Triumphrat

haggis95 · 05-15-2008

I was out cruisin' the other day in a 100km/h zone, with my buddy (on his daytona 955i). 2 weeks ago we had snow, now it's in the high 20s (celcius) (high 80s).

We had passed some slow cars and were still going around 140km/h and slowing.

All of a sudden, coming over the brow of the hill, flashing lights!

We pulled over.

The sherrifs pulled a U turn and came behind us.

2 young, eager, smart guys got out.

They had clocked my buddy at 132km/h and me at 112km/h.

They ask for reg, licence etc and insurance. I had left my wallet behind in my other m/c jacket - the cold weather jacket I was going to put on before I realized how hot it was.

The thing is, the same cops had pulled me over 6 months ago and I didn't have my registration on me then! Then I got a $170 fine for failure to produce.

This time we both got a polite warning, and nothing patronizing like, "Speed kills etc" but a heads up that they would be patrolling this stretch for the next two months and they would stop us if we sped.

Anyone else any good cop/biking stories?

Ski_rat · 05-15-2008

Yeah some nice fellow said I had to be doing at least 110 so he cut me a break and wrote it up for 106.

UraniumC · 05-15-2008

Since moving here to NH in 2000 I've been pulled over nine times, including once this week.

In every case, including once when I was at double the speed limit, they've given me warnings.

In every case, but one, they have been very decent guys. The one exception was on a bit of a power trip. But still let me off with a warning, so no great complaint.

For my part, I am always polite and friendly. I never forget that any traffic stop has the potential to be deadly for them and, as I'm big and ulgy, try to let them know I'm not going to be a threat to them.

With rare exception, the respect I give them is returned.

D9 · 05-15-2008

Couple of years ago, going full tilt boogie down a country highway, maybe 100mph or so... full tuck... hangin' on just like the Bonnie makes you at those speeds... coming over a gentle hill, off to the right I just noticed a car parked a little ways down another, smaller road running at an angle to the highway... and I just knew... "oh, sh*t."

I was probably nearly a mile ahead when I finally saw lights behind me. I slowed down, pulled over, shut the bike off, took off my helmet, and just waited.

The officer pulled in behind me, gets out slowly, walks up and asks for my license, which I have at the ready. He was relaxed, unhurried... looks at my license, looks at me and asks "... so, whats the hurry?".

I told him I'd just gotten the bike back from the shop - which was true - and that I was maybe just a little excited to have it back - also true.

He nodded, returned to his cruiser, checked my license, came back in a couple of minutes, hands me my license.

"Slow it down, Ok?"

"Ok, I will."

"Enjoy the day."

Walks back to his cruiser, gets in and drives away.

Cheers,

D9

grumpy_1944 · 05-16-2008

Climbing up cottonwood pass (two lane road) I had just blown the exhaust cannister loose a few miles earlier. I got slowed by a pickup pulling a camping trailer so big it would have stopped a diesel truck. Several cars were between me and the RV.

After toping out on the grade, I could see for a few miles and no traffic was comming the other way. I waited for the traffic between me and the RV to pass. No one took advantage of the situation to get around the RV.

I downshifted, gave a signal, looked in my mirror (nothiing behind me), twisted the throttle cable tight as a guitar string and pulled into the oncoming lane to pass. Passed all the cars between me and the RV and as I approached 100MPH as I approached the last one. Just as I got almost aroud the second car behind the RV, the first car decided to pull into the oncoming lane to pass.

I grabbed a handful of front brake, started downshifting hard. The bellow of the broken exhaust woke up the @%$#*^&%$#@& in front of me and he gased it. My front wheel was screaming and the rear wheel chirped every time I downshifted. My deceleration coupled with @%$#*^&%$#@& @%$#*^&%$#@&'s acceleration allowed me to keep from hitting the B*****d.
Pulled over in front of the RV and noticed flashing red lights behind me.

I pulled over just knowing I would get that yellow piece of paper, or a trip to jail. The Officer went around me and motioned me to follow him. I did and when I caught up with him, he had the miscreant pulled over. I got out the required paperwork and waited for what I thought would be my doom.

The Officer finally walked back to me and said "son, you're kind of noisy, I heard you pulling the grade". I explained the exhaust just failed a short time before all this. He looked at the exhaust, asked me when I planned to get it fixed. I said "just as soon as I get home".

He turned back towards the other excuse for a driver, paused looked back towards me and said "I'm throwing the book at him (the cage driver); God, that was some d***ed good ridin' son. Be sure and get that exhaust fixed".

I was so relieved I almost fell down.

The exhaust was fixed two days later.

sweatmachine · 05-16-2008

wow good story, and better save! I'm glad you're here to share!

Orpheus · 05-16-2008

A few years ago, I got my first "real" motorcycle: a used 1999 Ducati Monster 750 with a single Napoleon bar-end mirror and a cored exhaust. I had it for about two weeks before I decided to ride it up to work on the freeway. I'm cruising up I-5 near Oceanside, following a white Mercedes as we overtake on the left. Not being from California, I tend to overtake and return to the right as opposed to plopping my ass down in the left lane like I own it. Apparently, this didn't go too well with the local law enforcement folks.

I didn't see the multiple police cars until I noticed that the cars around me were moving strangely. I looked in my one good mirror (finally) and recognized three Oceanside patrol cars. I hadn't heard them because my bike's exhaust (and the wind) was so loud. Whoops. Freaked out, I pulled over to the side of the freeway. Sirens still blasting, the lead car's megaphone switched on: "GET OFF THE FREEWAY!"

Rattled, I started my bike up again and pulled off, going down a side street with three cars still following me. I shut off my bike and the female officer in the first car immediately said, "Do not move until I tell you, and keep your hands on the bars." Three officers were around me, right hands on sidearms. She asked for my information... "slowly".

She asked me, "Did you not hear us back there?"

"No, ma'am."

"How is that even possible? We were following you for over two miles."

"I'm not sure, ma'am. I think I have all the vents on my helmet open."

It was then that I realized that they assumed I was fleeing! Perhaps it was my subsequent apology or her realization that even a 750 Monster should be able to flee at a speed greater than 80 mph.

"Are you up at Camp Pendleton?"

"No, ma'am. I'm not in the military. I've only had this bike for two weeks. It's my first."

"You were weaving."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I wasn't trying to weave. I was passing on the left and returning on the right."

"Well you can't break the speed limit to do it. Watch it."

Somehow, I got out of that with a warning. As I rejoined the traffic on I-5 North on Oceanside, I accelerated up to 65 mph and stayed there... as hundreds of cars shot by me at 10+ mph faster speeds.

California, you gotta love it.

FlyingScot · 05-16-2008

Well, it didn't happen on a bike, but it's my favorite cop story so I'll tell it.

I was driving from New Mexico back home to Michigan. For all our non-American friends (and those in the US without geography knowledge) that is a long d@mn drive through some of the ugliest parts of the country.

I planned on doing it as a straight shot, so started at about 4AM with a carload of crap and a couple 6-packs of Mt. Dew. By about 10AM, I've hit Oklahoma and the Will Rodgers Turnpike. Now this is right around when they were repealing the national 55 MPH limit and the WRT was still 55. Needless to say, I wasn't doing 55.

So I'm coming over a hill, drinking the Mountain Dew, and see a cop coming the other way (divided highway). I put the can down, check speed (about 75) and slow down a bit. He keeps going, so I relax.

Sure enough, 1 mile later, lights in the rear view.

Cop walks up to the window and I'm waiting for the inevitable "you know how fast..." In stead he walks up and says (imagine Oklahoma drawl here) "What's in the can, son?"

Huh? I look at him, hold up the can and say "Mountain Dew"

He says "All those Mountain Dew too?"

"Yup"

"Well God bless, I took you for a local boy heading for the lake gettin' a start on his drinkin'. Come back to the car and we'll talk about this"

So we chitchat for a bit, and he turns around and says: "I'm letting you go with a warnin'. Shows my superiors I'm out here harassing people. Oh, and you may want to slow it down some."

Baltobonneville · 05-16-2008

No great stories, but my last two stops for speeding--one in the car and one on the bike--were let off with warnings by friendly officers who asked me to slow it down.

BlackThrux · 05-16-2008

Only time I've been pulled over on the bike was for doing 32 in a 25, and the cop gave me a ticket, a zero point ticket. I'm pretty convinced the Boulder cops have nothing better to do...

Otherwise I try to keep a pretty good eye out for the police, its amazing how fast you can slow down a thruxton.....