I have ridden the 14 for 12 months, all told and I was stopped for speeding for the first time today. I always knew it would happen in a well traveled area where I wasn't really going all that fast. Those are the places I relax and don't worry much about police. I've seen the cop that stopped me around the neighborhood for years. I stopped to get help for a diabetic who hit a tree during an insuline emergency 7 years ago and he was the first cop to show up. I'm sure he didn't remember who I was today.

The cop said I was doing 51 mph in a 35 mph zone. I can't say for sure because I wasn't paying that close of attention but If I was doing 51 mph, that would mean my speedo would read 56. That seems to be about as fast as I would go in that kind of traffic and I was just not in that kind of mood. I sort of think he must have gotten a false reading if he radarred me. Or maybe he just took a generous guess because I had told him that I did not know how fast I was going and he knew he was not going to write me a ticket.

I sat on my bike while he ran my license and I considered the irony of feeling fortunate for once to have chicken strips visible on my tires. He came back in about 3 minutes and gave me a serious yet quick lecture and just said, "Have a nice day." I felt pretty lucky to get a warning. I don't think he would have been so easy on me if he had seen me taking the corners on the parkway a few minutes earlier.

I continued on my way slowly. I was passed by a semi and 2 Harleys on the expressway - LOL

I had a similar experience on Sunday. My sons and I were out on the mountain roads east of the Black Canyon, passing Harleys at 120 mph+, enjoying the twisties. On the way back up the highway, in Olathe, one son and I got stopped by 2 Colorado Highway Patrol cars. Something about a posted 45mph speed limit sign that I certainly hadn't noticed.

Anyway, the cop who "took care of" me was a fellow motorcyclist. He was impressed with the 14, and was asking me all kinds of questions about it. He told me about his new bike and about how much his wife loved riding on it with him.

I got a warning for "5-9 mph" over the speed limit, but my son got a $165 ticket (17 over in a 55 zone). The other cop was all business. Sucks...

Just glad we don't see many of them on the mountain roads around here. Wonder what a "70 mph over in a 65 mph zone" would cost? Guess I don't wanna know... -bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 8/4/2009 @ 1:53 PM *

Some of the things that crossed my mind as i rode away was whether the cop decided to let me go with a warning because of my previous flawless driving record, safety gear, good habit of spinning my head to look behind me (that's how I saw him following me) and the fact that I was sticking to one lane despite the fact that i was moving kinda fast. I also am 42 and I think that has to make some sort of impression. I think guys in their 20s probably don't get breaks so often.

Yeah-ha-haaa. Me too!

rook the guys in thier 20's dont stop they run...lol ive gotten out of or they wrote ticket for slower speed just because i stopped at least that what they said.

I think if anyone is going to run they have to be equipped with a flip up lic plate or one of those louvered lic plate blinds. Anyone who goes that extra step must be riding like a madman all the time and they will probably end up dead before they ever get chased by the cops. I think talking to a traffic attorney and having an emergency 'busted fund' is a lot better plan than running.

Rook, did this happen in WI if so be happy you were not from IL I have yet to hear of a out of state sport biker getting a break in WI. Damn 16 is over would have been expensive that was your lucky day for sure.

It was right in my own neighborhood in WI. I think I was lucky but I don't really think I was going as fast as the cop said I was. It's possible but not likely. Doing 50 mph in 35 mph traffic is getting kind of fast and i think I would have been more aware of cops hiding(and maybe he would have been more aware if I wasn't still on the stock pipes). I suppose I might have touched 50. The road was clear ahead when i took off from the stop sign. Whatever- I'm watching it close in town now.

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I have a pretty good one... Btw, I'm a newbee here, altho not new to biker boards, just here..
I have an 08 ZX 14. Ak full system & power commander..
I live in So. Ga. & was on one of my fav. roads. (2 lane) As I was entering the city limints of a small town, ( prob 800 res.) on a left sweeper, I met a County dept. As I dissappered around the curve, I saw his brake lights light up... Sooo,,I just pulled over into the next drive, removed helment, gloves, & took out my lic. & waited. Soon he blasted around the curve & I guess surprised to see me sitting there.. Pulled over, & as he stepped out of the car I handed him my lic. the first thing he said was "I thought you were going to run"
I said "run??" I could have walked & got away from you.. Where have you been?? He looked kinda shocked & said. Well... I uh .. had to turn around.... I said ,, You gota git better than that or you'll never catch anyone.. He then asked.. Why were you running 80 mph back there?? I said that I was slowing down... That he should have seen me on the straight...He looked at my bike & stated ,,That looks like a fast bike. I said ,, That looks like a fast charger, how fast is it.. he said.. I have had it to 150.. I said, Mi bike will do that in 3rd gear. He looked at my lic. Said that he had heard about me at the station, & that all the other officers said that you could handle your bike pretty good, so I gotta run & you have a safe day. handed me my lic. , smiled & went on his way..

gunrunner

Boy, that guy's a keeper. Nice to hear things like that once in a while.

Welcome to the forum! -bg

Thanks bg... I didn't have a pic of my silver 14 to put up as avatar, so I used my 636 race bike. I also use it on other boards also..
Just found this site today, off the ZRXOA board . I also have an 05 ZRX. Looks like yall have a good board going here... I'll frequet it often..

gunrunner

Glad to have you here. Lot's of folks here very knowledgeable on the ZX-14... -bg

Welcome aboard, Gunrunner. Good story. I don't think I'll be so lucky if i get stopped again soon. I'm not counting on it, anyway. I had to get out of town yesterday. There are just cops everywhere around here. I took a 200 mile trip up to my home town to enjoy some fast riding on the highway and worry less about the cops. I saw a couple of those Chargers as squad cars back in my home town.

is it true that cops light up more red bikes than other color bikes?

Don't know but I think I heard that more red cars are involved in crashes.

Its been awhile since anyone has posted here. I thought I would share my first cop encounter on the 14. I was on my way to meet up with some friends for one of our first group rides of the year about a month ago. I had my wife on the back and we're cruising at first. Then traffic started to get a little bunched up so with the "obvious" power of the 14 I gunned it a little bit to get through to an opening then I slowed down. So about 15 secs later after getting my speed down to 68-70 (65 Speed Limit) this black unmarked car comes flying up behind me. I was in disbelief that it was a cop because I know the area and I didn't see anyone hidden on the side or the median. So I cruised until he turned on the lights and pulled over immediately. Funny thing is he asked me if I saw him coming and I said yeah. Wondering if he thought I was going to try and out run him. Of course I could of, with the wife on the back as well, but I thought otherwise and plus this isn't how I out ran the cops thread anyway haha.

Anyway, he gave me the usual "You were moving kinda fast. Gotcha doing 91 in a 65." OUCH!!! That was in the time frame of about 3 secs that I was getting through traffic. I thought I was done for but when I pulled out my wallet he noticed my military ID and asked me to pull it out. THANK GOD!!! He said thanks for serving our country and to try and slow it down.