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John Burns: Daily Diatribe

16686 Views 88 Replies 55 Participants Last post by waller, Jun 11, 2002

Haird

Discussion Starter · Mar 20, 2002

Maybe the R is a loss leader?

1 - 20 of 89 Posts

sherm

· #2 · Mar 20, 2002

Its just hard for me to picture a patrol car zigging in and out of speeding traffic with lights blazing to pull over a vehicle for allegedly going the speed limit in the left hand lane. Picture the trooper telling the traffic judge " Sir, the defendent was traveling at the 65 mph speed limit in the left hand lane therebye prohibiting the normal flow of 85 mph traffic, yep I knailed him good."

I'd rather hear about the ZX12.

Steven_Verschoor

· #3 · Mar 20, 2002

Okay, I've forwarded this to everyone I know. Will get those slow f----ers out of the fast lane? It's worth a try.

If you want to send your friends to the source, here's a link to the California Vehicle Code, Section 21654.

5449

· #4 · Mar 20, 2002

Yeah, the left lane thing drives us all nuts and, guess what, no one is gonna change any thing about the thousands of people who drive too slowly in it every day. It's a lame topic. It's like air travel jokes from a standup comedian; done. I subscribed to this rag because they hired you, Burns, and so far you've done not much besides launching (not so) subtle digs at Mitch Boehm and George Bush.

And, actually, I'm plenty happy that old Dubya has seen fit to remind all the foreigners that we've got tactical nukes and we aren't afraid to use them. Foreigners need to know these things. It makes them less likely to dork around with us, which is good. I don't know about your reference to nuclear hand grenades. I spent some time in the Army (10th Mountain Div.) and they never mentioned them. Are you just a kidder?

Wanna write something that will interest us all? Give us the real story behind Mitch and your firing. He comes off like a nipplehead in print and I'd love to read some confirmation.

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sash

· #5 · Mar 20, 2002

Check out section 22349 of the California vehicle code which state that " Except as provided in Section 22356, no person may drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than 65 miles per hour." Section 22356 sets an upper limit of 70mph. Evidently the Code distinguishes between maximum speed limits and prima facie speed limits. This too took about 5 minutes worth of research on the Net.

jhayton

· #6 · Mar 20, 2002

If we are requesting article/suggesting topics of interest, how about something on CCE and its moves in the racing world lately. Particularly the upcoming FIM World SX, and also something along the lines of a true Grand National Championship with the flattrack and roadrace series they sponsor. They look a whole lot better than the sad old AMA from where I'm sitting...

jh

seruzawa

· #7 · Mar 20, 2002

While you're at it you might ask BMW why the ABS upgrade for the 650 is only a couple of hundred dollars while the ABS upgrade for the 1150 is over two thousand dollars.

Probably for the same reason Harley charges $500 for a jacket that otherwise would cost $250 plus the cost of putting on the patch yourself.

Because they can.

Grappelli

· #8 · Mar 20, 2002

Having recently been to, *ahem*, traffic school recently courtesy of Culver City Police (thank you, sir) I was surprised to find that this was being taught in the school. (ie. no need to let anyone past) I challenged it, so he looked it up at lunchtime. Aparently in addition to Johno's comments, if you come up behind someone, flash your lights and honk your horn, they have to get out of your way. It's the law defining lane one as the emergengy lane. Sorry I don't have the California code number for you.
.
As for Motorcyclist last night, that's the sort of journalism I was railing against before. It's amazing.. reviews of a variant of a bike I own and love (r1150gs) and a bike I'm looking to buy (zx12r) and the program managed to give virtually no information in an incoherent, late middle aged, RAMBLE

. Half an hour of 30 seconds worth of info. Pipe and slippers, matey. All nicey, nicey, must make sure we don't upset the manufacturer, self satisfied RUBBISH. (Now John.. this is me hating something. Before I was just worried and "all loved out")
.
Last point, re: the price of the R1150GS as compared to the R. Admittedly the GS has to have some tougher components, a more expensive suspension, and some extra plastic/windscreen. However it doesn't account for the massive difference in price. In Europe the price differential is much, much smaller. In fact in the UK the GS is only about #7,650 sterling which is about $10,900 at the current exchange rate. This is without ABS and heated grips and there's some extra shipping to be added but we're still talking about at least a $2,500 difference to the price of the bike in Europe. This really annoyed me when I got the bike.

So it is the dealers fleecing us? Not really. BMW charge the dealers more than the UK spec bikes are sold to the public.

So why do they do it?.......

because they can.

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Grappelli

· #9 · Mar 20, 2002

Having recently been to, *ahem*, traffic school recently courtesy of Culver City Police (thank you, sir) I was surprised to find that this was being taught in the school. (ie. no need to let anyone past) I challenged it, so he looked it up at lunchtime. Aparently in addition to Johno's comments, if you come up behind someone, flash your lights and honk your horn, they have to get out of your way. It's the law defining lane one as the emergengy lane. Sorry I don't have the California code number for you.

.

As for Motorcyclist last night, that's the sort of journalism I was railing against before. It's amazing.. reviews of a variant of a bike I own and love (r1150gs) and a bike I'm looking to buy (zx12r) and the program managed to give virtually no information in an incoherent, late middle aged, RAMBLE. Half an hour of 30 seconds worth of info. Pipe and slippers, matey. All nicey, nicey, must make sure we don't upset the manufacturer, self satisfied RUBBISH. (Now John.. this is me hating something. Before I was just worried and "all loved out")

.

Last point, re: the price of the R1150GS as compared to the R. Admittedly the GS has to have some tougher components, a more expensive suspension, and some extra plastic/windscreen. However it doesn't account for the massive difference in price. In Europe the price differential is much, much smaller. In fact in the UK the GS is only about #7,650 sterling which is about $10,900 at the current exchange rate. This is without ABS and heated grips and there's some extra shipping to be added but we're still talking about at least a $2,500 difference to the price of the bike in Europe. This really annoyed me when I got the bike.

So it is the dealers fleecing us? Not really. BMW charge the dealers more than the UK spec bikes are sold to the public.

So why do they do it?.......

because they can.

See less See more

3622

· #10 · Mar 20, 2002

You went to the trouble to copy the violation but not the penalty. Perhaps this is a recommendation and not a requirement? Like, "you should keep your slow ass in the right but we're not gonna stop you from blocking the left". What's the prescribed penalty?

Bill

Grappelli

· #11 · Mar 20, 2002

pardon the twin post (kill this one if you can..)

Steven_Verschoor

· #12 · Mar 20, 2002

Okay, people exceeding 70 mph are in violation of section 22349, and people who won't get out of the way are in violation of section 21654.

If we could just get the CHP to pull over the latter instead of the former.

bluedot

· #13 · Mar 20, 2002

While I couldn't agree with you more JB ... I have to echo Sherm.

We stand a better chance of seeing Gov. Davis spearheading a movement to save 2-stroke OHV's then we do getting someone to enforce this law.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Joe_Momma

· #14 · Mar 20, 2002

Hydrogen (Nuclear) Hand Grenades that caused no environmental damage were/are in the development stage. I don't know if that means it hasn't left paper or computer concept yet but it's what I read in Pop Mech and was also told by a Master Chief Seal when I was on the Bellow Wood LH class ship. Former Sgt in the Marines, thank you.

Joe_Momma

· #15 · Mar 20, 2002

Selfish Drives don't let you pass

I guess until we have flying cars we have to deal with ONE freakin' car holding up tens (or more) of cars in the left lane because the idiots are going the same speed as the two eighteen wheelers lined up in the lane to the right of them. They are all going 60mph so you may never get by.

Last night two cars going 35 in a 45 were lined up side by side and held traffic up for the entire length of this 4 mile stretch (between stop lights) of a road on my way home.

5449

· #16 · Mar 20, 2002

Let's think for a minute about nuclear hand grenades, shall we? I really only have one question for you; If you have a nuclear hand grenade, why bother throwing it?

I'm sure your SEAL buddy told you lot's of stuff. I knew (and worked with) a lot of SF types who told me a lot of stuff, too. I made it a policy to believe none of it, and I'm much better off.

Randy Moran

Former US Army E5, MOS 97E20CX (Interrogator/Czech Linguist)

Haird

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 20, 2002

BMW? Gouge? Nah.

onebadoldz

· #18 · Mar 20, 2002

Re: Selfish Drives don't let you pass

Is it me, or do you respond to every single post that is on MO??? America's motorcycle industry would be more competitive if you were more productive with your time

Anyhow, you're on a motorcycle that I presume has a rate of acceleration that is better than that of the two cars holding you up, so roll with it. Take the necessary risk because you're in such a hurry and pass the vehicles. That's what the oncoming lane if for, that is what the shoulder can be used for, and I even saw on some of them cop chase videos the motorcycle splitting the two cars, so grow some _____ and walk on the cars, or if something terrible happens.......give us something to read about the next morning in the news.

1747

· #19 · Mar 20, 2002

Unfortunately in order to get my little severance check, I am not at liberty to DISPARAGE Mr. Boehm in any way. (Cool how the attorneys always work these things out.) Something tells me that Boehm and you might have enough common ground to be real buddies, actually. He's at [email protected].--jb

glf5810

· #20 · Mar 20, 2002

Come'on Burns! You don't have to say anything too bad about Boehm but give us the goods. I agree that the left lane thing is an issue but it's not going to change unless we start at the driver education level. Giving tickets probably isn't the fastest way to solve this problem. Anyway, the goods on you and Boehm, the way you see it, hold the profanity so you still get that check and we all get a good read.

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