My lidless days were 25 years ago. It wasn't poodling territory, (which is perfectly reasonable) more youthful stupidity. I was usually racing back from the girlfriends house trying to get to the pub before last shout and I got in the habit of not bothering with the helmet and gloves to save time. I had long hair back then and I used to get to the pub looking like a blow-dried John Bon Jovi stunt double. About that time there was an old boy (now sadly departed) down the road who was an avid motorcyclist of the old school. He used to ride a 350 Excelsior Manxman in the TT and he had a pristine 1959 350 Manx Norton. He also had a little 98cc Coventry Eagle moped (early 50's I think). He used to ride it around the village with his cap on back to front and the police turned a blind eye. He insisted it was technically a bicycle since the slightest incline meant he was doing more work with the pedals than the engine. I've long had a hankering for a BSA B33. I'd love to be able to thud round the lanes au natruel. I guess I wouldn't get away with it like my old mate did. And I'd be killed by a yummy-mummy in a 4X4.
For me I think its what youre riding and pardon the pun (how it moves you)....case in point....about 18 months ago I had a ktm 660 - anything over 70 on it was uncomfortable....the fun area was from 0 - 60 but because of the engine type, the setup of the bike, seating position it didn't lend itself to high speed, but was geared beautifully to getting you there...I would be on it now if it wasn't for fate (and not be a member on here either I guess) Anyway, next bike - hypermotard.....an amplified version - hike the speed up by 20 mph - any more than 90 and its uncomfortable at length...sweet spots are 20 - 70.... And finally - my rsv4 - up again by another 30 or so and the top end the sky is the limit.... And, for that reason it tends not to get ridden that much, nothing wrong with it - its just that if I want to "enjoy" myself on it then I have to be at the TT or out on open roads.... And, for that reason is why im building myself a KTM 525 supermoto as my daily go to bike....its fun, keeps the speed down, easy to service as there are no electronics and cheap to run.
I agree. You really get the maximum benefit of long hair when you ride without a helmet. Sorry you miss out on that, baldies.
This is proving to be a very interesting thread. It has prompted a couple of thoughts: 1. I'd really like to know from the "Never exceeded 85 mph on a single carriageway road" voters what bike they ride or have ridden in the past. Do they not exceed this limit because they don't think they should, or because the type of bike they are riding makes it difficult or uncomfortable? 2. On the IOM, the infinity signs are just that. The IOM looks quite a lot like large bits of the UK. What would be really interesting to know is how many accidents there have been caused over the years, by speeds over 60 mph, which weren't caused by obviously reckless and stupid driving. You would want to remove all accidents caused in TT weeks and Manx GP weeks, where I can easily see that people, understanding they were "riding the track" would probably be a lot more imprudent than they would on a bog-standard UK road on a normal ride. 3. Of all the tales I have heard of police riders monitoring advanced rider courses, I have never heard one where the instructors in question were expecting people to adhere to the national speed limit outside built-up areas. Which sort of proves my point, that the speed limits currently in force on the open road are not really fit for purpose. I don't like the idea of continually being outside the law, even if that law may not be being enforced, because you absolutely can't rely on that being the case. Indeed, when nicked a month ago on a quiet dual-carriageway, the law suddenly was being enforced, though I utterly fail to see what this had to do with road safety at that place and on that afternoon. 4. I don't blame the police. Although you would hope that most of the time they don't waste their days nicking motorists just for the hell of it, some of the time they will be doing so - it's the law of averages. They are employed to uphold the law, not to make the laws, and not to interpret them. It's just not their job. The beef has to be with the people who vote the laws, and by extension, in a "democracy", that means the general public. I assume we have the laws we want. Put to a national referendum, I doubt that people would vote to change to an IOM system, because you'd have no end of family people and mothers with no interest in driving, let alone riding, who are convinced that speeders are going to kill their family and these people would vote for the status quo, or a reduction in speed limits. So I imagine that the flawed system we have will just continue indefinitely and we motorcyclists will just have to put up with it seeing as we are a tiny minority (and only 70% of us appear to be bothered about it).
I don't blame the average constable who is 'only obeying orders'. Chief Constables have the power and duty of deciding how to allocate their available resources, and they know it is not possible to enforce every law on everybody all the time. They have to make choices and prioritise. Some of them famously have indeed set out to "nick motorists just for the hell of it", although others do not. When I referred to agents of law enforcement losing sight of the purpose of laws, such as by draconian enforcement of speed limits as though that were an end in itself, it was those at senior level such as Chief Constables I had in mind.
There is a perception amongst politicians that any minister who decided to abolish, or even slightly raise, speed limits would be pilloried in the media as soon as there were any fatalities on the roads in question (which obviously there would be sooner or later). This could be a career-ending matter politically, regardless if the deaths had anything to do with speed or with limits. That is why we continue to be lumbered with 1960's level limits, wholly irrelevant to todays conditions, even though a vast number of people/voters are dissatisfied with them. Pity, isn't it?
It is. But as you will have noticed, job-security and career enhancement are what really motivate politicians (just as people in any job) rather than a commitment to ideals, philosophy, or doing the right thing even if it is counter intuitive for many voters. And so long as you have a sensationalist media who doesn't really want to inform but just foment indignation, politicians will be pilloried for all sorts of common sense decisions or utterings.
vehicles may have developed from the 60s......(i.e. braking distance) but the loose nut behind the wheel hasnt really.....in fact would say the potential for distraction has increased ( i.e. overall stopping distance!)
I would say that I am generally most distracted when I'm not going fast enough. There just isn't enough stimulus to occupy my brain so it ends up thinking about other things. If I'm "making progress" my mind is on the job 100%. 50 mph on a straight road sends me to sleep. I also find my biggest distraction is having use part of my brain to scan hedgerows, laybys and other places for odd parked cars and potential speed traps. This is the best part about autobahns I have found. Not that you need to go fast, but you can suddenly forget about law enforcement taking a dim view of whatever speed you might be doing. I have found this very relaxing. In fact, I don't really go any faster on an unlimited autobahn. I just know that my 85 to 90 or 100 mph is of no concern to anyone.
I didn't see a question concerning "exceeding 85mph". The question I read asked, "Have you ridden at 85 mph on a single carriageway road?". I answered no, as I make a point of it never to ride or drive at 85mph on a single carriageway.
and my general point is (i.e. not a pop at you personally) that is in your opinion of you, and your ability...... its up there with the " i am a safe rider" comments......100% of what? I understand the majority have passed a test........but how long ago.....is the "I've got years of experience" a genuine development, or have you just done the same thing over and over again.......
Erm disagree known enough to have lost it and dumped it. Irrespective of your training you can never completely account for the unexpected. Although there are no accidents only collisions, lack of judgement etc; I know some are v quick but not all. I know the training they receive know the principals behind it. However the same argument can be levelled at them as 'civvies'.
Sorry, my tongue was in my cheek when I typed what I did. I have no doubt that police riders (and drivers) are by-and-large better trained and more capable than your average civvie but they aren't perfect. Not like racers
When my mate was dressed as Scooby Doo on the back of my ZX9 a few years ago a cop on a Honda Pan saw us out side York Police Staiion, pulled across us to stop us - got his front wheel in the curb and fell over. Quite possibly the shittest rider of a bike and the worst bit of bike control I have ever seen. He waved us on in his embarrassment. Lucky as what he didn't know is Scooby serves all the Police sandwiches from the shop just near the main Police Station, There's only 4 of them at the station and none of them owned up when questioned me lud My cousin was a bike cop when I was about 14 - took me on the back of his CB750 and got me hooked on bikes - he was mental, off duty, but mental!
