Stu - 160 mate is beyond going fast, I couldn't ride on a public road at that speed and expect to survive for long.
155 is far more sensible and manageable.
Marzy - I reckon if you got cut in half the word Almeria would ebb out of you lol. But you are quite right imo. I
t's not worth it, save it for a track, or even worst case not on a busy main road on a Sunday afternoon ffs.
I'm afraid I sit on this side of the fence. Whilst I am guilty of travelling a bit quick sometimes, and indeed got pulled over in Scotland and given a ticket a couple of weeks ago, 160 on a public road is madness, and incredibly irresponsible. I know a lot of people will call me a pussy and disagree with me because 'we all do it' and 'that's why we ride bikes' etc, but I'm afraid I don't really care about that.
I ride bikes as stress relief, for the freedom of being unencumbered by passengers, work, the TV news, general worries and cares, and the like. I don't go for slick mode, the biggest lean angles, being the fastest rider in a group, hitting the maximum speed of the bike, wheelies, or any of that nonsense. I bought an SThou not because it was the fastest, most powerful bike; I bought it because I've always wanted one since 2010, and I could finally afford one. I bought one because it looks great, and I'm proud to own it. I bought one because it has all the rider aids which help keep me safe.
I'm afraid actions like those in this case give those of us who try to ride sensibly (even if not always 100% within the speed limit, let's be honest) and safely a bad name - and that doesn't help the motorcyclists' cause. We can complain all we like about the lack of respect car drivers give us, how they like to block us when filtering, how they don't give us the same courtesy as other road users, etc - but then a case like this comes up where a rider, (who I'm sure is a perfectly nice guy) demonstrates an utter disregard and disrespect for the law, and their and others' safety.
We cannot have it both ways.
I realise this won't be a comment to everyone's taste as I know a lot of people generally in the motorcycling community love to ride balls out, and in some cases belittle those of us who they perceive as 'slow' or not 'real bikers' - whilst that's not generally the case on this forum, the rider in this case seems to have general support from many on the basis that 'we've all done it'. Well, I'm sorry, but I haven't, and I cannot give my support to the guilty party in this case other than to hope that for his sake he doesn't suffer any lasting ill-effect beyond a massive hike in insurance prices in future and a big bill for taxis. I wouldn't want to see him in prison, losing his family, house and livelihood; but in my opinion he does deserve a severe punishment.
If I want to ride like that, I'll book a trackday, and exploit my bike's capabilities in a safe, secure, and legal environment.
If my opinion makes me unpopular, then so be it, but I hate to see the hobby I love brought into the spotlight in this way when there are so many fantastic stories about motorcyclists; the funeral of Ian Bell recently; the TT memorial lap; the volunteers on blood bikes; the Easter egg runs and Santa runs - those are the stories which should be in the news.