The best years of riding – are they gone?

**Bonez** · 28th March 2009, 08:40

Originally Posted by MSTRS

True, for the most part. It's all relative. Best 'ping' (other than the odd warning) was back in 1975. I gave the old T500 it's head and saw 110Mph on the clock. Unbeknownst to me, a Hutt City snake was on the job in his 1600 Cortina. Never knew he was there so when he eventually caught up with me, he 'had a chat' and handed me a ticket for 'estimated 65mph' and if I remember right, the fine was $10. Cool! Won't get that today.

Riders where probably still moaning about the same things back then as in this post as well. And of course lets not forget all the whohar in the 80s.

**MarkH** · 28th March 2009, 08:49

Originally Posted by MotoGirl

I had an interesting conversation today and it made me think about how motorcycling has changed since I got my licence back in ’98.

So young - you have no idea.

I got my license back in '83 and back then there was the MoT and they had radar - BUT:
- No Hawk/K/Ka - they had no mobile radar at all, they had to park to use their radar.
- No demerit points - back then it was before the demerit point system was introduced, you got a ticket and you paid a fine, but you didn't accumulate points which would lead to losing your license (thank god!).
- No speed cameras - if you were cruising along 15kph above the limit and the cop couldn't be bothered turning around and pulling you over then you didn't get a fine, now it's *click* and a bill in the mail at 11kph over.

**smoky** · 28th March 2009, 08:56

In the 80's in Huntly; the cops had a bit of a war (crackdown) on us hoons on our bikes, I collected $1400 in fines in one year
Lost my license once that year as well

I have just come back from a 4500 klm ride with a mate - we weren't hanging around at normal speed limits very much. Yes there is a lot more traffic - but better roads and better bikes means we can cut thru the traffic with ease
Yes we did see a bunch of cops - but between our radar detector and some common sense we managed to avoid being 'pinged'.

Interestingly I haven't had a ticket on my bike for years, but get at lest one a year in my car?
I think when I ride I am way more alert and paying attention, in the car I'm a bit more relaxed and often don't notice the police until it's too late.

**smoky** · 28th March 2009, 08:59

Originally Posted by MotoGirl

Yes, I remember the days of the MoT (or whatever it was called).

I can remember the black and whites with their little single red light bulb on the roof, and the police had a grey colored car with a single blue light on top

**trumpy** · 28th March 2009, 09:05

Originally Posted by MSTRS

True, for the most part. It's all relative. Best 'ping' (other than the odd warning) was back in 1975. I gave the old T500 it's head and saw 110Mph on the clock. Unbeknownst to me, a Hutt City snake was on the job in his 1600 Cortina. Never knew he was there so when he eventually caught up with me, he 'had a chat' and handed me a ticket for 'estimated 65mph' and if I remember right, the fine was $10. Cool! Won't get that today.

Yep, had the odd experience like that back then as well. Got stopped on the Aucks southern motorway in the mid 70's (yes it's been there that long - well some of it anyway) but the cop was so exited about his new bike and showing it to me he never got around to giving me a ticket. Just an "oh by the way, slow down" .
Good things can still happen with these guys though....last sunday I was about a third of the way through my favourite twisty road and came upon an HP going same direction as me "Bugger" I thought. But not so. HP (who is driving very smoothly and quicker than you would expect) sees me and starts to speed up. Entrapment? me thinks and then "oh what the hell".He picks things up to a very good somewhat less than legal pace (as fast as I wanted to go anyway) and just holds it there. We get to the end of the road, I go left and he gives me a wave and heads off to the right. Thank you sir you made my day.

**smoky** · 28th March 2009, 09:07

Originally Posted by MotoGirl

I believe they came out around 2000/2001ish. Someone in the know should be able to confirm this.

Depends on what you call a 'highway patrol'?

There has been traffic police patrolling the highways from before I could remember, black, then black and whites.
Then they were combined with the Police, that didn't work so well so they decided to separate then back out into highway patrol but retain them in the police uniform and cars
One has a blue and yellow colour, the other has blue and orange - I think.

**FROSTY:Me** · 28th March 2009, 09:14

Originally Posted by MarkH

I got my license back in '83 and back then there was the MoT and they had radar - BUT:
-- No demerit points - back then it was before the demerit point system was introduced, you got a ticket and you paid a fine, but you didn't accumulate points which would lead to losing your license (thank god!).
.

Your memorys going OLD son

We used to get points on our licence but it took a shit load longer to get to hand it in stage. I think we only got ten points for a big speeding ticket

**tri boy** · 28th March 2009, 09:26

It's all Patrick's and Scumdog's fault.
Ban them!

**macmotortrimmer** · 28th March 2009, 09:45

Originally Posted by MarkH

So young - you have no idea.

I got my license back in '83 and back then there was the MoT and they had radar - BUT:
- No Hawk/K/Ka - they had no mobile radar at all, they had to park to use their radar.
- No demerit points - back then it was before the demerit point system was introduced, you got a ticket and you paid a fine, but you didn't accumulate points which would lead to losing your license (thank god!).
- No speed cameras - if you were cruising along 15kph above the limit and the cop couldn't be bothered turning around and pulling you over then you didn't get a fine, now it's *click* and a bill in the mail at 11kph over.

This is precisely the point of this thread, I believe. Technology has made it easier for us to get stung when doing very little wrong. Back in the "old days" the cops had to expend some effort to catch the traffic offenders. Nowadays it's like three good tickets and your licence is gone through demerits.

**jrandom** · 28th March 2009, 11:01

Originally Posted by Motu

Stay away from SH anything. No cops,and the roads are better too.

What he said.

And never forget the awesome utility of a well-timed runner.

**McJim** · 28th March 2009, 11:48

Originally Posted by jrandom

What he said.

And never forget the awesome utility of a well-timed runner.

I'm trying to picture you doing a runner on your Trek treadlie

**jrandom** · 28th March 2009, 12:07

Originally Posted by McJim

I'm trying to picture you doing a runner on your Trek treadlie

I've only ever been pulled over on the pushbike by a motorcycle cop. And we all know the futility of trying to get away from those guys.

**Viscount Montgomery** · 28th March 2009, 12:34

In the 80's you just jumped on your GS1000, CB900, GSX, Z1R, whatever, and cruised at 120-140kph pretty much everywhere you went. Traffic was light, you'd have the whole road to yourself most times, long boring straights you sat on the ton, no-one gave a fuck. You'd see maybe one black&white on a whole days travel.

The country didn't have half a million slit-eyes and various immigrants choking up the population back then, Speed limit got to 80kph and you carried gas at weekends but that didn't matter a hoot. A warrant cost 5 bucks and the fine for not havin' one was 20 bucks, etc... etc...

Fast forward to today, it's all become a can of stinking worms, eg quota chasing highway arseholes, greasy bureaucrats, LTSA, mealy mouthed PC wankers like knackstead and co, armed to the teeth with doctored bullshit statistics and digits on paper, all desperately standing on tip-toes trying to ram their sticky festering penises up all motorcyclists' rectums in general.

Stay the hell away from highways and lurk the backroads instead is all you can do now. Mind you, 100-110 kph is a comfortable enough cruise on a naked, multi-coloured modern yups in one piece leathers tucked arse-up in slippery plastic faired rockets don't get no sympathy from me anyhow

**MSTRS:Me** · 28th March 2009, 13:06

Originally Posted by Viscount Montgomery

The country didn't have half a million slit-eyes and various immigrants choking up the population back then, Speed limit got to 80kph and you carried gas at weekends but that didn't matter a hoot. A warrant cost 5 bucks and the fine for not havin' one was 20 bucks, etc... etc...

And something like 800+pa road deaths. So it wasn't ALL good....