[sorny]

I got an 06 Ninja 250 and have been riding mostly around town. I live in the boonies and the closest Interstate is like 40 miles away and I don't need to use it to go to work or anything. So anyways, I've noticed that with my bike I have a bad habit of speeding. Not like 75 in a school zone, but there's a 4 lane highway that runs through town with a speed limit of 35. In my cars I'm really strict about doing the speed limit or no more than 5 over. Knock on wood I've NEVER had a ticket or anything at all (I'm 24) even when I had sports cars like a 3000GT, WRX, and Mustang 5.0. Anyways, now I'm doing like 45-55 in the 35 and I don't even realize it.

Haven't been bothered by the cops so far. Do they just figure that you can't hurt as many people (besides yourself) on a bike as if I was doing 55 in a 35 in my Durango, or am I just lucky so far?

 

[RayOSV]

Bike speedometers tend to be a little optimistic. See if you can find a way to see if yours reads high. Otherwise, better take it easy. Bikes are sometimes targeted by LEO's and it's sometimes hard to keep your speed in check.

 

[sorny]

Ah, so if the speed limit is 45mph and there's a cop on my tail that is looking for a reason to pull me over, I shouldn't try to stick to 45mph on my speedometer?

 

[RSEXY0682]

They usually read fast, so if it says you are going 45 you are probably going 35-40 or so.

 

[RayOSV]

Fortunately it's usually the other way. 45 indicated will likely be 41-43 actual. Find a way to test it (radar sign, follow a friend in a cage at a known speed, bait a cop and see what he writes up, etc.).

 

[Hagios]

Keep with traffic. Otherwise don't go more than 5 over on your speedo.

 

[sorny]

I'm thinking though, if I'm accidentally speeding on a 250 then I can't imagine what I'd be doing on a 600-1000cc SS. BTW, I'm not weaving in and out of traffic and tail gating people. When I ride it's usually when it's not that busy and I won't have a car within a 1/4 mile of me (again, small town) so I guess I just ride at whatever speed I'm comfortable with.

 

[TemtnF8]

it's not any worse on a 600-1000 SS... cruising speed is cruising speed, no matter what bike you're on.

I think what you're experiencing though is what motorcyclists have been expressing for years. Your relative speed is not the same as your actual speed. When I'm cruising on my bike 75 feels like 50. You'll notice this somewhat in cars too, especially if the cars put your eyes at drastically different heights from the road.

 

[dreesemonkey]

What I had my katana it loved to cruise at an indicated 70mph. So when i hit the 45-55mph back roads that's where it usually got. My 250r needs a lot more coaxing to exceed the speed limit, I have no problems keeping it where it should be.

 

[Jeckyll]

TemptnF8: I'm not sure, but I have a feeling cruising speed is different on a literbike than a 250.

A nice cruising speed on my 9r is about 100 mph. I don't think that a nice cruising speed on a 250 is the same

Just my $0.02

 

[sorny]

A nice cruising speed on my 9r is about 100 mph. I don't think that a nice cruising speed on a 250 is the same

Yeah, I think I'll have to agree with that. Haven't ever even rode a liter bike, but when I had my Mustang versus my 4 cylinder Jeep Wrangler, it was definately easlier to run 10-15mph over on the Interstate when it doesn't take much effort versus having to run a 2.5L Jeep almost WOT in 4th gear to do 85mph.

 

[ENGLISH MIKE]

I Would Have To Agree That Your Crusing Speed Varies From Bike To Bike And Rider To Rider ! Ex I Cruise Most Comfortably @ 75-80 @4500rpm My Buddy That Rides The Exact Same Bike As Me Crusies Alot Slower @ Around 65-70 !!

 

[Dominion]

Keep with traffic. Otherwise don't go more than 5 over on your speedo.

+1

 

[2001FZ1]

They usually read fast, so if it says you are going 45 you are probably going 35-40 or so.

That is the case with my wife's Ninja 250. I checked it with GPS the other day...........managed to get a GPS reading of 102 on the little bike but I was going down a big hill. :lao

 

[cultureslayer]

I think the speedometer is about 10% off on the little ninja, so if it says 45 you are closer to 40. I haven't confirmed, but that's what I've heard. Maybe one day I'll get a GPS so I don't get lost as much.

 

[OFFICER737]

Simple, glance down at your speedo from time to time and check your speed. Being 5-9mph over the limit can be done easily and corrected just as easily. As you get more familiar with the bike and riding you will be able to judge your speed better as well without having to check your speedoas much.

 

[onebxr]

When I had my ninja 250 it was only about 2-3 mph off at 70-80, and it dropped about a mph every ten after that, so at 100 mph I was really doing about 96. This was checked with a gps.
-0ne

 

[valskater]

I thought speed limits were just suggestions.

 

[OFFICER737]

I thought speed limits were just suggestions.

It is bro.....it suggests that you might want to run the posted speed or the person over the hill with a radar unit might give you an expensive reminder nfloor

 

[VT Nerd]

Your relative speed is not the same as your actual speed. When I'm cruising on my bike 75 feels like 50. You'll notice this somewhat in cars too, especially if the cars put your eyes at drastically different heights from the road.

Maybe it's because I'm still new, but to me I feel like I'm going a lot faster than I actually am or, using your numbers an actual speed of 50 feels like 75 (not that I've got anywhere near those speeds yet).