This July several thousand riders will be visiting your fair state for the international Rally. All of us expect to spend money on gas and food; many on farkles and lodging. Sorry to say, none of us are keen on helping cities, counties or the state out of their budget problems through traffic fines. I attended the 2001 and 2010 rallies in Redmond, had a great time, and returned home to B.C. with no unpleasant LEO encounters. No radar detector then or now. While my general advice below may be of some slight help to travellers, it is your very specific advice that is likely to keep us out of trouble with the law.
The Locals Know Best If many folk with Oregon plates are driving 55-60 where it is posted 55 but 70 would be the sane speed, well - they know something, stranger, that you don't. Same thing for rigid adherance to speed limits in small towns and, especially, rigid adherance to speed limits entering or leaving small towns. Most Oregonians, I'm told, are not more annaly retentive than the general poplulace of other states. Demonstating your "big dog" riding skills in these situations is likely to be expensive and time-consuming. If, on the other hand, lots of local people are way over the speed limit; don't hold them back. But don't lead the way either.
No Local Plates A common situation in eastern Oregon at least. My suggestion is that you cut your highway speed to maybe 7 mph over the speed limit when you are within 30 miles of the nearest town. Entering and leaving small towns, get it down to no more than 5 mph over the speed limit. If you have been riding "briskly" this will feel like crawling speed, especially if there is no traffic in front of you. Just remember, it is much faster and cheaper to ride through town at 25 mph than to do it at 40 mph and be pulled over.
Back Roads There are a lot of great back roads in Oregon (and I'm just talking about the paved ones) where you may not see 4 other vehicles in an hour. I think sight distance and physics here (not fear of LEO's) should function as your speed control.
So, Oregonians, tell me where I'm wrong or specific roads/towns known for harsh speed enforcement. Feel free to add other comments about laws unusual to many of us: still the same deal at gas stations?
The Locals Know Best If many folk with Oregon plates are driving 55-60 where it is posted 55 but 70 would be the sane speed, well - they know something, stranger, that you don't. Same thing for rigid adherance to speed limits in small towns and, especially, rigid adherance to speed limits entering or leaving small towns. Most Oregonians, I'm told, are not more annaly retentive than the general poplulace of other states. Demonstating your "big dog" riding skills in these situations is likely to be expensive and time-consuming. If, on the other hand, lots of local people are way over the speed limit; don't hold them back. But don't lead the way either.
No Local Plates A common situation in eastern Oregon at least. My suggestion is that you cut your highway speed to maybe 7 mph over the speed limit when you are within 30 miles of the nearest town. Entering and leaving small towns, get it down to no more than 5 mph over the speed limit. If you have been riding "briskly" this will feel like crawling speed, especially if there is no traffic in front of you. Just remember, it is much faster and cheaper to ride through town at 25 mph than to do it at 40 mph and be pulled over.
Back Roads There are a lot of great back roads in Oregon (and I'm just talking about the paved ones) where you may not see 4 other vehicles in an hour. I think sight distance and physics here (not fear of LEO's) should function as your speed control.
So, Oregonians, tell me where I'm wrong or specific roads/towns known for harsh speed enforcement. Feel free to add other comments about laws unusual to many of us: still the same deal at gas stations?