Planning a holiday on the bikes for early next July with three or four bikes. Was thinking of Norway as I've never been there, the scenery looks good and the roads look exciting. However I've been a bit put off by the stories of heavy speeding fines and low-low speed limits. I try never to speed in towns or urban areas but in the mountains on the twisty roads I like to go as fast as I can, sticking to 50mpg/80kph is just not my idea of biking fun. So, am I being a bit paranoid in imagining that bumbling around at 50mph is going to ruin the biking experience or should I not let the little matter of speed and heavy fines put me off what promises to be a very interesting trip? Is the speed restriction really so heavily enforced once away from the main roads and towns?
Should speed restrictions put me off?
- Thread starter JayGee
- Start date
Invicta Moto
Registered user
Not been to Norway, but have been to Sweden and Finland where they also have a similar speed limit.
I don't remember having such a crap time because I couldn't or didn't feel like speeding all over the place.
Try 80kph for a while.
See the scenery, isn't that why you are going to Norway in the first place?
garfield
Registered user
speed limits....yeah I always stick to them......
did 140kph constant from Stockholm to Oslo, 300 or so miles in a good time.....we even got followed by the Karlstad Chopper Coppers for a while....someone must have phoned them.....
Norway, fines there are outrageous from what I here, so we played a bit more carefully there. To be honest in Norway, I was more worried about the bloody sheep all over the place.....nearly took one out
did 140kph constant from Stockholm to Oslo, 300 or so miles in a good time.....we even got followed by the Karlstad Chopper Coppers for a while....someone must have phoned them.....
Norway, fines there are outrageous from what I here, so we played a bit more carefully there. To be honest in Norway, I was more worried about the bloody sheep all over the place.....nearly took one out
sven
Registered user
The last time I went to Switzerland I stuck to the speed limits (ish) as they'd just increased the fines to £500+ 
Slowing down and taking in the scenery didn't spoil the ride on the twistier roads (Lenzerheide, Albula and Umbrail passes), but was boring on the more open stretches (Ofen pass)
I guess the Fjord areas will be OK at lower speeds, but if you're heading to the North Cape it could get pretty boring as it looks like the wide open spaces of Scotland and who rides around Scotland at 50mph
Which is why we may go in SWMBO's Suzuki Jimny as I'm quite happy to potter around in a car
Slowing down and taking in the scenery didn't spoil the ride on the twistier roads (Lenzerheide, Albula and Umbrail passes), but was boring on the more open stretches (Ofen pass)
I guess the Fjord areas will be OK at lower speeds, but if you're heading to the North Cape it could get pretty boring as it looks like the wide open spaces of Scotland and who rides around Scotland at 50mph
Which is why we may go in SWMBO's Suzuki Jimny as I'm quite happy to potter around in a car
I was more worried about the bloody sheep all over the place.....nearly took one out
I heard you did take one out............. and that you still write to her
I've asked a few Norwegians, and the consensus is -
Stick to the limits through towns and villages, but on the open roads - don't worry too much. All speed traps are at towns and villages
Al
araspitfire
Registered user
When I was in Norway with some Brits last year, I met them in Denmark and we rode up there... I kept thinking all the way to the Norwegian border... "uh oh.. we are all gonna get fined... big time"... (I had been there a couple years earlier with the campervan and felt the same as you.... low speed limits, big fines...)
However it didn't make a dram of difference to our riding fun...
We were there early season, so I think the speed traps were less numerous. We saw one... pointed the other way...
We didn't seem to slow down at all... (I had trouble keeping up most of the time.. though TBH I'm not fast..) I was less worried about my speed as I figured any speed traps would be "full up" by the time I arrived there behind the 7 'loonies'... =)
Anyways... most all the speed cameras point to the front plate...
The roads are so good you won't regret the trip!
Al...
However it didn't make a dram of difference to our riding fun...
We were there early season, so I think the speed traps were less numerous. We saw one... pointed the other way...
We didn't seem to slow down at all... (I had trouble keeping up most of the time.. though TBH I'm not fast..) I was less worried about my speed as I figured any speed traps would be "full up" by the time I arrived there behind the 7 'loonies'... =)
Anyways... most all the speed cameras point to the front plate...
The roads are so good you won't regret the trip!
Al...
Blackal may have a point. Personally I think it depends a lot on your attitude, body language etc. If you were to go haring through towns and villages in 3rd gear - leaving a trail of white smoke and tyre rubber - and then get snotty when you get pulled over- your asking for trouble.Stick to the limits through towns and villages, but on the open roads - don't worry too much. All speed traps are at towns and villages
The only time I have come close to a fine was in Holland earlier this year. I was doing around 90mph on the motorway to Amsterdam - can't remember their speed limit, but it felt ridicilously low compared to ours (60mph?). I felt I was riding sensibly (not hogging their lane 3, proper positioning, life savers on every overtake, keeping a 2 second gap, not getting aggressive with drivers that pulled out etc) but a Police car did pull up alongside and gestured that I should keep it down. I knew I was over the limit so couldn't complain, and after a polite wave that showed I understood, nothing else was said.
Stick to (or pretty close to) the limits in towns / villages and road works and ride sensibly when on the open roads, and the chances are you'll be ok.
GPLongford
Registered user
All speed cameras point to the front plate in Norway, and they are programmed to dont react on bikes. The law claim the driver must be known and thats not possible with a helmet on.
Laser guns and camera cars are the things to look out for!
And they operate on all roads!
Outside build up areas I normally ride 20 - 40% over the posted speed limit, but with some common sense I has not been caught during my years on bike.
June 2006, I rode 4,000 miles from Bergen to Nordkapp, into northern Finland & Sweden before heading back to Bergen for the ferry home. Before going, I had heard the scare stories about policing & cameras.
Saw a few cameras on the E6 in built up areas however the further north you went they kind of disappeared. Above Trondheim the north is sparsely populated with small towns and limited visible police presence outside these. If you are reasonably sensible in town the roads are quiet enough for some fun riding even if fully luggaged up.
Roads were generally very light traffic, well surfaced and often follow the fjords & topography meaning some lovely twists and turns, however some roads can suddenly go down to single track with 90degree bends thrown in for good measure. There was also a lot of wandering wild life particularly in the far north e.g. sheep and lots of reindeer. Whilst you can make progress outside towns, all of the above, and the stunning scenery & photo stops meant my average speed was 40-50mph most days, and the GPS said I never went above 90mph.
Loved Norway and will definitely go back
Saw a few cameras on the E6 in built up areas however the further north you went they kind of disappeared. Above Trondheim the north is sparsely populated with small towns and limited visible police presence outside these. If you are reasonably sensible in town the roads are quiet enough for some fun riding even if fully luggaged up.
Roads were generally very light traffic, well surfaced and often follow the fjords & topography meaning some lovely twists and turns, however some roads can suddenly go down to single track with 90degree bends thrown in for good measure. There was also a lot of wandering wild life particularly in the far north e.g. sheep and lots of reindeer. Whilst you can make progress outside towns, all of the above, and the stunning scenery & photo stops meant my average speed was 40-50mph most days, and the GPS said I never went above 90mph.
Loved Norway and will definitely go back
Thanks, this ain't too different to the UK, speed cameras are pretty easy to spot but laser traps and camera cars are quite tricky to spot in time. I rarely speed in built up areas (well I try not to
) but was concerned that it would be a shame to waste good roads by only doing 80kph (hell, I could do that in an HGV!).Think I'll give it a try and just be a tad more careful mthan usual.
Thanks for all the advise.
Went to Norway in June / July 2005, never saw a speed camera except the Truflo front facing ones on the Motorway entering Bergen.
Only saw one police car during the week we were there and that was in Bergen as well.
Most of the roads don`t allow for a speed above 50 or so and the scenery is too nice to miss anyway.
Only saw one police car during the week we were there and that was in Bergen as well.
Most of the roads don`t allow for a speed above 50 or so and the scenery is too nice to miss anyway.
Tractorpilot
Registered user
Did Bergen - Nordkapp in July. Saw one laser speed trap facing the other way but had been getting warnings anyway from oncoming traffic for the previous 5 minutes. Well worth going. Reindeer are more likely to be a problem than the police. Just keep it sensible in built up areas.
(RIP) petcul
Registered user
Did a great trip up to Nordkapp in August then back through Finland, Russia, Baltic states, Poland, Germany and Holland. Like you I was quite worried about drifting over the limit but it quickly became a non issue. After a few days of sensible riding - few cameras and few police - the scenery was so fantastic I really didn't want to go faster than the speed limit.
By the time we got to Poland and Germany and back to our normal speed it took a while before I felt I was not about to take off (well, a little while).
Just enjoy yourself.
Dragon Master
Registered user
I've never had a problem sticking (generally) to the limits; as several have implied, the scenery tends to impose its own limits. The last time I went I was on a Fudge, which unfortunately wasn't happy with 80kph in fifth; had to stop every ten miles or so to get the feeling back in my right hand due to the Jap-4 'buzz'.
Never came across any Reindeer, but one thing that did slow me down, as I came out of a tunnel, was a heard of Goats, sunbathing in the road. Oh, and I was somewhat taken aback when car/caravan combo actually pulled over to let me past! (You know, just like they always do in England.)
I'm hoping to go to Nordkapp myself next year, and I've allowed for the speed limits in my timing. That means several 300+ mile days, but I'm on a GS...
A group I got talking to in Bergen while waiting for the ferry home told me of being stopped in a town somewhere south. They'd been doing about 52 in a 50kph limit. the Police escorted them to a cash machine to pay the fine, which worked out at £115.00. (They had the receipts). The alternative, apparently, was impounding of bikes and driving licences...
cheers,
Dave.
Never came across any Reindeer, but one thing that did slow me down, as I came out of a tunnel, was a heard of Goats, sunbathing in the road. Oh, and I was somewhat taken aback when car/caravan combo actually pulled over to let me past!
(You know, just like they always do in England.)I'm hoping to go to Nordkapp myself next year, and I've allowed for the speed limits in my timing. That means several 300+ mile days, but I'm on a GS...
A group I got talking to in Bergen while waiting for the ferry home told me of being stopped in a town somewhere south. They'd been doing about 52 in a 50kph limit. the Police escorted them to a cash machine to pay the fine, which worked out at £115.00. (They had the receipts). The alternative, apparently, was impounding of bikes and driving licences...
cheers,
Dave.
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