that's a lot of riding if you ask me. (including a trip from Tampa to Miami). I asked the question not because I'm scared to ride on the street (regardless of traffic conditions), but rather because I didnt wanna get pulled over for speeding.. so I wonder how others were doing?

in my own mind, I figured if you're doing slightly less than the speed limit you risk getting stuck behind cars all the time which is not good if everyone is doing the speed limit or above it.. at least over here In Tampa near the school.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by RJprod

..........you risk getting stuck behind cars all the time which is not good if everyone is doing the speed limit or above it.....

I see.

What makes you think that that is not good?

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by Motofool

I see.

What makes you think that that is not good?

Well, I can't talk for everyone or every place but over here people drive like they have something against you. if you stay behind a car for too long you risk getting boxed in or rear-ended by other cars, or they drive behind you in such away that you have to switch lane whether you wanted to or not.

[KawiKid860]

I always just go 5 over on my speedometer, which I'm guessing comes to around 38 in the city and about 71-72 on the highway. Never had a problem with police, and it puts me at a nice pace where I pass people going the speed limit or under and get passed by people going 5+ over and it keeps me safe from tickets pretty much (I hope, haven't gotten one doing this and have passed very many cops)

[ai4px]

Originally Posted by RJprod

really? do you ride like this anywhere.. highways or residential roads?

Don't let him fool ya... it's only +10 b/c his speedo (like mine) reads 10mph fast.

[RJprod]

Originally Posted by ai4px

Don't let him fool ya... it's only +10 b/c his speedo (like mine) reads 10mph fast.

oh.. silly me

[choneofakind]

I just go with traffic. I'm not a speed demon.

[alex.s]

"speed limit" depends on the bike. my 250 is limited to 105ishMPH. but my 600 isn't limited until 145.

[quicklooker]

No different than my car. Either 5 over, or with traffic unless traffic is going way over on a road that I know is either dangerous or has common speed traps.

[dave42]

I do pretty much the same thing as lgk with the exception on residential side streets; I tend to go only like 20 since I've seen one too many crash videos like Jiggle's first ride and I happen to like my left femur.