First Real Gripe of the Year!

Beamish · Post by **Beamish** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:51 pm

Well me and a couple of friends took a ride to the Newark Jumble today, it was the first ride this year where I felt the tyres were actually getting some temperature in them. Confidence built up and it felt marvellous apart from the constant fear of the new Lincolnshire Police bike strategy. They have announced stealth tactics (cameras in the bushes and numerous unmarked vehicles ) all aimed at catching the 'dangerous speeding sports bikes' I dont know if you read it in MCN but I am crapping it every time I go out now.
I know I shouldnt speed but I might as well sell the storm and buy a supermoto or an off roader if things get any worse, picture the scene............a long sweeping bend, low hedges , no junctions or hidden hazards.............................sun high in the sky.............tyres warm as toast............you position yourself perfectly for the apex............ have you got that picture in your heads..........

NOW BACK OFF TO 60 MPH!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a waste of time! Might as well be in the fields on a DR400.

How do you feel about the current situation?

fishface · Post by **fishface** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:58 pm

i agree with you mate its sh1t
bikers seem to be public enemy no1...

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:15 pm

That said, the Chief for Lincs did say that stealth measures were only aimed at prosecuting folks like youtube 180mph riders.

Squiffythewombat · Post by **Squiffythewombat** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:48 pm

I agree beemish, ive yet to hear of these tatics being used to catch car drivers!!! (im sure somebody can proove me wrong)

Kitch, the article stated that it was focused at anybody with excessive speed, as i remmber that was stated as being 90+ or something! It went on to state that if a rider was caught doing these sort of speeds the book would be thrown at them!

I still have the article somewhere, i can dig it out if anybody wants. In fairness they did say that those who were only just over the limit would be let off with a slap on the wrists..

...personally i feel this country is just getting silly with the bikes now, i cant wait till i can move over to aus!

adfski · Post by **adfski** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:51 pm

now i'm not a maths genius but there is quite a difference between 90 and 180 mph.
oh yes thats twice the speed isn't it. So yeah be paranoid their not just after the 180+ you toobers.

I can be totally honest here cos I don't live in mother russia like you lot but 90 is not uncontrollably fast and I quite safely reach speeds of 120+ over the manx mountains regularly.

These figures are picked out of the air by car driving safety obsessed morons. Oh you all know this.... rant over! i'll get my coat

bob the builder · Post by **bob the builder** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:52 pm

Yup, know where you are coming from. After spending the last 25 years on bikes I am very weary of the "state". The solution for me I have found is;
[b]VTR[/b] for track days ( fast as f**k) and trips around the local roads (moderate fast, but mainly below jail speeds) and the odd touring trip.
[b]XT 125 R [/b] for all other needs, 6 mile trip to work, out last Saturday around the forestry roads.
The older i'm getting the less need for speed for me on the open roads.
Today out with my oldest son, sixteen in 2 weeks, him on his de-restricted Reiju 50 me on the XT 125, no more than 50-mph but great fun.
Quite lucky round here really, great roads but not too much police activity even in the summer time.

simon t · Post by **simon t** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:52 pm

Sorry, sorry, sorry, it's all my fault.

This posted July 2006:

Riding from Leicester to Gainsborough the other evening. Done the journey a few times so to keep my interest up I see if I can knock a few minutes off the journey time.

Leave 40 limit and blast passed big flash Bimmer. Next 40 limit big flash Bimmer is behind me with big blue flashing lights in the grill. B*stards!

"Do you know what speed you were doing?"

"About 70?"

"You were well over the ton. Speeding is dangerous, antisocial, immoral, spreads disease, causes global warming" etc etc (I may have embroidered some of that).

Anyway the upshot is that I have no fine and no ban. The reason? Big flash Bimmer doesn't have camera, calibrated speedo etc, so they can't prove anything.

Oh and the bloke being chauffered around in big flash Bimmer and giving me grief? Chief Constable of Lincolnshire. Well, if you're going to get a bollocking off a copper, may as well make it the top one.

His final words: "I've got your number, and if you're ever found doing anything again in my county I'll make sure you're prosecuted"

wonker

Oh, and I'm emigrating to France this Spring. Sorry, sorry, sorry

adfski · Post by **adfski** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:53 pm

oh yeah squiffy - by all account Oz is even more fascist than britland on speeding. but there is a hell of a lot more road to police so I reckon they will be easier to avoid

Beamish · Post by **Beamish** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:20 pm

Thing is we are all (well should be) aware of what the consequences are if the worst happened at 100+ mph. God forbid it should ever happen to me or anyone I know but...............progressing along at 80+ come up behind a slower moving vehicle quick look behind............indicate and give it some right hand............out passed and in again............quick look down and you realise you are still doing 100+ after backing off!
I am seriously thinking of buying a second bike (if funds ever allow) and tuning the Storm for the odd track day. If I were to be banned, the knock on effect at work and at home would be phenomenal. It is too difficult for the Dibblys to differentiate between the fast rider out to enjoy and the fast rider out to impress so what do you think?

a. Just carry on as normal and hope your senses and reactions see the danger?

b. Remove the temptation by buying a DR/XR400

c. Grow up and see speed as a danger and not a pleasure

VTRgirl · Post by **VTRgirl** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:18 pm

After losing my licence for a collection of "just over the limit fines", I think I'm qualified to comment on the Oz situation here. If anything, it does sound worse than what you guys are facing. Ever 2nd or 3rd rider over here has lost their licence at some stage, several have done so multiple times. And it's getting worse.

I believe that any accident where one or more of the parties has been deemed to have been speeding, statistically counts speed as a "contributory" factor. Considering the average rider (or even driver) sits a wee smidge above the limit, speed cops a flogging for just about every accident & can be shown "statistically" as a very naughty boy.

So those that be constantly spout off through the media & throw statistics at the public who now do believe speed alone is responsible for the death of everybody who comes to grief on the road. Because there'd barely be a bike rider out there who doesn't "speed", we're all killers who must be stopped. So the government's answer? Crack down on speeding, make heaps of money & impress the public. They neglect to mention this is weighing down the court system unbelievably with average Joes desperate to be allowed to merely drive/ride to work & back.

Unfortunately, with the unreasonable hikes to cost of fuel as well as our Corn-Flake packet licensing laws, the influx of idiots on two wheels has been astronomical of late (I heard more new registrations for bikes were processed last year than for cars), it's not at all uncommon to see a moron riding stupidly around town & feeding the anti-bike feel our society now supports.

(Quick, log off while I take a breath!)

Stormin Ben · Post by **Stormin Ben** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:46 pm

Beamish,
My advice would be to find some different roads to ride!!
Stop riding on the 'Ride recommended' routes that are not even curved unless you're doing 120mph+
Find a nice B-road or similar that you'd struggle to top 70 on and let rip

And if you are on the A road, bear this in mind:
Gatso cameras are not permitted on a piece of road if the curve is greater than 1.9 radians so you're not gonna get clobbered on the corners. Roll it off on the straights between and yer'll be fine

Here endeth the lesson

Ben

alan · Post by **alan** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:18 am

No good green laning Beamish the rozzers patrol that aswell

oh and the council, i bought my ccm to do just that but now sold all enduro kit and just have the moto for road now, still great fun though with motard wheels on and still capable of getting you into trouble

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:00 am

Well, the way I look at it, if they bust you in a national at 90 or more, thats looking at automatic ban city. If you're exceedingly lucky, maybe Â£300 and 6 points.

So don't do it. Its not worth it, I've had two friends pick up bans last year for it.

That said, there's a time and a place

Popular bike roads on a Sunday aren't it.

Also, as I read it:

Inspector McManus wrote:"It's only about really excessive speed. If someone is just over that's not a problem, we're going to try and use police bikers to stop the offenders and give them a leaflet and a chat, and they will be dealt with as normal. We will only prosecute high-end offenders - we're talking double the speed limit - and that will be a high profile prosecution. Last summer on YouTube, in Lincolnshire we had two guys doing top-end, 180mph. It's got to stop."

Beamish · Post by **Beamish** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:12 am

Stormin Ben wrote:Beamish,
My advice would be to find some different roads to ride!!
Stop riding on the 'Ride recommended' routes that are not even curved unless you're doing 120mph+
Find a nice B-road or similar that you'd struggle to top 70 on and let rip

And if you are on the A road, bear this in mind:
Gatso cameras are not permitted on a piece of road if the curve is greater than 1.9 radians so you're not gonna get clobbered on the corners. Roll it off on the straights between and yer'll be fine

Here endeth the lesson

Ben

Great response Ben, we as a group do try to keep off the well trodden paths but the Bs around this area are deadly! and I mean deadly!
All these increased death figures are just stats...........surely with a countrywide 10% increase in bike sales that stands to reason that there is a greater probability of more bike accidents (and lots of 16 yr old scooter nutters)

Beamish · Post by **Beamish** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:14 am

VTRgirl wrote:After losing my licence for a collection of "just over the limit fines", I think I'm qualified to comment on the Oz situation here. If anything, it does sound worse than what you guys are facing. Ever 2nd or 3rd rider over here has lost their licence at some stage, several have done so multiple times. And it's getting worse.

I believe that any accident where one or more of the parties has been deemed to have been speeding, statistically counts speed as a "contributory" factor. Considering the average rider (or even driver) sits a wee smidge above the limit, speed cops a flogging for just about every accident & can be shown "statistically" as a very naughty boy.

So those that be constantly spout off through the media & throw statistics at the public who now do believe speed alone is responsible for the death of everybody who comes to grief on the road. Because there'd barely be a bike rider out there who doesn't "speed", we're all killers who must be stopped. So the government's answer? Crack down on speeding, make heaps of money & impress the public. They neglect to mention this is weighing down the court system unbelievably with average Joes desperate to be allowed to merely drive/ride to work & back.

Unfortunately, with the unreasonable hikes to cost of fuel as well as our Corn-Flake packet licensing laws, the influx of idiots on two wheels has been astronomical of late (I heard more new registrations for bikes were processed last year than for cars), it's not at all uncommon to see a moron riding stupidly around town & feeding the anti-bike feel our society now supports.

(Quick, log off while I take a breath!)

Sounds like a riot in OZ, more like the american system!