"To get an RC51 up to 200 mph, they say, the owner would have to change the motorcycle's transmission, fuel injectors and gears — and might have to add either a supercharger or pump nitrous oxide or methane into the fuel system."
Posted on 09/24/2004 9:18:51 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Patrol Stands by 205 Speeding Ticket
Fri Sep 24, 7:54 PM ET Add Strange News - AP to My Yahoo!
WABASHA, Minn. - There's little doubt that a Stillwater motorcyclist could wind up his Honda sport motorcycle past 180 mph, but members of the motorcycle racing world question whether the State Patrol was correct to cite him for 205 mph last weekend.
The State Patrol is standing by its stopwatch, and the speeding ticket a veteran trooper wrote for Samuel Tilley for driving his 2003 Honda RC51 on U.S. Highway 61 near Wabasha on the state's eastern border.
Tilley faces misdemeanor charges of speeding, reckless driving and riding without a motorcycle license. He has declined repeated requests for comment from several media outlets in the past few days.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press first reported the details of the ticket, which is unofficially the highest ever written in the state, on Tuesday. Soon motorcycle enthusiasts were buzzing about whether Tilley really broke the 200 mph barrier.
"Theoretically, it could happen — anything is possible — but I don't believe it," said John Ulrich, editor of Roadracing World, a magazine that covers sport bike racing. "Guys who want to break speed records and go over 200 mph have to go to great lengths to get there."
Ulrich questioned the State Patrol's timing methods, in which a trooper in an airplane used a stopwatch to calculate how long it took Tilley to cover a certain distance. Other enthusiasts said if the timing where off by only a half-second, it would drop Tilley's speed to about 185 mph.
While that would be still be the unofficial state record, and within the specifications for Tilley's Honda, it wouldn't break the prestigious 200 mph mark.
Department of Public Safety Spokesman Kevin Smith there was no reason to believe the trooper, who had 27 years of experience, was wrong. He said the Honda could go 205 mph.
"What we have is what we have," Smith said. "That is the number he came up with, and there's really no going back on it."
Legally, he said, there wasn't much difference between 205 mph and 185 mph because even the lower speed wouldn't help defend against the reckless driving charge. "Let's say he was going 186 — that's still 121 mph over the speed limit. I don't see the relevance," Smith said.
As it is, motorcycle experts say that most unmodified sport bikes already top out at about 185 mph because of limits with their fuel injectors.
To get an RC51 up to 200 mph, they say, the owner would have to change the motorcycle's transmission, fuel injectors and gears — and might have to add either a supercharger or pump nitrous oxide or methane into the fuel system.
All of these changes are possible, but expensive. And anyone with those kinds of modifications isn't likely to tool around southern Minnesota with nitrous or jet fuel in his bike, they say.
"It's just not something that some dude can roll out of his garage and go for a ride and do," Ulrich said. "A hundred fifty? No problem. Two hundred? Big problem."
Tilley will get a chance to plead his case in Wabasha County District Court on Oct. 25.
If I were the cops I'd drop the speed. A stopwatch from an airplane leaves a little too much wiggle room from a sharp attorney. Even better would be if the pilot was alone or there was any turbulence.
Because of this case's national attention, I'm sure that the biker will get one at a good price.
Isn't a horse fly armor piercing at this speed?
A good laywer, and he'll get off. An A-Hole judge and your looking at a hefty fine. Post again with results.
Yep, he was clearly going a mere 185 miles per hour. It'd be best to drop the reckless driving charge right now.
My motorcycle does two hundred five
They took my license and now I don't drive
Oh Man. I got hit in the face by a grass hopper while going 70 on my bike and it hurt like hell. Can't imagine getting hit by a Roger Clemens fast ball. And, anything at 200 mph is going to cause some serious hurt. Though I doubt a horse fly would be armour piercing, but definately very dangerous to exposed skin.
no they just sting a little more.
Write Guiness!
"To get an RC51 up to 200 mph, they say, the owner would have to change the motorcycle's transmission, fuel injectors and gears — and might have to add either a supercharger or pump nitrous oxide or methane into the fuel system."
my hubby was only doing 40 when he was hit by a ford F250 barely moving, and it nearly killed him.... people like the cyclist in this story must not give a damn about his own life.. or the grief of the people he'd leave behind.
This is Minnesota. If there is a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker on the bike, he will get off. However, with a Bush/Cheney sticker, life without parole.
Read the other interesting thread on this same topic.
Some sharp defense lawyer will somehow manage to get Tadeo Baba (former Honda CBR Head Developer) to testify to the capabilities of the CBR 1000RR and its ancestors going back to the CBR 900RR of the early-1990's.
The fact-of-the-matter is that a stock CBR 1000RR isn't capable of that kind of speed. Gearing would need to be changed. The engine would need to be rebored. Turbochargers or Nitrous would need to be added. If the police have the bike impounded and it's proven to be in "stock" configuration, the ticket will get tossed or drastically reduced.
~ Blue Jays ~
Posted by delacoert:
"...My motorcycle does two hundred five...
They took my license and now I don't drive..."
I have a limo ride in the back...
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked...
~ Blue Jays ~
You just have to know how to lead a target at 205 MPH.
I have had bikes flash pass me when I was at 70-75. It is startling to have them go past as if I was going backwards. Often wondered how fast they were going. Perhaps now I know.
Being from MN, I can say that the cops usually underestimate the speed... but they are more than happy to write you a ticket for that. Has anyone ever considered that "the perp" was going slightly downhill with a stiff tailwind?
As soon as I can figure out exactly where we was riding, I'll drive it in my rather boring Mercury Sable. I'll enjoy the fall colors as the posted speed, and report to you if he had any advantage.
"...My motorcycle does two hundred five...
They took my license and now I don't drive..."
"I have a limo ride in the back...
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked... "
I have a mansion, forget the price.
Ain't never been there, they tell me it's nice
If I were the cops I'd drop the speed.
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