All you guys saying that "shifting into 4th at 55 mph doesn't compute" don't know the RT. The OP never said he was shifting at redline. 55 MPH corresponds to about 4,700 rpm in 3rd and 3,700 rpm in 4th. The hexhead engine will pull hard without lugging at anything over 3,000 rpm. It's possible to do a very sharp acceleration up to about 90 mph without ever getting over 4,700 rpm, more than enough to chase down a speeder. Ride one and do a spirited, but not WOT, acceleration, and shifting at 4,700 rpm feels quite reasonable. It's a tractor motor, not a peaky thoroughbred.
Just a guess but if you're in hot pursuit to catch someone fleeing you're probably close to redline not just cruising and short shifting.
If you read the OP, you'll find that he wasn't in hot pursuit chasing a fleeing suspect. He was accelerating from a stationary position to pull a car over to write a speeding ticket, so WOT acceleration and redline shifts were completely unwarranted.
So he wasn't in hot pursuit ... but ... he was accelerating away from a full stop to catch someone who was speeding. Sounds like the same thing to me. How else will you catch up to someone who's speeding and you were stationary without accelerating strenuously?? I'm sure he wasn't planning on making this a week long adventure.
WOT acceleration with redline shifts in traffic in a school zone all to write a speeding ticket? Not too prudent. A moderate acceleration with short shifts will catch the car plenty fast enough, as already noted, and is a lot smarter. Sounds like that's what the OP was doing, as upsetting as that may be to the cop-haters and the know-it-alls.
Actually, Calimari has it about right--short shifts are about par for the course for that particular duty. Thanks for all the well-wishes, folks.
You must ride bikes differently down there and obviously weren't in much of a rush to catch that speeding car. With lights and sirens going off you were just cruising along? How did you expect to catch him?? Don't think I could do tthat, I'd be trying to get what I was focused on and be agressive. Must be special police training I'm not aware of (btw the police around here don't seem to get that same training)
Dan - Have you ever actually twisted the throttle on your KTM 950SE to merge into traffic? It may surprise you. :eek1 The local CHP guys on their 1200RT's don't seem to be working too hard either. The riding posture is upright and seemingly relaxed as they make their way from the shoulder to the 85+ mph speeder's bumper. They're typically on the guy in no time flat. Heal fast, Diesel.
My point being, if you want to catch someone who's speeding how can you do that without going faster than they are? Just follow sedately till they run out of gas? Seems the statement that he was going exactly 55 ... not 53 or 58 seems hard to believe under the circunstances IMHO. You're chasing a bad guy with lights flashing and you know EXACTLY what speed you were doing and positive it was never above the posted limit. Since when do police obey the speed limits ... especially in a chase? I've seen the vidoe's I'd bet the woman who pulled out was surprised at how quickly he came up upon her. Just speculation and common sense mixed together.
Wednesday, last week, was the first day I've walked using both legs in over seven and a half months. Using an orthotic shoe with a three-inch thick sole, I walked about 30 feet at the parallel bars, including turning around and some walking backwards. A lot of pain and work and tears went into even getting that far, but that's how far I am for now. Other than that, I'm still stuck in a wheelchair or bed. Life goes on . . . Keep your head on a swivel, folks. :cheers:
Just read this thread for the first time...wow...unbelievable... Glad you are OK. I'm not able to donate blood anymore since the Red Cross got my test results mixed up...(long story...scared the hell out of me when you get a letter saying you had a positive test for...) However, I'd like to think I do give to the local LEOs as I am a Reserve Officer and generally ride #2 in the car as a back up to make sure my partner gets home that night. Heal quick and get back on the bike.
How about we leave the Cop and OP bashing for another thread? All you Cop haters are the same pricks who will be the first to bitch if the police don't get to your house soon enough when you need 'em...but you have all the balls in the world posting on an internet forum. Leave the poor guy with the two broken legs alone. Some of you dirtbags have no class.
I always wondered (and feared) of what would happen to a biker that goings into a ditch and hits a drainage pipe ... well i guess that "out" is out of question. Get well quick and get back on the bike. Also, if you already bought the bike why not get your own safety equipment and forget the crappy police issue helmet and gear.
I do PT three times a week, both on land and in the pool. I'm up to walking with the walker for about 300 feet. Still lots of surgeries ahead . . . Life goes on and we do the best we can. To do any less would be to dishonor that fact that we survived. I say "we" because I'm talking about all those who've been busted up and had to dust off, heal, wait, and come back.
I agree re the visibility vs invisibility regarding how to make more revenue. Here in the EU, where cops very rarely speed camera anyone, relying instead on massive networks of speed cameras, they are always highly painted and visible for everyone's safety. The cameras are another story!