I <3 Deutschland!

[stefrrr]

Apparently, the autobahn does have a speed limit.  

I think I might have found the site for the next ISTN - but it's in France.  

[Guy]

Apparently, the autobahn does have a speed limit.  

I think I might have found the site for the next ISTN - but it's in France.  

Yeah, you gotta look for the sign that says no speed limit (white circle with diagonal lines) Did you get a ticket?

There are some very amazing places in France, I got no beef with the country.

[Mr Sunshine]

Apparently, the autobahn does have a speed limit.  

I think I might have found the site for the next ISTN - but it's in France.  

HAHAHAHA you gotta pay attention!

[Orson]

While France has great roads, Italy has everything else.

Motorcyclists are free to do whatever they please, and no one even bats an eyelash  

[stefrrr]

No, no tickets.   They go a lot slower than I expected though. I was in a diesel Peugeot and I was passing people.  

[Mr Sunshine]

No, no tickets.   They go a lot slower than I expected though. I was in a diesel Peugeot and I was passing people.  

passing a lorey doesn't count.

[MrMopar440]

You are driving on the wrong streches.   After three years, anything slower than 150 kph drives me nuts on the autobahn. The great thing is how WELL they all drive. I just wish we would institute the training that they go through back in the states. We could easily drive as fast there if people had the training (and pulling licenses for stupid moves like passing on the right).

[Global Rider]

Apparently, the autobahn does have a speed limit.  

Depends which section you are on. We were cruising along nicely at 180...legally.

[RBEmerson]

While, in the main, German drivers are more clued-in (helps that getting a license involves serious money for lessons), I have seen all manner of bone-headed maneuvers.  Couple that with a German sense of intransigence, and the roads can be sehr interesant on occasion.  

A big amen for the notion that passing on the right can mean near instant (driving) death if done in front of the funny green and white car with the blue lights.  But, damn!!!, the best way to spot a foreigner on the roads is to look for the guy who isn't tailgating.    All the posters and signs saying "Don't tailgate" are frickin' waste of time.  

[Global Rider]

A big amen for the notion that passing on the right can mean near instant (driving) death if done in front of the funny green and white car with the blue lights.

Now to be blue and white cars.  

Tailgating? I see as much of that here...caused of course by the left lane dreamer with their thumb stuck up their butt.

[MrMopar440]

Have to agree with the tailgaiting piece - whenever I feel like I have enough space in front of me, someone slides into it!

[Global Rider]

Have to agree with the tailgaiting piece - whenever I feel like I have enough space in front of me, someone slides into it!

But there are instances where it is necessary to tailgate in order to make a pass, such on mountain roads with short straights.

A vehicle can't hang back the length of a short straight (what you would consider a safe distance) because by the time they would be ready to pass after coming out of a curve, you'd be at the next curve already.

Unfortunately, there are always those few that make passing difficult even though they are holding others up.

[RBEmerson]

Another real eyepopper is seeing a train of three or four cars blasting down the fast lane at serious speeds, each car drafting the car ahead.  There's a reason why autobahn accidents tend to be particularly ugly.  

Passing in the mountains... yeah, well, some roads do force things a bit, but given that the speed limit on those roads is usually 60 MPH (100 km/hr), I don't see it as the same problem as being stuck behind some stoopid granny-mobile doing 25 on a 35 MPH road in the states.  

[FJR-UK]

Can I just add: if you dare to pull up behind a big, black Mercedes in the fast lane, you can expect to be brake-tested. They must wet themselves laughing.

[Mr Sunshine]

Can I just add: if you dare to pull up behind a big, black Mercedes in the fast lane, you can expect to be brake-tested. They must wet themselves laughing.

Really?  They just moved over for me.  

[MK96xj]

Speed limit signs

I justs cruised along with some other traffic at about 110mph (177kph) in my diesel VW Golf good times. Still got passed

[basco]

  Autobaun there is just a freeway. Speed limits are just in the towns and cities, everywhere else is generally no limit.

[FJR-UK]

Really?  They just moved over for me.  

I suppose you're right. I should change that comment to "he must have wet himself laughing". I'm sure I just pulled up behind the only self-righteous/sadistic Mercedes Benz driver in Germany.

Leaving Nurnberg for Heidelberg on my old FJR, I got into one of those trains you see where the first car peels off and the rest pass until there is only one, like the cyclists in the Tour de France. Anyway, I was on the tail of a little red Alfa Romeo at the front. He peeled off and I passed. I had a quick peek at my speed. Somewhere between 145-150 mph. That's the fastest I've ever been on a bike. This was two-up and fully loaded. I was amazed at how effortless it was. However, the slightest curve in the road looks like a hairpin at that speed and I slowed down a few miles later.

I confess I prefer sight-seeing at 50 mph better.

[stefrrr]

Speed limit signs

I justs cruised along with some other traffic at about 110mph (177kph) in my diesel VW Golf good times. Still got passed

My diesel Peugeot could only get up to about 170 if conditions were good, 175 or so on a straight downhill.

Going to rent an Audi A3 next weekend.   We're taking a good speed-limit-free section of the A5 down to the black forest.  

[RBEmerson]

Good luck with the A5.  In April it had a number of construction sites to add to the fun (didn't help the exits to Baden-Baden were blocked off for the NATO summit, either).  In July...  viel spass mit ferien Verkehr!    The Black Forest area, however... oh, my!  Wish we were back there.  [/green envy face]