Replies

It is not just "they" the use of the term "driver" is not correct. Motorcycles are "ridden" therefore we usually refer to them as riders not drivers.

The rider was stupid. Not just because he died riding at an estimated 130 mph on city streets. He was stupid because he thought the way to avoid arrest was simply to go fast.

I ride. I ride responsibly. I've ridden in group rides with kids (yes all younger than me so I'm calling them kids) who ride irresponsibly. I've gone to a couple of memorials for several of them. I've watched a number of YouTube videos of "motorcycles vs cops" or some such.

The funny thing is, the guys that are "successful" at eluding police pursuit don't ride all that fast in town. A modern sport bike, anything in the (very common) 600 cc class or bigger is going to wildly out-perform any police car chasing it. They can turn and accelerate/decelerate far better than most anything on 4 wheels short of a supercar.

I know what a lot of guys are thinking - "you can't outrun the radio." On the highway, no. I've seen a few "successful" escapes where the rider was just lucky there was no-one available to be waiting for him at the exit. Also some of the highway patrol cars can keep up at 140+. In-town is where the motorcycle has all the advantages. The guys that get away seem to run it like a series of stoplight drag races. Turn, accelerate, brake, turn, etc. They take advantage of being able to weave between vehicles, use sidewalks, etc. But they always slow down and weave through the thickest pack of cars they can find - because the far larger police vehicles chasing them cannot squeeze through and it takes time for the lights and sirens to convince people to get out of the way. In that time the bike is already at the next intersection and turning. They can quickly get out of sight and lost in the maze of streets. There are videos of guys losing the pursuit, then stopping and waiting for them, or turning around and running back to them - just playing with them. (got to be infuriating, and I think that's the point)

So yes, it is stupid to run that fast in town, and it is stupid to not know how to use your equipment to greatest advantage. Not that I would condone such behavior. In fact that is one of the main reasons I don't go on group rides anymore. Not my style of riding.