If you think driving fast, either in a car or on a bike is stupid, click here.

Now, I know that a lot of us like to ride fast, not necessarily boldly, but smartly. Being fast and safe are NOT mutually exclusive (unlike having a garage full of custom Harleys and raising young children).

What is the purpose of a speed limit on a motorcycle? Some people swear it saves lives. Maybe it does. The accidents on the German Autobahn are usually fatal, and speed is the factor in most collisions (difference in speed of colliding vehicles). But the accident rate is much lower than American highways.

Some speed limits are just right, but most limits in the U.S. are based on the fact that most vehicle drivers have little or no training, not on engineering design.

I think the purpose of our artificially low freeway speed limits is to lower the speeds of people who may not have the proper skills, judgement, and talent to drive a vehicle at high speed. An example is warning signs for sharp turns, which are present in every industrialized country, but, unlike most countries, Americans also need to be told to slow down! Heck, we're so bad at driving as a nation that there are millions of signs telling us the road is slippery when wet and telling us to "Look For Ice" in the winter!

I think that artificially low speed limits are set in cities to generate revenue at the public's expense. It is also much easier for a cop to cite a speeder than a bad driver. Motorcycles, and cars, can stop extremely quickly.

Here are some things to help keep you safe while you're getting the best fix in the world:

Your bikes condition... is it mechanically sound? Locking up your tranny at 80 mph in a turn is not a fun event.
Racing to the vehicle in front of you is not smart. They might be slowing down to turn!
Some people speed no matter what. It doesn't matter if it's sunny and warm, or snowing and cold, some people are destined to be statistics. Take the weather into account.
Do not aggravate other drivers. Try not to pass on the right (give the slower vehicle a chance). Those cagers will use their cell phones to call your plates in, not caring about the fact that by using the phone, they're causing more traffic problems.
If you switch lanes, stay in the new lane as long as possible. Don't be a weaver. All the weavers I've seen never accomplish any real gains over a patient fast driver, but voluntarily accept the risk of collision and death by sudden lane changes.
Don't tailgate. It's the hardest way to pass a slow vehicle if they stop.
Parade style, vice staggered formations, is not a good idea when pushing the limits. Space out your formation enough that everyone can use the whole lane for curves, turns, and accident avoidance.
Be prepared for cagers performing sudden lane changes. Without blinkers. Without warning. Right about the time you have started your lane change to pass on the right, that idiot going 55 in the 70 zone will cut you off, again.
Always use your blinkers or hand signals. Even if no one is around. (Ever make an unsignalled lane change in view of a hidden cop… good enough reason right there).
Those solid lines… even if the moron in front of you is driving a crippled Gremlin slower than you can walk your dog, don't cross a solid white or yellow line. Crossing the yellow is an obvious no-brainer, but crossing the white line only pisses off other drivers that might otherwise cut you a break when you have to pass the Gremlin.
Don't race up next to on a buddy on his bike. They might not even know you're there.

Copyright © 1999 Stephen W. McDermott