What is an acceptable speed on a public road?

**marty** · 28th January 2010, 11:29

I ride however fast I feel like at the time. Sometimes that's 80k, sometimes 180+. Even on a perfect road in perfect conditions I sometimes find myself at 80 with my visor up enjoying the smells and sights. Usually a lot faster at night though. The best I've seen at night (3am) on the southern was 280 indicated, passing a line of trucks - truck/truck/truck/truck/patrol car. The disco lights didn't even come on, and I didn't even sit up.....

Otherwise in traffic, SH1, usually 120-140k.

**FROSTY:Me** · 28th January 2010, 11:36

well in my "ideal perfect conditions" I go as fast as im comfortable going. But then my ideal perfect condition is the racetrack.
But thats no answering your question. answering for me alone--noone around memy answer is still Im sorry it depends.
sometimes Its 100km/h (in a 100k zone) and sometimes its a bit/lot faster.
Right NOW I know damb well I'm dripping with rust due to fark all riding. so Ill be at 100km/h

**Katman** · 28th January 2010, 12:05

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Can you find anything to support the part of your statement which I have highlighted?

My take on it is that as your speed increases your ability to react to circumstances decreases exponentially.

**marty** · 28th January 2010, 12:07

Not the ability KM - just the time available.

**Katman** · 28th January 2010, 12:50

Originally Posted by marty

Not the ability KM - just the time available.

[edit]Your ability to react adequately in the time available.[/edit]

Happy?

**Mikkel** · 28th January 2010, 15:14

Originally Posted by Katman

My take on it is that as your speed increases your ability to react to circumstances decreases exponentially.

Originally Posted by marty

Not the ability KM - just the time available.

Originally Posted by Katman

[edit]Your ability to react adequately in the time available.[/edit]

Happy?

Just to be a nitpicker... The time doesn't decrease exponentially, the relationship is inversely proportional. dx/dt = v <=> dt = dx/v.

Now, if you double your speed, v, you'll have the same time available if you just double the available distance, dx. Of course, the distance you travel, inside a given time, increases directly proportionally to the speed, so you could argue that there's an inverse square relationship between the speed and your ability to react adequately. Not exponential, that's something entirely different...

**Katman** · 28th January 2010, 15:24

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Just to be a nitpicker... The time doesn't decrease exponentially, the relationship is inversely proportional. dx/dt = v <=> dt = dx/v.

Now, if you double your speed, v, you'll have the same time available if you just double the available distance, dx. Of course, the distance you travel, inside a given time, increases directly proportionally to the speed, so you could argue that there's an inverse square relationship between the speed and your ability to react adequately.

Yes, that's the word I was looking for.

**Stormer** · 28th January 2010, 16:20

If I know the road, there`s NO traffic, and feel like going for it, then yeah, why the hell not.
If the conditions are sweet, and the bikes up to it, then do it!
There IS life beyond 100k y`know.

It`s like good sex.
A real blast, and what the hell, it`s only for 3 minutes!!

**MIXONE** · 28th January 2010, 16:49

Any bike will last you a lifetime if you ride it fast enough...

**CRF119** · 28th January 2010, 17:26

This is the sort of post i would have started but i didnt as it will just turn into people going nuts. They have the right to go nuts after all people like myself that speed choose to break the law.

Its not about breaking the law its about going fast enough to get that feeling that you are just on edge as your foot peg is scraping the ground and the back end is just starting to slide. Yes you can get that feeling on a track but its the same corners every time, on the road the corner combinations are endless with changes in surface, camber, dircetion, elevation, temp and scenery.

Im not going to say what speeds i have reached top speed isnt important, but if you look at those signs that have the recomended speed on them (Sometimes helpfull) a general speed to and from to work for me would be double what that sign says with little or no braking up to the corner. I think that is sutied to every day riding any more and you the tyre bill mounts up. My mate will ruin a rear tyre every 2,000km on the road and a front every 3,000km. (On a Yami R1)

**marty** · 28th January 2010, 21:41

Originally Posted by Katman

Yes, that's the word I was looking for.

you should have found it before opening your gob then

**Pascal** · 29th January 2010, 05:54

Originally Posted by CRF119

Its not about breaking the law its about going fast enough to get that feeling that you are just on edge as your foot peg is scraping the ground and the back end is just starting to slide.

Originally Posted by CRF119

Im not going to say what speeds i have reached top speed isnt important, but if you look at those signs that have the recomended speed on them (Sometimes helpfull) a general speed to and from to work for me would be double what that sign says with little or no braking up to the corner.

Accidents can happen at any speed. Bikers can die at (just about) any speed. A lot of the situations are circumstantial. But, here is a hypothetical question for you.

You're on your way to work at double the speed limit, on the edge so your rear is just about sliding out and then fuck, it does. Full on slide through a group of kids on their caterpillar walk to school. When you wake up you hear you've killed seven of them, their teacher and lost both your legs.

Was it worth it?

Here's another one, same general scenario, but you smash into a cyclist, out for his morning ride. He also dies. Turns out he is the father to a a few young children and his wife's been at home taking care of the children.

Are you going to man up to his wife and explain that you breaking the law got her husband killed? Are you going to be there to take care of her and to ensure she has money for the rest of her life? Are you going walk his daughters down the aisle and be there when their boyfriends hurt them, etc? Will you be responsible enough to take the role of husband and father to that family you just ruined?

In other words, you are willing to accept the risk by speeding. I get that. Are you willing to accept all the risk for it? Will you take the responsibility and consequences that come with your actions as well?

**marty** · 29th January 2010, 06:42

That can happen whether you're speeding or not, and frankly, being prepared to wear the consequences of your actions is of little relief to those that you have affected. It's a matter of minimising the risk, so if the terrible things do happen, you can hand on heart say 'i did everything to prevent this from occuring, but sometimes, shit happens'.

**Katman** · 29th January 2010, 06:52

Originally Posted by marty

I ride however fast I feel like at the time. Sometimes that's 80k, sometimes 180+.

And this from an ex-cop who not that long ago would have been gleefully handing out tickets for 111kph.

**scumdog** · 29th January 2010, 06:56

Originally Posted by renegade master

No, the is a serious thread based of my own experiences.

Kendog, so what would you say an acceptable speed limit is on the road? And why do you think it should be different from the posted speed limit?

MY answer: Not 200kph for sure.(and ya can't do that speed for long in NZ anyway)