ChCh trialling police bikes currently. [Archive]

onearmedbandit

2nd March 2005, 14:20

This I know from first hand experience this morning. Crossing Bealy Ave on Durham St from a stop, the front got light over a bump (substantial) in the middle of the intersection. I thought nothing of it and continued on my way, only to stop at the next intersection, about 300 metres away, to hear sirens and see flashing lights a distance away approaching. Cop on a bike and two in a mufti car. Got the lecture from m/c cop about how he's been riding for 30yrs and that it was an intentenial wheelie, how I leaned forward to counter-act it, etc etc. Young cop gets out of the car and informs me there is no way I'm leaving without a ticket, which upon viewing my licence (ahem) he decides to charge me with breaching my licence conditions.

Until that is the Senior Sargent decides I should be done for Careless use, onearmed pulling a wheelie was his story. Damn it. I don't have to go court, but it will mean a hefty fine. I should say the younger cop (early 30's?) took my cell phone number and said he would make enquiries as to how I can get on the right class of licence.

Had a good chat with the biker cop (older guy) and the younger cop about my bike, riding in general, my clutch setup etc etc. The younger cop apologised and said he had to do as his senior told him. Chucked my helmet back on, gloved up and got a pat on the shoulder from both of the cops I was talking to, and carried on my way.

No bad feelings on my part, maybe the older cop was a little heavy giving me careless but such is life. I'll write in explaining my actions and see how it goes.

onearmedbandit

2nd March 2005, 14:22

Oh yeah, the main point. Christchurch is doing a trial run on reintroducing biker cops, so becareful guys. (As he pulled up to me I was leathered up, tinted visor etc and he yelled to me 'I don't want a race!'. No point in doing the runner, would've had my reg already and it was close to the centre of town.)

vifferman

2nd March 2005, 14:32

So was it an intentional wheelie?
Edit: Phark it. This is dumb; obviously it wasn't really a safety issue (given that the cop noted you were well in control "leaned forward to counteract it", etc.) so what's the point?:spudwhat:
If you'd popped a wheelie and looked like you narrowly saved it from crashing, yeah, fair enough.

Ah, whatever...:mellow:

Oakie

2nd March 2005, 14:40

More importantly ... what sort of bike do we need to watch out for? (...it's not as if my FXR150 could do a wheelie ... but it has been known to advance down the road rather rapidly)

jrandom

2nd March 2005, 14:43

it's not as if my FXR150 could do a wheelie ...

Eh wot? Wot wot wot?

You know not that of which you speak, grasshopper.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1709

White trash

2nd March 2005, 14:43

When I did a pathetic wheelie, I was arrested and then charged with dangerous driving. You got lucky son.

jrandom

2nd March 2005, 14:46

When I did a pathetic wheelie, I was arrested and then charged.

Too right. No room on the road for sad wannabe wheeliers like you. Glad to see the cops enforcing some standards for once.

bear

2nd March 2005, 14:47

More importantly ... what sort of bike do we need to watch out for? (...it's not as if my FXR150 could do a wheelie ... but it has been known to advance down the road rather rapidly)

Probably a big white one with a flashing light on the back.

jrandom

2nd March 2005, 14:49

Probably a big white one with a flashing light on the back.

... that says 'POLICE' on the side.

Always something to watch out for, that sign on the side saying 'POLICE'. I find that more often than not, those bikes are being ridden by coppers. YMMV.

vifferman

2nd March 2005, 14:50

...it's not as if my FXR150 could do a wheelie ...

Eh wot? Wot wot wot?

You know not that of which you speak, grasshopper.
Perhaps you could lend him your heavy posterior... :spudwhat:

Sniper

2nd March 2005, 14:50

Haha, thats a bit harsh isnt it JR. :lol:

OAB, I personally would have congratulated you on how you set the bike up, asked you not to do it again and then tried to race you. Best of luck with charge though, hope it gets dismissed

jrandom

2nd March 2005, 14:52

Perhaps you could lend him your heavy posterior... :spudwhat:

Tut. That particular nugget of gettin'-it-up goodness ain't got nuffin to do with me arse. It's all in the left-hand technique.

onearmedbandit

2nd March 2005, 14:59

Yeah the bikes a big white BMW with a light on the back and POLICE on the side. If I was going to pull a wheelie on purpose I would've seen the bike and mufti (late model commodore with two uniforms in it) and ridden super slow. I didn't, I took off not slow but not quick either and the front wheel rose off the deck, according to the bike cop, 200mm. I felt it, and yes I leant forward to counter it as I had no intention of pulling a mono (no girls to show off to, you know! PT) in town at that point and time. But they saw it differently. I'll present my side of the case when I write in.

vifferman

2nd March 2005, 15:03

I took off not slow but not quick either and the front wheel rose off the deck, according to the bike cop, 200mm. I felt it, and yes I leant forward to counter it as I had no intention of pulling a mono .
Sounds like it would be easy to get off, especially given the difficulty of co-ordinating clutch and throttle with one hand.

jrandom

2nd March 2005, 15:05

Sounds like it would be easy to get off with one hand.

True, dat.

Particularly after you've already got it up.

Biff

2nd March 2005, 15:14

Christchurch is doing a trial run on reintroducing biker cops, so becareful guys.

Bugger, and a double bugger because you were stopped by a bugger (or is that three buggers?). I wonder if you are the first to get ticketed by one of these buggers? You may be famous. I'll watch Prime news tonight and let you know.

Thanks for the warning.

Sounds like it would be easy to get off, especially given the difficulty of co-ordinating clutch and throttle with one hand.

Wouldn't it be a bit dangerous admitting that you had difficulty in controlling a bike due to only being able to operate the bike with one hand? Particularly when attempting to get a legit licence. :spudwhat:

**R1**

2nd March 2005, 15:24

Bike + cops = FARK:angry2: :angry2: :angry2:

time to remove plate and paint pretty red R1 in a nice shade of black.

can ya dye leathers??

then again its only a BMW.......whats he going to do bore me in2 giving up??

Biff

2nd March 2005, 15:28

then again its only a BMW.......whats he going to do bore me in2 giving up??

:killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme

You're still sacked by the way.

Neomancer

2nd March 2005, 15:34

Fark, that must have been lucky for me then,going onto the brougham motorway onramp, passing between two cars that were racing each other and the wheel sorta popped up! this was about an hour ago, that could have been bad, wound what I would have got for that?, I can still see the shock on the boy racers face as I pealed him back at 90k on one wheel :confused:

Blakamin

2nd March 2005, 15:52

yeah...I wouldn't be using the "one arm, not as much control" plea... I'd be using "stupid hump in road and distracted by mad cager trying to run me over" one...

whats wrong wif yer licence??? (i might have missed this sumwhere)

scumdog

2nd March 2005, 15:57

When I did a pathetic wheelie, I was arrested and then charged with dangerous driving. You got lucky son.

When I did a wheelie I filled my fekkin Y-fronts, - YOU were lucky!!!

scumdog

2nd March 2005, 16:00

vifferman

2nd March 2005, 16:01

Wouldn't it be a bit dangerous admitting that you had difficulty in controlling a bike due to only being able to operate the bike with one hand? Particularly when attempting to get a legit licence. :spudwhat:
That wasn't my point, exactly.
My point is that he wasn't being careless, but that (a) it is not easy controlling things one-handed, and (b) when the front end did unintentionally come up, he dealt with it appropriately and safely.
It's a bit of a tricky defense, but better than saying, "Yeah, it's no problem at all controlling the bike single-handed but sometimes the front gets away on me a bit." Or, "Yeah, ya got me fair to rights, Guv; I'll come quietly!"

madboy

2nd March 2005, 16:25

I knew I should have paid more attention to my partner's mate's hubby who is a bikey cop, and we were discussing the new bikes the other day. I'm sure the new bikes are BMW 1150s or something?? I came to the conclusion that he was a better rider than me, so no point in me trying it on... but in saying that, I can only get better and as my tastes don't extend to bikes that can fit laser guns, ticket books and other paraphanaelia(?) in their side pockets, I'd put money on my next bike anyday :)

But I like Scumdog's take on R1Aaron's approach - I'd vote for it :)

Aaron

2nd March 2005, 16:44

Know the piece of road, in my little 323 it gets high on the shocks if going over there with speed.

I'm told there's actually case law on pulling a wheelie... in that to pull a successfull wheelie you must be in control of the bike and therefore all good. Could still be fined but using the case law couldn't be prosocuted, (or so I'm told).

Sounds like it would be easy to get off, especially given the difficulty of co-ordinating clutch and throttle with one hand.
...I'm not sure it's a good idea to tell them you can't control your vehicle...

Good luck OAB, I'm sure an appropriately worded (nicely I mean) letter would have them see sense.

Aaron.

Aaron

2nd March 2005, 16:48

As he pulled up to me I was leathered up, tinted visor etc and he yelled to me 'I don't want a race!'.

LOL where were you going to go? Police central is just down the road and racing around to the left would probably put you in the drink!

IMO if they're just trialing the bikes they'll be wanting the word to get around that they mean business... and no better way to do that than by being a bit of a prick about it.

onearmedbandit

2nd March 2005, 17:15

LOL where were you going to go? Police central is just down the road and racing around to the left would probably put you in the drink!

IMO if they're just trialing the bikes they'll be wanting the word to get around that they mean business... and no better way to do that than by being a bit of a prick about it.

We know that, the bike cop was from up north so he didn't. I overherad the senior say to him 'central is just up the road, we'll get something to eat next'.

SPman

2nd March 2005, 18:27

It's a bit of a tricky defense, but better than saying, "Yeah, it's no problem at all controlling the bike single-handed but sometimes the front gets away on me a bit." Or, "Yeah, ya got me fair to rights, Guv; I'll come quietly!"

"It's a fair cop, but society is to blame!'"

Sensei

2nd March 2005, 19:14

Tuff luck there OAB . Cop didn't think much of my power stand away from a bike shop here either . Let me off tho . Said it looked impressive but not to do them in Town again . Good having a old school mate been a Cop . Use to do 20k+ wheelie's together back on our TT600's. You may be able to say that the bike surged of the light's so you gave it alittle to much Gas , hence slight wheel stand ??? Worth a try !
SENSEI

marty

2nd March 2005, 19:20

the case law one would be good, just be careful they don't change their mind and charge you with 'unecessary display of acceleration' under the boy racer act - the penalties are much higher, and involve vehicle impoundment. careless driving is the most minor traffic offence, and can (is) often dealt with by diversion or little or no penalty/conviction if a good letter, along with a skills course/DD course certificate if presented to the magistrate

**R1**

2nd March 2005, 19:58

Yeah but I bet R1Aaron would have done a runner AND got away with it :Pokey:

mayb..........how do you guys get trained to ride bikes?? if car driving is anything to go by, i would say not well:doctor:

**R1**

2nd March 2005, 20:30

:killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme

You're still sacked by the way.

still sulking...

Monsterbishi

2nd March 2005, 20:40

Know the piece of road, in my little 323 it gets high on the shocks if going over there with speed.

Going onto it, If you get as far right in the right lane as possible, it gets you through the bump quite smoothly, coming off the carriageway, either the leftlane, or the left of the right lane is ok too :-)

(I'm go along there every morning at 5:30am, and home at 6:10pm)

カワサキキド

2nd March 2005, 21:22

Thanks for the warning, I filter up and down Bealy everyday, I'll have to try and keep my speed down.

moko

3rd March 2005, 08:13

then again its only a BMW.......whats he going to do bore me in2 giving up??

If your Bike cops are trained as well as ours then dont get too cocky.They have to do at least 2 years in a traffic car before being accepted and their training is the best.Likewise the BMW 1150,it might not look like a racer or appeal to WSB wannabes but whatever you`re on one of those things with a police-trained rider on board will need an exceptional rider to lose on anything but an open,straight road.If you`ve never ridden a BM with the telelever/parathingy suspension then do yourself a favour and borrow one for a day.Takes a while to get used to if you`re used to a multi but you`ll be impressed,even the trailie versions handle like they`re on rails.Only bike cop I saw in N.Z.was in Auckland and he had a Honda ST1100,here seems to be a split between Honda and BMW and plenty of hot-shots discover that boring they may be but the guy on it has proved quicker than their sportsbike.

**R1**

3rd March 2005, 08:44

If your Bike cops are trained as well as ours then dont get too cocky.They have to do at least 2 years in a traffic car before being accepted and their training is the best.Likewise the BMW 1150,it might not look like a racer or appeal to WSB wannabes but whatever you`re on one of those things with a police-trained rider on board will need an exceptional rider to lose on anything but an open,straight road.If you`ve never ridden a BM with the telelever/parathingy suspension then do yourself a favour and borrow one for a day.Takes a while to get used to if you`re used to a multi but you`ll be impressed,even the trailie versions handle like they`re on rails.Only bike cop I saw in N.Z.was in Auckland and he had a Honda ST1100,here seems to be a split between Honda and BMW and plenty of hot-shots discover that boring they may be but the guy on it has proved quicker than their sportsbike.

i dont doubt that they are good riders, its just guys that can ride ok with bikes like gsxr1000's, blades, etc aint that hard to loose, so i just cant see a BMW being any harder to get away from.....but im probly wrong, i think you can hire them here...i may just hire one for the day and see what its capable of...:niceone: cheers

Lou Girardin

3rd March 2005, 09:00

Oscar

3rd March 2005, 09:19

I know a guy who got booked for doing a "kick turn" in the main street of Hamilton. A kick turn is an trials thing, a almost stationary wheelie where you pivot the bike on the back wheel to make a quick turn. Anyways, our boy writes a letter to the Beak, pointing out he is an ex-NZ Enduro Champ, blah, blah, perfectly safe, skilled rider etc...and got off.

**R1**

3rd March 2005, 11:22

You could ask the 3 sports bike riders that tried to lose an ex-bike cop I know on his own '70 R100 Beemer.
They didn't. He took two of them on the outside in bends.
He also left 5 guys (and me) on litre bikes through the Whangamoas while two - up on his '82 CB900.
Experience counts.

That story (to me) duznt make him sound like a good rider....he sounds fkn dangerous....looseing thou's 2 up on and old heap, duznt sound like the sort of stuff ex coppers should be doing.....

Biff

3rd March 2005, 12:23

If your Bike cops are trained as well as ours then dont get too cocky.

Moko - didn't you post some comments on here a while back in relation to an article in the UK’s Ride mag (?), comparing cop cars & bikes to road bikes and such like?

Basically the article investigated whether a road rider stood much of a chance of getting away from the cops on a clear road (the cops obviously wouldn’t take the kind of risks as some people do when doing a runner on their bike). I also read that article. It was a clear victory to the Brit cops, their machines, particularly the bike cops, and their very high standard of training.

The bottom line was that the cop on his Honda Pan European (ST1100 or 1300 in NZ?) or BMW kicked the arse out of the sport bikes and their riders on a closed circuit. Even when the bikey cop rode his own CBR600 he kicked the arse out of a Gixxer 1000 I think around the same track.

It's not the size of the weapon it's how you handle it Ms Biff. Now stop complaining would ya.

Lou Girardin

3rd March 2005, 12:25

bugjuice

3rd March 2005, 12:33

if they did arrest you, they'd normally cuff you, but since you've only got one arm, what do they do then...??

slight (none offensive) pt, but curious none the least..

jrandom

3rd March 2005, 12:44

if they did arrest you, they'd normally cuff you, but since you've only got one arm, what do they do then...??

Cuff his wrist to his heel?

Put him in a straitjacket?

Shoot him a couple times in the head, just to be safe?

vifferman

3rd March 2005, 12:54

if they did arrest you, they'd normally cuff you, but since you've only got one arm, what do they do then...??

slight (none offensive) pt, but curious none the least..
Mr OAB actually has two (2) arms, but the left one is paralysed, due to nerve damage.

**R1**

3rd March 2005, 12:55

Might sound it, but wasn't. He was telling me about a chase with an R1 in Blenheim, wasn't you was it?

Na havnt been up that way since xmas, and if someone was chacing me i didnt know about it,.........now that i think about it i flew past 2 guys comming back from picton at the end of xmas break...one of them was on a BMW, it was pissing dwn with rain so couldnt push to hard but i was still way quicker. the guy on the beemer was faster than i thought tho.

SPman

3rd March 2005, 17:16

That story (to me) duznt make him sound like a good rider....he sounds fkn dangerous....looseing thou's 2 up on and old heap, duznt sound like the sort of stuff ex coppers should be doing.....

Never go by appearances! I have seen fast road riders on big bikes (R1, ZX12R,ZX9R, GSXR1100) absolutely humiliated by an old fart on a BM R1000 (SH16)....and he made it look so easy! I rode with him once and had to wring the neck offa my FZR750, just to keep him in sight and he looked like he was going for a quiet Sunday bimble!

I'm not sure if our cops are trained up to UK standards, though. - although I wouldnt like to try Nodman on.....

Eurodave

8th June 2005, 11:09

I saw the first cop bike Ive seen in many many years in Christchurch this morning,a Beemer K series [Ive seen the ST1100's in Auckland before]. I thought they were trialing boxer 1150's? WTF?

Biff

8th June 2005, 11:33

I saw the first cop bike Ive seen in many many years in Christchurch this morning,a Beemer K series [Ive seen the ST1100's in Auckland before]. I thought they were trialing boxer 1150's? WTF?

Does this now mean there's more than one of them? (A retorical question)

Bren_chch

8th June 2005, 21:55

thats shit, i hope his bmw craps out somwhere!!

gav

8th June 2005, 23:11

http://www.bmwk1200s.com/Images/BMWK1200SMain.jpg
Not one of these, is it?
And the new K1200R is the most powerful naked bike on the market! Amazing!!
http://www.motorcycle-blog.com/images/K1200R.jpg

Ixion

8th June 2005, 23:15

And the new K1200R is the most powerful naked bike on the market! Amazing!!

Ugly muvva but.

gav

8th June 2005, 23:28

Yeah, kinda suprising that BMW can build some real stylee cars, but their bikes always look so half finished or that they were built by a committee !!!

scumdog

8th June 2005, 23:37

Yeah, kinda suprising that BMW can build some real stylee cars, but their bikes always look so half finished or that they were built by a committee !!!

Oh, I dunno, all those sports bikes with fairings kinda look the same. :whistle:

gav

8th June 2005, 23:46

Oh, I dunno, all those sports bikes with fairings kinda look the same. :whistle:
Just like all Harleys look the same. aye :whistle:

scumdog

8th June 2005, 23:52

Just like all Harleys look the same. aye :whistle:

Touche'! You are far too smart for a young fellow up so late. Go to bed.

Eurodave

9th June 2005, 10:16

As a Beemer fan I like to think of their bike styling as "avante garde" or cutting edge but as has been said, theres a very fine line between being cool & being wank!

onearmedbandit

9th June 2005, 16:52

Here we are arguing about style on a thread about police re-introducing bikes to their fleet...

TonyB

9th June 2005, 16:57

Here we are arguing about style on a thread about police re-introducing bikes to their fleet...
I reckon 'Duck for Bathrooms' is the most amazing cleaning product I have ever seen. It removes soap scum with contemptuous ease, out degreases most of the degreasers (orange energy etc), yet leaves not a trace of a smear on my glass shower door.