Hypocracy: I'm not the only one; am I right?

[KGT1200]

Hypocrisy. Yep when it comes to speeding, I turn a blind eye to the law when it comes to the outright flagrant violation of the law.

In most other areas of my life, I follow my moral compass, I don't steal, I do my best to keep the facts facts, I don't hit and beat on my family, I don't violate the things in life that society deems wrong. I don’t waste a hundred dollars on anything nowdays because I think waste is wrong. Yet when it comes to speed, open the door and let the devil out, cause here I come. And it makes me sad to know I’m a hypocrite!

Specific to Motorcycling, I don’t drink and drive, I don’t lane split, I don’t pull stoppies on the freeway (I don't know how to pull a stoppise:stick) , I don't ride without insurance, in fact I follow all the laws associated with biking except one; I speed almost every time I ride.

So today, I spent $100.00 of my family’s money to pay for a ticket I got last week.
Money that could have bought so many things, or better yet, just gone into the savings account. And I feel like a hypocrite; I feel I deserved it based on the zillion times I ripped down the rode, care free and happy speeding in excess of 20 or better, every time I got on the bike, and ending the year with one ticket.

I got the ticket on Tuesday, and since then, I have ridden every day, taking advantage of the moderate weather and no ice. And for the entire six days since getting a ticket, I have not once gone above the speed limit.

It's damn hard to stay at 55, and nearly impossible to go 70 on I-35 with everyone else sailing by at 85. Try country roads on the way home marked at 45; I usually take these at 95!

Yet the feeling remains, I am a hypocrite, I tell my son to follow the laws, and look what I do! Whats he going to do when he gets his license?

The worse part is, I know without a shadow of a doubt I will speed again. Speed horribly, I mean those twisties heading for the Mississippi are marked at 15 MPH limit. 15? yer outta your mind! Try 45! Try 50! No way am I going to go that slow. A radar detector is in my future!

I have a feeling I'm not the only one. Am I right?

[PAULBACH]

You are in the best (or worst) of company.

I noticed my speed is now more restrained after a recent performance award.

Go on any interstate and the posted speed limit seems to be the minimum, not the maximum.

Beware of small towns - they seems to be balancing their budgets by issuing many more tickets. One wonders if the LEOs are getting a cut.

[MotorradMike]

Always 20 over on highways. Never in town, school or construction zones which seems to piss people off.

:ca so 20 0ver is about 12MPH over.

Don't feel bad Red. You don't have to ride and you don't have to speed. We do them both for fun. Enjoy life and try not to hurt anybody.

Most speed limits are too low anyway.

And no, you aren't the only one.

[jdmetzger]

I won myself a performance award over Memorial Day, this year. Actually, it was one of those unintentional/borderline speed trap ticket, but I DO speed frequently. I generally stay within reason and don't go excessively over the speed limit, though. As for other laws, I'm good for making complete stops, signalling, and generally being a good person. I don't have a problem with speeding, though there are a few situations I find unacceptable:

- Speeding in a school zone
- Speed in a tight neighborhood (it's 25mph for a reason)
- Excessive speed in areas that don't support it (doing 25+ over on a country road with driveways and blind corners
- Crazy speed on the highway (triple digits)

Aside from those things, if you're not being reckless and weaving through traffic, I don't see a problem. It's my feeling that tickets on the highway for 10 over when traffic is light are simply revenue-generation devices. I'd rather see police chasing crime or ticketing people for lack of signals than ticketing a guy cruising on an empty highway a little "too fast".

FYI: You'll get back up to speed. After I received my ticket, I stuck within 5mph for a while, and after a week or so I was back to my old tricks, though a little more cautious. I watch much closer for police.

[womanridge]

Ease up on yourself. You are NORMAL. And I think we all have a little devil in us.
I was stopped twice within an hour on my last trip. I figured Nevada's gambling revenue was down because of the economy, so I was randomly selected to contribute. (Fortunately, only one ticket out of the two stops).
$100 is less than 2 oil changes. You could've lost that just betting on the Vikings yesterday.:D

[jamesdunn]

We are all hypocrites! Speeding is a given with motorcycling. I do not always speed, but I speed on a regular basis. Everytime I throw a leg over a bike speeding will take place during that particular ride. The practiced speeder will avoid most, but not all ticket opportunities. You know the areas, major highways passing through or near, small towns, roads leading into same, school zones, etcetera.
I always tell my daughter to obey the limits!

[tommcgee]

My license is in danger. :banghead

[Oznay]

I keep pretending to myself I'll slow down,will be going to pay for my latest ticket today,which is the 3rd this year this one is only $145.00 the least expensive one of the year,it does cost money to go fast.

[DarrylRi]

I have a hard time staying under the limits when I ride my vintage bikes... except the 1928 R52. But then, hand shift, three speed gearbbox and only 12hp means that it tops out... eventually... at 55 mph or so.

[Rollifahrer]

It's not hypocracy; it's civil disobedience. Insofar as speed limits tend to be much lower than MC'c can do safely, AND if never broken trap us in potentally dangerous situations among other vehicles. It can be argued that some speed limits are unjust, and when so, it is our duty to use our throttles to get past danger.

On the other hand, speeding for the thrill or just to defy authority is what keeps us feeling young.

Damned if you don't, damned if you don't.

[Belquar]

I have been pulled over twice in the last week. Granted, not for speeding, just for the fact that my taillight is out and it ain't just the bulb so I have to wait to get paid to order the new part. But in the last 2 years....been pulled over a lot. No tickets though.

[tommcgee]

I keep pretending to myself I'll slow down,will be going to pay for my latest ticket today,which is the 3rd this year this one is only $145.00 the least expensive one of the year,it does cost money to go fast.

If I get a third citation this year, I'll be walking.

[Statdawg]

I am grumpy old man and I drive the speed limit to hold people up. I enjoy putting drivers in situations for them to risk life and limb trying to get around me, and I even drive slower if there are college kids or school buses behind me so I can make them late for class. I am trying to lead by example. People need to drive the speed limit because its the law and people ought to allow enough time to get to work or play.

I love my throttle lock it frees up my hand so I can point to the speed limit signs showing those behind me to take notice. I advise everyone to take the lead and start your own parade for public safety. I get so excited to get the horn blowing attention for my safety efforts and never a flashing light. One man was so kind to replace my truck bumper that was rusting away, he also gave me a new tailgate and bought me a new motorcycle because of my neck strain..........thank you. But please watch out for the public safety GS I don't need new panniers just yet but a new final drive would be great.

Its very sad but only riding with other BMW riders I am put in danger and my moral compass is tilted in the corners.

Signed 40 years driving and ticket free

[jdmetzger]

I see a few mentions of speeding specifically related to motorcycles. Am I the only one that speeds the same whether I'm on a bike or in my truck? (I'm talking on the highway and in the city, not on technical twisty roads).

[PGlaves]

It depends mostly on whether or not the jurisdiction has actually set the speed limit based on traffic engineering guidelines or on the whims of some neighbors or some elected politicians.

For example the two-lane state highway past our house has a 70 mph speed limit. I seldom find myself exceeding the limit by more than 1 or 2.

But when we lived in Kansas and rode to our daughter's in Iowa we had 65 in Kansas, 60 in Missouri, and 55 in Iowa on nearly identical roads and conditions. Somehow I usually found myself thinking the clowns in the Iowa legislature were pretty well ignoring their DOT engineers as to what would be a safe speed limit.

Several times I have crossed a state line on an Interstate highway to find the speed limit dropped by 5 or 10 mph on virtually identical roadway constructed to the same Federal standard.

When the limit is arbitrarily set too low people speed. And when I am being passed by every vehicle in sight, including a claptrap old pickup hauling a horse trailer I somehow tend to ignore the little sign and go with the flow.

But I do smile when I know a stretch is always enforced (US 67 between US 90 and I-10 with a 75mph limit), and watch the tourists impatiently sail around me because 75 isn't fast enough, I guess. In a few miles I see them again beside the road conversing with a trooper. I usually wave as I go past.

[Mika]

Josh you are probably not the only one who is an equal opportunity speeder. :ha

My car has cruise control and I use it all the time. The bike - no cruise control or throtle lock just a throtle control on it and me. The bike's works fine mine needs to be recalibrated.

[snoone]

I am grumpy old man and I drive the speed limit to hold people up. I enjoy putting drivers in situations for them to risk life and limb trying to get around me, and I even drive slower if there are college kids or school buses behind me so I can make them late for class. I am trying to lead by example. People need to drive the speed limit because its the law and people ought to allow enough time to get to work or play.

I love my throttle lock it frees up my hand so I can point to the speed limit signs showing those behind me to take notice. I advise everyone to take the lead and start your own parade for public safety. I get so excited to get the horn blowing attention for my safety efforts and never a flashing light. One man was so kind to replace my truck bumper that was rusting away, he also gave me a new tailgate and bought me a new motorcycle because of my neck strain..........thank you. But please watch out for the public safety GS I don't need new panniers just yet but a new final drive would be great.

Its very sad but only riding with other BMW riders I am put in danger and my moral compass is tilted in the corners.

Signed 40 years driving and ticket free

If I'm paying attention I always go at least 9 to 12 miles over the speed limit on highways and usually try and do the limit or 3 or 4 over in small towns... unless of course that I'm riding behind Statdawg:D, then we do the limit and like it!!

[Voni]

I think it's like LOSING the lottery. Sometimes your number is just up!

Voni
sMiling cause I haven't lost lately

[Statdawg]

Its crazy where I live. You have a smaller town that its the hub for the regions recreation with its golf course and playing fields for soccer to baseball. Its the center of the school district which makes a huge campus. Then a half mile away is a University with all its splendor. Feeding this region is a two lane highway and many narrow roads painted with a double yellow lines marked 25 to 35 miles an hour due to housing developments, access roads, blind corners and hidden driveways. So its a combination of elderly residents mixed with speeding teens and college kids, fast paced school buses, the elite residents with their sporty cars and the main highway being used by tractor trailers so they can avoid Rt 80 weigh stations.

This highway is a safety corridor now marked 45 to 55 miles an hour due to 165 deaths in the last 5 years along its 40 mile path. So its best to drive the limit, if you speed its danger of hitting something and if you drive slow you are at risk of getting hit in the back at the same time. Some safety corridor.

The open roads are the same everywhere but if you can get between groups of constant speed there is always serenity among chaos. A place where you can enjoy your motorcycle.

Yesterdays long motorcycle ride was at the speed limit because of the long shallows of the season and deer country despite very little back road traffic. :clap

So are there times one must speed for safety ?

[Braddog]

I believe my last speeding ticket was in Florida while on vacation in a bright red rental car with out of state plates. I was on I-4 between Orlando and Tampa and was just barely keeping up with traffic, yet I was the one that got the ticket. I didn't argue, and was very polite to the aging highway patrolman. To the best of my recollection, this happened like 8 years ago.

I've never received a "performance award" on my motorcycle.

My habit is to keep up with traffic. Don't be the one passing everyone while frantically shifting between lanes, and don't be the slow poke, either. That said, I often find it's easier when commuting on 'cycle on the local freeways to be going a bit faster than the normal flow if at all possible. It's easier to stay out of the way of bad drivers that way. So, yeah, I'm going maybe +10 or maybe even +15 over the limit, but still very much in control and feeling safer by doing so.

There's been a high number of revenue-generating speed traps around the Twin Cities lately. My daughter's actually been caught twice in the last 6 months...while driving her '96 Ranger with a 2.3 liter 4 banger and 5 speed overdrive manual. One was 63 in a 55 and the other was a 58 in a 50. The first was as she was coming downhill on an overpass. The friendly policeman was sitting at the bottom of the hill with his radar pointing at cars coming down the hill.

I don't speed on local, 30 MPH streets. I do routinely break the limit on freeways, even here within the bound of the Twin Cities, but only for reasons of my own safety and to keep up with traffic.

You're not hypocritical, Dale, or at least no more than the rest of us law abiding citizens.

[SheRidesABeemer]

If speed limits had more to do with safety and less to do with fund raising I'd be inclined to follow them. That's why I do the 30 requested through villages, but not the 55 requested on the 4 lane highway.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/2263355185_bb6391eabb.jpg

[PGlaves]

I see a few mentions of speeding specifically related to motorcycles. Am I the only one that speeds the same whether I'm on a bike or in my truck? (I'm talking on the highway and in the city, not on technical twisty roads).

Not in towns. Pedestrians, kids chasing a ball, folks pulling out of parking places, and just plain folks sitting on their porches: a little courtesy goes a long way.

[ragtoplvr]

I am another one of those pick my places speeders. Rather than ride the close to city twisties that are filled with driveways and blind entrances, I will ride 60 to 100 miles to get someplace safer.

On deserted twisty road NOT during deer season, I will be speeding, not just the yellow advisory signs, if the corner is marked more than 30 MPH I will be speeding in the corners, BUT as a concession to speed limits, I do slow down for the boring sections. I tell myself how nice it is to relax and site see. I am a liar.

I swear riding a BMW with burn your eyes out green full ATGATT, and being nice to the officer will get you out of most tickets, not ALL of them though.

When speed radar takes off, and you can no longer speed, I will quit riding to lead the revolution. Our speed limits are stupid, LEO should concentrate on all the really hazardous things. Coming up is driving while looking thru a Peephole season because they are too lazy or pressed for time to scrape. Ever see anyone get a ticket for that!

I am considering a used GS650 just to see if that can be rewarding at other then excess speeds, but I suspect not. It is a BMW first and a MC second. Guess I will have to get a Super Cub.


Rod

[jdmetzger]

Not in towns. Pedestrians, kids chasing a ball, folks pulling out of parking places, and just plain folks sitting on their porches: a little courtesy goes a long way.

No, I don't speed in those situation either. Just when I DO speed, it's pretty consistent regardless of the vehicle I'm in/on. Actually, I find speeding on the bike a bit "safer" on the highway from a ticket perspective. In a group of speeders, it's harder for the cops to spot me.

:hide

[flymymbz]

I keep it at the limit within city limits. I have noticed that in the one stop sign towns in the middle of nowhere, the citizens really appreciate it. I was approached by an old fart one day in the western part of MN. Quaint little town, and I stopped at the post office to drop off some mail. He walked up and said he had noticed that we were doing the limit, using our blinkers and had all the 'proper' gear on, and so we must be 'professional motorcyclists', unlike those idiots that race through town in shorts and tshirts and no helmets. He commended us for our dedication to riding safely and wished that everyone else would do the same. I was left kinda speechless.


But on the slab, or them "two lane, empty for 100 miles in either direction" roads in Montana, I will do about 5-10 over.

[henzilla]

I stay at the posted speed in populated areas whether I agree with randomly set limits or not...especially School Zone$ and residential areas. I , as many have mentioned am at a loss for the state to state differences on State or US Highways where 65/70 is fine in the middle of Texas, but not in the middle of Louisiana, New Mexico or Arkansas to mention but a few of our close neighbors. Wide open rural environment with no traffic and similar terrain...why the 55 snooze pace? No budget to change the signs or just another revenue possibility...either one is lame.
I typically go 5-8 over the posted out away from busy towns...if no one is around I sometimes will roll-on to MY limit...but usually not for extended runs...I like to keep my dollars for other things...and I am over my limit for the year:banghead

[Maylett]

Here in Utah, away from the cities and mountains, we have a few very long, nearly abandoned, two-lane desert highways. Some of these roads won't so much as curve for 20 miles, and the occasional cars can be seen from four or five miles off. In other words, 110 and 120 mph is just too tempting to resist. I've found that just getting it out of my system every now and again makes the city speed limits a lot more tolerable.

For example, Skull Valley.

http://utahwildlife.net/photos/sku11_va11ey.jpg

[hcmiller52]

"<snip>I don't violate the things in life that society deems wrong.<snip>"

But, in a way, you do. Society does deem excessive speed wrong.

Look, I'm no saint and I don't drive like an old lady, but I learned the cost of excessive speed 40 years ago, as a teenager, for getting 3 speeding tickets within 18 months. I nearly lost my license. My insurance went through the roof.

I do, routinely, go a little over the limit, but never so far as to warrant a ticket. In the past 40 years, since the tickets, I have travelled well over a million miles. This means I've had tremendous exposure. It's all about statistics and probability: if you travel a lot and ride outside the bell curve, speed wise, you're going to get a ticket. And, that ticket is going to cost you a lot.

For me, it's just about the anxiety associated with tickets, not so much safety. I've been cajolled in a lot of group rides for not being "one of the gang" for not being willing to excede the speed limit by 40, 50 or 60 percent, as many among them routinely do. I just don't want the tickets and the higher insurance and all the grief that goes along with it.

Curt

[robbcross]

I go with the flow on the highway, a little faster than most trucks, a little slower than most cars. In town, particularly towns that are unfamiliar, I watch my speed closely.

I find the speed limit indicator on my Garmin (in the US at least) real handy. Though I suppose excuses for a missed speed zone sign may no longer fly! :blush

[SIBUD]

I try to not let the traffic control me. Lane selection and lane positioning sometimes require exceeding the speed limit (if only to avoid being run over). Drive thru downtown Atlanta on a week day morning rush hour at the speed limit and see how long you last. :laugh

On the way to Johnson City last summer on the slab the speed limit was 70 the traffic was 75 - 80.

My state trooper friend tells me to not stay in the passing lane where you will attract attention. Who knows if this is good advice or not.

Ride Well
Ride Often
Ride to :eat

[Paul_F]

I see a few mentions of speeding specifically related to motorcycles. Am I the only one that speeds the same whether I'm on a bike or in my truck? (I'm talking on the highway and in the city, not on technical twisty roads). In our province, Ontario, 14 km. over the limit is a ticket, but not points; that happens at 16 km. over. I always adhere to that when in our cars, but it seems much harder to do that when on the bike. So far, I've not been awarded any performance tickets.

[jamesdunn]

I try to not let the traffic control me. Lane selection and lane positioning sometimes require exceeding the speed limit (if only to avoid being run over). Drive thru downtown Atlanta on a week day morning rush hour at the speed limit and see how long you last. :laugh

On the way to Johnson City last summer on the slab the speed limit was 70 the traffic was 75 - 80.

My state trooper friend tells me to not stay in the passing lane where you will attract attention. Who knows if this is good advice or not.

Ride Well
Ride Often
Ride to :eat

I think it is. I know I never hang there for long. I feel conspicuous in the passing lane, and vulnerable to ticket writers and bumper/ rear wheel gaters. (Note: I think that is what it is correctly termed. I hate the term fast lane.)

[tessler]

If I'm paying attention I always go at least 9 to 12 miles over the speed limit on highways and usually try and do the limit or 3 or 4 over in small towns... unless of course that I'm riding behind Statdawg:D, then we do the limit and like it!!Ditto (I usually find myself riding with Snoone, or Bubba and we're typically in sync).

Although... I was riding behind Statdawg through his home turf in the Poconos after a Hermes open house a few years ago and remember thinking to myself that I was following the Pennsylvania Blur.

:hide