Speeding

[Sev]

In the UK you should be doing no more than the speed posted as you pass the sign...

so if the speed limit changes from 50 to 100, does that mean you can immediately start doing 100 once you pass the 50 sign?

[Ninja Geoff]

I did the safety is for wimps vote. I typically like to think that im a safe rider, and i am. But my idea of safe and the law's idea of safe are two completely different things.

[DivideOverflow]

can't comment in the poll. You left off the "stay with traffic" option.

The speed limit is whatever the masses are travelling at.

I can add that, but before I do, I'd like to say that option is there - it is the "Limited only by the safety of the act of going fast". Because if the traffic is going 90 in a 65, which I have seen here in Ohio, you are certainly going fast, and breaking the law, but doing it to be safe. Yes or no?

Ah, I misread that option the first time around.

Yeah, I'm in the "as fast as is safe" rule. If everyone is going 90 in a 65, if you go 65, you get hit....

So I would say my speed limit is "As fast (but usually not much faster) than the traffic around me, as long as it is safe to do so. I find going slower to be more dangerous, as you get cut off left and right, tailgated, and other fun stuff like that.

[qwerty]

I used to ride a route to work and back that was 30mph through a business area, then over a bridge with a 55mph sign at the far end of the bridge. One day I began accelerationg with traffic as soon as the front tire hit the bridge, passing the 55mph sign at about 50, and got a ticket for 47 in a 30. What really sucked is all the cars in the left lane were passing me the whole time I was on the bridge.

Three weeks later, I'm dutifully doing 30mph all the way across the same damn bridge, and I get a ticket for impeding the flow of traffic. Sheesh!

I took pictures of of the area to court, pled not guilty because of police harrassment, and the judge threw both tickets out. I still don't know where the 30mph ends and the 55 begins. I think it depends on how many donuts the cop had for breakfast.

[flynrider]

"Limited only by the safety of the act of going fast"

"Safety" would include being safe from an encounter with a local law enforcement officer

I usually ride just a bit faster than the flow of traffic in the city. If I can get just ahead of the main pack, that leaves me a lot fewer cages to deal with. Once I'm out ahead, I slow down whatever speed the pack is going.

On the open highway, my speed will be limited by the contours of the road, and whether or not there are police cars parked at the side of it. On a long, straight, empty, unobscured piece of highway, I've been known to top out the bike just for laughs.

[Kal]

so if the speed limit changes from 50 to 100, does that mean you can immediately start doing 100 once you pass the 50 sign?

The biggest jump you'll see over here is 30 to 60mph, and yes thats legal. I'd swear I see it the other way more often though 60 to 30mph which just feels like you are crawling along...

It's not unknown to have Police Officers or cameras sat just the other side of the sign in these cases.

[Nalian]

I used to ride a route to work and back that was 30mph through a business area, then over a bridge with a 55mph sign at the far end of the bridge. One day I began accelerationg with traffic as soon as the front tire hit the bridge, passing the 55mph sign at about 50, and got a ticket for 47 in a 30. What really sucked is all the cars in the left lane were passing me the whole time I was on the bridge.

Three weeks later, I'm dutifully doing 30mph all the way across the same damn bridge, and I get a ticket for impeding the flow of traffic. Sheesh!

I took pictures of of the area to court, pled not guilty because of police harrassment, and the judge threw both tickets out. I still don't know where the 30mph ends and the 55 begins. I think it depends on how many donuts the cop had for breakfast.

That's crazy! Glad they were both tossed.

[scan]

"Limited only by the safety of the act of going fast"

"Safety" would include being safe from an encounter with a local law enforcement officer

I usually ride just a bit faster than the flow of traffic in the city. If I can get just ahead of the main pack, that leaves me a lot fewer cages to deal with. Once I'm out ahead, I slow down whatever speed the pack is going.

On the open highway, my speed will be limited by the contours of the road, and whether or not there are police cars parked at the side of it. On a long, straight, empty, unobscured piece of highway, I've been known to top out the bike just for laughs.

A little over a quarter of the respondents to this poll, which 12 out of 40 right now, agree with your sentiment. I agree as well. I make my own rules, and that is for sure based on safety and not signs or laws. Part of the safety is knowing that there are 'zones' where you cannot exceed the speed limit posted. Residential areas require that I don't speed. High traffic zones require special attention. But there are places I ride my bike well into the triple digits for a stretch. It is not the norm, and I don't fly around blind corners or over hills where I can't see what's on the other side. I think I can be safe outside some of the posted limits.

[Chris8187]

It all depends on the road. In a 25 zone, I can go as fast as 40mph if the road is straight enough. I tend to stay around 40 or up to 50 mph in 35 and 40 mph zones. On the highways, it is how fast I feel I can get away with.

[Wrider]

I've recently found myself doing about 5-10 over on the bike, with bursts of up to 20 over in the city if I'm trying to avoid certain traffic or get around someone. On the Interstate, I'll do whatever it takes to either stay with or go slightly faster than the flow of traffic. Around here that usually means around 80-85 MPH. My bike is fairly comfortable at that speed, and doesn't start complaining til about 90-95.
Wrider