The guy is a legend

[Blackbird]

.... and he rides a Honda (of course)

Geoff

Extracted from the ABC news website:

Motorcyclist cited for going 205 mph
Updated: 09/21/2004 10:51:36 PM - VIDEO

WABASHA (AP) - With a State Patrol airplane overhead, a Stillwater motorcyclist hit the throttle and possibly set the informal record for the fastest speeding ticket in Minnesota history: 205 mph.

On Saturday afternoon, State Patrol pilot Al Loney was flying near Wabasha, in southeastern Minnesota on the Wisconsin border, watching two motorcyclists racing along U.S. Highway 61.

When one of the riders shot forward, Loney was ready with his stopwatch. He clicked it once when the motorcycle reached a white marker on the road and again a quarter-mile later. The watch read 4.39 seconds, which Loney calculated to be 205 mph.

"I was in total disbelief," Loney told the St. Paul Pioneer Press for Tuesday's editions. "I had to double-check my watch because in 27 years I'd never seen anything move that fast."

Several law enforcement sources told the newspaper that, although no official records are kept, it was probably the fastest ticket ever written in the state.

After about three-quarters of a mile, the biker slowed to about 100 mph and let the other cycle catch up. By then Loney had radioed ahead to another state trooper, who pulled the two over soon afterward.

The State Patrol officer arrested the faster rider, 20-year-old Stillwater resident Samuel Armstrong Tilley, for reckless driving, driving without a motorcycle license - and driving 140 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 65 mph.

A search of speeding tickets written by state troopers, who patrol most of the state's highways, between 1990 and February 2004 shows the next fastest ticket was for 150 mph in 1994 in Lake of the Woods County.

Tilley did not return calls from the newspaper to his home Monday. A working number for him could not immediately be found by The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Only a handful of exotic sports cars can reach 200 mph, but many high-performance motorcycles can top 175 mph. With minor modifications, they can hit 200 mph. Tilley was riding a Honda 1000, Loney said.

Kathy Swanson of the state Office of Traffic Safety said unless Tilley was wearing the kind of protective gear professional motorcycle racers wear, he was courting death at 200 mph.

"I'm not entirely sure what would happen if you crashed at 200 miles per hour," Swanson said. "But it wouldn't be pretty, that's for sure."

[Blakamin]

so they can use some dick in a plane with a stopwatch as evidence???

unreal!! :spudwhat:

[sAsLEX]

seen some funny paint on the roads between SH1 and the lower end of 16 are they going to do it here? These were parrallel blue lines.

they use planes over kaikoura in the summer/holiday period

[RiderInBlack]

The State Patrol officer arrested the faster rider, 20-year-old Stillwater resident Samuel Armstrong Tilley, for reckless driving, driving without a motorcycle license - and driving 140 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 65 mph.

Just another USA Dick Head. Didn't even have a licence. What a W*nker (probably "learning" to ride a bike).

Kathy Swanson of the state Office of Traffic Safety said unless Tilley was wearing the kind of protective gear professional motorcycle racers wear, he was courting death at 200 mph.

Which you do riding anyway, but he just more stupid.

"I'm not entirely sure what would happen if you crashed at 200 miles per hour," (approx. 320KPH)Swanson said. "But it wouldn't be pretty, that's for sure."

Not that the protective gear would save you much at that speed anyway. It didn't say if he wasn't, but it would not have surpised me (considering that he hadn't bother to sit his bike licence).

[aff-man]

WHATTT!!! a honda 1000 doing 328km/h. right now the busa and blackbird top out at what 310, 320 so are they trying to say that a guy got a 1L bike to do 328km/h. That thing must be modded to hell and back to get that sort of pace, also think of the airodynamics of the whole thing. With the size of todays bikes would it stay on the road at that speed???????????? Sounds like he was going quick but NOT that quick!!!!1

[dangerous]

seen some funny paint on the roads between SH1 and the lower end of 16 are they going to do it here? These were parrallel blue lines.

they use planes over kaikoura in the summer/holiday period

Thats right, They have been using that system for years here but in the last few it was relised that the expence of flying a aircraft was silly compaired to using the laser gun or radar so for speeding it isent used that much anymore as far as I know.
However the aircraft was used for a binge on traffic that crossed the center line last Xmas break, which in my opion is a very overdue and wise thing...... but speeding fines brings in more money ofcourse so it was soon forgot.
If you notice a white line that is about 250mm high and crosses the center line by about 1m each side then that is the spoter plains marker.

[k14]

Not that the protective gear would save you much at that speed anyway. It didn't say if he wasn't, but it would not have surpised me (considering that he hadn't bother to sit his bike licence).

Leathers would still hold up doing over 300, they probably would wear a little thin but would still perform the task they are made for. Hitting something would be a different story though.

That is definately a good effort although if he has a good lawyer he might be able to get off cause I highly doubt his bike could do that. The motogp bikes top speed was 310kph at motegi and that is a straight of over 1km i think.

[Jackrat]

Bloody sport bike riders again

[Blakamin]

Thats right, They have been using that system for years here but in the last few it was relised that the expence of flying a aircraft was silly compaired to using the laser gun or radar so for speeding it isent used that much anymore as far as I know.
However the aircraft was used for a binge on traffic that crossed the center line last Xmas break, which in my opion is a very overdue and wise thing...... but speeding fines brings in more money ofcourse so it was soon forgot.
If you notice a white line that is about 250mm high and crosses the center line by about 1m each side then that is the spoter plains marker.

I understand that but how do you use a stopwatch as evidence in court?
you would have to film the stopwatch and the target to prove the officer didnt apply the start button too soon etc. we have the right to look at a radar when they pull you over, the photo in cases of speed cameras. how do you see the stopwatch.

btw, the plane for idiots crossing the centre line is a brilliant idea!

[dangerous]

we have the right to look at a radar when they pull you over

Yeah but they dont have to show it to you.
Now before you say 'WTF r u on about' case in point.... I watched from work a few weeks back 1 copper using a lazer gun from a drive shootiing traffic comming towards him on the other side of a continous island on a duel carage way.
Now there were 4 or so coppers pulling the cars over and ticketing them, cop #1 was taking a reading and radioing the speed ahead clearing the result and shooting another target... this was keeping 4 cops writing tickets out flat out.
So if you were to ask to see the reading the ticket writing copper would say 'sorry its gone' and give you the ticket............. another words the copper in the aircraft does not have to prove anything to any one... hell he is the law

[Blackbird]

The whole thing sounds shonky and I'd have thought a good lawyer could drill holes in the case. Mind you, the guy probably couldn't afford a GOOD lawyer!

The speed MIGHT be true as after-market parts are more available and considerably cheaper in the USA but it would have to be heavy tuning. Assuming it was the new 1000 cc 'blade, it would be putting out a true 140-150 BHP at the crank to achieve a top speed of 290km/hr. Aerodynamic drag goes up as the square, so you'd probably need close on 180-190 bhp at the crank to break the double ton even with a good run up. There's a turbo kit available for the Blackbird from Terry Kizer for 5000 USD to push it close to 200bhp. If only I didn't have a wife controlling the purse strings (sigh) :sneaky2:

[dangerous]

Aerodynamic drag goes up as the square, so you'd probably need close on 180-190 bhp at the crank to break the double ton even with a good run up.

Aerodynamics has a shit load to do with it allright.
The Hayabusa that I have ridden a fair bit on the rd and track has been dynoed at 173hp, now as we know this bike is able to do 320kph (I've had it up to 270kph) at about 180-200kph the thing seems to squat down a bit lower ie: suck itself to the ground.... this might be in my head though, but it tells me its the Aerodynamics taking affect to enable it to do the speed its capable of because 173hp isent a hell of a lot to break the 300k mark.

BB does the Blackbird seem to do this too? (having not ridden one)

[Blackbird]

My riding partner has a 'busa and he's noticed the same thing as you. I suspect that the down-force over the nose and screen has a lot to do with it. The Blackbird feels like it's on rails at speed but I couldn't tell you whether it squats or not at the top end of its range - no indication of that happening around 200. I've only had it up to ~270 once and to be honest, things were happening so fast that all my concentration was focussed a kilometre or so down the road. No interest in doing it again! The only other thing that distracted me was the Nolan helmet I wore at the time was trying to pull my head off and choke me with the strap - not a good look at that speed I now have a Shoei!

Geoff

[mangell6]

Here is a dyno of a common garden Yamaha FZ1, carburated with a jet kit and an Akra 4-2-1 exhaust, the year 2001. Now if one of those fancy new 'ondas can't get a bit more hp/kw out of their motor then . . . . .

What a trip, he should get that recorded in the Guiness Book of records. It must be official, musn't it?

[Blackbird]

Did I notice a fancy carbon pipe on your FZ1 photo you posted the other day - the one with all your nice-looking touring gear on?

Geoff