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I love to go slow....

4K views 25 replies 15 participants last post by  Steven1952 
#1 ·
When I ride my Bike I feel it is very relaxing to me to go with 70-90 km/h (about 45-57mph) through the Landscape and enjoy the Nature, the Weather, the Wind and so on.... I often realize other Bikers (of Course often with other Bikes, like Racers etc.) that pass me with much more Speed , just to meet them at the next Traffic Light again. I mean,...don't get me wrong. Everyone should do as he likes to, but for me...I could't imagine that this Kind of Racing could be Fun to me. I love to go slow....Am I not normal? :smile::wink:

How about you Guys?
 
#2 ·
You're normal. Best advice I ever got regarding motorcycle riding is, "Don't be in a hurry", that's when accidents are most likely to occur. I ride a lot, but almost always go nowhere when riding.
 
#4 · (Edited)
45 to 60 mph on a 650 with no windshield is a pleasant Cruising speed. The bike seems to be optimized for that range.

At 63 to 68mph the engine has a resonate vibration - not that anything bad is happening, its just buzzing a bit.

Wind force is exponential with speed, the wind blast is double at 75mph from what it is at 50.

I would not consider 45mph to be slow - if you have ever gone 45mph on a bicycle, its scary as hell. But on a 600 lb motorcycle its a great ride.

I normally ride on secondary two lane roads, which takes me through all the little towns and villages. I love to putt thru towns at 30mph in 5th gear, with the engine just nicely putt putt putting over and the stock exhaust as quiet as can be. Then on the other side of town, when the speed limit changes to 55mph, just crank the throttle a bit and let the engine wind out in one continuous long climb up.
 
#6 ·
I prefer riding slowly while on the 650 Custom, as I too really enjoy the scenery... there's always lots of icebergs, woodland caribou, bald eagles, humpback whales, scenic little coves/beaches here and there. But every so often I love to hop on my other ride and just go like the wind! I've had the Honda up to about 180 km/h, but that was a one-time deal just to see what it would actually feel like to go that fast on two wheels... and with no windshield. And it really does feel awesome, although I won't ever go that quickly again; too many things that can go wrong, likely with all of them ending badly. (plus our daughter is a cop and she would kick my @ss!) But sometimes I just have to twist that CB500FA's throttle wide open, leaping from a casual crusing speed of about 70 km/h, right up to 130-ish in just a few quick seconds, (Jeez, I sound like I'm seventeen!) then just as quickly return to normal speeds once again.

In contrast, going even just a little over 100 km/h on the 650 Custom seems awfully fast to me, so I prefer to keep this bike in the much more pleasant 65-85 range. Gotta say it's nice to have the choice though!

Glen
Focus On Newfoundland

 
#7 ·
I don't race, but I'll cruise at 120km/h (75mph) on the highway to keep up with traffic. The speed limit in NB is 110kmh on the Trans Canada, but they won't bother you unless you get it up over 120 so that's where everyone cruises. It revs a little higher than I prefer but it's not over revving and it's a comfortable speed. I often look down and see I'm passing 80 and it still feels good there.

That being said, I prefer cruising on secondary roads. I usually keep it around 100kmh (60mph) and it just putters at that speed. I find speed limits hard to stick to and that usually only happens in slow traffic, but I don't go overly fast - maybe 60 in a 50 zone, for example. It depends on the road and conditions too.
 
#8 ·
something to write on your handlebars - the equation for Kinetic Energy:

Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass of the object and to the square of its velocity: K.E. = 1/2 m * V^2

that means if you get thrown off your bike at 40mph, and burn thru your Wrangle jeans as you slide to a stop

at 80 mph you would have to wear 4 pairs of jeans

If you hit something at 80, there is 4 times as much energy to dissipate to stop you and your bike, as there is at 40mph.
 
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#9 ·
Jeez man, you just took all the fun out of it... now I'll have to switch to Levi's! (and I'm NOT looking forward to wearing 4 pairs of 'em at once!)
:crying:
Glen
Focus On Newfoundland
 
#11 ·
I keep looking at the textile riding pants on websites - and I know I should buy a pair to go with my Tourmaster mesh jacket for taking day trips.

I wish there was some place you could go with all your old gear, and slide down a big slide, and then across an asphalt parking lot. The farther you climb up the slide, the faster you hit the asphalt pavement at the bottom.

I think it would be good to practice that... It would build your confidence.

When I use to sail, one of the first things you did with a new sailor on a small boat was go out in about 10 feet of water, and intentionally capsize the boat, and then practice righting it. Once you know you can get the boat back up, you are not so scared of having it go over while you are sailing. Its a lot more... uhm.. challenging to right a Hobie Cat, than something like a Sunfish or Laser. Once you know you can do it, you are not so gun shy, and you become a better sailor. On a sailboat if you have not capsized, you are not going fast enough.
 
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#17 ·
I keep looking at the textile riding pants on websites - and I know I should buy a pair ... for taking day trips....
After I went and typed this out loud.. Im sitting here thinking how stupid Im going to feel lying in a hospital bed....

so I just ordered a pair of mesh riding pants from motorcyclegear.com. Cortex on close-out for $125. comes with a removable wind/rain liner.

No excuses, right?
 
#12 · (Edited)
Most of my riding the last few months been on highways and interstate going to and from work. (73 miles round trip). So if I am not doing at least 70mph, I will get run over. I do not mid going fast. I guess it is because I have not hit middle age yet! :wink:

That said ... I find my smile is the biggest between 45-60 mph, then at other speeds
 
#13 ·
Last year a local MC shop had a first day of summer event - hot dogs, music, test rides...

Just before I left a couple kids on sports bikes left, one did a tire burn in the parking lot on his way out (i was SOOOO impressed LOL! He left $50 worth the rubber in the parking lot). Another kid did a wheelie out on the street then took off WFO.

I put all my gear on, started my VS650 without reving the throttle off the stop, then rode all.....the......way...... .out of the parking lot at 2mph, sitting up straight, both feet on the foot pads, dead steady the whole way. Then calmly pulled out onto the street and cruised up to speed without hitting 2000 rpm...

Being able to ride below the clutch speed of your engine in 1st gear is a skill that takes practice.
 
#20 ·
I did that for about 2 years.

Now I just send a text message: wont be home for dinner...
 
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#21 ·
I try to stay within 5mph of the speed limit most of the time. There are times that I love to hear the exhaust. So I will braaaappp it up to 90 to 100 then go back to the speed limitish. I have taken the Raider up to 120 but with no windshield or fairing what so ever it was a rough ride.
 
#24 ·
"You know, every now and then
I think you might like to hear something from us

Nice
and easy

but there's just one thing
You see, we never ever do nothing

nice

and easy

We always do it

nice
and rough

So we're going to take the beginning of this song

And do it easy

Then we're going to do the finish

rough

This is the way we do 'Proud Mary'
And we're rolling, rolling, rolling on the river"


-Tina Turner 1971 Live performance into
 
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#25 ·
Now that song will be in my head the rest of the day.....lol.
Since I’m in the hills around East Tennessee, I like to glide through the curves and enjoy the scenery especially in the fall. On the straightaways I cruise along around 70-75 depending on traffic flow. We try not to Rush anywhere we’re going, unless a semi is bearing down on us coming down the mountain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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