Total Motorcycle Community Forums

VermilionX wrote:who here can honestly say they obey posted speed limits? or even just don't exceed 5mph above or 10kmh above the posted limit? anybody?

Well, I'll be honest. Here in the UK, there are speed trap traffic cameras EVERYWHERE, and I do mean everywhere.

There is this type:



and



signs are all over the place about "possible cameras" like this:



and on the motorways/highways



Safe to say, here in the UK, I don't speed more than 5mph above, almost ever.

Mike

I try to stay within 5 to 10 mph of the speed limit, but I have had those moments when I look down and think no way I can be going that fast, not often anymore but it has happened. I have also gone way faster than I should (a long time ago), I'm not going to say how fast because I don't want to encourage others to do something stupid, but even back then I did not speed when others were around so I did not endanger others because of my stupidity and I really only did it a few times anyway. The local news here had a story on a couple years ago of motorcycles speeding in the mountains of north Georgia, they clocked several bikes going 150mph on a long straight which they made a big deal about, but the worst was a guy that was speeding going around a blind curve in the left lane, anyone that wants to ride like that should go to Road Atlanta or quit riding.

I just heard that in the UK (that's SV_Wolf) that the police limit is +5% of posted speed (+ 0-2%)...

Mike

ZRex wrote:I try to stay within 5 to 10 mph of the speed limit, but I have had those moments when I look down and think no way I can be going that fast, not often anymore but it has happened. I have also gone way faster than I should (a long time ago), I'm not going to say how fast because I don't want to encourage others to do something stupid, but even back then I did not speed when others were around so I did not endanger others because of my stupidity and I really only did it a few times anyway. The local news here had a story on a couple years ago of motorcycles speeding in the mountains of north Georgia, they clocked several bikes going 150mph on a long straight which they made a big deal about, but the worst was a guy that was speeding going around a blind curve in the left lane, anyone that wants to ride like that should go to Road Atlanta or quit riding.

Speeding around a blind corner is just about the worst speeding you can do to endanger yourself. (I guess you could add "at night, in the snow")... Speeding on a flat long straight with no one around, well, I don't think it's that bad. But I agree with "but I have had those moments when I look down and think no way I can be going that fast". I find myself going faster on an inline-4 motorcycle than any other type, it's the RPM rush.

Mike

totalmotorcycle wrote:

ZRex wrote:I try to stay within 5 to 10 mph of the speed limit, but I have had those moments when I look down and think no way I can be going that fast, not often anymore but it has happened. I have also gone way faster than I should (a long time ago), I'm not going to say how fast because I don't want to encourage others to do something stupid, but even back then I did not speed when others were around so I did not endanger others because of my stupidity and I really only did it a few times anyway. The local news here had a story on a couple years ago of motorcycles speeding in the mountains of north Georgia, they clocked several bikes going 150mph on a long straight which they made a big deal about, but the worst was a guy that was speeding going around a blind curve in the left lane, anyone that wants to ride like that should go to Road Atlanta or quit riding.

Speeding around a blind corner is just about the worst speeding you can do to endanger yourself. (I guess you could add "at night, in the snow")... Speeding on a flat long straight with no one around, well, I don't think it's that bad. But I agree with "but I have had those moments when I look down and think no way I can be going that fast". I find myself going faster on an inline-4 motorcycle than any other type, it's the RPM rush.

Mike

You are absolutely right about speeding around a blind corner, although the news seemed more concerned with the top speed on the straight. I actually don't have a problem with speeding on a long flat straight either, I just did not want it to seem like I was recommending it especially to people that might not have ridden long. I have found the same thing about inline-4s even smaller and "slower" ones, especially if I am not paying close attention to the speedometer, I've ridden a 100+hp cruiser and never had that problem on it, even though it was fast (in a straight line) and fun to ride (so much torque) I never had to worry about going too fast.

Handy thing about being in the developing world; no one gives you a ticket for speeding

That said, I hardly ever do (at least on a freeway or other major road). I don't find speeding in a straight line any more fun than going, say, 10% above the posted limit, so I usually don't bother speeding. Even on an empty road. I actually go a bit faster when there's some traffic; I feel safer going just slightly faster than most vehicles, just so most potential threats are coming at me rather than coming from behind me.

Going fast on curves is a different matter

totalmotorcycle wrote:I just heard that in the UK (that's SV_Wolf) that the police limit is +5% of posted speed (+ 0-2%)...

Mike

Hi Mike

Not quite. It's 10% of posted speed plus 2 miles per hour. (So in a 30mph zone the tolerance is up to 35 mpth; in a 70mph zone, it's up to 79mph). But this is discretionary. And I wouldn't count on it. It appears to vary from region to region and from copper to copper. And it only applies when dealing with traffic police. There is no telling what tolerances any fixed speed camera has. It may have none. (Expecially in some bike-hating counties.)

On the other hand, it is worthwile registering that some speed cameras here are front-facing and some back-facing. The front-facing cameras can't spot bikes because we don't have front registration plates, of course.

Avoiding speeding tickets is a science in the UK - inevitably. The science isn't all with the police. If you are bothered you can buy a perfectly legal GPS device which will warn you whenever you are approaching a fixed speed camera or a mobile radar trap.

totalmotorcycle wrote:Safe to say, here in the UK, I don't speed more than 5mph above, almost ever.

Mike

...except when you're racing the guy for the open spot in the passing lane...

sv-wolf wrote:

totalmotorcycle wrote:I just heard that in the UK (that's SV_Wolf) that the police limit is +5% of posted speed (+ 0-2%)...

Mike

Hi Mike

Not quite. It's 10% of posted speed plus 2 miles per hour.

LOL I was thinking that I heard you say something different than what Mike posted, but glad to see you've corrected and clarified!

I am not a speeder, it's just not in my blood. But (and there's always a but) when I get going on the motorway/freeway I like to cruise a bit faster than the speed limit just to keep up with traffic.