Triumphrat

kubbie · 01-12-2010, 06:02 PM

Took my TT out for the first ride this year today. It was great, cool enough for leathers without sweating to death and very little traffic. While cruising down the roads staying behind cars so as to not speed when I came up to the road I wanted to go down. It's one of those intersections w/ on ramp type approaches so I ramp up my exit speed. As I come off the ramp into the other road ( clear my way) I see some guy in the oncoming lane pointing up/toward me. I turn my head to see what was behind me. Nothing! So back to the task at hand, nailing the entrance of this tight, baked turn. This is a turn I can take @ 50ish in my car, so you know on a bike you can go a lot faster. Make the corner no problem. Next is a really long straightaway. I've already seen 160 mph on this bike so I feel no need to do it again. So once I caught up to the minivan in front of me I slowed to the speed limit.

For some reason the driver decided to pull over. He signaled, I slowed until he was almost completely off the road them went to go around him. That's when it happened.

There was an unmarked cruiser running right behind me. Lights flashing. At this time he also hit the sirens. He looked pissed. He asked for my license/ registration/ proof of insurance. He spent the next 10 minutes reading me the riot act about riding so fast that I never even saw him riding behind me. Now you guys know our mirrors are great for seeing your elbows and not much else. I tried to explain this but he wouldn't listen because he was so mad about my speeding thru the curves. He actually thought I was trying to run, when I said if I was running I wouldn't have slowed for the van. He's still mad. When I said I did see someone pointing at a plane or something, he said that was him. Oops. So he pulled a u-turn and took about 2 miles to catch me.

He ran my license and it came back that it was valid. Then he came over to me & the bike and started in on "I better not hear your name on the radio or you'll regret it". He eventually let me go with a warning. Which made me a real happy camper because I couldn't pay it anyway.

So now I'm seriously thinking about selling the TT and buying something slower. Because I can't behave on the dang thing. It hits its happy little strum @ 70mph. The last time I rode it I got popped doing 80 in a 55 zone (or something like that) 10 minutes after leaving the house.

Or start doing track days!

yakoo11 · 01-12-2010, 11:05 PM

I don't know what bike you think is going to be slower then this one.

a ninja 250 still tops out above the speed limit and is a blast to ride
a drz tops out above the speed limit and is a blast to ride

it's not the bike, it's the rider

p.s. I race on the track and ride on the roads, I can't wait to get a drz so I can be an even bigger hooligan!

spank86 · 01-13-2010, 06:21 AM

move to England. At least we're allowed to do 70mph if we can find a clear bit of road to do it on!

Kovac · 01-13-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spank86

move to England. At least we're allowed to do 70mph if we can find a clear bit of road to do it on!

Is this on a highway or a country road?

Will · 01-13-2010, 11:31 AM

Track days are why I have a valid driver's license.

spank86 · 01-13-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kovac

Is this on a highway or a country road?

Well you'd have more luck finding a clear a country road.

although you're only supposed to do 60 on them unless they're 2 lane.

BombFactory · 01-13-2010, 08:21 PM

Horsepower and a motorcycle's performance capabilities are separate from a riders ability and maturity; the TT600 doesn't cause too much trouble, as it doesn't decide how fast it goes and when. No offense intended, but I'd say if you cannot control your speed or maneuvering, and if you cannot see a patrol car attempting to pull you over, you probably shouldn't be riding anything on the street. Track days don't sound like a bad idea.

kubbie · 01-14-2010, 09:42 AM

I know its always the nut connecting the handlebars to the seat that causes all the trouble. But to clarify a few things. I was behind 2 cars doing the speed limit until the "off ramp" then I did get on the gas for the off ramp and the next curve, a total of 1/4 mile. I let off the gas and did basically the speed limit because I caught the minivan.

Didn't see him behind me because I was in cruise mode w/ left arm sitting on the tankbag. Doing that moves my head/body angle just enough that my mirrors are useless.

The bike is a blast to ride, and it brings out the joy of riding in the corners. Unfortunately you need to be going at a good clip ( or maybe its just me) to have any fun in a corner.

To be honest the reason I told the story here is because I thought you guys would understand how bad it sucks to play, literally for 2 minutes, and have it ruin your entire freakin' day. I guess not.

All that having been said I'm going to take the old man bike out today! For a clue look at my avatar.

Crow-bait · 01-14-2010, 12:27 PM

noooo keep it! Although in the UK we are able to go abit faster. I remember being taught that 80mph is acceptable on the motorway in short stints if over taking.

I tend to find, (yes I know they keep the road safe blah blah blah) that traffic wombles in cars always seem to be more aggresive and self righteous. Traffic coppers on bikers tend to be much more lenient and fair.

Its hard to behave on any bike really its just a case of knowing when to misbehave! Don't give up your fun for them anyways!

showmetheway428 · 01-14-2010, 04:59 PM

I'm not a real fan of the S4 at low speeds, it's buzzy and always seems to be begging to be opened up. I have other bikes that are way more fun for legal cruising.