Mercifully this is news in the UK and nothings in production yet... But they are working at a GPS enabled speed limiting device that 'knows' where you are and the speed limit of that road and will cut power if you go over. Beyone being totally nanny-state it seems like a really dangerous concept to me. Cutting the power to a bike at any given moment is a good way to cause people to crash. You're in a tight turn, trying to obey the speed limit an dyou give the bike a little throttle to keep it stable... and brrp then powers cut mid turn - That's a great way to cause a crash. Fantastic.
Limiters or governors are nothing new, especially with the computer driven bikes (see the Hayabusa) - but those provide a top end cap. You can only go up to X mph
and that's it. As lame as that is it leagues safer than some gizmo that thinks it knows better how you should be riding than you do...
The ole low tech 900 is looking better and better.
Link to the article.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/september/15-21/sep1908-speed-limiters-for-motorcycles/?&R=EPI-103024
I like my TomTom reminding me to top speed...
As it does I just stay out of trouble.
But sometimes you need to speed to overtake cagers and Harleys and if something would block that I would not accept it.
Sooner or later the whole traffic is computer regulated anyway...
So enjoy the German Autobahn as long as it exists [moto]
Two things came to mind when I read this article:
1) This will never fly in the good ole US of A (I hope that's true)
2) If it did, I see a hacker market solving the problem. Or, just one more piece of junk we have to remove from a stock bike to make it work as designed.
Quote from: MTBryan on September 22, 2008, 07:17:07 AM
Or, just one more piece of junk we have to remove from a stock bike to make it work as designed.
[thumbsup] That would be on the list.... mirrors, beer tray, reflectors, and speed limiter.... new standard set of mods....
a similar system is installed on the new nissan GT-R. the onboard gps knows when you are on a race track, and it disables the speed limiter that all japanese market vehicles have of 118mph.
I don't think any system would be implimented that would limit your speed so strictly because of the safety factor.
I give it a short period of time before some smart aleck hacker changes gets into the system and makes the speed limit of any given road appear to be 2.7 mph.
Yikes, what's going on in the U.K?
I've seen that footage when you drop a piece of trash in the street and someone comes on a loud speaker and tells you to pick it up.
That kind of shit would seriously make me consider leaving the country.
and yet every person from England who I have talked to who has driven here, and all the Brit bike and car magazines, mention how draconian our roads are in terms of speed enforcement and how they are anxious to get back home and drive there.
So methinks there might be some differences between perceptions of each group.
Quote from: Wanwo on September 22, 2008, 09:35:40 AM
Yikes, what's going on in the U.K?
I've seen that footage when you drop a piece of trash in the street and someone comes on a loud speaker and tells you to pick it up.
That kind of shit would seriously make me consider leaving the country.
As much as we pregnant dog - we've got it pretty easy. The U.K. is much more of a Nanny state. If you watch 'TopGear' they love to take jabs at all the silly rules that are in place. You're referencing the huge network of that police manned CC cameras - they have a camera for every 14 people in the U.K. Source of that factiod (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6108496.stm). Stuff like this isn't new at all over in Europe
After a trip to England last weekend, I must say I was impressed by the quality of the drivers, and the fact posted speed limits seemed more reasonable than in this country.
On roads that would be posted at 30 or 40 mph here and enforced strictly, they had a posted speed limit of 60 mph. Often in places it would be difficult to maintain that speed. So, I took it that they have more reasonable speed limits, and leave it up to the drivers to determine if they can safely maintain that speed. But if they ARE caught speeding, the penalties are more severe.
And yes, they do have traffic cameras. But they are easy to spot and deal with and are considered to be a joke by the local drivers. My driver just drove like crazy, then would simply slow down for a few seconds when approaching the huge yellow camera box.
Just my quick observation.
It's really jarring that this kind of culture has emerged over there. It just doesn't fit our perception of the U.K. ... China maybe, North Korea probably, but Britain?
Get out while you can. [roll]
sorry
Sorry
let's keep this one to driving if we can. Or bump it into politics section since it'll be difficult to draw any lines.
Quote from: DrNo08 on September 22, 2008, 11:24:49 AM
- You must hate freedom. Slavery is freedom in case you didn't know. It makes perfectly good sense that anti-freedom laws are being (and will be) passed here seeing as how we got attacked b/c "we're free", while we force democracy on others. If you don't agree with that then you're al-qaeda.
(/sarcasm) ;)
My comment was about the UK, just to be clear, since the article I link to is about the UK. I know you're just funnin' - but we are dancing on the politics line. I think I might set a record if we get this thread moved again.
Might have to drill some holes in the box....
Y'know for mounting an under tail kit...... [cheeky]
make the beast with two backs this shit! Nanny state to the Extreme, There is talk of this shit here in Australia, I'll take a hammer to the this bastard of a speed limiter before they can put anything like this on my bike, I have lost count how many times I have had to crack the throttle to get away from some Idiot cager.
People say to me "Why not just hit the brakes?" Because I can see exactly what's in front of me, I don't have to waste time scanning mirrors/turning head to locate exactly where all the other Idiots in cages are, and most people here in northern Australia assume it's there god given right to tail gate.
People should be very worried about this for several reasons.
1) Does anybody really think they will stop at just putting GPS units on bikes? Cars will soon be signed up for the same program.
2) GPS unit in/on your vehicle? If your vehicle knows where it is, then it can also tell somebody else where you are - like Big Brother. This has the potential to be even worse than cameras, as people have to monitor cameras, but a GPS unit can log your vehicles location automatically 24x7. How would you like an attorney to subpoena your vehicles history in a nasty divorce fight?
People are already having problems with their car's black box's recording incriminating evidence during accidents.
This is why I get pissed every time they cite "speed" as a factor in a crash. Can't they just cite stupidity and an inability to appropriately operate a motor vehicle? Like a car/bike/whatever suddenly explodes when it hits 80 miles per hour. Fact is, as we all know, it is quite possible to exceed the speed limit and still be responsible and in control and safer than some inattentive schmuck doing the speed limit, eating lunch, talking on the phone and beating their kids.
sorry for the rant. I was only only child and hate the idea of a big brother.
We in the UK are pretty much powerless to do anything about this, when it was first being trialed, it was proven that it could be dangerous the government announced that it would not proceed. In typical fashion they have reneged. Popular protest counts for nothing, millions of people protested by petitioning the Prime Minister when it was announced that this system would also be used to tax people when they used the roads. At that time the government stated it would abandon the system, we were overjoyed democracy works yeah right, it was recently disclosed that the government is still developing even more sophisticated technology to track our every movement, they have facial recognition that can identify you even if you grow facial hair.
And we can do nothing about it, we have no constitution, we have no bill of rights, there has never been a successful popular uprising in the UK, the state has always prevailed.
Quote from: Capo on September 22, 2008, 04:14:25 PM
And we can do nothing about it, we have no constitution, we have no bill of rights, there has never been a successful popular uprising in the UK, the state has always prevailed.
Us yanks will always welcome you across the pond [thumbsup]
Quote from: someguy on September 22, 2008, 04:18:52 PM
Us yanks will always welcome you across the pond [thumbsup]
You know, I like the U.K. a lot, but they do go a bit too far with the nanny shit.
People said the same thing about speed/red light cameras, "That would never happen in America"
It has its just eased in so nobody notices.
It would be deadly to limit a bike to the speed limit then cut power, so I don't think it would happen in any country.
But I can see a register of GPS chips tracking your speed and sending you a ticket for speeding in the next 20 years.
Or traveling with an unchipped vehicle.
Quote from: Capo on September 22, 2008, 04:14:25 PM
And we can do nothing about it, we have no constitution, we have no bill of rights, there has never been a successful popular uprising in the UK, the state has always prevailed.
uh you did have a popular uprising in the kingdom... and we kicked your butts ;) JK seriously though, we did
Quote from: Capo on September 22, 2008, 04:14:25 PM
And we can do nothing about it, we have no constitution, we have no bill of rights
- Well, ours is being shredded by both parties. Those documents don't do you a whole lot of good if they're not followed.
Does this mean I won't be able to go 140 on my 695 anymore?
Quote from: paradisecity on September 23, 2008, 06:33:58 AM
Does this mean I won't be able to go 140 on my 695 anymore?
Didn't he have a 620?
Quote from: 13 on September 23, 2008, 09:20:51 AM
Didn't he have a 620?
Yeah, but you gotta update the joke for the new model year - yah know...
Quote from: 13 on September 23, 2008, 09:20:51 AM
Didn't he have a 620?
Yeah, but now he has a 1098.
In Indy he told me it'll do 240.
:o
Quote from: Capo on September 22, 2008, 04:14:25 PM
we have no constitution, we have no bill of rights,
Don't worry the way things are going over here in a few years we won't have those either. Guess this means that you'll just have to ride older bikes that don't have all the garbage built into them.
This has been a topic amongst EU politicians, but was trashed after someone (bikers organisations I think) pointed out the dangers of interfering with a bike's power which it depends on to stay upright.
If you guys don't read the house bills proposed for your jurisdiction and then call your local elected official with your perspective, there is no room to complain on the internet about it.
House bills are easily found on the internet these days. Before they are signed into law you can have input...and a strong argument to a politician has a lot of weight.
Let's stop complaining after the fact and take an active role in what we want put in place to govern us.
not so hard, folks. This group spends enough time online as it is....let's all use it positively. I do. So can you...it's not difficult.
Quote from: Statler on September 23, 2008, 06:21:22 PM
If you guys don't read the house bills proposed for your jurisdiction and then call your local elected official with your perspective, there is no room to complain on the internet about it.
House bills are easily found on the internet these days. Before they are signed into law you can have input...and a strong argument to a politician has a lot of weight.
Let's stop complaining after the fact and take an active role in what we want put in place to govern us.
not so hard, folks. This group spends enough time online as it is....let's all use it positively. I do. So can you...it's not difficult.
http://thomas.loc.gov
1984 ....it's coming. Dolph
:(
:'(
Quote from: Statler on September 23, 2008, 06:21:22 PM
If you guys don't read the house bills proposed for your jurisdiction and then call your local elected official with your perspective, there is no room to complain on the internet about it.
House bills are easily found on the internet these days. Before they are signed into law you can have input...and a strong argument to a politician has a lot of weight.
Let's stop complaining after the fact and take an active role in what we want put in place to govern us.
not so hard, folks. This group spends enough time online as it is....let's all use it positively. I do. So can you...it's not difficult.
Well said sir.
The problem here is the politicians in power just plain dont listen, only in the last hour I was watching the governing parties convention, a senior minister said (of the government) "We have to do what is right not what is popular" and guess who decides what is right.
it won't happen in the US. too many interests WANT you to speed.
here, more than anywhere else in the world, states receive a HUGE amount of income from speeding violations.
it's very simple. if the states wanted you to stop speeding, they would ALL petition congress to pass a law saying a car cannot go faster than 65 mph. period.
furthermore, that you can't start the car unless your seatbelt is closed. if a car can beep at you when the seatbelt is unbelted, they can sure swap it with a relay to keep it from starting in a minute.
the reason it won't happen in the US is that it will stop speeding FOR GOOD.
For instance New York state took in over 200 million $ in moving fines in 2006. Virginia recently killed a traffic ticket scheme that would have netted the state an additional $4million annually for road improvement. ADDITIONAL.
Doing anything to change the balance of income for that will not fly.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on September 24, 2008, 04:34:44 AM
it won't happen in the US. too many interests WANT you to speed.
Excellent points! That is very true. It would greatly reduce revenue (from tickets) and put a lot of people out of a job.
Quote from: MTBryan on September 24, 2008, 06:12:25 AM
Excellent points! That is very true. It would greatly reduce revenue (from tickets) and put a lot of people out of a job.
...which is why you'll see the police unions line up against them.
you'd think the police would support things like red light cameras and speed cameras, but most of the unions have been officially "neutral" about them.
they can't say "we are against them" because they definitely work, but the net result would be fewer cops needed to patrol traffic.
New York City employs 10,000 traffic cops out of a police force of 38,000. Most of NYC traffic cops are high school grads and nothing more. I doubt they would find work elsewhere.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on September 24, 2008, 03:24:35 PM
...which is why you'll see the police unions line up against them.
you'd think the police would support things like red light cameras and speed cameras, but most of the unions have been officially "neutral" about them.
they can't say "we are against them" because they definitely work, but the net result would be fewer cops needed to patrol traffic.
New York City employs 10,000 traffic cops out of a police force of 38,000. Most of NYC traffic cops are high school grads and nothing more. I doubt they would find work elsewhere.
I'm a high school grad.
What's your point?
Sounds like creeping elitism to me. [roll]
Quote from: ducpainter on September 24, 2008, 04:53:57 PM
I'm a high school grad.
What's your point?
Sounds like creeping elitism to me. [roll]
Some people think education is the key factor to actually becoming smart - the education would fix it if they weren't smart to begin with.
That must have been proven wrong enough by now, but "the elite" will try to stereotype to defend their privileges.
I'm not sure if the poster belong in this category?
Quote from: ducpainter on September 24, 2008, 04:53:57 PM
I'm a high school grad.
What's your point?
Sounds like creeping elitism to me. [roll]
it's not elitism, it is frustration and not necessarily the best worded way to express it.
there are all kinds of high school grads.
some of them start businesses and grow it and run it and are very successful and contributing (like my father, RIP), and there are some who barely made it thru high school and took the NYPD test 6 times and failed the first 5 and finally passed it and will sit in the same job for the rest of their lives.
so, you're right, i shouldn't have dissed my father that way. he worked a long time to get me to the point where i could finish college and grad school under scholarships.
i was, however, referring to that group of high school grads who aspire for nothing more than "getting anything they can get for free".. and there are plenty of those folks who coasted thru college as well.
point is, if they ratcheted up the red light cameras and speed cameras everywhere, there would be little work for unskilled, ignorant people, who may or may not have finished high school and who may or may not have finished college.
[coffee]
Today I got my hands on the top twenty list of priorities for mc-safety as laid down by the OECD - a/the major player - governments listen.
I have not been able to find a link, so I'll type the headlines.
The point is that the closest they get to the topic here, is speed warnings either by the road (signs) or on the bike itself. Plus working to promote ABS.
1 Training programmes
2 Transport and infrastructure policy
3 Research and evaluation
4 General driver training
5 Braking systems
6 Getting safety messages to the riders
7 Integrated awareness campaigns
8 Guidelines for the development of road infrastructure
9 Portrayal of responsible riding
10 Other vehicle driver awareness
11 Training for road designers
12 Protective equipment for riders
13 Policy dialogue
14 Roadway designs
15 Motorcycles in ITS
16 Innovation
17 Speed warning systems
18 Global technical regulations
19 Work together
20 Headlamps in daytime
Sounds good to me, I guess.