This morning I went for a ride

[shrub]

and as usual, before I left the shed i checked my brakes, lights, tyres etc. On the road I watched every other road user, including the guy eating a pie in heavy traffic, the woman having an animated conversation with her passenger (including frequent eye contact) and the person who indicated after they had made their move. I made sure i wasn't in people's blind spots, covered my brakes going through intersections, kept a close eye on the surface of the road etc - all the stuff that most of us do every time we get on our bikes because we know that falling off sucks.

I thought I was riding safely and quite carefully, but a really nice pleaseman in a white Commodore pulled me over and told me that I was doing the terrible speed of 63 kmh, and he was kind enough to inform me of incredibly irresponsible I was, and that my riding was endangering the lives of widows and orphans. His final comment was "slow down, I don't want to have to scrape you off the road" before he pulled pull out without indicating and did a U turn in front of traffic to chase a couple of young lads who seemed to be doing at least 65 kmh (mad fools!).

But I feel happy knowing he is out there making the Queen's highways safe for old women and children by restraining the manic and suicidal urges of us greasy old bikers as we blast madly down the road at insane speeds, and I will trade my T Bird in for a Pajero or a Volvo (something with a cup holder so I can drink a nice cup of coffee while I drive) and never speed again. And I am glad to contribute money to the coffers and pay for the noble constable's donuts.

Oh happy day!

[MarkH]

To cut a long story short, I got pulled over for doing 63 kmh, and had some fat cop lecture me about safety

Sounds like the typical bullshit. I have had a ticket for a similar speed on a road that later got changed to a 70kph zone - I guess my speed wasn't so dangerous after all. I still had to pay the fine and get the demerit points though.

If you exceed the speed limit by more than 10kph they will fine you if they can, because they can. Safety doesn't have a thing to do with it at all! It's all about the revenue gathering!

[breakaway]

I say we revolt. Immediately.

[JR1]

newb question - where is the cars blind spot?

i only ask this due to an incident i had the other day which involved my foot and a car door.

[Lurch]

mother

fucker

[firefighter]

newb question - where is the cars blind spot?

i only ask this due to an incident i had the other day which involved my foot and a car door.

Do you have a car licence? (serious question)

[shrub]

newb question - where is the cars blind spot?

i only ask this due to an incident i had the other day which involved my foot and a car door.

In my experience, for most car drivers everywhere but directly in front of the car. Most cars have a 270 degree blind spot, and if they are eating/drinking/having a conversation/disciplining little Tarquin in the back seat it become 355 degrees. However by some miracle truck drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and about 10% of normal car drivers don't have a blind spot when they drive, or more to the point know that you need to look before you change lanes.

[slofox]

Hmmmm...lucky your copper didn't see me on my ride this morning...

Oh, hang on. Maybe he could've got the scooter rider who passed me on the left, thereby endangering babies and old ladies!

[jim.cox]

newb question - where is the cars blind spot?


The blind spots are to the rear and to the side of the back of the car

They are on both sides, into which the driver can't see. ( even if they use their mirrors or, heaven forbid, turn their heads)

The exact size and shape depends on the design of the individual car. Station wagons' are usually smaller than cars. VW's have big ones because of the thick rear pillar, Vans ones can be huge

They are masked from the inside by the rear pillars

[slofox]

The blind spots are to the rear and to the side of the back of the car

They are on both sides, into which the driver can't see. ( even if they use their mirrors or, heaven forbid, turn their heads)

The exact size and shape depends on the design of the individual car. Station wagons' are usually smaller than cars. VW's have big ones because of the thick rear pillar, Vans ones can be huge

They are masked from the inside by the rear pillars


Oh. I thought it was wherever a motorbike was...:whistle:

[JR1]

Do you have a car licence? (serious question)

yes but only my learners, i havnt ownd a car in years. been scootering and now riding around.

[jim.cox]

Oh. I thought it was wherever a motorbike was...:whistle:

Lol - Indeed it is - you must spread some more rep etc etc etc

[Bald Eagle]

newb question - where is the cars blind spot?

i only ask this due to an incident i had the other day which involved my foot and a car door.

Between the drivers ears.

[Grubber]

Apparently they don't chase every hoon around. I got passed by a Harley whilst in my work ute yesterday with an on coming Truck going the other way. He slipped through between us with only 4 maybe 5 feet to spare between us. The plod behind didn't even flinch. If that was me i would either be dead or no licence.
Obviously they are very picky about who they chase.

[firefighter]

yes but only my learners, i havnt ownd a car in years. been scootering and now riding around.

Ohk. Well if you ever have had lessons, you would have been told to turn your head and look rather than just check your mirrors, then shown the following which is worth trying out;

Sit in a mates/parents car, have them move around by the rear door while you look in the side mirror until you ca'nt see them. Turn your head and look where they are, they will be right next to the car. That's is where the blind spot is. Worth doing so you can get an idea of where they ca'nt see.

Pretty much between the rear of the car up to the drivers door can be considered a blind spot, and is a dangerous/stupid place to ride without keeping very a close eye on the car.

[Ronin]

I say we revolt. Immediately.

I have been revolting for years.

[shrub]

Sounds like the typical bullshit. I have had a ticket for a similar speed on a road that later got changed to a 70kph zone - I guess my speed wasn't so dangerous after all. I still had to pay the fine and get the demerit points though.

If you exceed the speed limit by more than 10kph they will fine you if they can, because they can. Safety doesn't have a thing to do with it at all! It's all about the revenue gathering!

Personally I think that the obsession with speed is actually counter productive because the nice men and women in their Commodores are so busy policing speed that they miss a lot of much more dangerous behaviour - people eating hot pies while driving. And they put their hands on their hearts and say "we're committed to bringing down the road toll, so we've really cracked down on speed" which, in essence, gives them an excuse not to police harder to prosecute (and therefore less profitable) behaviour like driver inattention.

[spajohn]

I'm thinking more and more that a camera mounted somewhere on the bike would be a good idea...

[cheshirecat]

Quite a few cars, especially 4wd's (except landies and early RR's) have significant blind spots around the front door pillar's. Especially applicable when they pull out infront of you because you think they've eyeballed you.

[Cracker]

Lets get serious

Theres a lot going on the highways these days. I try and rationise by only peering at what attractive women are up to in there wagons and getting an early lock on the red and blue lights in the back sills of civie cars

The speed issue is easy. Bikes are in a different league to other vehicles. The law should be changed to up the speed limit by 20 KPH for bikes (including Harleys) as a starting point. I'd perfer 160 kph open road but I quess you have to comprimise with new ideas. I'm serious, modern bikes are just made to do it safely.

[howdamnhard]

Personally I think that the obsession with speed is actually counter productive because the nice men and women in their Commodores are so busy policing speed that they miss a lot of much more dangerous behaviour - people eating hot pies while driving. And they put their hands on their hearts and say "we're committed to bringing down the road toll, so we've really cracked down on speed" which, in essence, gives them an excuse not to police harder to prosecute (and therefore less profitable) behaviour like driver inattention.

Yip that pretty much sums it up.

[Ender EnZed]

I'd perfer 160 kph open road but I quess you have to comprimise with new ideas. I'm serious, modern bikes are just made to do it safely.

......:corn:

[Ronin]

Lets get seriousI'd perfer 160 kph open road but I quess you have to comprimise with new ideas. I'm serious, modern bikes are just made to do it safely.

The bikes might be able to but not all the riders can... For very long anyway.

[george formby]

Speed is easy to police / prosecute. One reason why it gets so much attention. I sympathise with the police, up to a point. They do not set policy but they do have to clean up the mess when a smash happens which must harden up their attitudes to road users & we do make a mess compared to your average car prang. Nevertheless, it really rips my nightie seeing so much bad, even dangerous driving which is obviously not policed. Whatever happened to a courteous word in the old shell like reminding one of one's responsibility's on the road? And why do the police allow old Toyota Hiace's to sit in the outside lane of the motorway doing 80kmh unmolested? Seethe.

[T.W.R]

Personally I think that the obsession with speed is actually counter productive because the nice men and women in their Commodores are so busy policing speed that they miss a lot of much more dangerous behaviour - people eating hot pies while driving. And they put their hands on their hearts and say "we're committed to bringing down the road toll, so we've really cracked down on speed" which, in essence, gives them an excuse not to police harder to prosecute (and therefore less profitable) behaviour like driver inattention.

:shutup: short term memory loss huh BBO ? wasn't that long ago you got pinged in Prebbleton for exactly the same thing :bleh: or are you trying to get a rapport going with the constabulary :Police::spanking:

[shrub]

:shutup: short term memory loss huh BBO ? wasn't that long ago you got pinged in Prebbleton for exactly the same thing :bleh: or are you trying to get a rapport going with the constabulary :Police::spanking:

Not me. The last speeding ticket I got was on my Guzzi in 1998 doing 134 kmh on Christmas day on a back road - 2 vehicles, me and the constable. He must have been lonely and wanted to chat.

[T.W.R]

Not me. The last speeding ticket I got was on my Guzzi in 1998 doing 134 kmh on Christmas day on a back road - 2 vehicles, me and the constable. He must have been lonely and wanted to chat.

But you did get hauled up in Prebbleton only a number of weeks ago though for a reprimand about exceeding the speed limit :yes:

[shrub]

But you did get hauled up in Prebbleton only a number of weeks ago though for a reprimand about exceeding the speed limit :yes:

Don't recall that happening. Was it our good mate Jim Beam? the last time I got pulled up was on Deans Ave for giving it a handful going through the roundabout and the nice Cunstable couldn't tell me how fast I was going so missed out on giving me a certificate. That was on my last T Bird, so at least 18 months ago.

[Tink]

and as usual, before I left the shed i checked my brakes, lights, tyres etc. On the road I watched every other road user, including the guy eating a pie in heavy traffic, the woman having an animated conversation with her passenger (including frequent eye contact) and the person who indicated after they had made their move. I made sure i wasn't in people's blind spots, covered my brakes going through intersections, kept a close eye on the surface of the road etc - all the stuff that most of us do every time we get on our bikes because we know that falling off sucks.

I thought I was riding safely and quite carefully, but a really nice pleaseman in a white Commodore pulled me over and told me that I was doing the terrible speed of 63 kmh, and he was kind enough to inform me of incredibly irresponsible I was, and that my riding was endangering the lives of widows and orphans. His final comment was "slow down, I don't want to have to scrape you off the road" before he pulled pull out without indicating and did a U turn in front of traffic to chase a couple of young lads who seemed to be doing at least 65 kmh (mad fools!).

But I feel happy knowing he is out there making the Queen's highways safe for old women and children by restraining the manic and suicidal urges of us greasy old bikers as we blast madly down the road at insane speeds, and I will trade my T Bird in for a Pajero or a Volvo (something with a cup holder so I can drink a nice cup of coffee while I drive) and never speed again. And I am glad to contribute money to the coffers and pay for the noble constable's donuts.

Oh happy day!

did you get a ticket?

[shrub]

Yep. $120 and some lovely demerit points - first speeding ticket in 12 years though, so that makes my contribution only $10.00 a year - not a lot of donuts from old Shrub

[Toaster]

Speed is easy to police / prosecute. One reason why it gets so much attention. I sympathise with the police, up to a point. They do not set policy but they do have to clean up the mess when a smash happens which must harden up their attitudes to road users & we do make a mess compared to your average car prang. Nevertheless, it really rips my nightie seeing so much bad, even dangerous driving which is obviously not policed. Whatever happened to a courteous word in the old shell like reminding one of one's responsibility's on the road? And why do the police allow old Toyota Hiace's to sit in the outside lane of the motorway doing 80kmh unmolested? Seethe.

I agree with you... to a point. There are police out there that do deal with dangerous driving if they see it. There are police out there that do deal with those that impeed the flow of traffic. It's just that you can't see all cops all the time doing all their work.

[Toaster]

I got one ticket in 22 years, going downhill on a Hayabusa after marriage counselling. Of course I was speeding!!! I tried to show the constable a bit of cleveage, but he didn't go for it.

[Tink]

Yep. $120 and some lovely demerit points - first speeding ticket in 12 years though, so that makes my contribution only $10.00 a year - not a lot of donuts from old Shrub

Your attitude is good.. but it still sux IMO... BUT keep up the great thoughts. riding

[T.W.R]

Don't recall that happening. Was it our good mate Jim Beam? the last time I got pulled up was on Deans Ave for giving it a handful going through the roundabout and the nice Cunstable couldn't tell me how fast I was going so missed out on giving me a certificate. That was on my last T Bird, so at least 18 months ago.

:blink: can't remember having any turps in view in your kitchen a few weekends ago the morning we called in when you were telling us about when you were heading out to Lincoln Uni :no:

doesn't worry me in one bit anyhow as you know what sort of speeds I travel at :shifty: P still reckons it's the funniest thing she'd seen for a while when you looked like you almost twisted the throttle off the Thunderbird trying to keep with me when we passed that group of cars coming back from Woodstock

[Cayman911]

Reminds me of last week. at an intersection turning right. and there were 2 lanes turning right. so just outa the blue the mazda decides i dont deserve a lane to myself and starts ramming me into the curb until i was sliding with locked brakes with a distance of 1cm from the concrete curb.

i stop, he drives off. and i notice the dude behind in the land rover rolling his eyes at me and shaking his head.. as if i've done something wrong. That pissed me off more than the guy who rammed me. yeah im the dude on the bike. ofcourse its always my fault <_<

[miloking]

Reminds me of last week. at an intersection turning right. and there were 2 lanes turning right. so just outa the blue the mazda decides i dont deserve a lane to myself and starts ramming me into the curb until i was sliding with locked brakes with a distance of 1cm from the concrete curb.

i stop, he drives off. and i notice the dude behind in the land rover rolling his eyes at me and shaking his head.. as if i've done something wrong. That pissed me off more than the guy who rammed me. yeah im the dude on the bike. ofcourse its always my fault <_<

You see, when this happens to me i try to kick their tail lights with my steel cap riding boots....it always gets the attention!

[shrub]

P still reckons it's the funniest thing she'd seen for a while when you looked like you almost twisted the throttle off the Thunderbird trying to keep with me when we passed that group of cars coming back from Woodstock

Yeah, the old T Bird is not known for being a missile - 85 hp at the back wheel doesn't shred tyres and between us we have a bit of a weight disadvantage.

[sinfull]

only 4 maybe 5 feet to spare between us. The plod behind didn't even flinch. If that was me i would either be dead or no licence.
Obviously they are very picky about who they chase. Drive a truck through that !


Yeah, the old T Bird is not known for being a missile - 85 hp at the back wheel doesn't shred tyres and between us we have a bit of a weight disadvantage. Wanna sell it ?

[T.W.R]

Yeah, the old T Bird is not known for being a missile - 85 hp at the back wheel doesn't shred tyres and between us we have a bit of a weight disadvantage.

:bleh: it was only chasing the GS which roughly puts the same power to the ground and I was carrying two tents and the majority of the weekends camping gear :yes:

Ya should have given us a holla yesterday anyhow :msn-wink:
Did a front end rebuild on the ZXR & fettled the carbs on the old tart :rolleyes: damn thing is still way faster than the GSX :D

[shrub]

:bleh: it was only chasing the GS which roughly puts the same power to the ground and I was carrying two tents and the majority of the weekends camping gear :yes:

Ya should have given us a holla yesterday anyhow :msn-wink:
Did a front end rebuild on the ZXR & fettled the carbs on the old tart :rolleyes: damn thing is still way faster than the GSX :D

Your GS may not have put out much more horsepower, but 20% more torque and a 15 kg weight advantage speaks volumes (and I haven't even got onto your weight advantage).

[Mully]

You see, when this happens to me i try to kick their tail lights with my steel cap riding boots....it always gets the attention!

When it happens to me, I generally hold my thumb on the 160-odd Db of Stebel lurking under the fairing for a few seconds. At least long enough to (1) Get their attention; and (2) Make them take evasive action away from (what they think is) a truck.

Then you're free to pull alongside and hurl abuse/give a death stare/give a sarcastic round of applause/make eye contact and shake your head sadly (whichever you prefer) at will.

Of course, I usually expect a car to try to take over my lane.... Mainly cos I enjoy making the fuckers who can't be arsed checking before moving shit themselves.

BTW, big ups to the cage commuters on the North Western this morning. You were all very well behaved. Gold Star from me.

[GOONR]

....

BTW, big ups to the cage commuters on the North Western this morning. You were all very well behaved. Gold Star from me.

Northern motorway over the bridge was really good this morning too. I even had a plod car move to the left so I could split past him over the bridge, never thought I would see that. :2thumbsup

[MarkH]

When it happens to me, I generally hold my thumb on the 160-odd Db of Stebel lurking under the fairing for a few seconds. At least long enough to (1) Get their attention; and (2) Make them take evasive action away from (what they think is) a truck.

The Stebel sure kicks arse! I toot my Stebel as a friendly way of saying "Hey there, would you mind doing a quick 'head check' before changing lanes next time you fuckin' brainless bitch!". Some drivers don't like to check the blind spot because then they would be driving safely and we can't have that can we?

[shrub]

is that there are a few behaviours that Our Masters have deemed to be "dangerous", and speeding is one of the favourites. Alcohol is the other, but beyond that they seem to have little interest in any of the behaviours that actually cost lives.

And there is no recognition that there are different levels of road user expertise, and I would say that a long term and experienced motorcyclist, along with a truck driver, is probably amongst the most expert road user.

[Old Steve]

Yep. $120 and some lovely demerit points - first speeding ticket in 12 years though, so that makes my contribution only $10.00 a year - not a lot of donuts from old Shrub

Bloody discrimination!!! You should write ind point out that discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, religion, or preferred mode of transport is unlawful in New Zealand.

I got a speeding ticket on Easter Friday, 115 km/hr coming down off the Napier - Taupo road into the Esk Valley in my car. That was 5 km/hr above the 10 km/hr discretion that the Police administer. My fine was only $80. Yet you were also doing only 5 km/hr above the 10 km/hr discretion level and got fined $120.

I'd question the legitimacy of fining a motorcyclist more than they fine a car driver for the same offence. Maybe you should write in and request a delay in having to pay the fine so that you have time to consult with a civil rights lawyer on the validity of the fine for a motorcyclist being 50% greater than that for a car driver for the same offence.

PM me, I'll mock up something for you to send to the Police.

[shrub]

The nice officer did a U turn immediately after ticketing me so he could chase a car - I remember at the time thinking about the turkey in the Buller Gorge and how his U turn was a hell of a lot more dangerous than my 63 kmh.

Nice work NZ Police

[Bounce001]

And lets not forget the one yesterday...