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Is it "dangerous" to drive the "limit" on the highway?

HappyHighwayman

HappyHighwayman

It's all in the reflexes
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Location
San Francisco
Moto(s)
Rad Rover
Name
Jordan
Today I rode to and from Redwood city from SF. In the daytime, on the way there, I would say on the highway I was averaging 75 mph in the RIGHT LANE. I was being passed by every single car effectively.

On the way home, due to the dark and the paranoia of not having running lights in the rear, I rode about 60-65 in the right lane.

For some reason, I have a fear of accelerating past 65 on the highway, even though the "feel" of the bike is not very different at 65-75 or 85 MPH.

Is it "unsafe" to be riding "slow" on the highway? Unless I'm keeping up with traffic I've been sticking to the right lane. Tonigth was only my 3rd or 4th time on a proper 50+ mile highway ride...I assume with experience I'll get begtter, but the "fear" is always there at the back of my mind.


When I am in a car by comparison I don't focus so much on my speed as much as maintaining a proper distance to the car in front of me and keeping "pace" with traffic.
 
I'd say it's ESPECIALLY dangerous doing under the speed limit WITH NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT. I'd want to be passing people, not being passed.
 
I had front lights, just no back running lights. The brake and indicators still worked. I ran the hazards until I got back to a lighted portion of the city.

But let's say it's daytime and I'm just a slow right lane driver. ANything wrong with cruising at 65?
 
If you are worried about being seen at night, I would suggest you wear some highly seen gear like the Fieldsheer On Base vest to get you noticed at night.
 
Yes, I believe it's more dangerous to be going slower than traffic than it is to be going with it or faster than it.
 
I think its safest to go with the flow of traffic be it 55 or 80. Personaly I like to travel in the fast lane going slightly faster than the flow of traffic. I think with experience you'll get more comfortable on the freeway. You'll also learn what to look out for, like people that don't see you cutting into your lane.
 
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I guess I just need more practice and will make an effort to keep with the flow. I just feel that the right lane is the "Slow" lane and thus people should have no trouble passing me safely on the left should they want to. The highways I've been riding have been 280 and 1 so the traffic has been light and forgiving.
 
HappyHighwayman said:
I guess I just need more practice and will make an effort to keep with the flow. I just feel that the right lane is the "Slow" lane and thus people should have no trouble passing me safely on the left should they want to. The highways I've been riding have been 280 and 1 so the traffic has been light and forgiving.
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The slow lane scares me cause of the idiot that almost misses his exit swervs over at the last minut and can take you out (if he doesn't see you). I try to stay out of the slow lane and I'm hyper aware when I am.
 
go faster than the faster car around u and ull do just fine
just make sure thats not a chp car :p
 
I think its safer to be aware of whats going on around you in the slow lane than being in the fast lane with your head up your ass.
 
Karbon said:
I think its safer to be aware of whats going on around you in the slow lane than being in the fast lane with your head up your ass.
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It's never safe to ride with your head up your ass anywhere or under any conditions. :)
 
I got pulled over for speeding when traveling at the pace of traffic (80 in a 70 on 580n). I hate travelling on the freeway on a motorcycle. My choice is to give the police the ability to ticket me at will or put myself in serious danger by travelling slower than traffic.
 
I think you need to change yr user name. And ya, always go at least as fast as th flow.
 
HappyHighwayman said:
I had front lights, just no back running lights. The brake and indicators still worked. I ran the hazards until I got back to a lighted portion of the city.

But let's say it's daytime and I'm just a slow right lane driver. ANything wrong with cruising at 65?
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:wtf

That's just suicidal.

GET YOUR LIGHTS FIXED

One of the biggest dangers when it comes to riding is visibility to others on the road--and that's with a properly functioning bike!!!!

You crazy.

Now, as far as your original question goes, I'm definitely more comfortable going just a little faster than the surrounding traffic. I've intentionally gone the speed limit a few times on the freeway and it scared the crap out of me.
 
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HappyHighwayman said:
On the way home, due to the dark and the paranoia of not having running lights in the rear, I rode about 60-65 in the right lane.
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I'm not sure what you mean by "running lights". Your motorcycle should have a taillight that is always on, and unless you've modified the bike it has a reflector in the rear also. Riding at night without a taillight isn't too "bright".

For some reason, I have a fear of accelerating past 65 on the highway, even though the "feel" of the bike is not very different at 65-75 or 85 MPH.
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You need to overcome that. In fact, I would recommend staying off Bay Area freeways until you're able to cruise comfortably at an indicated 80mph. Not that you must regularly ride at that speed, but sometimes it's necessary even for a conservative rider to accelerate to higher speeds to merge safely or to clear a knot of traffic.

Keep in mind, too, that your motorcycle's speedometer probably reads high, maybe as much as 10%. I know that on my bikes an indicated 70mph is actually less than 65mph. Cars OTOH, seem to have pretty accurate speedos these days. If you know where there's a radar display, use it to determine your speedo error.

Is it "unsafe" to be riding "slow" on the highway?
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Yes it is. Just as it is unsafe to be riding "fast"--i.e., significantly above the prevailing flow. You're safer when your speed is within the range other motorists expect to see.
 
HappyHighwayman said:
I guess I just need more practice and will make an effort to keep with the flow. I just feel that the right lane is the "Slow" lane and thus people should have no trouble passing me safely on the left should they want to. The highways I've been riding have been 280 and 1 so the traffic has been light and forgiving.
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Unfortunately, if they don't see you till they hit you, that does not apply.Riding without running lights is basically, well, ill thought out, ill executed, and astoundingly lacking in cognitive behavior.
 
OP I assume by running lights you mean amber indicator lights that are always on, but blink when indicating a turn.

I've rode with some riders that refuse to go over the speed limit, I find this frighting.

I try to stay between clumps of cars on the freeway, I can do this by speeding up or slowing down. If I'm going slow I try to keep space behind me and be aware of any car that starts to applie back pressure to me. Doing this takes away from the amount of awareness I can place on what's in front of me. when riding in the right lane you also have to be on the watch for idiots diving for the off ramp, they'll come from your 7-9 oclock.

If I'm going the speed of traffic or a little faster I can focus more on what is front of me.
By being in the left lane I don't have worry about off ramp divers.

all riding strategies have weaknesses, you just have to choose the strategy with the dangers your best able to handle.
 
HappyHighwayman said:
For some reason, I have a fear of accelerating past 65 on the highway, even though the "feel" of the bike is not very different at 65-75 or 85 MPH.
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In case you were unaware... It's a pretty well known fact that motorcycle speedos read high. Usually around 10% high. So your 65MPH could very well be around 59MPH in reality. Try finding a magazine test on your bike, and see if they measured your speedo error.

And I'll add that I've spoken to a couple of different CHP, who felt that being in the fast lane, moving slightly faster than traffic was the safest place for a bike to be. And I tend to agree with them. Nobody should ever come up on your left, as that's the emergency lane. Nobody can cut you off from the left. And you have the empty (hopefully) emergency lane to escape into should a major pileup occur.
Yes, you're asking for a ticket, but I'll take a ticket over a hospital bill any day. :thumbup
 
It is safer to base your speed on the current conditions of the road, including the type and density of traffic, rather than a sign by the side of the road. It is far superior to end up with a ticket than to end up dead.
 
The biggest problem for a bike at night is not being able to see road obstacles because of the typically poor motorcycle headlights.

Thanx, Russ
 
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