Authorities say the man, identified as Christopher Favela, was riding his sports motorcycle in the eastbound lanes at about 5:45 a.m.
Another driver, identified by officials as Stephanie Franco, was heading in the same direction on the freeway.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Favela was speeding and weaving through traffic before he crashed into the back of Franco's car.
The impact threw Favela, who was not wearing a helmet, from his bike.
He died at the scene.
Franco was not injured.
The freeway was shut down for a couple of hours. It reopened shortly before 9 a.m.
The sheriff's office's Vehicular Crimes Division is investigating.