The demise of our freedom to speed - RIP

**limbimtimwim** · 4th February 2007, 21:53

Originally Posted by Weasel

When was the last time you had to drive anywhere long distance on a great big straight piece of road? You'd be begging for the comforts of a stereo etc...

Have not made a long trip in a car for a long long time. On straight bits of road, all I am begging for is corners to stop my legs getting a bit sore. If I know it's going to be a fun bit, I might take out my earplugs so I can hear the engine. Who needs a car stereo when you can have bike engine roar/scream?

**Lou Girardin** · 5th February 2007, 05:49

There weren't any cops between Warkworth and home last night.
Thank you God.

**Karma** · 5th February 2007, 06:26

Originally Posted by limbimtimwim

Have not made a long trip in a car for a long long time. On straight bits of road, all I am begging for is corners to stop my legs getting a bit sore. If I know it's going to be a fun bit, I might take out my earplugs so I can hear the engine. Who needs a car stereo when you can have bike engine roar/scream?

I did a few home to uni / uni to home runs when back over in the UK, I can tell ya that driving halfway along the M1 and then round the M25 with all your worldly possessions (several PCs, clothes, etc...) would not be fun on the back of a bike

**GSX-RJIM** · 5th February 2007, 07:50

Originally Posted by Dai

Call me irresponsible but I enjoy going as fast as I can, sometimes. I deplore the fact hat our Lords and Masters have set an arbitary limit that they feel is safe. I am disgusted with them that they use it as a source of gathering revenue. I think it criminal of them in most cases to vilify those persons who pay their exhorbatant salarys for the mere fact that they "were exceeding abitarily set limits".

I do expect and believe that in certain areas there should be some control. These are areas of high danger to others, but on an open road if a person chooses to travel at a velocity greater than set by our MASTERS, then they should be able to.

If they happen to have an accident then it is their fault, (sorry in todays society nothing is an individuals fault, its all societies mistakes).

I have a personal ambition,that before I die, I am going to exceed the speed of 200mph (320kph) on a public (i am a member of the public) road. If the doctors tomorrow told me that "sorry Chris, you have only 6 mths to live" guess how I will be spending it !! SPEED.

GOVERNMENTS ARE ALL ABOUT TAKING AWAY FREEDOMS FROM THE POPULACE.

best you get your self a different bike then Chris, re: 200mph (320Km/hr) life goal.
Bloody good goal to set in life if you ask me, why not double it and do 200mph twice, on the same day dam that would be fun.

**Hailwood** · 5th February 2007, 08:34

I do expect and believe that in certain areas there should be some control. These are areas of high danger to others, but on an open road if a person chooses to travel at a velocity greater than set by our MASTERS, then they should be able to.

If they happen to have an accident then it is their fault, (sorry in todays society nothing is an individuals fault, its all societies mistakes).

Just a question Dai..are you willing to be personally liable for the cost of your accident as well? the hospital bills, the acc cost, the rehab, the cost of anyone else injured? Or would you expect me to pay for it as a taxpayer through ACC etc.....

I know this sounds like being a wet blanket ( and am waiting for the Harley cracks about not being able to go fast enough to be hassled by a cop) but what gives motorcyclists any right to believe they they are above the law and should be allowed to ride at whatever speed they want. We all have a crack at cage drivers driving too fast but because we are on two wheels and some are decked out like their racing heros, it's ok????

Maybe its time we all grew up a bit and realised that the toy throwing tantrums and revenue collecting diatribe are getting a little tiresome. If you want to change the law, there are ways to do it. How many of you wrote submissions regarding the ACC levy changes? How many were involved in submissions for the last round of law change proposals?

Anyway my rant is over, thanks for reading...and remember an opinion is like an asshole...everyone has one and they are both usually full of the same thing

**scumdog** · 5th February 2007, 09:18

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Don't have too many problems like that down here.

Wot 'e sed.

But the NorfIsland must be way better place to live - otherwise there wouldn't be so many of youz living up there, right? right?

'

**Ixion** · 5th February 2007, 09:31

We're up here 'cos you're down there. Cops we can live with, it's the tassels. Even ordinary tassels , maybe, but when you got those pink ones -

Sane folk reckon Cook Strait is the minimum separation from a cop with weird mustachios, a skull mask and pink tassels!

**Toaster** · 5th February 2007, 09:37

Originally Posted by Smokin

Sad but true mate, you could always take up something with a lesser penalty like Burglery/ theft or abuse, smaller fine and you can get away with it much more often.

And he'd probably get away with it... they are far less likely to turn up and do something about it.

**SixPackBack** · 5th February 2007, 09:38

Additional investment will become standard for sprotbike owners in order to combat the highway patrol vermin.

Coupled with and the chances of being caught diminish significantly, should you still have issues manufacture a flip up number plate and paint the bike.

Lets see the fuckers catch you then.

**Toaster** · 5th February 2007, 09:39

On a better note, thanks to the red mufti cop who just let me ride on by (at about 120) in the Weekend. It was a beautiful day, sunny, little traffic and he just cruised by and didn't bother me. Thanks dude, I enjoyed the ride. Sensible policing in the circumstances.

**Dai** · 5th February 2007, 10:49

Originally Posted by GSX-RJIM

best you get your self a different bike then Chris, re: 200mph (320Km/hr) life goal.
Bloody good goal to set in life if you ask me, why not double it and do 200mph twice, on the same day dam that would be fun.

When the finances allow I will get a better bike. Its only once I am looking to hit that speed. I still remember the day, about 33 years ago when I hit the 100mph. It was on a friends Honda 350cc 4 cylinder, coming down the Takanini straight. The engine was screaming, I was flat on the tank, I was very young and I ruled the world. In those days there want the traffic volume of today and I had the whole straight to myself.

I also get the impression that people think I'm going to use a crowded highway to hit these speeds. No way. I'm not doing it for anyone else. Just me. I;'ll find some place just long enough to hit the spped I want, I'll wait till its all clear and I will let loose.

To date the fastest I have been is 185mph (292kph) on the M4 motorway in the UK. This was through the long straight in the Membury area. It was a quiet day, little traffic, very good weather and the bike was running very sweetly. Got booked at the M32 turn off as I had been spotted by the boys in blue. They dropped the speeding charge to 120 mph. Cost me my British licence for 2 years with 13 points on it. (12 points mean a ban and they take 7 years to clear), $1200 fine and a conditional discharge for 2 years.

Was it worth it, too bloody right. The heart was pumping and I felt so much alive. Same thrill I had jumping out of aeroplanes at 20,000 feet.

Life is so sanitised nowadays. We expect everything to be as safe as houses. Isnt it a boring existance?

**imdying** · 5th February 2007, 11:11

Originally Posted by SixPackBack

Additional investment will become standard for sprotbike owners in order to combat the highway patrol vermin.

Coupled with and the chances of being caught diminish significantly, should you still have issues manufacture a flip up number plate and paint the bike.

Lets see the fuckers catch you then.

I've got some magic beans somewhere for ya too...

**Edbear** · 5th February 2007, 11:12

Originally Posted by GSX-RJIM

why not double it and do 200mph twice,

400mph!!!!! KEEWL!!!!!

**davereid** · 5th February 2007, 16:05

- Keep to the back roads - less cops to worry about..
- Ride in a group - Radar is useless against multiple targets..
- Tail end charlie stops when signalled - every one else wasn't signalled and doesn't have to stop your honour.
- Deny everything, tie the cops up in court. Remember traffic policing is a business, they have quota and performance targets, and they don't meet them sending paperwork endlessly around the country meeting your disclosure and pre-court requirements.
- They get paid to go to court, to prepare the case and get their arse kicked if they lose. Its not good business for the police to fight every case !
- Chip in for the fine and costs if your buddy loses the court case - the points are fixed, but the fine can be rendered painless. Put a fiver in the fine kitty each, after every group ride, then its even more painless !
- You will often win in court - cops get busy and don't show, leave the force or get accused of rape.
- Plus the court is like any workplace. Often the Judge or JP hates individual cops and is hanging out to discharge you.

In another thread it was quoted that the cops issued 45000 tickets last year in the lower north island. Thats good business if every one just pays. But if one in ten drivers pushed it through the courts, prepared to pay the extra $150 in court costs if they lost, then the police would have had to abandon issuing tickets.

4500 defences at 4hrs in/waiting for court, plus 4-8 hours preparing the case, doing the disclosure etc etc = 4500 x 8 = 36000 hours lost !