I had resisted test riding the gl1800, when it first came out. I always said, "My 1500's big enough". Then, I heard about a Honda Open House with demoʻ rides at a dealership, the next state over.
I went -- there were lots of people and "Honda" support staff, in this large parking lot. Music, noise, crowds - the whole works. I saw some friends from my goldwing association and there was also free food.
There was a table to sign up for test rides, so I said "What the heck" and signed a waiver/disclaimer and waited my turn. I saw a rider come back on a shiny purple GL1800, and park it. A salesman (I assumed it was one of the factory reps. ) greeted him and then walked with him into the showroom. I figured he would look at the bikes in the showroom and get a quote. "This is my chance", I thought.

Right away, I called over a guy in a "Honda" shirt, and showed my test ride disclaimer to take it for a ride. He said, 'ok' and I took that to mean 'go ahead'.
I didn't want to miss my turn with such a crowd, so I hurriedly walked over and put my helmet on, and looked back. I didn't see the "Honda" guy so I just figured he was busy. I put my disclaimer away and got on the goldwing and rode out onto the highway.

The ride was magnificent! I just twisted the throttle and "opened-her-up" a little. Boy - she was a rocket and just gliding down the highway! I opened her up a little more - after all...'it's a demo bike'. I wasn't really watching the speedo much. But then I finally did look down at the speedo...104 mph! I shut it down and returned to about 60. After awhile, I noticed I was up to 70 or 80 again. I decided that was enough, so I headed back.

I returned to the dealership and a buddy said the dealership staff were looking all over for that new, purple Goldwing.
Turns out, it wasn't one of the demo bikes, but was one of their "Dealer in stock" models for sale...oops.

 

More than I want to admit.

 

She as my passenger likes riding, maybe more than I do. If she had a bad/stressful day at work, she wanted a ride. We have a stretch of road near us, flat, straight, unlimited visibility with open fields ten feet lower than the road. One time when I had it opened up for the 5 miles and just as I was backing down, I hear her yawn in the headset. I got me a good one, maybe she trusts me too much. I was riding for 4 years before I met her at 14 me 16, started going together June 3rd 1971, married July 12th 1974. I think I'm gonna keep her.

I am admitting nothing.

 

She as my passenger...married July 12th 1974. I think I'm gonna keep her.
I am admitting nothing.

Ah...1974 must've been a great year to marry the perfect gal - I know, because I did

 

On my GL1500, every once in a while.
On my GL1800, more often.
On my K1600GT, almost daily, even on my 3 mile ride to work

 

When on my trips and forced to ride the interstate the traffic is usually doing around 80MPH. I like to ride just a little faster than the majority of the traffic so that would put me around 83-85MPH. So on occasion when I have to pass I’ll pop her over 100MPH for short stints. After riding for several hours at 85MPH, 100MPH doesn’t seem that fast.

 

I often cruise at 88-90 on a freeway heading towards Milwaukee near my home but I couldn't say if I've hit 100 - at some point the feeling goes from quick but comfortable cruising to the mindset that you're going fast and you'd be sliding a long way before you stopped in the best circumstances in a spill. I got violently tossed off my Kawi KZ650 in 1978 after I went from full throttle to no throttle when I saw a cop up ahead - overloaded the front end and off I went. While I got back on two wheels a month later after a few wounds started healing - I never forgot how quickly something like that can happen. Rider error - definitely but - you still don't want to tempt fate again. So, 90 is quick enough for me.

 

 

Documentation is always good. As they say, "without pics it didn't happen".
And only 382k miles back then.

 

I always try to be the second (or third or fourth) most interesting person to pull over. When I get passed by a group who is speeding I generally will ride a little faster.

One time arrived late to a Red/Blue and Green Knights ride and charity event. My friend on a 1988 Wing, his wife, my wife and I did a quick U-Turn and caught up with everyone. All law enforcement was in the area was busy getting ready to host the charity run so we went up (and maybe a little past) 100 MPH to catch up. Then my rear seat mounted speed governor sent an alarm and I had to slow down. It was kind of fun knowing we could get away with it that day.

On a day-to-day basis I routinely hit the low 90s, but as previously mentioned, I let others pass me (lots of speed racers on I-95). On a 2008 Wing with some added wind protection it really doesn't feel that fast.

 

Every time I ride I bust a buck. Not too hard to do on the Wing, especially the DCT in sport mode. Heck, you can easily do that just merging into traffic from an on ramp. I used to ride with retired cops and firefighters when I had my Black Bird. We regularly rode 130 mph to 140 mph. Whenever we got pulled over the guys would say "who's turn is it today". The lead rider would flip out their badge to the LEO and a minute later we were back on our way. Those were the good 'ole days...

 

I hit it more than I should, mostly without meaning to. I try to keep it around 80, but I swear, every time I look down at the speedometer, I am nearing 100. Thank God there aren't too many cops down here in Mississippi. I also have Hayabusa that I tried to see what it would do last year.... I ran out of balls before it ran out of throttle. It was still pulling pretty good at 160 when I decided I had enough.

 

Lot's of times we have ridden 100+ my wife has a leadfoot/wrist. Riding the remote areas we travel in 100+ is not really an issue if you need to get somewhere fast.

Years ago Montana didn't really have a speed limit. Every time we crossed Montana we had fun. We were heading west on I90 a bit west of Billings. We were riding at 105 mph early on a Sunday morning and we got passed by a compact car with a young couple dressed in their Sunday church duds. I called my wife on the CB and asked if we should kick it up a bit to keep up with the Sunday church crowd.

Another fun ride I had was heading east on the trans Canada highway. I was riding with three Indiana highway patrolmen on Wings, we camped together in Jasper NP. As we left Baniff NP heading east they said we will be at brisk pace, if we get stopped let them do the talking. As I recall before we split up we used three tanks of fuel that day at 100+

 

Not often, but four memorable times.

1971, Honda 750-4. Just had to try, and got it to 105 indicated. Also got 3 tickets in my first month of ownership, and not one since!

Goldwing, passing by Bonneville Salt flats ... just had to try. Very shortly after I slowed it down, went through a speed trap. Whew!

Goldwing, cameraman on the back for the Whistler BC Ironman Triathlon. He wanted to quickly get to a different spot to shoot, so I slalomed through the cyclists at over 160 kph (100 mph). Safely, though. I used to bicycle race, so I'm pretty comfortable in that situation.

Goldwing, heading down through Nevada. 2 lane, straight as far as the eye could see. Set the cruise at 180 and watched the fuel level drop like a stone. Had fun until the first gentle curve engineered for 60 mph where I really had to hold on. Slowed a bit for the curves after that.

 

Not often, but four memorable times.

1971, Honda 750-4. Just had to try, and got it to 105 indicated. Also got 3 tickets in my first month of ownership, and not one since!

Goldwing, passing by Bonneville Salt flats ... just had to try. Very shortly after I slowed it down, went through a speed trap. Whew!

Goldwing, cameraman on the back for the Whistler BC Ironman Triathlon. He wanted to quickly get to a different spot to shoot, so I slalomed through the cyclists at over 160 kph (100 mph). Safely, though. I used to bicycle race, so I'm pretty comfortable in that situation.

Goldwing, heading down through Nevada. 2 lane, straight as far as the eye could see. Set the cruise at 180 and watched the fuel level drop like a stone. Had fun until the first gentle curve engineered for 60 mph where I really had to hold on. Slowed a bit for the curves after that.

On a Goldwing?

Ahhhh.... KMs... Carry on.

 

On my '08 that I have only had 1 summer maybe once but not sure. On my '03 many times it was even to 120 a couple times. Use to go over 125 every Sunday back in my drag racing days, even had a 148 mph pass on a friends bike.


125+ mph on Sundays

 

With at least three tickets in my recent past for 3-5 over the freeway speed limit and just about every time I even think about twisting the throttle hard, there is usually an LEO within a few cars of me.
Dead on speed limit at the most is all yer gonna get outa me.

 

Tickets for 3-5 over on the Interstate? Wow! Those Virginia Bears must be hungry. Here's a copy/paste from a ride report I made following a recent SS1000 riding mostly in West Texas.

"Nothing to do for the next 700+ miles but sit here, twist that. Speed limits in West Texas are 80ish so one can make good time I kept the cruise set on 85 most of the time for my usual rule of thumb is “5 over or run with traffic, whichever is faster.” I’ve never been pulled over for 5 over, and just today I passed 3 separate Highway Patrols who were doing 80 mixed in with traffic. By the time I saw them it was too late so just kept cruising on by. They never even looked at me. Every ticket I’ve received is when I get greedy, so I just fudge the limit a little now and don’t worry about it.

 

Every time I drive on the freeway.
The other road users force you to do this. But we don't have to be afraid of a speeding ticket here. 😛

 

Never tried it and don't see a reason to go 100mph.

 

I have no interest in speed.
I drove wreckers for 12 years and have seen too many times what speed can do. No interest is speed at all.

 

I'm sure it's deservedly happened, but I've yet to see a Goldwing pulled over for anything except a rest stop.

 

I've gotten there a few times.

US50 in NV.

Non-sportbike track days with New England Riders. Image below is a lap from one of those in a spiffy little app I heard about and downloaded that day. Palmer is a gorgeous track and not far from you @Captron .

 

A few times. With and without towing the Aspen🏍

 

Greater than five times.....I meant I plead the fifth.

 

Oh.......maybe 3 or 4.

First time (and coincidentally, the same time I discovered it has a 112 mph limiter), I was on my way home from taking delivery at the dealer. Pulled out to pass two semi trucks on a two lane road. Would not have been an issue at all on my FJR1300. But the wing? Yea.......crapped out at 112......about 2/3rds of the way past the 2nd truck. Obviously I made the pass, but it ended up being closer than I was comfortable with.

 

Back in my truck driving days I got ticketed two different days for going 62 down a big hill on the freeway when the speed limit was 55, both times it was bear in the air.

 

Tried to keep up with a Ferrari that passed me in central Oregon. Apparently it was going faster than 132 MPH (according to Mr Garmin).

 

In July of 23 I bought my 2018 used Gold Wing. In 2 days I felt comfortable enough to hit Hondas speed limit. 2 1/2 weeks later I’m in the UP with the crew and well FJRs big BMWs that can pass at will with HP to spare I was playing catch up a lot. I’d prefer not to hold that top speed for that long. The longer the more likely hood to have a road side conversion with the Blue light. My 2 F6Bs with a combination of 130,000 miles, well if if I wasn’t above that century make well it may have been a wasted day. Years ago my job had me working every other week end. My way home was the same every day. On weekends there was a stretch that was about as safe as it could be. My 1200 Wing would run past the century mark, traffic allowing.