To speed or not to speed, that is the question.

[SwanTiger]

Are you a renegade who loves the thrill and runs the risk or the placid stickler for the rules who accepts responsibility while on a public road and conforms diligently with the rules?

Perhaps you're the one in between? A little bit of controlled speed in a suitable environment seems harmless and over shadows the risk of meeting the consequences.

I have been battling with this question in my mind for quite some time.

Who am I on the road?

According to the police I am a formerly suspended driver, charged with careless use of a motor vehicle along with a number of other infringment notices for various offences.

However, I'm the guy who flashes at you near on ramps and off ramps and lets you into the lane, minds my following distance, stops for most people broken down on the side of the road, etc. I'm even one of the guys who will come and help save your life if you have an accident on the road.

I know who I am in general, however I still can't figure out who I am on the road, so who should I be?

Who are you on the road?

What do you think of someone who is a stickler for the road rules? Never exceeds the posted speed limit by 5 kmp/h, signals every turn, adapts to the conditions, etc?

Do you hate them for being better than you? Do you wish you had the discipline to be like that? Do you think it really adds value to society and your own life if you are like that?

Let's talk. No bitching or cock waiving. This thread isn't really about speeding, it's about the guilt of speeding and the physcology of 'going with the flow', 'living inside the law' or 'going outside of it'.

[DEATH_INC.]

Easy, I'm an adrenaline junkie....I can't ride within the limits for long or I go nuts....
I have no problem with those that do, I just can't do it myself...

[Maha]

Funny as it may seem, But Anne thinks i will be the one that will get a speeding ticket ( yes, laugh if you must) mainly because i ride over the speed limit in places that it is easy to be pinged...ie: Fricken' M/Way...130-140 min' only because i cant stand it...and i need a piss at Dairy Flat BP (or burger)..

[Mikkel]

I ride to the conditions - I don't buy into "exceeding the speed limit is dangerous"... I'm quite happy to do +20 to the limit on the larger roads through town. I usually stay at or under 50 km/h when in residential areas or the central commercial district. It's all to do with how much information you need to process in order to be able to cover all potentially hazards.

On the open road I usually don't go too much above the 100 km/h limit. I choose roads that will be entertaining around those speeds. That being said, I've got no qualms with people doing 200+ km/h as long as they choose the time and place with care. Frankly, people can go as fast as they want - as long as they are responsible about it (i.e. don't put other peoples lives and mobility at risk through their behaviour).

Let's be honest - most people don't buy a motorbike because the long to conform...

[Supermoto Junkie]

Well, i would have to say that I was probably a bit of a speeder, that said I have always tried to stay on the right side of the limit and always wondered how other riders do it, I think mainly due to the fact all my riding in the past has been on the open road on 1000+cc bikes (TLS, TLS, Hayabusa, GSX1400) and they all settle in and get really comfortable at 120-130, and really enjoy a getting in a groove and getting the job done...

once my daughter was born I knew I had to slow down or sell my bikes, (one incomeand all that) so i went out and brought a supermoto bike, now I can ride all day at 100km/h and feel like I have had a awesome ride doing so, I think it is due to the fact that a Motard has no fairing, vibrates, has an uncomfortable seat and doesn't have the legs (or HP) of a sports bike so there for can't speed like preveous times, but I have to say I have had more fun & probably done more K's on my Motard than I ever had on a sports bike.

So Now i can say I am one of those boring dudes that tootles along at legal speeds..........(all be it usually only on one wheel)

[Pancakes]

Swan-O I think I'm like you. Don't mind speeding for fun but am mindful of others (and my own) safety. 100 is sleepy time material even on my bike which is way happier at 130. I'll run a red if no-ones around and go on the footpath to get around a judderbar or just for kicks...

BUT...

It pisses me off no end when people queue across an intersection/drive/sideroad even if they don't have crosshatching marked (why do people have to have stuff spelt out?! Can't they see when they're blocking the way?) The people that pull out of a side road (right turn), or on ramp for that matter and stop on the flush median and expect the cars doing 80 close together to let them in instead of matching the flow and joining in.

[Mom]

Let's talk. No bitching or cock waiving. This thread isn't really about speeding, it's about the guilt of speeding and the physcology of 'going with the flow', 'living inside the law' or 'going outside of it'.

I am a petrol head! Love speed! Love the thrill of the engine note!

I am a once did not give a shit about any speed law, loved the lock to lock corners my old car (sorry) used to do. Loved the sphincter twitch, of the rear wheel spinning, sliding on my bike, something addictive in the adrenaline rush of being just within staying upright/on the cusp of losing it. Had the wind knocked out of me more than a few times hitting mother earth faster than you should.

Now I am a nana. Pure, simple nana.
I am proud of my nana status!

A few things that slowed me down;
1. Having children, that was the biggest to start with, I have dependants now.
2. I got a few big$ sized tickets and the demerits that come with them, I have a really sick Mommy that lives 2 hours away, that I need to be able to get to fast.
3. Have a wonderful man in my life that I am planning to spend forever with (forever better be a long time!)
4. I cant afford the fines! and I need my license!

Having said that,

I still exceed the posted speed limit from to time, but you will usually find me pootling along within a demerit/fine range of the legal limit on the open road, rarely if ever, exceed the limit in urban areas.

Nana's of this world rock!

[rphenix]

I tend to go over the limit a little (but not so far I cant drop the speed down quickly), keeps things a bit interesting, I prefer to be moving slowly through the traffic I hate traffic "sneaking up on me" and if im doing 100k only I have to be careful not to do the cager style "day dream driving" one thing about riding a bike it keeps your wits way sharper so when you do drive a car you are 10x more aware of other drivers on the road.

[Fat Tony]

Time and a place... I always stick (fairly closely) to 20/30/40mph limits, everything else I ride to conditions. Seldom exceed 130mph on public roads. Never feel guilty about any of it as it's the right time and place, and with so few traffic cops left with jobs over here there's not that much chance of getting caught

(Hardly ever exceed any limit in the car)

[pritch]

Swantiger,

Never mind the bollocks, where's that lovely avatar?

[Trudes]

I'm a complete nanna and a worry wart who rides with the constant reminder in my head of "What if......"

[carver]

Are you a renegade who loves the thrill and runs the risk or the placid stickler for the rules who accepts responsibility while on a public road and conforms diligently with the rules?

Perhaps you're the one in between? A little bit of controlled speed in a suitable environment seems harmless and over shadows the risk of meeting the consequences.

I have been battling with this question in my mind for quite some time.

Who am I on the road?

According to the police I am a formerly suspended driver, charged with careless use of a motor vehicle along with a number of other infringment notices for various offences.

However, I'm the guy who flashes at you near on ramps and off ramps and lets you into the lane, minds my following distance, stops for most people broken down on the side of the road, etc. I'm even one of the guys who will come and help save your life if you have an accident on the road.

I know who I am in general, however I still can't figure out who I am on the road, so who should I be?

Who are you on the road?

What do you think of someone who is a stickler for the road rules? Never exceeds the posted speed limit by 5 kmp/h, signals every turn, adapts to the conditions, etc?

Do you hate them for being better than you? Do you wish you had the discipline to be like that? Do you think it really adds value to society and your own life if you are like that?

Let's talk. No bitching or cock waiving. This thread isn't really about speeding, it's about the guilt of speeding and the physcology of 'going with the flow', 'living inside the law' or 'going outside of it'.

living inside the laws set on traffic is boring..
i dont care how fast or slow others go, its too mind numbing owning a fast bike and not using the power.
count me as going outside of it, but not beyond my personal limits.
i never feel guilty for speeding and other antics, unless someone objects or i crash

[Toaster]

Speeding is only a part of it. To me it is all about being considerate for those around you.

If you are happy to have other riders or drivers cut you off, race along a high speed towards you, crossing the centreline risking a painful or fatal crash, weaving in and out, following right up your rear end and being a general arse etc etc then maybe anything is permissible to you - then there can't be complaint.

The key is : can you trust the other road users around you? That answer would have to be wavering - there are dozens of crashes a day where people get it wrong and ruin someone elses day when they just wanted to get where they were going on time and without harm or loss.

Open road - no one around - a little extra speed, or a lot. I personally don't mind, but I sure wouldn't abuse the cops if they caught me - it would be my decision to speed and only me to blame.

Personally I find riding is more relaxed when you don't have to worry about getting caught - but more so, that it is less likely you will get killed because of your own actions or the actions of another person.

[Donor]

I obey the speed limit 98% of the time.

The other 2% is if I am overtaking, or just plain neglect to look at the speedo as often as I should.

I don't thrive on adrenaline, I imbibe enough nicotine, caffeine and alcohol without relying on a substance that can kill me faster than those three combined.

The main factor for me adhering to the speed limit is pretty much the same reason I have opted to go to a cruiser - for me (and I stress for ME) there's no point going out on the bike if I'm not in it to enjoy not just the ride, but the whole experience.

FFS, you can see more skirt pootling the roads at 55kph then at warp factor 10.

Oh, and the fact I have scraped up enough bikers from the road helps.

But at the end of the day, personal choice... *shrug*

[rainman]

The thrill of speed is tempered by the memory of the pain you get when you fall off at speed...

That said, I'm entirely comfy at 50 (or even 40) in suburbia, but am prone to sitting just a bit above limit on the motorway. Problem is my local stretch of motorway now has stoopid 80km/h signs over large stretches, meaning I'm sometimes quite a bit over the officially posted limit. But still well within what the conditions and environment prescribe. On the open road I'll burst up a bit to pass a truck, but am generally entirely happy within 10% of 100km/h.

The other day I was told off by a bloke I met in a pub, during the inevitable "cruisers vs sporties" discussion, for being disinclined to see how fast I could go on a particular sportsbike (it wasn't his bike, so maybe it was more of a thought experiment than a real offer...). I believe his words were "go hard or go home". At which point I went home, funnily enough, but thought about his view - and concluded that I agree entirely with the sentiment, but only when there's a point to the activity in question. Which I don't actually see with regard to belting the guts out of a bike/car/whatever. I'm not in a huge hurry to get where I'm going. I'm not going to set any land speed records in my lifetime. I don't like handing out large wads of cash in fines. I need my license as I commute to work each day and don't own a car, so don't like the demerits either. And I'd like to live for a long, long, long time. So what's the point in going like a cut cat?

Sorry if you all now think I'm completely strange. (Took you long enough, didn't it...)


Carver, "its too mind numbing owning a fast bike and not using the power". Probably true. But you could always do what I do and own a slow one...