Good news, bad news.

Good news: I just rode my 1982 XJ650RJ from Seattle to Boise. It was a lot of fun. The seat was kinda uncomfortable, but I played around with some riding positions and made it work. It also got REALLY cold, and I wasn't dressed for it. I didn't really take many pictures, as I was in a bit of a hurry.

http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/ ... G_1821.jpg

http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/ ... G_1823.jpg

The bad news: Oregon is notorious for giving speeding tickets, and I just happened to cruise by a highway patrol car at 102 mph. He was parked near the bottom of a 10 mile downhill straightaway. $400 fine. Anybody know any good motorcycle lawyers?

 

That'll teach ya to slow down and let 'em catch ya! :lol:

 

Ya, as soon as I passed him, I moved to the right lane and slowed to the speed limit (65) and waited for him to catch up. After the fact, I thought that maybe I should have pulled over and turned off the lights. If he saw me, I coulda played dumb and said tht I knew he was pulling me over, so I just pulled over and turned off the bike to wait for him.

 

You may want to invest in a radar detector I have one in my car and have not gotten a ticket since owning it. It really gives you the heads up on the coppers. I know escort makes a very good one that is cordless. Sorry to hear about that ticket and keep asking around for a good lawyer. After hearing what happened to you and a new PA state bill to increase traffic tickets to help fund the State Highway patrol with out increasing taxes. I think I may fork out the $330 for the Solo S2 Cordless Radar Detector.

http://www.escortradar.com/

 

102mph..???? my 82 maxim 650 speedo max's out at 85. i gotta try that. sounds like one hell of a ride before getting caught.

 

My speedo also tops at 85. It was a long straightaway, I had my earplugs in, and was leaning forward on my tank bag. I wasn't watching the speedo that carefully, as I was watching the road. The rpm's weren't that high, the wind was bearable, and it was near the end of a 500 mile trip. I really didn't think I was going that fast. I figured that I was only a couple over the 85 mph mark.It really wasn't even that exciting. It was just the fastest way to eat up some boring miles so I could get to Boise a little sooner.

BTW, I've heard that the top speed of my 82 XJ650RJ is 125 mph or thereabouts. I don't think I'd want to try it, but who knows, maybe I did yesterday?

 

I'm pleased to hear you were able to get your ride moving along at a very respectable clip. I am however disappointed you got caught. Now for the safety lecture. You'll find $100 spent on track time is cheaper than that fine and you can have someone video tape you while your at it. Cheaper, safer (yes, safer), and legal. I'm glad you weren't hurt. My CHP buddies provide yearly safety presentations to the fine folks at our base out here in Ventura and time and again the radar detector question comes up. And every time their reply is (and I'm quoting here) "by the time your detector lights up, it's too late" which is usually accompanied by "we don't even need to use radar most of the time, detectors are really a waste of money". Now, being a law abiding citizen, I don't push it anymore (got a family to think of and I ain't made of money). Of course cruising speed in southern California is about 75 MPH so who really needs to push it? There are the road rash clubs out here and they do the "scare-the-crap-out-o-ya zip" past your car door at light speed on a regular basis but they also keep the local triage in business too (all to often). No worries about organ donations here either. Lots to choose from. I've never used a radar detector and I've never need one (even in my stupid days, 135 on my Interceptor). There is a time and a place and one always takes a measured risk on the road anyway. Guess the dice didn't land right for you this time Jason. I'm just glad it didn't land on the "idiot pulled out in front of me/I didn't see him comming" side (had it happen to a buddy here, he's a vegetable for life now). Try the track approach, better road conditions anyway and we get to keep hearing from you.

 

Tickets suck at any rate.

Never knew the top speed of an XJ. All I know is the speedo can and does max ou8t on mine @ 85. I think I have maxed it out once or twice.

Where I live everythign is pretty muc flat and you can see great distances.

 

I think in late 1979 a law required all US sold motorized vehicles to have 85 MPH speedometer.

 

I'd be on board save one small detail. My '81 VW Rabbit had a 110mph speedo. I'm inclined to suggest it was a means for the manufacturer to get the bikes through DOT inspection looking weaker than they really were, saving on import tariffs. At the time, there was a big push to cut fuel consumption and regulate safety for imports (thus Puegot, VW Beatles, and Fiat all went the way of the wind, they couldn't cut the new regulations for impact, seatbelt, and emissions control requirements) and I'm betting Yamaha was hedging their bets (sure saves me a few dollars on insurance, wink wink). I have a Scirocco with a back seat for the same reasons. They did it to avoid paying extra tariffs for a two door, two passenger car. Does that pan out or am I smoking the wrong brand?

 

Made it home today. No ticket this time, but I think I've decided that 500+ miles at a time is too much on this bike.

Ya, I know it was way too fast. But the only thing I really had to worry about out there was a deer or something. It was literally a ten mile straightaway on a divided highway with no headlights or taillights in sight. The cop was parked in the median behind a berm. I do drive too fast most of the time, even around other cars (75-80 mph), but I don't think I've ever driven that fast before. I do try to be careful.

As for the speedometer limit, I have had a 1981 and a 1982 Volvo 240. Both had 85 mph speed limits. My brother had a 1984 Volvo 240,and his speedometer went to 140. I know someone who has a 1982 Subaru that is pretty fast, but only has an 85 mph speedometer. So I think the Speedometer thing was a regulation in the early 1980's.

 

Glad your home safe and sound. I'm not railing on a little speed in the right place, clear conditions, no traffic, flat straight-away, keeping these things in mind you should be ok. You did this at night? A deer should be very much on your mind, you never know when or where those silly buggers will pop up! You are lucky my friend, I almost caught one in the middle of San Diego one night (fortunately, I was going slower than posted speed and had time to avoid his little head)! You just can't do stuff like that at night, they'll get you for sure! Be careful buddy!

 

Yeoouch! Yep - you just got bit hard by Oregon. I live in Vancouver, Washington, just north across the river from Portland, Oregon - and one of the latest bang the drum news stories is the speeders on Oregon Highways.

The Oregon law makers just passed new laws on speeders in Oregon - due to lots of calls on people driving too fast - and because you were clocked over 100 mph - you got the EXTRA special ticket price.

About 2 weeks ago the news showed video from an un marked police car behind a motocycler who was weaving in and around traffic in 4 lanes of freeway - at 80 to 100 mph! Third time ticketed - lost his license - end of story.

And it's not just M/C's - it's car's too. There was 2 BMW drivers who were heading down to california for some car get together and decide to race. Highway patrol got them - both.

The Oregon Governor and lawmakers finally passed stiffer ticket prices, and dug up found some more funds for more officers on the highways to hand out tickets.

Sorry but I think you're gonna pay a lawyer big to get you out of this ticket or pay the ticket. Either way you're gonna pay for going fast in Oregon.

I try NOT to drive or ride in OREGON if I can help it.

 

yea try not to sell your bike!

i hate to loose a xj forum member.

 

What "good" explaination could there be for doing 102? I sneezed? Cleaning out the cobwebs in the carbs? What ever it turns out to be, I'll bet it's a whopper. I'm eager to hear this one. I'm with Secaman, don't sell the bike, you'll regret it later (just look at some of the thread posts we've gotten).

 

Well it could have been an 'Italian Tune Up' ... bing it off the red line a bit, heat it right up, and all the junk gets blown through the system

I for one have never been north of 100mph.

There was one time many many years ago, when I too was speeding in a simular fashion as our dear poster, and in my haste I passed a white car adorned with christmas lights. He was such a festive fellow I noticed as I crested the hill that he'd turned his lights on to show extra christmas cheer. In any event - I got so wrapped up in the Christmas cheer I had to take the next exit to go down to a small out of the way store and buy myself a nice warm cup of cider... too bad they're not all like that

I repeat many moons ago... I honestly have controlled my ambitions to fly.

Ask for traffic school?

 

Yer a hoot, Woot! Air traffic school?

 

Carb icing? If I let the rpms dropped it might have stalled! old bikes are soo fussy officer

 

It was late, I was cold, there was about a 20-30 knot tailwind (seriously. I went the other way two days later, and got 29 mpg throught that stretch because of the viscious head wind.), and he got me at the bottom of a LONG, slightly downhill straightaway. And my speedo doesn't go that high, so I didn't know I was going that fast. So I got lots of excuses!

 

i would have kept going, in my county they have a no high speed chase law for misterminers. Do you have to go to court? if not just pay the thing. If you do have to go to court, purchase an old military uniform and show up in that.

 

I wouldn't advise doing the uniform thing, it wouldn't be honest and would probly backfire (funny to think about but not the right thing to do). You would probly draw the one judge in the circuit who is a serving reserve in the local National Guard Unit if Murphy has anything to say about it. You know luck favors chance and you know that we don't win in Vegas. Good luck Jason, I hope they take a reasonable view of your case and have a little compassion for a cold rider.