1
Every K Over is a Thriller! Mon May 07, 2012 3:15 am
Two Wheels Better
Moderator
There's a public service message used in Australia, often on the sign placed out of view until it's too late for the passing motorists, in front of speed camera vehicles parked by the roadside. It reads, 'Every K is Over is a Killer'.
Today, whilst hanging out with friends, the telephone rang. It was the 21 year old son of a friend who told his mother sheepishly, "You're not going to like this!" Of course, she immediately thought he'd slid down the road on his new Yamaha. Instead he regaled her with a story of finding a straight, remote stretch of road in the Northern Territory, where he managed to redline his near-stock R1 in top gear, bouncing of the rev limiter, at 313 km/h!
I translated that into the old money and wasn't surprised to see that it was 194.5 mph! This kid got his start on a Sachs MadAss scooter with a full romping stomping 125cc and I reckon eleven horsepower, then jumped onto a secondhand KTM 535cc for a month or two, then after well less than two years of on and off riding, with zero professional training, was able to lay his money down on the salesman's desk for a brand new 2011 Yamaha R1. Of course, the eager saleman took the wad of money with what I imagine was barely a second thought of the consequences for a potential devastating result.
I'm not shocked, not even surprised, and truth be told, I've done something similar with a K1200S in New Mexico back in '05. One difference is that I'd been riding for 29 years at the time - but should have known better - and chose a closed road and pre-ran it for five miles beforehand checking for obstacles. A blowing tumbleweed, a slinking coyote, a hesitant rabbit or an errant armadillo would have sent me to the moon. I can't imagine what the brief and distant glimpse of a rapidly approaching Red Man 'roo, a wild brumby or a camel would have done to soil the boy's quite inexperienced shorts at that sort of speed. I am recognising my double standard, but.
I'm just sayin'!
Today, whilst hanging out with friends, the telephone rang. It was the 21 year old son of a friend who told his mother sheepishly, "You're not going to like this!" Of course, she immediately thought he'd slid down the road on his new Yamaha. Instead he regaled her with a story of finding a straight, remote stretch of road in the Northern Territory, where he managed to redline his near-stock R1 in top gear, bouncing of the rev limiter, at 313 km/h!
I translated that into the old money and wasn't surprised to see that it was 194.5 mph! This kid got his start on a Sachs MadAss scooter with a full romping stomping 125cc and I reckon eleven horsepower, then jumped onto a secondhand KTM 535cc for a month or two, then after well less than two years of on and off riding, with zero professional training, was able to lay his money down on the salesman's desk for a brand new 2011 Yamaha R1. Of course, the eager saleman took the wad of money with what I imagine was barely a second thought of the consequences for a potential devastating result.
I'm not shocked, not even surprised, and truth be told, I've done something similar with a K1200S in New Mexico back in '05. One difference is that I'd been riding for 29 years at the time - but should have known better - and chose a closed road and pre-ran it for five miles beforehand checking for obstacles. A blowing tumbleweed, a slinking coyote, a hesitant rabbit or an errant armadillo would have sent me to the moon. I can't imagine what the brief and distant glimpse of a rapidly approaching Red Man 'roo, a wild brumby or a camel would have done to soil the boy's quite inexperienced shorts at that sort of speed. I am recognising my double standard, but.
I'm just sayin'!
Last edited by Guest in the House on Mon May 07, 2012 3:44 am; edited 1 time in total
__________________________________________________
"A long ride is the answer to a question you will soon forget!" ~ Anonymous
1977 R75/7-100, '93 K11/K12 Big Block, '93 K1100RS, '95 R100 Mystic, '96 K1100RS, 2 x '98 K1200RS, '06 K1200R & '09 K1300GT
