off topic question - cops opinion on sportbikes?

[armatron]

I didn't really know where to put this - doesn't really go in the LEO section, imo

I own an 05 zx6r, I ride it unless it is snowing or raining HARD. I've put ~5k on it in about 3-4 months. I ride responsibly, I ride respectfully, and I must ride aggressively to avoid getting run over here in atlanta.

Example: on the highway I go 10-15mph faster than everyone else. It allows me to see what's ahead of me, pass it, and so on. It's really common for people to 'drift' across lanes. I've almost been hit three times (VERY close calls) where people change with me into their blind spot. Keep in mind I live in atlanta, where on 285 (speed limit is 55) if you are going 65 you WILL be run over. People go 70+ at least.

I got pulled over today by an awesome cop who completely understood. He ran my tags, checked my insurance/license and told me to be careful. I was clocked going 90 in a 55.

I have also been pulled over, gun drawn and POINTED at me (thought this wasn't allowed?) told to lie face down on the ground and handcuffed. They insisted I was evading arrest, etc etc etc. (I was going 10 over, and supposedly racing.. even though some old lady in a camry was beside me?) I fit no 'typical profile' just a normal 21 year old white kid. I pointed out that 1) I wasn't doing anything wrong. 2) I have no reason to run. 3) If I HAD run, there's no way I would have just pulled over. I had plenty of space to run with.
It was point 3 that made them finally calm down and listen to me. This is after I'm laying in the dirt in a $450 jacket and $200 pants.

Are sportbikers really THAT bad? I mean I see someone everynow and then being stupid - wheelies, racing, etc... but we're talking <1% that everyone is being judged on.

So.. mr. cop.. you see a sportbike pass you at 15 over. Do you pull them over? talk to me...

[Son of Norway]

Anyone going 15 over should get a ticket.

If the question is "are sport bikes singled out" I would say not really. Of course if people ride a bike that looks like a tube of toothpaste on two wheels, well, people are gonna look. I rode motorcylces for about 10 years and I got both kinds of cops. One (a highway patrolman on a bike) pulled up next to me on the freeway (complete surprise) when I was doing 85+. He waved the "slow down" sign at me and sped off, no ticket.

Another time I got a ticket for doing 60 in a 55 zone. How chicken **** is that?

The problem with sport bikes is that you will...one day....or every chance you get....you are gonna open that baby up and see what she'll do. You are going to break the law with your bike and they know that or else you wouldn't buy a bike that does sub-10 second quarter miles right out of the box.

[armatron]

to go 10 over, around here, on any highway WILL put you in a dangerous situation, at the very least. At 15 over, you will be passed by grandma or whomever in the far right slow lane. I am not saying this out of an opinion - someone else from the atlanta area should be able to vouch for me. The problem is, on a bike, to go the same speed as traffic is putting yourself in a dangerous situation if you are on a motorcycle.



I agree with you 100% about seeing what the machine will do. There is, however, a time, and a place.

[demon]

I'm not an LEO, but a fellow sportbiker. I ride a CBR 1100XX. Yes, we get singled out just because we're on sportbikes. I've seen Harley riders with straight pipes go WFO in the middle of town at midnight and the cops don't do anything about it, but if I go through 5 mph over they'll pull me over. Got pulled over once and they claimed that I was trying to run. I told them if I was trying to run, they're helocopter wouldn't catch me.

[mr0w1]

Originally Posted by armatron

I am not saying this out of an opinion - someone else from the atlanta area should be able to vouch for me.

You are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, theres a conflict between driving safely and driving legally. In a car, you can just drive slow (the speed limit) and people will get pissed at you and pass. On a bike, that's a totally different story, as you know.

[NewXD40fun]

The fast lane is the safest lane on the highway for motorcycles, as long as you don't follow that car in front of you too close.

I had near heart attack once when a dead possom suddenly appeared on road right in front of me while I was doing 70ish and following a little close.



Tom

[the_theologian]

i ride a superhawk 996 and my stomach's turning to hear how some of these cops have acted

anyone going 15 over should get a ticket? really?... on a wide open country road with no traffic and no houses is it really a big deal? hmm... let's not go overboard

it's more than likely that the appearance of a sportbike will draw some negative attention

[southy]

FYI A cop's duty is to protect the public, even from themselves. If that means giving a ticket for going 15+mph over the limit, so be it. If I did that, i would expect it. When anyone gets on a bike that has enough horsepower outrun even some of the best sportcars, more caution should be used. I am NOT trying to go off on anyone that rides a bike. Everyone on the road needs to pay more attention to everyone on the road. Car drivers towards bikers and bikers to car drivers. Speed limits are not there to ruin eveyones day, they are there to keep everyone as safe as possible while going at a reasonably fast speed. A year ago a guy lost his leg and eventually his life on a sport bike where i used to live. His friends were asked why they thought he would be going 100mph in a 55 and his friends said because he wanted to see what it could do. just food for thought. All you guys be careful.

(steps down off soapbox)

[JHA XD40]

You paid $200 for a pair of pants?!

jonas

[cublifer]

Originally Posted by the_theologian

i ride a superhawk 996 and my stomach's turning to hear how some of these cops have acted

anyone going 15 over should get a ticket? really?... on a wide open country road with no traffic and no houses is it really a big deal? hmm... let's not go overboard

it's more than likely that the appearance of a sportbike will draw some negative attention

Yes you should get a ticket. You ride like that, you get caught, you pay the price. Does the sign say "55 mph unless no one else is around"? No. I ride a Harley and my riding buddy is a police officer. We have had this conversation PLENTY of times. Discression is up to the officer (in some cases). Rules are rules. Whether they be rules of the road or rules for gun ownership. They are put into place for a reason and that reason is safety. And by the way, my cop buddy even got a ticket on a trip once on his Harley. Just like you or I would have done, he tried to use the "I'm a cop on vacation" line and it didn't work. He signed and payed for the ticket without even a whimper. Why? Because he knows the rules, he broke the rules, and he had to pay for breaking the rules.

As far as sport bikes being targeted, it all perception. Harley riders think we get a bad rap. Crotch-rocketeers think they are unfairly singled out. I do know around this area in Florida there isn't a day that goes by that I don't see some jack**s on his death-sled inviting an accident to either himself or other riders/drivers by doing something stupid.

Ride safe and RIDE SMART!