130 MPH-not guilty

[griz]

Guy and GF zipped by a trooper because his throttle stuck.  This is local to me so I can tell you that 130 while going from rt 58 to I-264 would be pretty spooky.  Story:   http://hamptonroads.com/2010/12/convictions-tossed-130mph-ride-runaway-motorcycle

The trooper was already doing over 80 MPH on the way to another call, so I'll bet he was a bit surprised when somebody passed him going 50 MPH faster!

[CNYCacher]

And on a bike, too!  Hairy!

[bedlamite]

130 on a modern sportbike is easy to control. All he would have had to do to stop was hit the kill switch, pull the clutch lever, and coast to a stop. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

truth is stranger than fiction   hes lucky they believed him.  there are at least 2 ways to turn the motor off and its not like hes got power steering et al to worry about. folks learn the minimum needed to "drive" then get that funny look when thats not enough

[Strings]

Thing is, it wouldn't have been all that hairy to hit the kill switch as soon as he realized the throttle was stuck. No need to hit the clutch right away...

[MillCreek]

He fiddled with the clutch, but remembered stories about revving engines exploding, "and this engine is between my legs." He also feared turning off the engine at that speed, so they just kept going faster.

He swerved around at least one car that looked as if it was standing still even though it was going the speed limit. He veered onto Interstate 264 - he didn't want to chance the High-Rise Bridge on Interstate 64 and its metal-grate surface.

"Basically, I'm just trying to maintain control of the motorcycle," Parker said. "If you're not used to going that speed, it's scary."

The trooper pulled alongside and started nudging closer. To avoid hitting him or running off the highway, Parker chanced holding in the clutch. The engine held. Parker stopped on the shoulder and killed the engine. The chase lasted about a minute, long enough to cover about two miles.

I call shenanigans.  He didn't want to use the clutch or kill switch earlier, but had a change of heart when the trooper drew abreast of him?  Either this was his second day on a motorcycle or the guy made up this story to see if it would stick.

[Sergeant Bob]

Shenanigans!!  Shenanigans!!

[seeker_two]

Shenanigans!!  Shenanigans!!

Eeeevillll shenanigans...... 

[kgbsquirrel]

I'm going to pistol whip the next person who says shenanigans!

[MicroBalrog]

I call shenanigans.  He didn't want to use the clutch or kill switch earlier, but had a change of heart when the trooper drew abreast of him?  Either this was his second day on a motorcycle or the guy made up this story to see if it would stick.

People sometimes get confused an irrational in emergencies.

It would be fairly easy to inspect the vehicle and check if it had a technical issue.

[Regolith]

People sometimes get confused an irrational in emergencies.

It would be fairly easy to inspect the vehicle and check if it had a technical issue.

According to the article, the guy had a repair order from a motorcycle shop that supposedly backs up his claim.  That and the fact he's only been riding motorcycles for three months makes me inclined to believe him. I can see a novice locking up and not knowing for sure what to do in that situation.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Yea  if i try it though i am definitely lying

[RoadKingLarry]

I think being able to ecorrectly describe the actual processes involved with operating a motor vehicle should be part of the drivers license requirements.
Be able to describe and make a simple diagram of everthing that happens frmo the time you turn the key to start it to turning the key to stop it. Including electrical and mechanical linkages, fuel, cooling, breaks, steering, suspension, charging and any other system that affects the operation of the vehicle.

[Strings]

>Yea  if i try it though i am definitely lying<

Only if your lips are moving...

>I think being able to ecorrectly describe the actual processes involved with operating a motor vehicle should be part of the drivers license requirements...<

I think that's going a lil' TOO far.

Or should people need to be able to completely outline all the mechanics the happen when they pull a trigger before owning/operating a firearm?

[RoadKingLarry]

I think that's going a lil' TOO far.

Alright, I'll add the requirements of being able to describe in laymans terms the physics involved with steering, skdding and stopping a vehicle.

As for firearms ownership requirements while I think every gun owner should be able to do that, making it a requirement gets into the infringment thingy.

[Jocassee]

Not sure why he couldn't have just popped the clutch and hit the kill switch immediately. That way the engine compression wouldn't have thrown him off. Rookie mistake born from unfamiliarity with the machine is my guess.

[CNYCacher]

I'm going to pistol whip the next person who says shenanigans!

Hey, fistful!  What's the name of that place you like to go to out in Spursbury, with the chicken fingers and all that stuff hanging on the walls?

[Jamisjockey]

Hey, fistful!  What's the name of that place you like to go to out in Spursbury, with the chicken fingers and all that stuff hanging on the walls?

Fistfuls on the radio for beating up the guy at the drive thru.

[Hawkmoon]

So is it SOP for Virginia state troopers to throw down on speeders?

I can sort of buy the guy's story ... sort of ... but I find the notion of a cop pulling a gun on a speeder rather unsettling.

[bedlamite]

So is it SOP for Virginia state troopers to throw down on speeders?

I can sort of buy the guy's story ... sort of ... but I find the notion of a cop pulling a gun on a speeder rather unsettling.

Here's one from Maryland.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

when you hit 3 figures they get a lil tense  especially when you are 2 up.  i got 12 months in va for a lil faster than that

[brimic]

Not sure why he couldn't have just popped the clutch and hit the kill switch immediately. That way the engine compression wouldn't have thrown him off.

Engine compression will not upset the bike though, it will just feel like the bike is coasting down with the throttle closed, but a lot quieter. Failing that,  a bike will likely have a rev limiter (ignition set to retard the timing at a certain RPM) which will keep the engine from flying apart.
I'll always remember the kill switch-its the only thing I got dinged on with my road test. Instructor told me to shut the engine off so I reached down and turned the key off as was my habit. LOL.