Eirik
29-03-2000, 09:40 AM
Well, I'm gonna stick my neck out (because that's usually the best way to get things underway) and say that the current crop of race replicas should not be found on public roads. Suck on that for a moment!
Why? Because they are made for one purpose only - speed. Lots of it. And I'll be the first one to admit that's a huge amount of fun. But it's also socially totally unacceptable. Flying over the M-ways at 190mph is insane, no matter how fun it is. Also, these bikes in general makes no sense cruising around close to the speed limit. They are made to charge, and every corner should be a challenge. It's just that their limits are so high few riders are capable of even remotely coming close to finding them. You can probably ride the things 99% of the time at 3 times the posted limit. And at such speeds, it doesn't matter if the bike is up to it - as long as you're not on a track, you are an accident about to happen.
There used to be a 100hp limit. In addition, a country like Japan (they at least used to have a 77hp limit) has a 180kph/112mph electronic speed limiter built in to every vehicle. Personally, I think that may very well be a good idea. A limit set to 150mph is meaningless, because nobody (including Michael Schumacher & Co) are capable of travelling safely at such velocities on public roads. A puncture, hitting a bird, running over a stone etc etc will all most likely create a deadly scenario at speeds like that. (As an aside, three young people - 17, 17, and 20 years of age) got killed this weekend close to my town. Going down an 8% decline in an underwater tunnel in a Mercedes, they hit the wall and totally smashed up the car and themselves. Estimated speed before they ran into trouble was about 120mph and there was more than 1200 feet of skidmarks! and still enough energy to kill a car and three kids).
I don't blame those who buy these toys - they are only doing what they like and what the ads tell them to like. The responsibility lays completely on the manuf. shoulders. Now, I do realise that they and a lot of biker organisations tries to convince us fast bikes doesn't automatically mean more accidents. However, al, you have to do is take a look at insurance rates. They are based upon the companies direct cost of insuring each bike model. What you will find, is that Harleys cost very little to insure, as do vintage bikes and touring rigs. Being constantly urged by your vehicle to go faster, most mortals will oblige. And as speed increases above prudent levels, the chance of an accident increases dramatically.
I saw a video made by UK magazine "FAST BIKES". It clearly demonstrates what can happen when you combine mindless twats and huge amounts of power. They were crashing constantly. One shot showed one tester wheelieing(sp?) down a town road past pedestrians and crossroads at more than 110mph! Only a moron would act like that. In addition, despite all the burnouts and wheelies they pulled off constantly, they had surprisingly little bike control. Seeing them ride down an unfamiliar, twisty road was a scary thing. I know several riders who could have left them far behind yet ride much safer. They simply had little idea of what they were doing. Which explains why they made stupid and unneccesary mistakes over and over again.
Well, I hope I have - with my long post which I will try to not repat - given you a few points to argue with me about. My head is on the block :p
Why? Because they are made for one purpose only - speed. Lots of it. And I'll be the first one to admit that's a huge amount of fun. But it's also socially totally unacceptable. Flying over the M-ways at 190mph is insane, no matter how fun it is. Also, these bikes in general makes no sense cruising around close to the speed limit. They are made to charge, and every corner should be a challenge. It's just that their limits are so high few riders are capable of even remotely coming close to finding them. You can probably ride the things 99% of the time at 3 times the posted limit. And at such speeds, it doesn't matter if the bike is up to it - as long as you're not on a track, you are an accident about to happen.
There used to be a 100hp limit. In addition, a country like Japan (they at least used to have a 77hp limit) has a 180kph/112mph electronic speed limiter built in to every vehicle. Personally, I think that may very well be a good idea. A limit set to 150mph is meaningless, because nobody (including Michael Schumacher & Co) are capable of travelling safely at such velocities on public roads. A puncture, hitting a bird, running over a stone etc etc will all most likely create a deadly scenario at speeds like that. (As an aside, three young people - 17, 17, and 20 years of age) got killed this weekend close to my town. Going down an 8% decline in an underwater tunnel in a Mercedes, they hit the wall and totally smashed up the car and themselves. Estimated speed before they ran into trouble was about 120mph and there was more than 1200 feet of skidmarks! and still enough energy to kill a car and three kids).
I don't blame those who buy these toys - they are only doing what they like and what the ads tell them to like. The responsibility lays completely on the manuf. shoulders. Now, I do realise that they and a lot of biker organisations tries to convince us fast bikes doesn't automatically mean more accidents. However, al, you have to do is take a look at insurance rates. They are based upon the companies direct cost of insuring each bike model. What you will find, is that Harleys cost very little to insure, as do vintage bikes and touring rigs. Being constantly urged by your vehicle to go faster, most mortals will oblige. And as speed increases above prudent levels, the chance of an accident increases dramatically.
I saw a video made by UK magazine "FAST BIKES". It clearly demonstrates what can happen when you combine mindless twats and huge amounts of power. They were crashing constantly. One shot showed one tester wheelieing(sp?) down a town road past pedestrians and crossroads at more than 110mph! Only a moron would act like that. In addition, despite all the burnouts and wheelies they pulled off constantly, they had surprisingly little bike control. Seeing them ride down an unfamiliar, twisty road was a scary thing. I know several riders who could have left them far behind yet ride much safer. They simply had little idea of what they were doing. Which explains why they made stupid and unneccesary mistakes over and over again.
Well, I hope I have - with my long post which I will try to not repat - given you a few points to argue with me about. My head is on the block :p