The Virtual Pub
Come Inside... => Saloon Bar => Topic started by: The Moan Ranger on March 03, 2009, 09:01:05 PM
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Now you all know that I ride bikes, so I may bit a bit biased. However, I am of the opinion that the punishment is a tad harsh. All the rider was guilty of was going a bit quickly. But the papers focus on irrelevance.
It matters not that the "bike is capable of 220mph" (which, in itself is rubbish). 190, tops.
It matters not that the son wasn't wearing gloves, trousers etc. - the law only says you have to wear a crash helmet.
It appears to not matter that the rider had a full licence and it was entirely his choice to have his 14 year-old son on the back. I very much doubt he put a gun to his son's head and I also would wager that the son wanted his "old-man" to nail the bike. I know I urged my dad to nail the Dolly Sprint. But that's O.K. though, we were in car...
A Suzuki GSX1300R will hit 120mph from a standstill in about 9 seconds. If he was doing 60mph, along with the traffic, before he nailed it, it would have taken only about 4 seconds to reach that speed. This is very different from Dazza in his Fiat Punto taking over 30 seconds to even hit 100mph and then finding out he can't control it. Riding such a fast bike isn't just something you can do (and live) after passing your test -there is a big skill element, unlike Dazza.
The judge then warbles on about "If you had burst a tyre...blah, blah, blah" which shows a staggering lack of awareness. IF his tyre had blown, then even at 60mph, both of them would probably hit the deck with nasty results. I would further wager that the chances of a blowout on that bike are a damn sight less that that of Dazza in his Fiat Punto. Bikers with bikes like that do not scrimp on tyres - your life depends on it. Dazza will doubtlessly be running around on dodgy remoulds to save that extra money to pay for the dustbin-sized exhaust. And when Dazza loses it round a bend, the damage he causes to a wall/shop/bus-queue is going to be far worse than a motorcycle.
Strangely, most papers do mention that the rider wasn't drunk, drugged-up, inconveniencing other drivers, nor was there an accident. How many "Dazza" stories could boast the same?
So the real bottom line is we have a fully licenced, fully insured, fully road legal, motorcyclist - not pissed or doped-up who has twisted the throttle for a few second, not causing injury or inconvenience to anyone, getting six months in the slammer.
One of the old regulars up the pub was mugged and spent 2 months in hospital. He won't leave his house now.
His attacker received a suspended sentence.
That seems really fair. evil: evil: evil:
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Agree entirely...
You don't have to watch or read the meeja too much to realise how biased the judicial system is against bikers. noooo:
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Well if 95% of them didn't try playing out the racing life (on the public highway) of Rossi, p'raps we wouldn't feel so bloody bitter towards them most of the time.
I personally hate motor bikes with a passion.
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A new refreshingingly tolerant Growler.
noooo:
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A new refreshingingly tolerant Growler.
noooo:
What you shakin' your 'ed for ey?
Aren't I allowed to have an opinion like?
Doesn't mean I'm nessesraly neccesarly nesseccelary...oh bollox.... Banghead right or wrong, just my own personal opinion, and if you don't like it you can piss off. Simple really ey?
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A new refreshingingly tolerant Growler.
noooo:
What you shakin' your 'ed for ey?
Aren't I allowed to have an opinion like?
Doesn't mean I'm nessesraly neccesarly nesseccelary...oh bollox.... Banghead right or wrong, just my own personal opinion, and if you don't like it you can piss off. Simple really ey?
PMT ? (couldn't find an icon for a hug)
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The law is an exceeding lopsided affair.
For example Police motorcyclists frequently pass up our village high street at 70mph plus with blues and two going. Often there are twelve of them all using lights and sirens. The leader will swerve across to the "wrong side " of the road and come to a sliding halt to stop oncoming traffic whilst the other eleven roar on, he will then "wheelie" after the convoy, crashing his front wheel to the ground after a hundred yards and give it full throttle to catch up with them.
And the purpose of this exercise, which has been carried out at all times of the day including as the children are coming out of school? They are trainee motor cycle cops on high powered BMW machines being trained by North Wales Police in "escort and pursuit". Yes~ you read that right. North Wales Police run a training school and a number of forces send their officers here to learn.
Now the law is very clear. Blues and Twos may only be used in an emergency and no-one is entitled to break the speed limit, except the police in an emergency response situation. Complaints to Police Headquarters complete with licence plate numbers resulted in a speeding purge being carried out on village residents when a dozen got done for driving at over 33 mph.
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BASTARDS Angry9:
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And the purpose of this exercise, which has been carried out at all times of the day including as the children are coming out of school? They are trainee motor cycle cops on high powered BMW machines being trained by North Wales Police in "escort and pursuit". Yes~ you read that right. North Wales Police run a training school and a number of forces send their officers here to learn.
How curious to read this. Long before you moved there a cousin of mine did exactly that; training officer for the police in hot pursuit tactics (cars) in North Wales. He coupled it with a passion for mountain climbing in Snowdonia and eventually got out.
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Yes ~ we also get unmarked police cars being chased by marked police cars not to mention convoys of unmarked police vehicles (usually Jags) being "escorted" at high speed by up to 12 motor cycle cops (two abreast, six in front and six in the rear) with all lights and sirens going. Like something out of "The West Wing" with all the cops wearing sunglasses behind their visors. ::)
They really do think they are the mutt's nuts as they play their silly games.
OK someone has to be trained and someone has to do the training and I wouldn't mind so much if it were not for the sheer bloody arrogance that their body language displays.
The police have lost sight of the fact that they are a public service and can only operate with the active support and co-operation of those they are employed to police.
Our local force has now completed the transition to combat wear for all occasions. Gone are the white shirts, silver badges and ties. Gone are the helmets. Now they all wear Black Polo Shirts with "Heddlu" embroidered on them (Welsh for Police), black combat trousers, stab proof vests, baseball caps and 8).
Para-military is clearly this year's black.
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My local bobby's now back on a bike ... a very smart mountain bike with chequered tape and all sorts of accessories ::)
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It's little wonder the kids just laugh at them is it? ::)
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Police FORCE or Police SERVICE?
Brunstrom is a nutter, but he is not untypical. They have lost all respect around here and their surrogate PCSOs are openly abused
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The Chief Constables are, in the main, out of control and running things as they please.
I support the idea of elected CCs and a limit on the time between elections. As it is they are appointed by the Police Authority less than half of which body is elected. Once appointed they are almost impossible to dislodge. FFS Brunstrom even spent ŁK x 100s having his own "Police Authority" investigated because a newspaper got hold of a piece of paper he didn't want them to see. He never found the "leaker" but several careers were ruined in the hunt and many more ŁKs paid out in compo to various members of both the authority and the force ~ meanwhile he marches relentlessly on changing the rules to fit his latest idea by the day.
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Yeah...you all moan and whinge about the police yet when you want assistance...Oh, never mind...
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Yeah...you all moan and whinge about the police yet when you want assistance...Oh, never mind...
I have lots of friends who are police. And they will all tell you that when you want assistance, "It's a lottery!" They don't like this fact either. sad24:
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Yeah...you all moan and whinge about the police yet when you want assistance...Oh, never mind...
...yea, you either chance ringing 999 and end up getting a bollocking because in 'their' opinion, hoodies using threatening behaviour and abusive language on your front path is not classed as an emergency, and would you mind ringing the 0845 number in future please...if you can find it and if you can actually get through to it, or once again you can ring 999 and get told they'll get someone to you asap, but it could be an hour or so, even though you're fence has just been kicked down and you are currently being threatened to be beaten up by 5 drunken louts.
All the above has happened to me over the last 9 years.
Plod are really only interested in one thing, and that is running the force as a profitable business, hence the constant purge on the tired and weary easy meat motorist.
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Yeah...you all moan and whinge about the police yet when you want assistance...Oh, never mind...
...yea, you either chance ringing 999 and end up getting a bollocking because in 'their' opinion, hoodies using threatening behaviour and abusive language on your front path is not classed as an emergency, and would you mind ringing the 0845 number in future please...if you can find it and if you can actually get through to it, or once again you can ring 999 and get told they'll get someone to you asap, but it could be an hour or so, even though you're fence has just been kicked down and you are currently being threatened to be beaten up by 5 drunken louts.
All the above has happened to me over the last 9 years.
Plod are really only interested in one thing, and that is running the force as a profitable business, hence the constant purge on the tired and weary easy meat motorist.
Motorist/rider, Growler?
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Yeah...you all moan and whinge about the police yet when you want assistance...Oh, never mind...
...yea, you either chance ringing 999 and end up getting a bollocking because in 'their' opinion, hoodies using threatening behaviour and abusive language on your front path is not classed as an emergency, and would you mind ringing the 0845 number in future please...if you can find it and if you can actually get through to it, or once again you can ring 999 and get told they'll get someone to you asap, but it could be an hour or so, even though you're fence has just been kicked down and you are currently being threatened to be beaten up by 5 drunken louts.
All the above has happened to me over the last 9 years.
Plod are really only interested in one thing, and that is running the force as a profitable business, hence the constant purge on the tired and weary easy meat motorist.
Motorist/rider, Growler?
Same thing in'it?
Lets not fall out over the bikers thing. I'm sure you're in the 5% (still large) minority of excellent safe and considerate riders. ;)
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Growler, if you saw me a few years ago launching a heeeooooge wheelie outside my local, then coming back and doing a long rolling stoppie and then burning the rear tyre out (prior to going a few yards to ge a new one fitted), I doubt you would have thought I was "safe". However, it was all done ONLY when conditions allowed.
Now, on the old Triumph, no such foolery is possible, nor do I wish to do it any more. My mad Suzuki sits in the garage, unloved, unused and will only be brought back to life for the odd track-day if I can be arsed.
Chugging along on a 1955 twin is far more fun and even it is more than fast enough to get you in trouble if you don't ride within the bike's limits - i.e. no "knee-down" on corners and add 50 yard to your braking distance. And also be wary that the leaking oil might get on your rear tyre lol:
Back to the original moan, my main point was that this bloke was riding well within the limits of himself and the bike - it's just that the bike in question has a lot higher limits than the headlines would lead you to believe. This wsn't some old crate that was only fit for the scrap yard.
In Motorcyle News today, it reports clearly that this was no newbie speed-freak. He is described as a "47 year-old gentleman". He did not deserve jail IMHO. Soft target but he was naive enough to apologise and let "justice" take its perverted course in this instance.
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Doing bike 'antics' in a safe environment is no problem to me. It's the crazed nutters that have to drive like loonies all the bloody time on the roads that does my head in, and I can assure you that 'round here that is the vast majority of them.
The main drag leading out to N.Wales just up the road from here on a Sunday morning, sounds like the bloody TT races are taking place. eeek:
I could reel off several instances of absolutely insane biking incidents I've witnessed over the past 6 months but won't bore you with the details.
I agree, this guy should not have been thrown into jail. A total waste of time and money.
A 6 month weekend compulsary accompaniement with the ambulances that have to visit the accidents of bikers might have been a better idea, to show him just how dreadfully gory, limb losing and waste of life these biking accidents can be.
Lets face it Moany, most of these planks are 'born again' bikers in their 40/50's who simply buy these powerful bikes as a weekend toy to have flirtatious encounters with danger, causing general mayhem and anger amongst the majority of the motoring public.
Just my observation, NOT bias.
Aside the bikers problem, I personally don't like bikes due to the total lack of protection if it all goes tits up. I know of several that have come to low speed grief, even around town, and have the scars and limps to show for it.
I do like watching the biking GP's btw. ;)
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We'll have to arrange a 'meet' at the Nurburgring some time. You on your bike, and me in me little track racer. cloud9:
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My brother worked in an insurance claims office and would regularly show me the photos of injuries to bikers - or the piles of raspberry jam on the road that were once bikers - in a bid to show me what can happen.
Gruesome stuff. sick2:
Oddly, he has now passed his test and rides a GSXR600 - leaving his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 at home - when he wants a bit of a thrill. The funny thing is he can't even keep up with me on the old Triumph, but he realises his newbie limits and that even a quick car is nowhere near as fast a even a half-quick bike. He's probably even think Barman's hairdryer is fast!
Bikes can be dangerous and lack of protection will normally leave you worse off than in a car. Mr bruv' has, however, shown me photos of other accidents where car occupants would have been better off not being trapped inside; these incidents are of course a lot rarer.
If you value your life, you ride accordingly. A lot of these born-again chaps are probably bored with work/wife etc. and may take to the two wheeled route as a cry for attention.
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We'll have to arrange a 'meet' at the Nurburgring some time. You on your bike, and me in me little track racer. cloud9:
Already done the Nurburgring. In 8 mins 28 on the GSXR750. Still fancy it whistle:
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Yeah...you all moan and whinge about the police yet when you want assistance...Oh, never mind...
Nothing personal me old shipmate ~ but all the cops of my acquaintance feel the same as most of the public. Your hands are tied by targets and the idiots who lead you ~ which is why recruitment is down and early retirement is being taken in droves. I have spent almost 20 years working in the manned security industry, often in very close co-operation with Police Officers from The Met, West Midlands, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley forces and whilst I am aware that every nick has at least one twat working out of it most cops do a good job within the limits they are allowed ~ they would like those limiting factors removed. They would LOVE to be able to be policemen again instead of pawns in a political game.