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Post by halamadrid on Aug 22, 2008 0:29:48 GMT -5
Im going to get a scooter in the next few days and I plan on commuting to school 4 days a week, 8 miles away. about 4 of those miles will be on a 55 mph roadway.
I plan on buying a BMS Apache 150cc, which should take me 50 mph comfortably Im guessing. What Id like to know is, How safe is it for me to be getting passed on this roadway by the speeders going 60? Im new to scootering and wonder if its safe to drive on the right side of the lane so they can pass easier or things like that? I appreciate all the input you can give me. its all new to me. thanks.
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Post by 90GTVert on Aug 22, 2008 0:46:48 GMT -5
Getting passed isn't all that bad, assuming they don't cut you off or get real close before they pass. Don't move over in your lane just to let cars pass. Drivers take enough of your space without you giving it up to them. One thing I would suggest is to find one of the faster 150s or maybe a 250. If you are going to be on a 55mph highway you really should have a scooter capable of at least 55mph cruising with more speed left (your model may be, I don't know). I know some 150s can do this, but I don't keep up on which new models are best. This may help with the faster 150s... scootdawg.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=talk&action=display&thread=14685&page=1 |
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Post by pastorjerrys on Aug 22, 2008 1:15:40 GMT -5
I agree... Do not move over in the lane to let cars pass.
I'm still super incredibly new to scootering too... But I have recently done some driving on 50, 55, and 60 mph roads. I have a 150cc, which seems to tap out at 55mph.
It can be very intimidating to have some cars behind you, when you know they want to go faster. But if it is not safe for them to pass you like a normal vehicle, it is not safe for you to move over and let them share the lane with you. There is only a few people I know that I would trust with that type of precision, and they are probably not behind me!
If you can afford a 250cc, that is great. But for me, I just remind myself that the speed limit is supposed to be the max speed, not just a starting point. As long as you are not severely impeding traffic, do not even worry about it.
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Post by halamadrid on Aug 22, 2008 1:59:56 GMT -5
Pastor Jerrys I will remember that! thanks!
..The speed limit is just the max speed.
so very true.
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Post by 90GTVert on Aug 22, 2008 8:06:05 GMT -5
The speed limit is just the max speed, but a lot of people don't think of it that way. I really don't want the people that can't wait to get by up on my back tire because they're angry that I'm doing below the speed limit. I know this will happen even at or a little above the speed limit too, although less.
I just wonder if you will tire of it and wish you had bought a little faster scooter after doing it for awhile. Of course if it's anywhere near doing the speed you like, you may be able to do a little work to it to satisfy your needs better. It may be cheaper just to buy a scoot that's suppose to be faster in the first place if budget is a concern.
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Post by newrider57 on Aug 22, 2008 8:58:50 GMT -5
Your question is a good one and is one that is discussed in the MSF course. I don't want to sound like an expert because I am not. I would recommend the course to you. I was surprised how much I didn't know about how to ride safely. One of the sections of the course talks about the very thing that you have asked. In it, you divide the lane you ride in into 3 separate lanes, left, center, and right. Different situations dictate which lane you should be in or consider being in. In your case, the center or left is a preferred so that the vehicles behind you don't drive into your lane as they pass and force you off the road. Depending what is in front of you, I would choose left or center in the lane and make sure you don't provide the opportunity for the passer to force you over to the right.
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Post by harrywr2 on Aug 22, 2008 12:48:29 GMT -5
I hog the road unless my intention is to pull off to the side and let them pass. Riding at 50 in the breakdown lane isn't such a good idea. At best it's going to be loaded with gravel.
If you ride to the right in the lane the cagers will attempt to 'squeeze' past you..then when they figure out they are not going to fit between you and the oncoming truck guess who gets 'squeezed' into the ditch.
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Post by unaggie on Aug 24, 2008 21:00:17 GMT -5
Budget concerns aside, it's always nice to have a little more than you need. I started out trying to buy a 150cc scoot but changed to 250 after thinking about wear and tear on the smaller engine. Running WOT is not a nice thing to do to your engine. Most of my riding is at 55 or less. That's a comfortable job for the bigger engine. One 9 mile stretch, however, is on a highway where there's a lot of traffic and trucks run 70+. Riding about 60-65 keeps me from backing up traffic too much (and that's about as fast as I want to go). Most Texas roads have good shoulders and it's a state tradition to move over and let folks go by. They'll just about always wave or flash the tail lights to say thanks.
Riding the white line to let one squeeze by is not in anyone's best interest. Either hold your lane or get out of the way.
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Post by mortar235 on Aug 24, 2008 23:28:12 GMT -5
You'll be fine as long as its not rush hour conditions. Is the 55mph road 2 lane going the same direction? If so just stick to the right lane and people can pass whenever they want
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Post by jim63 on Aug 25, 2008 15:05:27 GMT -5
Where I live most roads are 45-55mph (country type area). My wifes 150cc tops out cruising speed at about 50mph. When we go out togather for rides, and get several cars behind us, we simply signal and pull over to the shoulder and let them pass. Once the cars go by we re-enter the roadway, we'd rather not have any impatient people behind us taking crazy chances passing us. On some 2-lane highways in Washington State there are actually signs that state "Backups of 5 or more vehicles illegal" which pretty much says to do what we do anyway. For one or two cars following, if we doing near the limit, we wont pull over unless they show agressiveness. We are out to have fun not cause or be part of an accident if at all possible. It is all about the ride after all.
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Post by dean on Aug 25, 2008 17:06:56 GMT -5
Im going to get a scooter in the next few days and I plan on commuting to school 4 days a week, 8 miles away. about 4 of those miles will be on a 55 mph roadway. I plan on buying a BMS Apache 150cc, which should take me 50 mph comfortably Im guessing. What Id like to know is, How safe is it for me to be getting passed on this roadway by the speeders going 60? Im new to scootering and wonder if its safe to drive on the right side of the lane so they can pass easier or things like that? I appreciate all the input you can give me. its all new to me. thanks. Definitely get a 250; you will be riding full throttle most the time with the 150. Don't move over (and continue driving) to allow a car to pass in the same lane or the lane next to you. After passing they will move back to the right and they might misjudge your position and move back to early. This is especially true if they are passing you by crossing over a yellow line. |
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Post by slowscootin07 on Aug 30, 2008 14:14:32 GMT -5
Around here a 50 MPH speed limit actually means 60+...seriously. On my commute to work, the speed limits vary from 35-55 posted. That means I need to do no less than 45 and on my highway leg of the trip no less than 65 to be "safe." On one particular highway the speed limit is 55 and if you aren't doing 65-70, then you're pushed around like there's no tomorrow. BTW 150cc's are illegal on our highways. Luckily I can maintain 65-70 no problem and have a WOT 75 mph reserve if needed.
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Post by pukame2 on Sept 1, 2008 1:54:55 GMT -5
Upcountry Maui only has one stretch of highway posted at 45mph.
Going down/up the hill is the infamous 55mph speed zone. Hardly anyone travels that at the posted limit. I seen many vehicles @ 75/85mph at times, until someone gets pulled over by an occasional Maui mountie. After which, its back to normal.
Otherwise, its very nice on the 30/35mph zones. If one has a 150cc that can cruise up to 45mph, it's perfect.
IMO, a 50cc would be best suited for Makawao town areas.
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Post by oldkid on Sept 2, 2008 10:06:12 GMT -5
jim63 gave you very good advice and thats exactly what my brother and I had to do. He has a Yamaha vino 125cc and at that time I had my Bali 150cc. His would top out at about 50 mph and the Bali will top out about 55 mph. (yes I know they register more on the speedometers)It does not give you any spare power for wind or hills.
I always take the Mainstreet 300 now. It has a much more secure feeling and of course plenty of speed. I recommend at least a 250cc.
oldkid
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