How Do You Ride?

[BajaRon]

When you ride the freeways of America in light to medium traffic. How do you prefer to set your pace? Understanding that in heavy traffic, your options are limited.

 

[racoon]

I avoid the freeways as often as I can, mainly to avoid interactions with the idiots who don't seem to "see" me on my Spyder.

 

[rjinaz86323]

I usually ride 5 over on most roads

 

[old Timer]

between 5 to 10 over, or however I am feeling, sometimes much faster, it all depends. A lot of time, just putting and even pull over to let other pass.

 

[Bfromla]

Attempt casual. Destination with open time frame, easily distracted & looking for alternative routes. Interstate not a problem & so far roads outside LouUiSiAana have been better - & easier to enjoy.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

I let the conditions dictate my speed on the Freeway
Freeways = Boring .
I ride a F3 S with an emphasis on the S

 

[Deanna777]

When I am riding on the interstate, I usually go 70 mph, (the speed limit on the interstates in Vermont are 65 MPH) and I am always scanning the road for any unusual items (debris, etc.) that might be on the road. When I am behind a vehicle on the interstate, I leave enough room between me and the vehicle ahead for an escape route if needed.

If I am behind a tractor trailer on the interstate, I hang back far enough behind the Tractor Trailer so that the driver (he or she) can see me in his/her side mirror. I will see him/or her look in their side mirror and they will see me behind. I will not ride in their blind spot. That is just me, and that is how I roll.

Deanna

 

[RangerRick]

I avoid the freeways as often as I can, mainly to avoid interactions with the idiots who don't seem to "see" me on my Spyder.

I avoid the freeway also, never been on it with my Spyder

 

[djh3]

Defensively. I try to stay off the slabs if possible. I would say in general 5 mph over posted. But sometimes that wont even keep up with flow.

 

[nightfalcon]

I don't ride in freeways in the US. I do ride highways from time to time in NZ. I don't like tailgaters so will pull ahead or pullover to avoid them; otherwise I'm happy to sit behind at a safe distance and go with the flow.

 

[AeroPilot]

I like the "Open road" and especially since I'm in my seventies and retired, I prefer to slow down a bit and prefer to find a "bubble" of less traffic to travel in. While I greatly prefer the open secondary roads outside of the metros here in Colorado, traveling on I-25 or occasionally I-70 requires that I fit in to the flow of traffic, while avoiding the rush to get through Colorado Springs or the Denver metro area.

Usually a speed of 72 to 75 puts me in the right lane of traffic where I can find an empty bubble of space to cruise in while the hustle flows by. In the 'Springs' I find the middle lanes of I-25 flow smoothest avoiding the right merge lane, and the left Monfort lane of fast traffic while flowing at 65 to 70 as best suits the flow.

Sometimes the best flow may be behind a professional trucker as there may be less merging in between a truck and vehicle traveling the speed limit.

 

[Little Blue]

I usually ryde at the back of the pack. I am retired and getting somewhere in a hurry is not my thing.
Generally I don't ryde on interstate routes. I much prefer to ryde at a leisurely pace. Just what I like to do.

Ryde Safe and Stay Healthy. ....:thumbup:

 

[Mikey]

It's boring and not fun for me to drive the freeway with all that crap happening around me, all the things to look out for, it's not my cup of tea! I will do it when I have to, and I ride my own ride and let the idiots do their own thing around me.

 

[ES44AC]

I avoid freeways 95% of the time. It's the most dangerous place for any motorcycle type machine.

 

[WRCLVR]

We like to ride mostly back roads or town roads. I hate going on I75 northbound out of Marietta Ga heading to Cartersville GA. Wall to wall 18 wheeler Trucks and people seem to aim for you and cut you off etc. I75 posted limit is 70 mph but i wont go that fast.
We def like to go for morning rides on a 1 hour loop here on Marietta GA along the river and through picturesque estates just tooling along.
We love the back roads in and around Hiawassee GA too. Lovely mountian roads much less traveled and fun to drive

 

[FrogmanDave]

What is the purpose of this poll? Just wondering or collecting constructive information?

 

[BajaRon]

What is the purpose of this poll? Just wondering or collecting constructive information?

Nothing in particular. Just curiosity, I suppose. I've always been a 'Get There' kind of guy. Not necessarily by speed. Tickets are expensive and they slow you down. Way down if they impound your vehicle and throw you into the Hoosegow! I just don't like stopping. My family always asks me how long it will take to get there. I always tell them ### hours + stop time. Maybe too many years in the fire department. No matter how quickly we arrived, citizens felt it took too long!

Long distance rides are tough on surface roads. I prefer surface roads like the rest of you. But not if I'm trying to get 800~1,000 miles behind me by the end of the day.

I wondered if others have the same approach that I use on unidirectional, multi-lane roads. I always try to travel a bit faster than the general flow of traffic. Many times 5 miles over means most everyone is still passing me by. So that hard and fast rule doesn't fit my criteria. When you have the general traffic passing you on a regular basis, your danger zone is 360 degrees. I find that traveling just a bit faster keeps nearly all of my potential issues in front of me. I can't ignore my mirrors, of course. But I feel it reduces my need to look behind giving me more time to concentrate on the forward view.

Some great safety recommendations have also been given which is a plus for this tread that I did not expect. In the end, it's all good!

 

[Poppie65]

Don't have a lot of Interstate experience on the Spyder, but when we travel on one, I usually maintain about 5 MPH higher than the speed limit.

 

[broderp]

I don't get why people are in such a rush. I ride the speed limit or slightly below and in the right lane, unless I need to pass for some reason. I prefer back roads so my speed is usually 55mph or below. Coincidentally, I rode the Spyder for the first time on the interstate. Speed limit is 70mph, I set cruise to 67 and go in the slow lane. With that being said, there have been times where I burst (max 80mph) for a short period to get around unsafe traffic and put some distance between me and traffic.

:cheers:

 

[Yabbadabbadoo]

I voted for "It depends on my mood". There are times when I want to go fast and make some time and times when I just want to cruise easily and relax. Put the bike on cruise control and just chill out. I also try not to let myself get boxed in with a bunch of other vehicles. So sometimes that means hanging back and other times going faster and getting ahead of the pack.