Straightening the road

[Ulsterkiwi]

here is a video which may have been posted before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmYh1FWYtUA

at 2:41 ish into the video the riders straighten the road, ie cross over the centre line to smooth out their route but only when they can see well ahead.

How would this go down with NZ police?

[MVnut]

You have to ask? ...........really?

[scumdog]

Why 'straighten the road' - I thought motorcycling was all about flowing through the bends and corners.

[oneofsix]

here is a video which may have been posted before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmYh1FWYtUA

at 2:41 ish into the video the riders straighten the road, ie cross over the centre line to smooth out their route but only when they can see well ahead.

How would this go down with NZ police?

You asked

Why 'straighten the road' - I thought motorcycling was all about flowing through the bends and corners.

you were answered

[Ulsterkiwi]

you were answered

well I got one answer

[Ulsterkiwi]

Why 'straighten the road' - I thought motorcycling was all about flowing through the bends and corners.

Did you read my question? I didn't say I wanted to do it or ask why anyone would; I was curious what NZ police would think about the practice. Its a discussion thread, perhaps I am not supposed to begin discussions? Anyway, you have hinted at your opinion, so thank you for the answer

[scumdog]

Did you read my question? I didn't say I wanted to do it or ask why anyone would; I was curious what NZ police would think about the practice. Its a discussion thread, perhaps I am not supposed to begin discussions?

No discussion needed.
$150.
Ka-ching!

[george formby]

Why 'straighten the road' - I thought motorcycling was all about flowing through the bends and corners.

My sentiments exacary.

I should imagine if you were in a pursuit situation with lights & siren used appropriately crossing the centre line would not be an issue.

Any hoo. Cheers for posting the vid. It's great to see how much road they use to maximise visibility. Been endless debate on KB about road position but seeing those guys on a shitty, cold, Autumn morning riding like that sums it up perfectly for me.
From personal experience I know those guys can really punt a bike.

[Ulsterkiwi]

I guess that's what I thought would be the case. Interesting this is a way of training one police force and a ticketable offence to another. Hence my curiosity. Both probably make good arguments why the respective approach is the 'right' one.

[george formby]

I guess that's what I thought would be the case. Interesting this is a way of training one police force and a ticketable offence to another. Hence my curiosity. Both probably make good arguments why the respective approach is the 'right' one.

I think the rules are the same in the UK, don't cross the centre line unless overtaking.

The feds on the bikes are "pursuit" riding. Vid is a bit scant on why they are riding like this so mis-leading.
In pursuit training the candidates are tailed by an instructor & often use a helicopter to check the road ahead. Pilot keeps the instructor up to date on hazards & traffic. There is a great video somewhere of a fed going for his pursuit ticket completely on the wrong side of the road through a very long left hand bend, he is doing 120mph..! His road position gives him the visibility to maximise his speed and still, er, be safe. All the while he is giving a running commentary.

[Ulsterkiwi]

I think the rules are the same in the UK, don't cross the centre line unless overtaking.

The feds on the bikes are "pursuit" riding. Vid is a bit scant on why they are riding like this so mis-leading.
In pursuit training the candidates are tailed by an instructor & often use a helicopter to check the road ahead. Pilot keeps the instructor up to date on hazards & traffic. There is a great video somewhere of a fed going for his pursuit ticket completely on the wrong side of the road through a very long left hand bend, he is doing 120mph..! His road position gives him the visibility to maximise his speed and still, er, be safe. All the while he is giving a running commentary.

that would make more sense.....

there was a 'watch and learn' element to how the video was presented. I know the IAM training system makes much of being based on the UK police pursuit training, much of which is useful to regular road riders, clearly this aspect is for the pros only

[george formby]

that would make more sense.....

there was a 'watch and learn' element to how the video was presented. I know the IAM training system makes much of being based on the UK police pursuit training, much of which is useful to regular road riders, clearly this aspect is for the pros only

Yup. Allegedly they have a reason for riding balls out on public roads. Last one back buys the donuts.

The IAM training goes up to the point of legality but the message & techniques are the same.
Slight aside. Just read a post on another forum from an IAM member after a group ride. His comment was "most boring day I've ever had on a bike"...

There are a series of instructional videos on youtube, some of which have been posted on KB, put out by the Borders & Lothian police. Excellent viewing.
It's raining in every single one.. LOL.

[R650R]

*YAWN* Well that's ten minutes of my life I'm not getting back, couldn't watch all of it.
About the only benefit I could see of there exercise was going out for a quick ride and just being used to how the bike behaves.
As for crossing centreline, well there cops and allowed so non issue, however I think the benefit is negligible. Perhaps one of our resident officers could do the maths on their crash computer of the visibility gained by lane position X,Y,Z on a corner of set radius R. Unless its a real tight corner according to my scribbles its nothing and being aware of stopping distance more of a concern.
I think their wrong in being so far to the right when overtaking as they'd be outside the view of many motorists mirrors.

[oneofsix]

I think the rules are the same in the UK, don't cross the centre line unless overtaking.

.

Ever watched Emergency Bikers? One of the first episode when they introduced the Police bikers they were trying to recreate a bike crash, from the episode it appeared standard practice for them (all bikers) to use the road as required. This also used to be common practice in NZ. I think in NZ the popo have just got away with making money for the govt by twisting the as far left as practical to mean never cross the center line.

[Gremlin]

that would make more sense.....

there was a 'watch and learn' element to how the video was presented. I know the IAM training system makes much of being based on the UK police pursuit training, much of which is useful to regular road riders, clearly this aspect is for the pros only

IAM (originally started in UK and now exists in a handful or two of countries worldwide) is based off police roadcraft. IAM NZ basically follows the same thing, however, part of advanced roadcraft is also following the law.

So, to answer your original question, straightening the road is legal in the UK, hence part of the system. System is adjusted for variances in law, so ergo, not legal here. Not really a discussion?

Another difference. UK is indicate if someone will benefit and you're actually marked down if you indicate "just because". NZ, you indicate regardless.