Off Topic--But Officer, I was just doing 140 mph OVER the speed limit

[88gta350]

I have no doubt the bike was doing 205 mph. A bike's power to weight ratio is already far better than any cars', and modifying the bike only enhances that power-to-weight ratio, and there are more than a few cars that can reach the 200 mph mark. There was a bike in the Chicago area clocked at 196 mph.

Clocking with a stopwatch from an airplane is perfectly legal, and a simple mathmatical calculation of time over distance traveled gives speed.

[Anonymous]

A brand new Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 will do 185 mph in stock trim. A Honda 1000, possibly a CBR1000 if it is a late model will go about 170 mph in stock trim. It is very possible for a bike to go over two hundred, but it would have to be highly modified.

Every component in the engine would have to be exchanged for high performance parts that are available to be able to handle the amount of power necessary, then to generate that power, cylinder heads, cam timing, special fuels, blower/turbo, and nitrous oxide injection.

To handle the speed, the bike's chassis, brakes, and wheels are also highly modified, using expensive and exotic materials.

This type of bike is used in proffessional competition on a track under highly controlled conditions. It is also very expensive to build such a bike.

In my own experience, I have been up to about 130 on a motorcycle, when I was younger and stupider, and I can say that if the bike is well tuned, it actually becomes so stable that it requires a great deal of effort to effect any change in direction. At this speed if you are a practiced and sane person you are intensly focused on a point at least a mile in the distance and every thing in between, which is exhilarating, but can get tiring pretty quick.

Proffessional racers typically go as fast and faster, then brake for a thirty mile an hour turn in an absolute minimum distance - Quite a feat !!! I like to imagine an olympic diver in comparison - he does what he does by practicing over and over with levels of increasing dificulty, tuning reflex memory, there is no time for thought in such an action.

I eventually came to the conclusion that if I really wanted to advance my skills, I would be wasting my time on the road, because it is imposible to control the environment. Also, that type of riding wears out things like tires, brakes, and chains really quick, and these things are expensive, and not replacing them is risking your life.

As for this case, it is very rare for an individual to spend so much money on a bike and not want to use it only in the most controlled environment. And the buddy he left in the dust was probably along as a pacer, well aware of the the other's bike's capabilities.

Oh, I was once going 120 mph, and was not even aware that I was being chased until I got to where I was going. I was promptly arrested, and my bike towed, one of the cops even drew on me !!! they were not happy.

[passengerfan]

Remember an incident in West Texas about twenty years ago when truckdrivers were reporting a fast moving ferrari traveling eastbound on I-10. The Texas state troopers were trying to set up a roadblock by listening to the truckers when he flashed past. They finally caught up with him when three truckers blocked the eastbound lane on a bridge. I still remember the state trooper pacing off the skidmarks of the braking car that they finally apprehended thanks to the tgree truckers. The state trooper estimated the ferraris speed in excess of 200 mph. Couldn't outrun the truckers CB radios.

[tree68]

A la the story about the voice black boxes allegedly placed in SUVs. In most of the country, accidents were preceded by the driver saying "Oh, S--T!". In the south, accidents were preceded by "Hey ya'll, watch this."

And a little math - at 200 MPH, the potential victim is travelling at 293 feet per second. That's basically the length of a football field, of course. Never mind a deer or another vehicle. At that speed a June bug would be almost enough to do you in. And that's assuming you have your visor down...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Out here in the cornyards, most young-adult deaths are preceeded by the phrase,"Hey guys, watch this!"

And down here in the south the redneck's famous last words are, "Hey ya'll, watch this."

[Anonymous]

I had my honda up 140mph and the front wheel statred to come of the ground.
Scary stuff.

[railman]

The Minn. Star Tribune article about this proud moment in Minnesota history did raise questions on how one makes a 1000 get to 200 mph... either way, good grief, just asking for it.

[Anonymous]

personally i think writing speeding tickets based upon a stop watch from an airplane is bullcrap.....second...i used to have a z28 camaro in which i went just shy of 150mph in. dumbest thing i ever did, but i just had to do it one time. it's amazing how fast things go by at that speed....and how dead i woulda been if something happened...

[Anonymous]

There needs to be a new category of infraction for this type of behavior.A felony and certainly one that prevents the convicted idiot from operating any machinery more powerful than a pencil sharpener.

I have no problem with morons like these killing themselves, preferably before they further pollute the gene pool. The problem is the innocent people that are often victims of their stupidity.

Honda wouldn't dare use this in an ad campaign.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

Is there some kind of new trend going on with motorcycle riders? In the past 1 month in NW Indiana there's been at least four cycle deaths from hyper-hundred speeds. Last week there was one in Chicago on the Stevenson Expressway. Coming home from Joliet the other day on I-80 I was passed by a whole fleet of bikes going at least 120mph. Whatup with this? I care not to witness the next episode of "Puree-fest."

Out here in the cornyards, most young-adult deaths are preceeded by the phrase,"Hey guys, watch this!"
Mitch

[vsmith]

If an old Pontiac Fiero can be rebuild to achieve 170+ why not a motorcycle? GP race bikes hit and surpass these speeds all the time and theres no shortage of speed freeks on the highways stupid enough to try it. I Have to agree with what Ed said, you get above 120+ mph and your eyes to brain to hand reaction responce time drops off severly. Racing schools teach student things like begining your turn before your even in the turn because if you wait until your at the turn by the time your eyes register the turn, your brain processes the info and sends the signal to your hands to turn the wheel, your already into the guard rail. So they teach you to turn before so that when your arms start the turn your at the right place. Its very much a learned habit at these driving schools but most of these Speed Racer Wannabes have NO training and think they know how to drive fast. Most end up on the organ donor lists before long.

[edblysard]

Adrian,
My helper has a 1800 Honda retro.....
yes, it will.
Scared him bad, but he wanted to see if it would.
Was on his way to Florida three weeks ago, found a nice flat strech of highway, and let her rip.
Told me he wouldnt ever do that again, for the reason Larry said, he realized that by the time he could have seen anything ahead of him, it would already be too late to do anything about it.

Ed

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

There is NO way a honda 1000 could do more than 175

And who would even bother to regear that thing to go that fast.

I think it is bull.

Adrianspeeder

Why I' m surprised that you did not hear of this dual wheeled technological achievement. We heard about it last Monday the 20th down here in far away North Carolina in the local newspaper. I just hate it that the news travels so slowly don't you?

[adrianspeeder]

Here,

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=8&u=/ap/20040922/ap_on_fe_st/205_mph_ticket_2

The guys over on the dieselstop.com think it is bull too.

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

The event happened Saturday but the article was date the 21st.

It happened near WABASHA, Minn.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

There is NO way a honda 1000 could do more than 175

And who would even bother to regear that thing to go that fast.

I think it is bull.

Adrianspeeder

Adrian, I have never heard you use such language. [:0]

I was just referring to an AOL news article. I will give a link BUT I don't think it will work unless you have AOL.

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20040921164009990002


Adrian, since you now have high speed internet service maybe you could find a link to a different source and post it for us. I don't want to copy and paste the whole article, AOL might "get" me. [;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

If they crash, Darwin wins.

In spades

[Anonymous]

These idiots fit well into the Darwin improvement of the gene pool!

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Wet clean up in lane 3........

4 hours worth - Labor Day weekend.

[cherokee woman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Wet clean up in lane 3........

Darn it, Dan!! you took my line before I could even make a comment.

No brownies for you the next time I make 'em[}:)][:p]

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

There is NO way a honda 1000 could do more than 175

And who would even bother to regear that thing to go that fast.

I think it is bull.

Adrianspeeder

Yeah but I'm sure that 30mph difference doesn't affect the results of decceleration trauma.......[xx(]

[louisnash]

You can outrun a police car, but you can't outrun a two way radio.

--------------------
Jim



Jim
Are you quoting the late great Kenny Price song of Boone County Kentucky. lol

His "Sheriff of Boone County" song had a phrase like that.

"You might outrun my old chevrolet, but you can't outrun my old 2 way."
"I wear a hat just like a mounty, I'm the Sheriff of Boone County"
"I don't take no lip, with this cannon on my hip. Let me tell you boy, it ain't no toy."

Sorry about the dry humor.
Brian (KY)

[Anonymous]

I personally had been close to the magic 150 at times long ago. Not on a motor bike thank you!

At these speeds a failure anywhere in the system means death or worse. I recall out west near the Continental Divide there are some awesome stretches of interstate that just beckons to the speed kings.

Imagine that ride at 200+ You would be looking near a half mile ahead of you to process the information visually, mentally and finally pysically as you actuate the steering etc. If a deer hopped out say 200 yards away... you will never see it.

I have had my doors blown off by these and what was really spectacular was the ability of the police to reel em im as if they are tied to a fence post.

What is worse is the casulties of high speed I have seen over the years, for some of these Death is a mercy while others face a living hell. So. Please take it easy so you can get home tonight.

Japan has been doing bullet trains for years it is time America looked into it.

[adrianspeeder]

There is NO way a honda 1000 could do more than 175

And who would even bother to regear that thing to go that fast.

I think it is bull.

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Wet clean up in lane 3........

lol [;)] [}:)] [;)]

Good one Dan, I knew you would chime in sooner or later. [:D] [8D] [:D]

[SALfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

I wonder if they were TGV railfans.

Good one! Sounds like they were TGV engineers who had a flashback while more than a little lost!

[dharmon]

Wet clean up in lane 3........

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

A micro-second of lost traction in a corner at 100+ mph and it dont matter what protective clothing your wearing or how good the salesman told you that riding body armor your wearing is. You go down at that speed your going to introduced to Mr Gully, Mr Barbed Wire Fence, Mr Thicket, And Mr Tree, usually at the same time, and you aint getting up so easily...

I usually get there a little later, but there isn't usually a lot I can do for you.

We had a case a couple of years ago where a motorcyclist was showing off for his friends by doing wheelies. At Speed. On the expressway. He wandered into a guardrail and is no longer available to brag about his exploits.

Tree

[vsmith]

A micro-second of lost traction in a corner at 100+ mph and it dont matter what protective clothing your wearing or how good the salesman told you that riding body armor your wearing is. You go down at that speed your going to introduced to Mr Gully, Mr Barbed Wire Fence, Mr Thicket, And Mr Tree, usually at the same time, and you aint getting up so easily...

[Anonymous]

"You can outrun a police car, but you can't outrun a two way radio"

Yep, and pretty hard to loose a helicopter too, especially in hilly, curvy Minnesota!