Freedom to speed

[Timber020]

With all the complaining of guys riding to fast, doing stupid stuff, running from cops Im starting to wonder if the last few years of no speeding tolerance with the cops if we are just becoming jealous of anyone getting away with having more fun than we do, or are we becoming the kind of rule followers that made the germans the most dangerous people on earth, willing to dob in anyone who doesnt follow insanely structured society.
Motorcycling is dangerous to the rider at 20kmph or 200kmph, chances are if your ride for long enough your going to have an accident, and chances are that it will be a cages fault and they will get away with nearly killing you scott free.

But anyhow, my question is, if you could ride at any speed and all the cages on the road learned to be considerate and predictable, if you were to ride between wellington and auckland, what would your average speed be?

[Ragingrob]

Um...average 90 tops? Considering my bike

[beyond]

I've done Wellington City to Papakura leaving Wellington on a Friday afternoon and heading up the kapiti Coast in 5 hours and ten minutes, fifteen years ago. That was before all the roads were straightened, up the West side of Lake Taupo and in a Nissan Bluebird 1800cc which spent much of it's time on the limiter at 195kmh.

The GSX1400 is way quicker so I'd cut that time significantly

[Clivoris]

140-150 kmh average always feels about right to me. It doesn't seem to require huge gobs of attention and is enjoyable.

[Mr. Peanut]

140-150km/h

[kiwifruit]

90 - 100km/h

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

What ever the legal speed limit is at the time...

[Katman]

Motorcycling is dangerous to the rider at 20kmph or 200kmph, chances are if your ride for long enough your going to have an accident, and chances are that it will be a cages fault and they will get away with nearly killing you scott free.

Therein lies the attitude I dearly wish to see removed from Motorcycling.

[hospitalfood]

average about 30 kms i guess, considering how many pubs there are to stop at I would be fuckin slow when I reached the Sanson pub......in fact it could take days.

[Timber020]

Therein lies the attitude I dearly wish to see removed from Motorcycling.

Why, its perfectly true. Its just greatly more dangerous at 200kmph.

[Katman]

Why, its perfectly true. Its just greatly more dangerous at 200kmph.

No, if a motorcyclist has an accident, the greater chances are that it's his/her fault through either stupidity or not being totally aware of what's going on around them.

[Conquiztador]

I still remember the days when there was no speed limit on the open road. When there was no helmet laws. Bring them back I say!!

[Swoop]

What an ambiguous question.
Ride to the conditions.
Desert Rd but good conditions or same Rd with shit conditions...

Perhaps the poll should be "at what speeds should the plod begin to take interest in bikes"?

[Toaster]

Therein lies the attitude I dearly wish to see removed from Motorcycling.

Sadly, they tend to remove themselves from motorcycling.

[Timber020]

No, if a motorcyclist has an accident, the greater chances are that it's his/her fault through either stupidity or not being totally aware of what's going on around them.

I would say thats true for leaners, but for guys with a few years under there belt I would say its more likely that the accident would be caused by other road users, at least in built up areas, where I sadly do most of my riding. On the open road your right, more rider error, but cages still cause a HUGE amount of those accidents. Basically nomatter how good and careful you are its just a matter of luck and time.

I am not reckless, and am not the "gotta die sometime" type. But I ride every day pretty much, its part of my job and I clock up a few kms. I have close calls caused by other road users far to often to think that im always going to be able to avoid an accident. I do ride carefully, I have to, but its unlikely to be enough.
Because following the law seems unlikely to protect me while riding, and if I do have an accident the laws unlikely to help out, I have less respect for the law. 106 you get a ticket you damn criminal but that guy that nearly killed you will get off in court, enjoy your stay in hospital and life changing injuries.

Little bitter? Sure. To many crippled or dead friends and family and few bourbons, does it every time