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Pushing The Envelope, Part III: Ghost Rider

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Bloviating Zeppelin: Pushing The Envelope, Part III: Ghost Rider

Bloviating Zeppelin

(in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Pushing The Envelope, Part III: Ghost Rider

The human being has always pushed the envelope into and beyond the realms of danger. This is the third of some Sunday postings displaying how restless Man is with the mundane and how he purposely crosses the threshold into danger willingly -- and sometimes unwillingly.



Three eye-opening videos about the famed European motorcycle rider, who now has a massive global following, called "Ghost Rider." He is to motors what The Stig is to Top Gear.


He has not been caught by any police agency.

He calls up the police in the jurisdictions through which he plans to ride, and tells them he is coming.

In the above video, please note that 270 kph indicated in the digital speedometer = 173 mph.




In this second video, please continuously note the digital kph speedo on the right; 298 kph through Paris = 185 mph.

He has a death wish, but I must admit he's one helluva rider. The sad thing is that when he becomes liquid on the pavement of some European country, he might not end up taking just himself out; he could easily strike, at horrendous speed, an uninvolved second party.

Nevertheless, I find myself fascinated, revulsed and riveted simultaneously.

BZ

12 Comments:

Blogger Law and Order Teacher said...

BZ,
I remember that chasing MCs was a fruitless pursuit. I've always wanted to ride an MC but I don't trust the other drivers. I saw too many crashes that weren't the MC driver's fault. It doesn't make them live though.

There's going to be a day when an errant lane change leads to this guy's death, but he'll go down in a blaze of glory. I guess that's what he's after. Like you, I hope he doesn't take anyone with him.

Sat Jan 09, 06:24:00 PM PST  
Blogger Bloviating Zeppelin said...

LOT: there were and are people on my department who know HOW to "force" a motorcycle pursuit -- and those who constantly strived to do it. All you have to do is light up a motor a good block or two away and -- "instant pursuit."

If they were stupid, they crashed. If they were good, they left you in the damned dust. Either way, if you were a stupid cop squid, you had a time.

MY department almost lost pursuits for the ENTIRE nation in the Lewis v Sacramento SCOTUS case in 1998.

I have to say -- as I admire the rare skills of F1 pilots, so I also admire the skills of Ghost Rider.

BZ

Sat Jan 09, 06:41:00 PM PST  
Blogger dmurray said...

I quote Major Hoople of the Katzenjammer Kids, "Awp, sput! FAP!"

Thank you.

Sat Jan 09, 06:42:00 PM PST  
Blogger Bloviating Zeppelin said...

DM: okay, dude, I'm thinking of getting back into Bikedom. What might you recommend??

BZ

Sat Jan 09, 06:44:00 PM PST  
Blogger David Wyatt said...

As my grandfather used to say, "he was making some time on that thang!"

Sat Jan 09, 09:59:00 PM PST  
Blogger Greybeard said...

Like you, I watch in awe at his riding skills but wonder how long it will be until someone makes a sandwich of him between two autos.
When the Nicholas Cage movie came out I had hopes this guy would be the subject matter, rather than the piece of schlock they gave us.

I once landed at an accident scene where an 18 yr. old kid ran from the local cops on his bulletbike and on a sweeping curve, strained himself through the armco. While my crew worked on him in the ambulance, one of the emergency workers brought me a hefty "steelsack", shouting over the noise of the idling helicopter, "It's his leg!"
We got him to the ER, but he died.

I saw photos from California showing what happens when one of these guys T-bones a Mustang convertible with two 18 year old girls in it. The bike tries to cut the car in half, and everyone dies.
Ugly.

Sun Jan 10, 08:53:00 AM PST  
Blogger Tim said...

I loved the Ghost Rider movie because I was a comic book fan in the 70's as a boy and have many of the comics, including the first issue. you all may not know it, but Nick Cage took his stage name from a Marvel character called "Luke Cage, Hero for Hire", who was modelled on Blacksplotation film star Jim Brown.

I've got a Honda 600 Shadow that I ride in the summer months but have never taken it above 80-85 mph. You need a swivel neck on a bike and have to keep your eyes on everybody. Assume they ALL want to run you over and that you CANNOT rely on eye contact as proof that they see you. I have been a rider since I was 11 years old. Like Skiing, it requires good coordination and muscle memory, and realizing what your limits are. Going 80 on the freeway with no car around you can unnerve some people. I call that sensation freedom.
A friend of mine had a ninja style bike like that and had it up to 140 mph once. Said that was when the bike was "in the zone" meaning it gripped the road, the engine was throbbing at the right pitch, everything optimal. He brought it back down to 70 and said it was boring to ride it after seeing what it could really do. Sensibly, he sold it soon after and switched back to a Harley cruiser. A wise decision.

This guy is superhumanly skilled as far as reflexes and agility. If only there could be a more productive way to channel that ability to benefit greater society.

Sun Jan 10, 09:10:00 AM PST  
Blogger dmurray said...

AWP! SPUT! FAP! Still I thank the Major.

My experience with BMW is much to the dealer's financial pleasure, as Jerry Lewis would say.

I say seek desired features. I recommend ABS, fairing with adjustable windshield, upright riding position, nearby dealership.

ABS: lifesaver, but not a substitute for good judgment.

Fairing: aging baby boomers love fairings.

Upright position: compulsory low speed handling is easiest, necessary visibility over the shoulder at speed is far easier.

New for bikes, highly praised in the slick bike press: traction control on the high end bikes like BMW S1000RR, Ducati, Aprilia (F1 posture, though).

Most specific: let someone else take the depreciation hit and start looking for bikes no more than ten years old.

Sun Jan 10, 09:55:00 AM PST  
Blogger Maggie Thornton said...

I wouldn't be too happy if he got into my space like the does with these other unsuspecting motorists.

It's exciting to watch, but I think there is a mischevious little pebble on the road somewhere that will totally do him in. As you indicated, hopefully he does not catapult into someone else.

Sun Jan 10, 11:23:00 AM PST  
Blogger sig94 said...

Covered a few MC fatalities, all alcohol related. Whenever I did manage to get one to pull over in a stop, I handed the ticket over with, "You're nothing but a soft, pink squishy missile kid."

Drove an old 1968 BMW R2 for quite a while. Hopefully I'll get something else before I get too old to ride. Some geezer bike with a fairing and saddle bags.

I don't admire the idiots who drive like that. Total disregard for the safety of others, but that's just me.

Sun Jan 10, 06:00:00 PM PST  
Blogger Tim said...

"Pink, squishy missile" LOL. I never drink when riding, not even one beer. I've had a couple of times when I hit a rock or oil patch into the road and started to skid. Your reflexes have to be tip top to right the bike without laying it down. I don't do "road rash". I had one nasty spill when I was 13. Riding a dirt bike fast around a curve in the trail. Some asshole cut down a tree right across the trail out of sight. Flew over the handle bars and landed 20 feet away into a blackberry patch. Fontueately the bushes broke my fall but I had some nice scratches and bruises, and my jeans and jacket were full of purple stains. We used to set up ramps and play Evel Kievel and do jumps. Thinking back it's amazing I didn't break my neck.
Your never too old to ride if you can still see,hear, and walk.

Tue Jan 12, 06:50:00 AM PST  
Blogger Tim said...

And NEVER ride without a helmet.Unless you filled out the organ donor form. No helmet = stupid idiot fool.

Tue Jan 12, 06:53:00 AM PST  

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