HIGHWAY DAREDEVILS

Just a few comments on this thread:

Granted, 200 MPH is a slight exaggeration over 186.

Now that's a little exaggeration too. from
http://www.motorcycleaccidentsinfocenter.com/information.php

"Most motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle and another moving
vehicle. In more than three quarters of these accidents, it is the front
of the motorcycle that strikes the other vehicle. Still, more than one
quarter of motorcycle accidents happen when a motorcycle crashes into a
stationary object. In any case, motorcycle accidents are more likely to
occur when either the driver or the motorcyclist is speeding or is under
the influence of alcohol."

Given that information, I don't think it's fair to say "the majority of
accidents involving motorcycles are CAUSED by automobiles. There are
obviously lots of cases where automobiles are clearly to blame, but it's
obvious there are a lot of motorcyclists who have no one to blame but
themselves for their accidents.

Going fast is great fun, but let's hope the guys who use country roads
as personal race tracks don't injure any innocent people.

AT

 

Most law enforcement officers sling the same kind of stuff.. It's
called public policy and they're taught that way from the top down.
It's simply a matter of public safety to be given tickets for going 75
in a 65 mph zone, even though 75mph is closer to the speed of traffic.
Any of you remember when the city of Lavon was giving more tickets
per year than they had citizens? This isn't anything new.

No beef with tickets for reckless driving, running stop signs, or
speeding in significant excess of normal traffic. Speeding tickets
are IMHO, mainly for revenue... "Minimum performance standards" ARE
quotas and should be illegal.

Now in terms of media, saying that bikes off the showroom floor will
do 200mph is a way to illustate to the general public just how fast
they are. In reality, what's a stock 'Busa do if non-speed limited?
Something like 185+? That's close enough to 200mph for me.

Someone said that these bikes require a lot of room to go that fast, I
disagree.. Sure, at that kind of speed you are covering a ton of
ground. They can also slip in and out of traffic (lane split) so it's
no wonder that a few people choose to run from the cops. If you want
to chase 'em, start riding Kawasakis and stop buying Harleys!

I've got a ZX-11, a bit outdated in the superbike category... Still,
In a quarter mile it will go from a standing stop to 134 mph in 10-11
seconds. Acutally, I can't break 11.1 but I never have learned to
launch the thing professionally. That's a lot of speed in not a lot
of room.. The 'Busa, the ZX-12, the GSXR, even the ZZR are faster...
They are insanely fast machines in the wrong hands.. They're also easy
to get killed on if you do something stupid.. Easy to get killed if
you don't do something stupid too.. If you wanted to regulate the
riders of these bikes by toughening licensing requirements, that'd be
fine by me - as long as they didn't TAX your right to own something
that fast.

-Darin

 

There you go, my friend ... I hope you did forward this statement in full to
the anchor's on channel five.. Good response, Fullstate..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Thanks for the input Artie .. I might point out that you are certainly not
typical nor representative of Bikers as a whole nor this group.. Your
obvious superiority complex disqualifies you as any authority on this
subject pertaining to motorcyclists.. Thanks again for your input..

 

Glad to see you this morning Stephan.. Your response to this guy is
appropriate.. His obvious bias and superiority complex in this area is long
standing.. Your attention to detail comes to our rescue once again and I
think I speak for many on here who appreciate it.. If we can just figure out
how to keep you mounted and rolling, we will all benefit... LOL

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

All the thoughts expressed in your response are valid and have merit.. I
missed it last night, but have a copy of the tape, that I intend to revue
asap.. Meantime, I refer to my thoughts on the matter in another post..
Channel five is prepping us to get ready for a crackdown on ALL bikers in
the metroplex (read Dallas).. Revenue from the traffic citations to
motorcyclist's would greatly enhance the City Budget and lessen the
shortfall there.. Channel five and Mike Snyder seems to be the resource to
use for that purpose.. Let's all give them a call and make sure they know
how we feel on this subject in particular..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Bill Walker wrote:x

Gee, you're welcome Bill.

I might point out that you are certainly not

Never claimed I was. And there are so many "Bikers" on this group! Which
ones *are* representative of "Bikers?"

Your

Gee , with all my superiority, maybe I should declare myself the group
moderator, or Wizard.


Thanks again for your input..

Anything for you, Bill.

 

Because a bike technically strikes a car, that doesn't mean that the
car did not cause the accident. Those accidents often involve cars
that pulled out in front of bikers. They "just didn't see them" which
is a load of crap.

People don't "see" bikes because they aren't looking for them or
aren't paying attention.


--Fullstate

 

We've thrown around the speeding ticket thing before, that is for
sure. ;-)

I really respect the bike manufacturers for taking the initiative and
limiting their bikes. Yes, 186mph is still pretty crazy for a bike on
the open road and it's not that shy of the 200mph mark. However, once
the govt. gets involved and starts regulating them there is no telling
where they will stop.

I think it is Bill that is fond of cautioning us against the govt.
regulating anything because once you lose your rights they are very
hard to get back.


--Fullstate

 

Nope .. job's taken.. The title is Grand Wizardly Moderator and I won it
fair and square in a statewide election.. If you want it, the next election
will be whenever the committee I will soon appoint decides.. LMAO

 

The only time that I have been hit, in all my years of riding was when both
feet were on the pavement and I was waiting for a light to change.. The
elderly man who hit me, saw me.. it just didn't register to him that I was
another vehicle in front of him.. Sound funny... it is.. Sorry to say, it is
typical.. Many people see us, but it just never occurs to them , that is a
vehicle with a human being on it.. Try this little experiment next time you
are in your car and a motorcyle is in front of you.. Hold a normal ball
point pen or pencil at arms length .. At approcimately one hundred fifty
feet, the pen or pencil will completely hide the motorcycle.. Lights, horn
or loud tailpipes are about the only protection you have.. If they can't see
you, you would hope they can hear you...

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

BTW - I couldn't even find anything on the NBC5 web site about this
after last night. anyone else? Did they yank it?


--Fullstate

 

Like I said, there are obviously lots of cases where automobiles are
clearly to blame.

Stephen's statistics indicate that maybe 50.001 % of car/motorcycle
accidents are "caused" by cars, a slim majority by any measure, and
there are a lot more cars on the road than bikes. And the statistics
indicate that over 25% of motorcycle accidents involve a single
motorcycle hitting a stationary object.

The point is, there are a lot of irresponsible folks operating both cars
and motorcycles, and a news story about sportbike stunts is a little
more interesting than a story about Accords hitting Camrys.

AT

 

Yup.. that's me alright.. Taken quite a bit of abuse on here for many of my
views that are controversial.. LOL.. Be that as it may.. Many of the things
I raise hell about may not be directly related to motorcycles, however, down
the road will see the connection when it begins to affect us.. Thanks
Fullstate.. I had to say it..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Whatever sells.. right.. Some of us believe that documentary news reporting
should be unbiased and represent both sides of the issue equally.. That's
what we would like to see.. From what I have seen, this reporting was
one-sided and inflammatory.. That being the case, there should be equal
coverage representing the other interests, wouldn't you agree, or not ?
Channel five is not reputedly reliable in this regards.. Mike Snyder
particularly is a one-sided reporter with a bias that exceeds his
responsiblity to report he news and not initiate it.. This documentary was
initiated by channel five..

 

They aired it... I didn't watch it .. Leslie just handed me a tape she
recorded on the episode.. I will watch it and be more qualified to comment
as the day goes on.. Later..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

A large number, but still the minority? I don't think I've ever been
stopped by a LEO that said he doubled as the tax collector. I'm talking
about getting stopped when I'm not really doing things that I shouldn't
(like 70mph in a 60 zone). I won't argue with the majority of the tickets
I've been given.. Course, they were all 5+ years ago (knock on wood)

If the "flow" of traffic is speeding, you can still be ticketed for
violating the letter of the law.
Going with the flow of traffic is not an acceptable defense for speeding in
this state.

I will agree with you, usually a LEO will pick out something doing something
to catch attention.. sometimes that just isn't the case, though...

I think it can be indicative of an either a traffic problem or an enforcment
problem. These sorts of situations are why the majority of traffic
"revenue" now goes to the state rather than the locality in specific.. This
is why Lavon can no longer afford a huge fleet of police cruisers..

I can't. I'd leave that up to the officer.
Depends on traffic, weather, conditions...
Can't more than 25mph over the posted limit be considered reckless?





-> Based on what the legislature has said and done this year, I would say

Where was the media during this discussion?
Still, no one who gets pulled over gets quoted revenue policy.

So much of the fines go to the state due to the abuses of a few little
cities...It wasn't always like that. I'd rather see some of that revenue
going into hiring more officers or supporting broader based salaries - so
that people with better educational backgrounds, more training, and
disipline could be hired. It's like our darn education system. We all want
great teachers, but want them to work for $30k a year...

It's not good that the PD you work for can't generate enough revenue to stay
even.. I had no idea that was the case, maybe except in major metro areas.
I appreciate the education.

Translation: Quotas are illegal in Texas.

That's why they get called something different - such as "minimum
performance standards"

My point is that it's the same difference. I know that not all PDs are like
that, but such things do exist in this state.

Oh yea.. I forgot that you guys still have that KZ1000.. It's like driving a
car from the 1960's or something. Who the hell rides an air cooled bike in
TX - at least not for a fleet vehicle.

Also, what's the deal with HD motorcycles for law enforcement? They can't
be less expensive or higher performance..

I was thinking that they could start using a Concours, ZZR12, something like
that.. Maybe an ST1100...

Agree completely...
Still, I'd feel a bit more confident on an ST or BWM over the Harley.. Not
to mention the brakes on those KZ1000's...

I'm familiar with the concept of true airspeed and the straight line.. I
spent some time in aircraft more than once. I also know you can't outrun
the radio.

I don't thing a 'busa guarantees a successful get-away in a chase. I'd say
that you could be just as successful in a smaller 600cc sport bike...
Taking the radio out of the equation, it would mainly depend on riding
ability, much more so than the motorcycle. Just because I can hit 100 mph
in 6 seconds, rather than 8 seconds... Shoot.. I'd probably be much more
likely to end up in a situation beyond my ability on the 'busa.. That and
the peeling of my face back when I open the throttle is why I'd love to own
one.. I'm a firm believer in excess on-tap.


I do appreciate your perspective and openness to discuss these issues.. It's
nice to know that we have officers like you.

-Darin

 

Woould you please tell me more about this?

Oma

Walk with many, follow The One.
(to email, change nospam to w000023)

 

August a year ago, as in not the August 90 days ago, the HPD decided to
do a crackdown on street racing in our fair burg. what this entailed
was simply mass arrest of everyone on site and in sight.

First up were the motorcyclists who regularly congregated at James'
Coney Island on Westheimer. yah, we're #1! Everyone on site was
arrested and hauled off to jail. That was followed the nest night by
the mass arrests of over 250 people at the parking lot of a Wal-Mart a
little further down Westheimer and it's adjacent Sonic Drive in. Eat a
burger, go to jail.

needless to say, this caused no small stink and loads of indictments of
HPD and the officers involved, not to mention one or two lawsuits. If
you do a search of the houston chronicle archives i'm sure you will find
plenty of good reading. here are some to get you started. keyword of
wal-mart and arrests and you will get lots of hits. ktrk apparently
still has their stories available, i pulled these links from a mailing
list i ran about it and these are still good:


http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1545638
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/82202_local_morefallout.html
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1545638
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1546988
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1546962

needless to say there's lots more if you do a little research. it's old
news here...

--
jm

'73 R75/5 Toaster (not for sale)
'99 R1100RT (in use)
'00 FLHRCI (sold!)
Iron Butt Assoc, WATR 3X, EIEIO, AEIOU etc blah blah

 

Those of you who bitch about the ACLU not caring about a particular
Amendment or other take heed. They serve a crtically important role,
nonetheless.

Charles

(ACLU supporter since forever)