how fast does fast have to be, to be fast?

I was just reading a link on discussing the merits of various radar detectors, i.e. Valentine vs. Escort, etc. It struck me that most of the participants in the thread felt they had to run with a radar detector in order to avoid a performance certificate from a LEO.

I've been riding for nearly 40 years without a detector, always way over the limit and have been fortunate enough not to get a ticket. Been stopped several times and recv'd warnings but no ticket. It seems to me if common sense is used, like keeping alert, riding ahead of yourself, and using traffic as a blocker, one can bend the crap out of the speed limit and still remain relatively invisible to the radar eye. I've been accused of practicing a safety last attitude but when it comes to riding one can never be to safe. Is 75 fast? 80? 85? How fast do you have to go to go fast?

Thansk for letting this old man rant. Naz

I don't necessarily disagree. But ideas about speed kinda go out the window when riding in some parts of the country.

They only go away for a while.

Trust me on this.

KBasa said:

They only go away for a while.

Trust me on this.

Click to expand...

I know.

And It's getting damn hard to spot the police cruisers from a distance. Seems like, out west, every other car has some kind of rack on the top for skis or something.

Fast? Who needs it? My top speed was 190 km/h (118 miles/hr?) in France once on a fully-loaded RT, but generally I'm a 65 guy (the roses smell better)

fast is...

How fast is fast? Well if your trying to ride at the pace you enjoy and you are speeding in excess of say 10 mph of the posted limit you may encounter a LEO who will as Clint Eastwood would say (Make My Day) I have found you had better be very aware of the road and all the hiding places these officers set-up Radar. Thus a good detector is required for some hopeful warning of a speed trap. I personally ride too fast for posted speeds but do as others have stated and use cars and semi rigs for blockers. I know my luck will eventually run out, but I do not ride foolishly and try to ride at speeds that are reasonable not weaving in and out of lanes and such which will get you noticed. On another note the Bmw's without loud pipes will allow you to ride past LEO'S without being noticed nearly as much as the V twin boys who seem to draw the attention.

The idea is to do all of the things that you mentioned AND run a detector. They can really help. Even 40 in a 25 zone is expensive...

Fast is bad. I had to trade my 1994 R1100 RS because I couldn't keep my throttle hand under control. My best getting a ticket story occurred on the highway between Metamora and Cazenovia on Illinois Rt. 89 on my wifes R75/5. I screwed it on leaving town heading north and the patrol car was approaching from the last side street before cornfields. In the car was a veteran cop and a trainee. They chased me almost 6 miles. The only reason I stopped at all was that I passed a Harley and got to wondering how far behind me he was. Imagine my surprise when I checked the mirror and the cruiser was right on my hiney. The officer comes strutting up and says " you don't look in your mirrors much, do ya"? I said "hey man, when I'm going that fast I don't worry much about people coming up behind me." The townie patrol car was knocking and smoking for having chased me down. He only wrote me 1 ticket and proceeded to tell me how he had a bike just like it when he was stationed in Germany in the 70's. He initially tagged me going 55 in a 40 mile zone.(the ticket I gratefully accepted) When I saw him behind me, I was pegging 85 in a 55. He told me he had to scold the rookie to mash it to the floor or otherwise they'd loose me. It was a miracle that they didn't drag me down and beat me like a mule. I figure that chase-down killed that tired old patrol car.

The idea is to do all of the things that you mentioned AND run a detector. They can really help. Even 40 in a 25 zone is expensive...