Comments on: The Day Of Reckoning

By: Tenbeech

Tenbeech — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:23:50 +0000

I was told many years ago by a Policeman friend(?!) Don’t be the fastest person on the road
especially on a motorway The police are always drawn to the speeders on the fast lane
I have ridden thousands of motorway miles , on a hayabusa since 2000, and have never been stopped, it’s very tempting on a big bike to be the fastest, you can probably get away with 90ish MPH

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:10:48 +0000

Defiantly saving this web page for future reference; and you’re on the ball with all the ideas you have!

By: Alan Coupar

Alan Coupar — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:30:46 +0000

Need to share this...
Friend of my big brother back in the 70's was caught riding his sidecar combo on the roads at breakneck speeds one weekend. No helmet and very drunk...it was the 70's! He end's up in court with Sheriff "Hangman" Wheatly the scourge of us bikers back then and is asked if he has anything to say before sentence is passed. After a comedy pause, cool as you like he pulls out his Zippo, flicks it open with that lovely loud "click" and says "beam me up Scotty!"...

By: Ken Lines.

Ken Lines. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:26:57 +0000

"During the day, in the company of a Class 1 motorcycle instructor on his day off, we rode at over 100mph in a 60, highlighting the complete hypocrisy of the system."

Doesn't that say it all about our tax gathering, revenue crunching, system. The fastest group ride I have ever had - and it was getting near the edge of my comfort zone - was when our group was led by an active police motorcycle patrolman. That guy was fast and made it look so easy, 80 - 100 most of the time. I remember when speed limits were introduced on open roads. One day it was perfectly safe and legal to ride at 120 mph, (about the maximum of most performance machines of the day) the next day to ride at those speeds was 'dangerous', 'suicidal' 'driving to the public danger' etc, etc,. No-one will ever convince me that our arbitray and often ludicrous speed limits, coupled with non-sentient cameras, are designed to do anything except pull in revenue. In towns and villages I agree with sensible 20/30/40/50 mph speed limits - on dual carriageways and motorways I think that the current average vehicle speeds of around 80/90 mph should argue for an open road limit of somewhere in the 90/100 mph region.

Ken Lines.

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:09:26 +0000

As an ex-cop, 30yrs service, and motorcyclist for 42 years, I endorse all of Mikes suggestions. It’s the first time I’ve seen so many sensible points in one article. Could do with appearing in a National biking magazine/paper.

By: antlen

antlen — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:36:08 +0000

Excellent advice. I had a similar experience, but seem to have got better than this writer. I was clocked on an A road in Derbyshire that had recently been reduced from a 60 zone to a 50, due to excessive speed from motorcyclists. I overtook a few dawdlers in my 330d and pulled back in. Unknown to me I was timed over a measured distance and a police car pulled me over to report he calculated my speed to be 87mph (equivalent to 120mph+ on motorway to give you an idea!).

I opted to appear in court rather than plea in writing. I dressed in a suit and took the whole thing very seriously. I read out a written statement saying that I had recently started a new business, needed to drive for work and had no income, the weather was good and that I was driving to meet a friend recently released from hospital after having a breakdown. All this was true.

The magistrates took 30minutes to reach a decision(!) which was quite different from the instant decision given to others turning up in shellsuits. I got a £100 fine, 21 day disqualification and NO POINTS. Think I got off very lightly on reflection...

Ant