VICS LOOK OUT

[sunshine]

have just got back from my morning ride
A LITTLE FRUSTRATED

from ferntree gully to warbuton no prescence at all

while having brekky we notice NOT 1 police bike 3 IN THE MAIN STREET I X SILVER I X BLUE 1 X MARKED

We thought we do mt donna buang before heading back as it looked like reefton was going to be a waste of time with so much BLUE prescence about . unfortunately the road was being resurfaced so on our return we notice all 3 bikes
still parked at the warbuton police station no doubt having a donought or two for morning tea
we head for gembrooke and bugger me another couple of marked units getting around

so all up 6 police bikes and a speed camera in about 180kms although its along weekend granted they will be about
this certainly makes it harder and harder to get some nice roads without being crucified on

anyhow keep ya eyes open

mick

[dilligaf]

they were stopping bikes at the top of the st andrews-kinglake rd at lunch time. saw another police bike on the christmas hills rd coming back.

[Slow and wobbly]

This is why I have no intention of getting another road bike unless I have to commute again. It is those roads and areas that are infested with street racers, dickheads, police and average joe just wanting to go for a ride. The weather is good and everyone is out on bikes at the moment and unless you head for the promenades in the bay side then you are going to be in the hills. The police presence is about keeping everybody on they're best behaviour as well as finding those that are reckless, irresponsible, unlicensed or unregistered. We all Tsk Tsk or offer condolences when we hear of another serious incident in these areas and yet you begrudge the police for taking positive action towards prevention?
Don't think I'm standing up here on my soapbox giving another spray but think about it, I have. How many times have you been out for a ride along the Reefton, Black Spur, Chum Creek rd, Kinglake, GOR, or other and gotten home and thought to yourself " Damn that was fun, glad there weren't any police there or I'd be fucked for sure" or "geez that was close". If you haven't given a thought about the speeds or behaviour you portray on the roads then perhaps you should. Play "what if...?"
I am glad in a way that I wiped out my road bike on the track because I was able to get away with it with minimal harm. I knew at the time though that when I went out on Sundays and pushed extremely hard on the road that eventually it would end in tears. If not for me then at least for one of my mates.
The police should not bother you if you are responsible. If you get busted for speed or dangerous driving then cop it sweet - you did it. If they pull you up at Cumberland Junction or Kinglake etc then have a chat with em and appreciate the fact that they are weeding out those that have no registration, hence no third party insurance, or liscense.
Wanna speed and be a dickhead? Then get on a track or accept what you get by breaking the law. The days are over when you could belt up the Reefton with not another soul within cooee, but now with car clubs, 4wd's,other bikes and the average citizen meandering or racing up and down it is beyond reason to think that it is a perfect backroad where you will encounter no one - including the police. Ever noticed how every Sunday the Reefton CFA truck is parked outside the shed ready to go?
I used to hear and read similar comments such as what I have spieled above and dismiss it as "yeah whatever" but really it starts to make sense if you review what it is you are doing with your bike and when you are doing it. I was a dickhead. Still am, but in a different capacity. I have no want to go back up those roads other than to cruise and have a good day out in which case I would have nothing to be afraid of from the local constabulary.




Side note: Cant find it at the moment but I have a picture of self sitting astride a Police bike at Cumberland Junction after being license checked. I asked nicely and he even let me play with the lights and siren!

[6maniac]

Did he let you wear his cap, too ?

[zx6rider]

This is why I have no intention of getting another road bike unless I have to commute again. It is those roads and areas that are infested with street racers, dickheads, police and average joe just wanting to go for a ride. The weather is good and everyone is out on bikes at the moment and unless you head for the promenades in the bay side then you are going to be in the hills. The police presence is about keeping everybody on they're best behaviour as well as finding those that are reckless, irresponsible, unlicensed or unregistered. We all Tsk Tsk or offer condolences when we hear of another serious incident in these areas and yet you begrudge the police for taking positive action towards prevention?
Don't think I'm standing up here on my soapbox giving another spray but think about it, I have. How many times have you been out for a ride along the Reefton, Black Spur, Chum Creek rd, Kinglake, GOR, or other and gotten home and thought to yourself " Damn that was fun, glad there weren't any police there or I'd be fucked for sure" or "geez that was close". If you haven't given a thought about the speeds or behaviour you portray on the roads then perhaps you should. Play "what if...?"
I am glad in a way that I wiped out my road bike on the track because I was able to get away with it with minimal harm. I knew at the time though that when I went out on Sundays and pushed extremely hard on the road that eventually it would end in tears. If not for me then at least for one of my mates.
The police should not bother you if you are responsible. If you get busted for speed or dangerous driving then cop it sweet - you did it. If they pull you up at Cumberland Junction or Kinglake etc then have a chat with em and appreciate the fact that they are weeding out those that have no registration, hence no third party insurance, or liscense.
Wanna speed and be a dickhead? Then get on a track or accept what you get by breaking the law. The days are over when you could belt up the Reefton with not another soul within cooee, but now with car clubs, 4wd's,other bikes and the average citizen meandering or racing up and down it is beyond reason to think that it is a perfect backroad where you will encounter no one - including the police. Ever noticed how every Sunday the Reefton CFA truck is parked outside the shed ready to go?
I used to hear and read similar comments such as what I have spieled above and dismiss it as "yeah whatever" but really it starts to make sense if you review what it is you are doing with your bike and when you are doing it. I was a dickhead. Still am, but in a different capacity. I have no want to go back up those roads other than to cruise and have a good day out in which case I would have nothing to be afraid of from the local constabulary.

Side note: Cant find it at the moment but I have a picture of self sitting astride a Police bike at Cumberland Junction after being license checked. I asked nicely and he even let me play with the lights and siren!

+1 Adrian, Well said. I tend to agree that there are a lot of wannabe racers out on weekends (and other days), I myself have never been to either the Reefton or Black spur but would like to one day, but I would like to know that I could visit the spurs and have a safe enjoyable ride.
I recently sold my ZX6R, pity cause I really did like that bike, and now ride a Suzuki 1250 K8 Bandit, and I have found that now I am so much more relaxed when riding, I tend to take time to enjoy the ride and the scenery, rather than to see how far I can lay it over into corners.
I would have liked to keep the 6 as a track bike, but finances wouldnt allow it.
My main priority is going out haveing a safe enjoyable ride and being able to come home and tell the family and friends about it.
Ok thats enough from me.

[Mizz ZZR]

Well if you had gone on the tallangatta overnighter you would have done a whole lot of good roads and not been frustrated Ride report pending ;)Around 1,000 ks Mike has the total on his trip meter,i have magpie bits in my ducts and there are a number of lucky bunnies and one extremly luck fox Mal logged in a Kazz

[DaveGPz]

It's hard, isn't it? All these wannabe racers (not like us at all, hey?). The cops have to deal with every man (or girl) and their dog on the spurs on a day like today. I'm young enough to remember when I started riding, and had a brain fart on Reefton. Dropped the FJ1100 on the last tight downhill corner, and had just got it upright when the rozzer rocked up. "You OK?" was his first question, then he checked the road and the skid mark, followed by "If you're OK to ride, just go home mate". Honestly, he recognised inexperience, and gave me some good advice. About half way home I realised I'd broken my right collar bone, but that served me right.

Yes, some of the police are unnecessarily anal... but then again, some riders are unnecessarily stupid (I've been there). And no, I don't agree with the 80k limit on Black Spur (or speed cameras), but how do you explain/train the RGV250 that forced me to swerve when he came towards me around the corner on my side of the road at the top of the Spur? If you really want to push it and scrape it - maybe a track day? It's not the same, I know, but there are no mums in 4WDs dropping the kids at school, either. You can still enjoy a road ride without going 150%... or if you really need to risk life and limb, commute to work!

We'd have been at Tallangatta if it wasn't for a large stone that destroyed my son's radiator, swiftly followed by his motor... Pontikat, help!!!

[sunshine]

just thought id share the fact that there were heaps of blue about thats all
and probably agree with most if not all of ya comments

and ive got nothing againts the boyz doing there job either ,weeding out some of these clowns
although i could never claim to be boy racer and yeah im not a gifted rider and as you rightly said ive probably been a dick
but i do like to ride my bike without this continued harrasment , i understand there a hoon element about and unlicensed riders etc etc ... im not sure i fit that catergory

but the motorcyclist is certainly being targeted and maybe for good cause
it just dissapoints me i cannot get a ride in without this constant
and as you say adrian it may be good to review my riding ......

cheers mick

[photomike666]

If you can ride the spurs without some uninsured, unlicenced hoon riding beyond his abilities, running wide and wiping you out, then the boys in blue are doing a good job. I believe reducing the speed limit to 80 was unnecessary, but the presence on a popular road is OK. The police in charge of the operation will continue to target the roads where bikers keep killing themselves. If people didn't keep going stupid and coming unstuck, there'd be no police presence.

This weekend we I did 1172Km door to door, probably saw 7 or 8 police keeping the roads safe (including a breath test 10am Saturday morning) and didn't get pulled over once. I also did NOT get my knee down and I still have chicken strips (just). If I did 1172Km around a track both of these boxes would have been ticked.

[dilligaf]

I think we are all on the same page. Happy for the coppers to get the idiots off the good roads.
If you ride the pace its not an issue
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/flash ... index.html
Got pulled up Friday on the mountain highway (no ticket ) and that seemed to have more to do
with the fire bug patrols.

[Slow and wobbly]

I knew where you were coming from in the first instance Mick and to that end then the police presence is working given that the word is on the grapevine that they are out there. I just wanted to create discussion and see what others felt.
Instead we got this

Did he let you wear his cap, too ?

Contribute something worthwhile or fuck off Ron.

[Blurr]

While I agree with everything that has been said above in regards to police presence in attempt to avoid and/or prevent road carnage I pose the following questions.

1. "Would said police presence be as abundant if it had no ability to raise government revenue?"

2. " What percentage of the police force is dedicated to traffic enforcement compared to other major and more serious crimes?"
I ask this second question in the context of minor traffic infringements e.g. 70 in a 60 zone. Where this is highly unlike to cause and damage to property or person but still seems to be worth 3-6 points (dpouble demerits NSW) of your licence and $200+ to your back pocket.

[6maniac]

Oh dear... a moment of levity and you resort to abuse, Adrian. I agree with most of your post as it happens. Next time, should I support your contribution first, then be flippant ?

[javaman]

I think the issue is not the police, but stupid speed limit. Black spur can be enjoyed at reasonable 100kph, but getting a ticket at 80 is both unreasonable and would not reduce fatality in any way. Its penalizing the wrong group. The "racers" who wipe themselves would not care anything about speed limit.

The same can be said about GOR. Who goes there now? I can't recall anyone organizing a ride to GOR.

Enough rant for me, I'd just go to (....ooh not telling! )

[hoffy]

There needs to be a hunt on for alternative roads...

We have Wattieland, and I plan to use it more often to avoid said issues.