Motorcyclist clocked at 170 mph on NY Thruway

[cali]

When he was taken into custody, McCarthy told officers he was capable of going even faster.

RAVENA -- Authorities say a 25-year-old upstate New York man has been arrested after troopers clocked him driving his motorcycle at 170 mph on the Thruway.

State police say a trooper first observed the motorcyclist going 166 mph Wednesday afternoon in the southbound lanes of Interstate 90 just south of Albany. The trooper pursued the biker and was able to get the motorcycle's license plate number and a description of the rider when he slowed down in traffic.

But the man sped off again, and other troopers clocked him going as fast as 170 mph. Troopers eventually stopped him in New Paltz.

Police charged Nikkolaus McCarthy of Charlton with fleeing police, reckless driving, speeding and operating a motorcycle without a license.

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http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_784.shtml

[Fumesucker]

1. Probably couldn't get it into sixth gear..

Or he would have been going faster than that..

[MrYikes]

2. and then

the little blind girl chased her puppy onto the roadway and,,,,,,,,,,

[Fumesucker]

4. Was run over by four cars where the drivers were texting about a speeding motorcycle..

[leveymg]

3. Did 110 mph on the NY Thruway one Sunday morning, in unplowed snow. Top that . . .

Nice long stretch of empty road, two or three inches of fresh powder snow, left lane still unplowed. Who could resist?

I, too, was once immortal.

[tech3149]

5. Been there, done that

When I was younger I had a State Trooper chase me for 15 minutes in a Turbo Trans Am before he caught my 79 Civic. Same car different day I was running from a service call in the south end of the state to one up north. I had been running about 120 and all the truckers were giving me a clean lane for about 30 miles. Approaching two cars on a left hand sweeper on a four lane section, one of the two decided to pass the other shutting off my ability to pass. The only option was to keep my foot in it and take the gravel shoulder. I scared the shit out of those two drivers and pushed my own heart rate up quite a bit.
When I was in NJ it wasn't at all unfamiliar to have some fool on a rice rocket doing 140 weaving in and out of traffic on the northern twisty bits of the GSP.

I was young and dumb just like this kid when I pulled off these stunts. I'm not sure of all the reasons that cause a person to take the risks, testosterone, machismo, whatever but there will always be those that challenge there limits, test there skill in whatever venue is available.
I got into racing to put my skills to the test in a controlled environment. I wish that access to these outlets were made available to all those interested.

For those of you everyday pedestrian drivers who think this is just stupid and without regard to the safety of others, understand this. In any skill you do not excel without constantly challenging your abilities.
Try this for a test. Ask anyone you know that's had a DL for 20 years or more about the rules of the road and compare it to the drivers training handbook for your state. I'll bet half can't score a passing grade for the written test. If you did the same for the driving test I would guess the results would be about the same.

[bongbong]

8. You're lucky

Unless you put better tires on your car, they were only rated for 112 MPH max - when they were new.

I don't drive over 100 unless I have high-speed rated tires on my car. My current one has Y-rated tires on it.

[tech3149]

10. Like most product that are well designed they are rated at least 30% under capacity.

Oh by the way, I was able to do the same performance with cheap Korean, Goodyear Aquatreads, and Yokohama A-008's. Even at speeds beyond their rating tires are almost never pushed to the limit of failure.
Lateral acceleration on common street cars even pushed beyond the limit barely get past 0.75 G's
Heat build up or punctures are the most common failure and street tires have the thickest profile and highest heat retention. But even on the most twisty roads you're lucky if 10% of the time is generating heat that would break down the tire.

[bongbong]

13. Ratings

Ratings aren't always "30% under capacity". It depends on the type of product, and class of service, the failure mode, the testing agency, the amount of influence the legal staff of the company has over the accounting staff, and other factors. If the tires were brand new, you MIGHT be able to depend on a "safety factor". Tire belts shift with age and use.

All I'm saying is don't depend on something with about 50 variables if you're gambling with your life. Blowouts at 100+ MPH can end up with an overturned car.

[KurtNYC]

6. there are many places on the Thruway where you can

get on and off the roadway on a motorcycle -- service roads, gaps in fencing, etc. Many motorcyclists never pay the tolls.

You have to know where they are before you start something like this.

[bongbong]

7. Many years ago

I was driving a BMW K75 along the Hudson River & stopped at a park. Another guy happened to roll up on a Suzuki 1100 and we chatted. I noticed he didn't have a license plate, and asked. He said all the cops knew him & tried to bust him but couldn't catch him. A short while later, a cop showed up at the entrance to the park on the bluff overlooking us...he said, "yep, they're watching me, I'll see ya later", and sped off - right by the cop, who turned and followed.

[IDemo]

9. Two decades ago, I had the Kawasaki at 130 on a long straight desert road

and it had more in it, but the front end got into a rhythmic wobble. That will very definitely get your attention, and it was the last of my go-fast days. Still on a bike, but I'm in the slow lane more often than not these days .

[belcffub]

11. not to many years ago...

I was on a straight section of highway... there was no one ahead of me until the turn several miles ahead... so I jumped on it... got up to a tame by comparison 110 on my bike... full tuck... then a sheriff pulled up next to me... waved me to slow down and drove off... he was transporting inmates and had two in the back seat... they were laughing their @$$es off at me... all in all I think I had a better day... only time I ever had by bike over 100... it was a kawi 750... it could have gone faster...

[pinboy3niner]

12. Dummy!

If the guy was smart, he could've blamed it on the erection.

BMW Motorcycle Caused 20-Month Erection, Man's Lawsuit Claims
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002639363

[snooper2]

14. Didn't we already do this thread last week?

Oh, I so hate re-runs LOL