Cruising Speed

[DIGGER]

When on a road trip who all like to run at the posted speed?
I like to run 4 mph over the posted speed considering road conditions.
I hate hate hate riding in a group ....as if the speed limit is 75 mph and I am not in the lead and I get held up with traffic then have to crank 90-95 mph to catch back up before someone else jumps in between us .

[ridingron]

Has your group ever tried the "drop and sweep" method?

[DIGGER]

Has your group ever tried the "drop and sweep" method?

?????

[Rams]

When on a road trip who all like to run at the posted speed?
I like to run 4 mph over the posted speed considering road conditions.
I hate hate hate riding in a group ....as if the speed limit is 75 mph and I am not in the lead and I get held up with traffic then have to crank 90-95 mph to catch back up before someone else jumps in between us .

The speed(s) I drive or ride ultimately depends on just how much of a hurry I'm in.  Being retired, I am rarely in a hurry.  I'm also not into riding with large groups.   I do hate the "accordion" effect that happens in every large group I've ever ridden with.   If, the leader of the group doesn't maintain a moderate and consistent speed, it's going to happen.   Reference others not in the group cutting in, happens all the time when the group doesn't or can't stay together.   

I distinctly remember an Inzane ride where the group got separated about halfway back from the leaders because some cages were allowed to cut in.   Well, those cage(s) ended up holding up the back half of the group and that half didn't know the route to the destination and we ended up circling the area until someone eventually figured out where the front half had gone.   Talk about a SNAFU!!   

I've also been on rides where the leader got lost or didn't remember where we were supposed to turn about six miles back.   That was FUBAR.     But, it's all part of the  challenges of life, either get over it or get with it.   

Rams   

[Jess from VA]

I will speed a bit, but not way over the limit, except for short blasts to get out of traffic.  Ten over is about the norm in my area.  Since Covid, traffic enforcement has about disappeared; not completely.  The state police still patrol and radar the big freeways.

Your 4 over is about guaranteed to never get a ticket.

I drive and ride to gain space between traffic; if it means slower or faster, OK.

When cruising, traffic (or one or more cars) may all be going 10-15 over.  If I like that speed, I'll pace them 50 yards back, and watch their tail lights for sudden braking. 

What I never do is put the hammer down and just keep at it, all alone, up and down hills and around curves.  Consistent speeding will eventually get you a ticket.

No performance awards for me in like 15 years (not that I haven't deserved some).

I once borrowed a radar detector (illegal in VA) for trips.  But the dang thing gave so many false positives (road construction, certain signs, certain other electronic equipment, big truck backup radar, yada, I got so tired of it going off and worrying me, I turned it off for some peace. 

Later, traveling cross country, I learned to only turn it on when passing though big population areas (cities) because that's where most of the cops are.  Though that's where most of the false positives are too.

[3fan4life]

Usually, I run 5-10 mph above the posted speed.

I try not to run more than that since I don't like speeding tickets.

In 2019 we were riding on I-90 in Montana.

The posted speed was 80 mph, we were running about 95 mph and still getting passed by pretty much everything else on the road.

A Montana State Trooper came up beside me, gave me a slight wave and went on.

I decided that Montana must be the only place in the US where you could be running 95mph and a state trooper tell you to have a nice day.

[carolinarider09]

Ten years ago, on motorcycle road trips when I was lead (only a group of four or one time eight) I told the group that my goal on "open" roads was nine miles over the limit, max.

Since then I have degraded to the limit or, at most five over the limit. And now it does not matter car or bike.

On secondary roads, this works.  On the interstate highway system I have found that, in general, there are ten percent of the driving population that are plain stupid., 85 -90 in a 70 Mph zone. 

[DDT (12)]

Fitting comfortably within the flow of traffic. I try never to find myself being the faster rider/driver out there, as that will invite the attention of those with the power to penalize! I also strive to not become a victim of tailgating. Not much attention is paid to posted speed limits much of the time... By doing so, I find myself rarely passing others but being passed little, as well. I've only ever received one ticket while aboard our girl... I wasn't following my usual style, and I did deserve that ticket!

DDT (12)

[f6john]

80-85 in the wife’s Camry. On the Wing it has become 80 since I changed the final drive ratio. I’m happy at 70-75 on the wing too but if I’m traveling a long distance it find myself creeping on up to 80-85. I thought having cruise control would be the greatest thing ever but in my few long distance trips the traffic has been such that the throttle is easier to help me flow in and out with the traffic.

As a matter of routine, I don’t have a set mph over posted that I adhere to. Same was true on the Valkyrie, I let the bikes engine tell me where it wanted to be, somewhere between 3000-3200 rpm was the sweet spot for the bike and me.

[John Schmidt]

We live just off a main access street with a 25mph limit and is often staked out by an unmarked car. I set my cruise no more than 28mph in the car or on the bike and get a lot of tailgating...something I think they teach in Drivers Ed up here. At one point about 1/2 mile down the road is a stop sign where most will take off and rip along at 35. Problem is, just after crossing the street at the sign there's a sign still posting 25, it doesn't change to 35 for another mile. That's where the unmarked car makes a killing.

Usually for me be it car or bike, I run at 70 on the interstates or near whatever the posted limit is. In the country, usually much slower and as was posted...when coming into "small town USA" you'd best slow to slightly under what's posted. A friend driving in upstate New York got pulled over by a local LEO riding an ATV. All he could do was laugh while the cop is writing the ticket.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Fitting comfortably within the flow of traffic. I try never to find myself being the faster rider/driver out there, as that will invite the attention of those with the power to penalize! I also strive to not become a victim of tailgating. Not much attention is paid to posted speed limits much of the time... By doing so, I find myself rarely passing others but being passed little, as well. I've only ever received one ticket while aboard our girl... I wasn't following my usual style, and I did deserve that ticket!

DDT (12)

Thats a pretty impressive feat. I assume if I had your mileage racked up, I’d be past a dozen or so. 

[Moonshot_1]

There's a limit? We ended such zones in Iowa. Got the sign to prove it. I'm sure it accounts for all zones.

[Valker]

There's a limit? We ended such zones in Iowa. Got the sign to prove it. I'm sure it accounts for all zones.

Finally, a protest sign I'd carry!

[scooperhsd]

On a road trip (any kind of vehicle) - I'm usually 5-10 mph above, depending on road / weather conditions. When conditions warrant it - I'll go slower than posted as well - pissing off people behind me be cursed. I really don't want to have to pay for speeding tickets (if there was no financial penalty - I'd go as fast as conditions allowed (max speed of vehicle anyone ? ).

[carolinarider09]

Ten years ago, on motorcycle road trips when I was lead (only a group of four or one time eight) I told the group that my goal on "open" roads was nine miles over the limit, max.

Since then I have degraded to the limit or, at most five over the limit. And now it does not matter car or bike.

On secondary roads, this works.  On the interstate highway system I have found that, in general, there are ten percent of the driving population that are plain stupid., 85 -90 in a 70 Mph zone. 

I quoted my own post because I forgot to add the most important point.  How do you know what your real speed is????

Me, I have used a GPS since 2004 or so.  So, if I say I am going 64 then I am going 64.   

[Willow]

I normally run with or just a little over traffic.  I do try not to be the biggest fish in the river for those badged fishermen.

Outside of traffic I may run five or ten over the PRV with some punctuations above those limits.

BTW, if you're using the mapping software (GPS or phone) the speed displayed is the average over the past ten or twelve seconds, not that that should make much if any difference.

[Moonshot_1]

Ten years ago, on motorcycle road trips when I was lead (only a group of four or one time eight) I told the group that my goal on "open" roads was nine miles over the limit, max.

Since then I have degraded to the limit or, at most five over the limit. And now it does not matter car or bike.

On secondary roads, this works.  On the interstate highway system I have found that, in general, there are ten percent of the driving population that are plain stupid., 85 -90 in a 70 Mph zone. 

I quoted my own post because I forgot to add the most important point.  How do you know what your real speed is????

Me, I have used a GPS since 2004 or so.  So, if I say I am going 64 then I am going 64.   

Usually the officer tells me what my speed was. I always think they're a little low.

[Jess from VA]

The classic (trick) question:  Do you know how fast your were going?

If you say no, then whatever he says was your speed is hard to contest.  

If you say yes, it's an admission of guilt.  

(Of course you can deny speeding anyway.)

Trick answer:  I think so, but I'm not telling.  

And don't ask for your Miranda warnings.

And don't say you were racing to a bathroom to pee.  That is older than Methuselah, and stopped being funny in 1957.    

[Serk]

Faster than most, slower than some.

[3fan4life]

Ten years ago, on motorcycle road trips when I was lead (only a group of four or one time eight) I told the group that my goal on "open" roads was nine miles over the limit, max.

Since then I have degraded to the limit or, at most five over the limit. And now it does not matter car or bike.

On secondary roads, this works.  On the interstate highway system I have found that, in general, there are ten percent of the driving population that are plain stupid., 85 -90 in a 70 Mph zone. 

I quoted my own post because I forgot to add the most important point.  How do you know what your real speed is????

Me, I have used a GPS since 2004 or so.  So, if I say I am going 64 then I am going 64.   

Usually the officer tells me what my speed was. I always think they're a little low.

My last good driving award I was riding my ST1300.

The officer asked if I knew how fast I was going.

My answer was, "No Sir not a clue".

When he said that he'd clocked me doing 78 in a 55, I was just glad that it wasn't triple digits.

[3fan4life]

The classic (trick) question:  Do you know how fast your were going?

Trick answer:  I think so, but I'm not telling.  
   

I'll have to try that one sometime. 

[RP#62]

Do you know how fast you were going?    Yes, I do.


-RP

[Rams]

Do you know how fast you were going?    Yes, I do.


-RP

After being pulled over (once) I was asked if I knew why I was stopped.   Responded with, "Well, I assume for impeding traffic because it seems like everyone was passing me."    Which was true about getting passed although I was exceeding the speed limit just not as much as most of the other folks on that road.

He apparently thought I was being a smartass and promptly issued me a driving award.   He said he couldn't stop and catch everyone and I was just the lucky one.   Have never gotten a ticket on a motorcycle but have numerous driving awards in cages.   Not sure why that is.

Rams   

[Moonshot_1]

Pondering this a bit, technically, the natural speed limit is the speed of light so I'm usually under the limit. I am a firm believer in natural law.

[Robert]

Pondering this a bit, technically, the natural speed limit is the speed of light so I'm usually under the limit. I am a firm believer in natural law.

  Here's your ticket.

[old2soon]

L E O. You know why I stopped you? Not really Officer but I am POSITIVE you will enlighten me!  I've been on P G R Missions with L E O escort and had folks cutting thru the line of mostly Motorcycles! I've been told when I lead I go too fast. I offer to let ANYONE else lead. NO/NONE/NADA takers on the offer!  And AWAY we go!  By myself cage or M/C 10 12 over posted Depending on prevailing conditions! RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

as most, 7 to 10 mph over in a 55 mph speed zone.  I find that over 65 mph will get u a ticket but pretty sure all my vehicles if say doing 65 mph on speedometer, is really 63 or 64 REAL mph so am safe. 

Interstate is all over the place when 70 mph speed zone,  I run 78 mph but never over 80 mph ever.  What irks me is always the right slow lane almost always goes under my 78 mph but the crazy people wanting to go 85 mph in the left lane expects me to get over and mix in with the slow pokes in the right lane.  I will get over to slower right lane but NOT trying to get over ASAP in between 2 slower vehicles only get over when no lineup of slower cars in right lane .  If the crazies doing 85 mph behind me in fast left lane do not like it, too darn bad.  I will get over when NO ONE in right lane might be awhile if do not like it, too darn bad.

[Farside]

  I typically ride about 5 over as I lead a group but depends on conditions 

[0leman]

I tend to ride around 65, indicated, on most 55 mph roads.  Haven't gotten any bad looks from the LEO's.   And flow with the traffic.  When driving set cruise at 62 on the same roads.  The 65 is also under the 3000 rpms on my bike.  Get better fuel mileage under 3K. 

Also, I figured that the 65 was close the 62 because of the setback Honda put on our bikes.