Is the Uly a cop magnet? I currently ride a Streetglide and within the last 15,000 miles I have never collected a speeding tic. Curious because I just got stopped for a 71 in a 55 today in my CIVIC SI. Lucky me, the inspection sticker caught his eye and after all was said and done I was left with just a tic for expired inspection!
Off to Buffalo tomorrow to check out a Blue XB12X 08'. American Harley is the dealer, anyone been there?
I guess I'll answer that one. So far I've been pulled over 4 times in less than 2 years. First one was at 5:30 am and pulled over for fail to stop and 20 over. Got off on a warning . Next one was the costly one. Drag racing which cost me $1300 to get out. The other ones were minor but still...... Race can does it every time........
I got two tickets on the Uly in 2007. The first was on the rural highway between Charlottesville, VA and Washington, DC. I don't believe they actually clocked me because the oncoming lanes were much higher than my lane. I believe they saw me, thought I was going too fast, turned around, and took me down. I was probably doing 77 in a 55 - definitely wrong, but the speed limit is inappropriate for the quality of the road and its location. I know, tell it to the judge. It turned out they only cited me for 73mph, which was 2mph less than "wreckless driving", which, in VA, means you need a lawyer.
The second was coming out of the cute Eastern Shore of Maryland town of Oxford. I came around a nice curve on the edge of town, knew the speed limit would turn from 25 to 35mph just up ahead, and I foolishly gunned it around the curve, right as the local sheriff was pulling into town. Dumb. He was "cool", in that he encouraged me to come back and talk to the judge to try to reduce the points and fine, and that he'd put in a good word for me. I did, and he told the judge that I was cooperative and there were no incidents. Thanks. The fine was reduced, though.
I really believed that the officers in both incidents would NOT regard me (wearing a full armored suit and helmet and riding a luggage-laden, non-flashy bike in muted colors [black, which is - apparently - faster]), as a stereotypical troublesome sportbiker and give me a warning, but they didn't. In the second incident I had a passenger.
Right after that, I got a RADAR detector and a TechMounts mount for it. No new tickets so far...
No tickets for me (yet), and I make an effort to hit at least 100 every day-which does not take long on the Uly. But in this town, if you drive below 80 someone will run over you.
No way I could get away with that in a small town.
Only one ticket in my life and have been riding for 35 years. On my Uly last year in Elida, NM. Highway speed goes from 70 to nothing in this little town. Got it for going 26 in a 15 because the school lights were flashing. Not a kid around. Bad news is my wife was on her bike as well and we got two tickets.
I've been pulled over once on mine. Doing about 110 and came up behind an unmarked Explorer. He turned his lights on as I was about 10ft behind him. When he came up to me just asked me to slow it down a bit. Other then that have been had cops flash the lights as I pass but never come to get me. Normally travel around 70 to 90 all the time except while in town. Try to stay around 10 over there.
Pulled over once but it was a cheap one and got off with a warning for passing in a no passing zone and 37 in a 35(long story).
Another time I got on the freeway and came up the on ramp and got to about 80mph and just cruising along when a trooper passes me and slows next to me. He started pointing at his speedo and wagging a finger at me. I gave him the sorry i'll slow down look and he kept going past. I definitely need to get less buzzy mirrors so I can see the light bar.
True story: Friend of mine spent a night in jail for doing 130 mph inside of Omaha city limits. His lawyer got continuancies on court date until Prez Bush was to be in town. All cops were asked to be available to watch parade route so the cop didn't show up for my friend's court date. Case dismissed. Still cost him over a grand in lawyer's fees but probably pittance compared to conviction. Lesson learned, I doubt it since this guy never grows up. He did learn that a good lawyer is golden.
Being a cop I can tell you its mostly the color of the bike and the way the rider is dressed. For some reason a conservative 3/4 length jacket and riding pants with a subdued or solid color helmet screams conservative. But thats just me, if you follow the bike for a few minutes (unobserved) you can almost be guaranteed they are going to crack it open soon.
When I first got my Uly. Got me for 74 in a 55 zone. Gave me a break as I was over the Ton. Good thing he didn't see my wheelie about a mile before. Only 2 points and $50 if I sent in my $$ right away. First ticket in 10 years, and I'm in my car all day for work.
After 29 year of riding in a country with no speed limit (almost) on the autobahn, they got me last year on my way to Sturgis on a rental Road Glide. This was in Ohio doing 69 in a 55. Was 75,-bucks. After getting back to Germany, I paid the fine, cause I want to come back to the States. Over here I would have paid less but would have received some points. Ride save Werner
Carry a half-dozen (fresh) in the top box at ALL times.
Cop pulls you over, all you say is, "excuse me office, I need to get into my top box". Then slowly bring out the donuts and say, "officer, can't we work this out, somehow?" ... now look at the donuts and smile. Odds are, Roscoe's already jonesing for some, and you're already on your way.
I never got pulled over on my Orange Uly once and deserved it several times. I never followed a single speed limit on that bike if I could help it. Strangely, I had a cop pull up beside me on the MS a week ago and blip his siren and scream at me to slow down. My speedometer said 39 and I was in a 40 MPH zone? Black bikes must scream I'm a speeding squid for some reason.
I haven't been pulled over on the Uly yet... But I have had a few times where the police pulled next to me and flipped the siren on and yelled... Twice on 129 between Knoxville and Alcoa...at two different times of the year....And I don't even live close to there.
Thank Y'all for your replies and the conclusion is? The harder one plays, the harder one pays . . . ? Maybe so, but as long as we are smart enough not to endanger innocent bystanders, it is all good!
I get pulled over once a month for drill. This morning I got to put the check in the box for March. Damn plain brown wrapper in a BROWN Mercury Sable with For Sale signs in the windows. Looked like a curbstoner to me.... Pulled me over, license title registration,... No cite, but a warning about having too much fun in the corners. I was doing the speed limit but I was out pacing traffic... I did get to pass on a business card to another LEO that may come to the Buell side of the house though.
I think I have some of you beat. I bought the Uly around 10am on the 13th of March this year. By 2pm I was pulled for doing 75 in a 55. THANK GOD I did not get a ticket. Having one that is unique in color probably doesnt help either.
I've been pulled over 4 times on my Ulysses, and each time I was let off with a warning.
As mentioned above, could have been my conservative Aerostich suit, solid helmet, proper boots and gloves, and the fact that I IMMEDIATELY pulled over and stopped as soon as I saw the officer and had my license, registration, and insurance in my hand with my helmet off when they pulled up.
The last time I got stopped, I was doing 90+ in a 50mph zone. I pulled over, before the officer could even get his lights turned on. I waited for him to turn around and pull up behind me. When he asked why I was going so fast, I didn't lie. I told him, "I'm just out having fun and being stupid".
Did I mention I didn't have my current insurance card with me (the one I had was expired) and my tags were out of date by a few days.
Still got off with a warning after showing the officer some pics of me doing track days (always have a few on my Blackberry) and shooting the breeze about motorcycles as he ran my license.
So...in my experience, the Uly is NOT a cop magnet....what I'm doing on it is.
Try that in Colorado Chad and you can bet they will haul your bike to the pound. The CSP is not forgiving. Your right about it not being a cop magnet. But my race pipe sure makes them want to take another look. It could just be my luck though. lol
I was 2 blocks into my very first ride when I was pulled over most likely because the cop saw the license applied for tag and wanted to see if I had my motorcycle endorsement since I was taking it real easy with new tires on a wet road.
Well, the Tennessee Highway Patrol would not have let me off either, nor would Metro Nashville police.
But good old County Sheriff deputies are nice folks. They were polite, kind, and even waited for me to get all my gear back on and pull out on to the street before they pulled off. Very nice of them.
Just got a nice one on my way home from March Badness. Was doing 93 in a 65 in North Carolina. The nice officer gave me a ticket for doing 80. Saved me a trip back to N.C. for a court date.
Just got back from a month in Baja on the KLR - wanted to hone my rudimentary dirt skills before I test the new Uly on that terrain. Got pulled over on the way to Scorpion Bay,just before we hit the dirt,for doing 20 Mph in a 20 Kph zone in Insurgencia. We were guilty as charged, so dont feel like we got shook down. I like the simplicity & way they directly bypass the judicial system and allow one to pay fines on the spot...and no messy paper work or driving record issues to contend with. Got off cheap - 200 Pesos each. costs more than that for a parking ticket in Olympia. We respectfully paid, appologized & shook hands. Great place that Baja - really ! Just watch your speed in the towns down there - good people though.