How could you ever think about going 125? I havent been over 80! Just the thought of me trying to put loose skin back on in pain while my gf is screaming at me makes me not want to do that.
First off I would not suggest making top speed runs with your girl freind behind you..or anyone else for that matter.
Again I need to point out that speed is relative and how one reacts to it subjective.
I can honestly believe that those who now consider themselves to be "old farts" have just got to a point in their life where , to be perfectly blunt...are just afraid ..........of death (or pain) so much more than they were when young that they can not fathom going 3 digit speeds.
Some like me and Old Dog likely feel that life is short and anything that makes you feel more alive or gives you a thrill is a good thing. We don't let fear rule us, we actualy see it as a challange.
But those that now say they have no desire to go over 80 mph now , may not be telling the truth when they say they "never would go that fast" when several admited that "when they were young and foolish" they did exactly that.
I think it is basic human nature to explore the bounderies one has access to, and when someone says they "never" have done something most times they mean " I no longer would do that". I think when we all were young we did ..and it was not because we were foolish, but because we had less fear and a stronger sence of curiostity.
I also have to point out that many "old farts" are new to riding and if you have not grown up with motorcycles you will have a different perspective to start with.
When I first rode my very first motorcycle, I remember quite clearly how terrified I felt just going 40 mph for the first time. Without the cage of metal around you and being able too see the ground under your feet whiz by tends to make anyone feel a bit apprehensive, even at sub light speeds.
I do have to point out to Marine and others that being that unprotected as one is on a bike, that once you reach a certain speed, you can't really believe you are any safer than if you were going faster. To this I mean if you mess up or get nailed on the highway going 70-80 mph, you will die just as quickly if you were going 100. To be quite honest here, if you hit a road sign at 45 mph your chance of survival is pretty much the same as hitting it at 120. (that is if you hit it head first)
I should also point out that most accidents occour at speeds under 40 mph, and that when one is going "fast" they tend to be completely focused on their riding...which tends to make them safer riders...not the opposite.
Next of course you have to trust your machine. Odd and weird things can begin to happen as you approach the century mark. Imperfections in the suspension will be exaggerated, and of course your aerodynamics can cause all sorts of problems. "Cruiser" style bikes were designed to, well, cruise , not break land speed records. Even if the engine has the potential power to go 120, that does not mean the bike itself is up to the task. If you have any concerns about the reliability of your scooter you are wise not to push it....or at least get gain some understanding as this would just be something to add to the "fear factor" one might have going exceedingly fast.
The fastet I have ever been on the street was about 136 mph, and that is on the FJR not the Vulcan. Fastest on the Vulcan was an indicated 120..but was clocked at 111 on radar.
But I have likely gone faster on a track. Back int he late seventies I got to take a TZ750 race bike around the track for a few laps. I never count this only because the bike did not have a speedometer, and I have no real idea how fast I got on it...I was fairly petrified the entire time. I do know that the run down the 1/3 of a mile straightaway seemed to take about 2 seconds...or at least twice as soon as my bike.
I know Kenny Roberts TZ routinely hit 189 on the staights..but this was not a TZ with gobbs of money thrown at it, but a "Stock" unit. Still , it was fast.
The Point here again is if you spent part of your life on a bike going over 100 mph on a fairly routine basis, you tend to have a completely different perspective than some "old fart" that is totaly new to motorcycles that tends to like "cruisers" and has some real fears about their abiltiy to heal broken bones at their age.
I don't mind if you go slow, just don't call me "crazy" cause I don't, and do me a favor when we meet up on the road, wave and smile back , but get out of my way.
KM