Police: Boastful motorcyclist's 170 mph joy ride ends in arrest

Nikkolaus McCarthy, from Charlton, NY, was arrested after he was clocked going 170 mph.

After being pulled over for speeding, a motorcyclist clocked traveling at speeds up to 170 miles per hour on the New York State Thruway reportedly was anything but remorseful. When told how fast he was going, he allegedly told troopers on Wednesday his bike could easily top 190 miles per hour, the troopers said.

Nikkolaus McCarthy, 25, was first spotted by a state trooper heading south on the Thruway just before 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the village of Ravena, N.Y., according to the New York State Police. The trooper noted his speed at the time -- 166 mph -- as well as the license plate number of his Suzuki motorcycle as it slowed down in traffic.

But after McCarthy sped up again, the trooper didn't follow him, instead giving out a description over the air. McCarthy was clocked by other troopers at other locations going between 150 and 170 mph.

Twenty minutes and 50 miles later, in New Paltz, N.Y., troopers were able to stop McCarthy when he slowed down in traffic. After being pulled over, McCarthy told the troopers he was low on gas; when he was advised of his speed, he told them his motorcycle could go over 190 mph, WHEC reported.

McCarthy was arrested and charged with fleeing police, reckless driving, speeding and operating out of class because he didn't have a motorcycle license. He's being held on $20,000 bail in the Albany County Correctional Facility.

McCarthy's fine for speeding would be determined at his arraignment, a representative for The New York State Thruway told msnbc.com.

McCarthy is from Charlton, N.Y., in Saratoga County, according to The Albany Times Union. His bike is a 2007 Suzuki, The Times Herald-Record of Hudson Valley said.

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Funny - he looks like a rocket scientist...

  • 20 votes
#1 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

Just a fine?

Surely a driving ban, some jail time, confiscation of the vehicle, and community service - the latter at a city morgue where one would hope that he sees the results of high speed crashes.

This guy needs to be off the road, if not out of the gene pool.

  • 24 votes
#1.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

ORB 1943: Just a fine possibly not, that is criminal speed. He possibly will loses any Drivers licence he holds, Jail Time if not prison for awhile and a fine well over $3,000+ Court fee's.

  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:01 PM EDT

What is the penalty for this offense?

    #1.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:17 PM EDT

    what modifications has he done to that bike, 190 mile per hour speed possible, wow, Suzuki or Harley should hire him.

    • 1 vote
    #1.4 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:21 PM EDT

    charged with fleeing police, reckless driving, speeding

    OK: I understand the latter 2, but if the cops didn't chase him, or at least indicate they wanted him to stop, how can he be charged with fleeing police?

    & Saxon its probably a stock 1200+ cc crotch rocket

    • 11 votes
    #1.5 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:23 PM EDT

    saxon he probably hasn't done many mods. He was probably driving a hayabusa or GSR1000 which can easily hit those speeds.

    • 6 votes
    #1.6 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:25 PM EDT

    Prison...? Not. His lawyer will get a him plea deal, as he should. The charge of "fleeing police" will be dropped.

    His joy ride will cost him, but I'll bet he was having a great time. Doing stupid stuff on a motorcycle rarely hurts anyone but the pilot. This is not the end off the world folks. Not sure why it's new worthy in the minds of the MSNBC folks.

    • 21 votes
    #1.7 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:25 PM EDT

    @Wrecked.......He was driving a "Crotch Rocket" as they say.

    • 2 votes
    #1.8 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:27 PM EDT

    @saxon- I had a 2002 GSX-R 750 that would top out at 178 mph completely stock.... So would doubt any modifications were even added. But going that fast on public roads is a very stupid idea.

    • 18 votes
    #1.9 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:34 PM EDT

    Oops!

    • 1 vote
    #1.10 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:37 PM EDT

    Only fines? seriously doubt it, but doubt he'll do any real jail time. As for the idea that him doing stupid stuff on his bike would just hurt him...Not even close. The physics of any object going that fast makes it a missile and when it would hit any other object in the impact would rip thru a car or truck with such force that shrapnel from the bike would travel all the way thru the car/truck and maybe out the other side. The riders Body would travel, either hitting another car or the pavement with a force equal to dropping a cube of cement, equal to the weight of the rider, from 100+ feet.

    • 8 votes
    #1.11 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:38 PM EDT
    Comment author avatarNorthernLights4MeExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

    Give him his bike back, put him on a closed course, throw a few shovel fulls of gravel on the track and let him go 170+ and watch his body disintigrage when he hits the gravel.
    dumb, dumb, dumb.

    • 9 votes
    #1.12 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:41 PM EDT

    How was he "fleeing police"? They never were in pursuit. If he did any fleeing the article doesn't describe how.

    • 8 votes
    #1.13 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:44 PM EDT

    How times have changed. In 1973 I was clocked by CHIPS doing 135 MPH on I-5 while riding a 850 Norton Commando. CHIPS did not ask for my license, but they did ask me how fast I was going and in reply I told the truth. They did check the bike over to get it's numbers making sure that it was not stolen. I got a $25 ticket, and was allowed to go on my way with the stern warning to slow it down. They said that it took them 5 miles to catch up to me after I had slowed down to 100 MPH. CHIPS road 900 Kawasaki's back then.

    • 11 votes
    #1.14 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:45 PM EDT

    Nobody chased him because they dont have anything that goes that fast.

    • 7 votes
    #1.15 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:21 PM EDT

    $20,000 bond ... Now he has something to brag about. "It could have been $50,000!"

    • 1 vote
    #1.16 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:29 PM EDT

    Well, thanks for the picture! That explains everything about this neanderthal. Hope he does not remain in the gene pool.

    • 3 votes
    #1.17 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:20 PM EDT

    Wrecked--Rocket scientist? I was thinking brain surgeon. This guy will surely end up as a ball of guts and goo.

    • 2 votes
    #1.18 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:25 PM EDT

    He needed to be arrested for his own safety and that of others. It's better than that the road kill crews should have to scrape him up off the highway along with the jack rabbits and possums!

    • 1 vote
    #1.19 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:28 PM EDT

    Someone should ensure that his "Organ Doner" card is up to date--should get used real soon!

    • 1 vote
    #1.20 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:47 PM EDT

    There wouldn't be enough left to donate at that speed...

    • 5 votes
    #1.21 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:12 PM EDT

    See if I got this right....

    citizen does excess of 120 and gets book thrown at him.....

    2 state cops on their personal bikes get caught doing the same(ohio), and BARELY get a slap

    on the wrist, AFTER a huge uproar.

    ooooooook.....

    • 8 votes
    #1.22 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:34 PM EDT

    How was he "fleeing police"?

    If they lit him up at any point, and he didn't slow down or stop, he was legally fleeing.

    For the record, the guy probably thought he WAS going 190mph. Most sport bikes have a significant amount of error in their speedometers, increasing as the speed increases. At 80mph it can be as much as 7 or 8 mph in error. Most folks who tell you their bikes can break 170/180/190 have read that off their speedometers. . . .and their bikes were actually doing about 20 mph (or more) lower than that.

    Of course, 150mph-170mph is still ridiculously fast.

    • 1 vote
    #1.23 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:36 PM EDT

    Hmmm... You could be right about that. From my fire department EMS days, I can remember motorcycle injuries and mayhem, as if they happened yesterday or this morning; and all of those were at low speed.

    I realize that I should never judge by appearance. However, this guy just looks "reasoning impaired."

    The truly scary thing is, he could be a registered voter.

    • 3 votes
    #1.24 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:40 PM EDT

    And nobody has even mentioned the fact that this jerk-off doesn't have a motorcycle license. He should have to forfeit the bike for that alone and then do time for the other crimes.

    Obviously the loser can't pass the test so he cheats the law (kinda hope the idiot crashes and dies soon....cull the herd......and yes, I truly do hope he kills himself.....no loss to society!!!!!)

    • 3 votes
    #1.25 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:50 PM EDT

    I had a 1985 Kaw. 750 Turbo with some slight modifications. When that was done it had 250HP and I don't know how fast it would go but at a standing start it would go from 0-120 in about 2 to 3 seconds. You had to lay on the gas tank or the G-forces would pull U off the bike. I had to sell it because I would kill myself if I didn't. These crotch rockets make U aggressive when U are not normally.

    • 2 votes
    #1.26 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:58 PM EDT

    Sweet DEATHWISH, there, Dale. Sleep well. Your parents must be so proud!

    IS ANYONE MONITORING THESE POSTS?

      #1.27 - Thu May 3, 2012 4:05 PM EDT

      Beezup,
      As long as McCarthy doesn't take you, me or anyone else with him, what do you care?

      The only thing I would request is to leave my name off the clean up crew when he does.

        #1.28 - Thu May 3, 2012 4:25 PM EDT

        They should add a charge of reckless endangerment since he could have easily ended up killing other people on the road. He should definitely lose his drivers license for a few years and do some jail time to teach him a lesson. It is obvious that this kid does not feel bad at all about what he has done or recognize the danger he created for other motorists, so maybe some jail time will change his attitude. This was not simple speeding, this was creating a major public hazard.

        • 3 votes
        #1.29 - Thu May 3, 2012 4:41 PM EDT

        Let him experience the thrill of a lifetime... give him a long ramp to ride up at 190mph... over the Grand Canyon. No parachutes allowed.

        • 1 vote
        #1.30 - Thu May 3, 2012 5:06 PM EDT

        Could it be that he saw himself in the mirror and ...

        • 3 votes
        #1.31 - Thu May 3, 2012 5:15 PM EDT

        This guy should take an excursion through Utah. There was one place out there that said "next exit 110 miles", and not so much traffic.!!

        • 3 votes
        #1.32 - Thu May 3, 2012 6:08 PM EDT

        Yes he was doing something very dumb, but this is not the end of the world, He will get punished most likely jail time or probationn as well as thousands in fines. fleeing police will not stand as noone even gave chase or was even able to get close enough for him to know they were if they tried. personally i think he should fac e the same punishment that

        citizen does excess of 120 and gets book thrown at him.....

        2 state cops on their personal bikes get caught doing the same(ohio), and BARELY get a slap

        on the wrist, AFTER a huge uproar.

        the cops recieved as they have set a precident for not being punished, If anything cops should ALWAYS face harsher punishment then any citizen as they have violated public trust.

        • 1 vote
        #1.33 - Thu May 3, 2012 9:24 PM EDT

        Kamikazi pilot on a rice rocket! He's in the running for a Darwin Award!

          #1.34 - Fri May 4, 2012 1:22 AM EDT
          Reply

          Dumb Kid

          • 11 votes
          Reply#2 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:41 AM EDT

          We all were at one point in time.

          • 7 votes
          #2.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:18 PM EDT

          I may have been a dumb kid, but I was never that dumb.

          • 18 votes
          #2.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:32 PM EDT

          The guy looks at least over 25. At some point we have to change "kid" to "adult," like "dumb adult."

          • 5 votes
          #2.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:01 PM EDT

          I guess it might be a good thing his motorcycle is so very swift ... because he clearly is not.

          • 3 votes
          #2.4 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:35 PM EDT

          There's a reason they call them donor-cycles . . .

          • 3 votes
          #2.5 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:19 PM EDT

          I'll just leave it at Dumb Ass, that pretty much covers all age catagories.

          • 2 votes
          #2.6 - Thu May 3, 2012 4:27 PM EDT
          Reply

          If he ever saw the result of losing it at that speed, he might think twice about it. Pretty much everything flies off the trunk, and it all gets ground into road pizza. Not pretty at all.

          • 9 votes
          Reply#3 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:43 AM EDT

          Personally, it wouldn't be a major concern of mine if he did lose it. What bothers me is knuckleheads like this guy put my family, your family and everybody else on the road at risk when he rides like that. Dumb a$$es like that get innocent people killed.

          • 25 votes
          #3.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:54 AM EDT
          Comment author avatarChristian-3196489Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

          Um... I would agree with you if he wasn't on a bike or was in a residential neighborhood. However with that speed on a freeway he is really only risking his own life. A bike won't do much to a car even at those speeds unless by some freak accident it flies up and hits the window.

          • 1 vote
          #3.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:43 PM EDT

          Christian you are not educated enough, obviously, to speculate on such matters.

          • 8 votes
          #3.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:54 PM EDT

          You didn't do very well in Physics/Science classes did you Christian....

          • 7 votes
          #3.4 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:58 PM EDT

          Physics would suggest that bike would have an incredible amount of momentum, P=MV. The bike doesn't weight much, but it has incredible velocity. He can hit your car, I don't want him to hit mine, causing it to become difficult to control, go off the road and potentially injure me or my family.

          • 2 votes
          #3.5 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:59 PM EDT

          hey christian

          type in google Motorcycle hits car

          and take a look at some of the images

          wont damage a car, huh?

          • 5 votes
          #3.6 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:05 PM EDT

          I'd much rather that someone who is that unaware of potential consequences be on a motorcycle rather than behind a steering wheel.

          • 1 vote
          #3.7 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:20 PM EDT

          And he may not have been in a residential area, but he was caught in enough traffic to have to slow down to 100 mph, at least twice according to the story.

            #3.8 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:36 PM EDT

            Speeding motorcycles can cause accidents that impact cars. I've seen some of those idiots standing on the seat of the bike!!!!!!!!!

            Let them fall and see what happens to the cars behind them and to the sides of them.

            • 2 votes
            #3.9 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:03 PM EDT

            There's a name for guys like this: ORGAN DONOR.

            • 1 vote
            #3.10 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:04 PM EDT

            wahoo2,

            Who wants a liver that had to be pulled down out of a tree?

            • 5 votes
            #3.11 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:59 PM EDT

            Okay, so you disagree with me. Is that enough to censor my comment and collapse it?

            Yes he was doing something completely reckless and should lose his license and his bike. My point was that he was putting his own life in jeopardy much more than that of others.

            Obviously someone who doesn't even value their own life isn't going to give much value to other's lives.

            If he wants to drive 170mph he should get himself on a track, period.

              #3.12 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:57 PM EDT

              Wahoo,
              Organ donors have to have "working" parts to donate...There probably wouldn't even be enough skin left for a decent graft.

              • 1 vote
              #3.13 - Thu May 3, 2012 4:30 PM EDT

              Christian, you really need to take a little physics class (F=ma). At 170 mph a bicycle would almost cut a car in half. Instead of a bicycle, he was riding a few hundred pounds of a motorcycle.

                #3.14 - Sat May 5, 2012 3:22 PM EDT
                Reply

                adrenaline junky; maybe next time he'll find something at least legal to do to get his fix.

                • 4 votes
                Reply#4 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:46 AM EDT

                Like what?

                • 1 vote
                #4.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:50 AM EDT

                janman86

                Like what?

                Skydive

                • 3 votes
                #4.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:02 PM EDT

                Costs a lot of money and you most likely you can't do it everyday. So that's shot down. Doing 0-160 in 15 or so seconds is a cheap thrill. I have never driven a crotch rocket, but I can only imagine the rush of owning one.

                  #4.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:10 PM EDT

                  Yeah, go to the local 1/4 mile drag strip, spend 20 bucks to race the bike there. (Legally)

                  • 7 votes
                  #4.4 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:36 PM EDT

                  Skydiving is a lot cheaper than the $20,000 dollar bail!

                  • 2 votes
                  #4.5 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:39 PM EDT

                  Maybe skydive without a parachute.

                  janman86 My Kaw. 750 Turbo could go from 0-160 in about 5 secomds. 250hp, 350lbs. It was faster than this guys bike.

                    #4.6 - Thu May 3, 2012 4:04 PM EDT

                    I have never driven a crotch rocket, but I can only imagine the rush of owning one.

                    They are quite a rush. 06 CBR600rr would hit 151 on the track, but I was kinda big for it (6'4, 210) so I slowed it down a little. My next one- BMW S1000rr- smokes the Hayabusa (the bike he had to be riding if it were close to stock... a GSX-R1k wouldn't hit 190 without some mods...) hits 196 or so.

                    My Kaw. 750 Turbo could go from 0-160 in about 5 secomds. 250hp, 350lbs. It was faster than this guys bike.

                    You either completely rebuilt it ground up, or you are full of it. The kawa 750 turbos had 112hp, and weighed 530lbs wet.

                    You did post earlier about some 'slight modifications', but unless you put a new built motor and turbo setup, likely with NOS, there's no way your bike got that high. Bikes today don't come with that kind of power stock, and it takes quite a bit of work to get them there- and that's with considerably better performance, considerably lighter weight, etc.

                    • 2 votes
                    #4.7 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:03 PM EDT

                    Re: Flex's

                    1985 Kaw. 750 Turbo with some slight modifications. When that was done it had 250HP.

                    My Kaw. 750 Turbo could go from 0-160 in about 5 secomds. 250hp, 350lbs.

                    "Shenanigans!"

                    I call "shenanigans," too. I know this ain't Cycle World, but a 45-inch gasoline engine is gonna need about 6 atmospheres' worth of boost pressure to achieve 250 HP, and the motor alone is gonna weigh about 350 lbs. just to contain it. While that Kaw motor is well-built from the factory, not a single stock part in it would be capable of sustaining 250HP more than momentarily. The stock fuel delivery system (pressurized pump, big lines, ginormous injectors) would call for major re-engineering just by itself.

                    Still, though, wouldn't you like to be the guy that told 'im & sold 'im, as his $23,000 check cleared?

                      #4.8 - Fri May 4, 2012 12:42 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      Meth kills.

                      • 4 votes
                      Reply#5 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:46 AM EDT

                      he responded, "my motorcycle will do 190" and the cop replied "good to know, i'll be buying it at auction" since they're obviously confiscating it.

                      • 9 votes
                      Reply#6 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:47 AM EDT

                      Sign an organ donor card! If there is anything left after you wreck, I want the liver, maybe a kidney.

                      • 6 votes
                      Reply#7 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:50 AM EDT

                      Having been a paramedic for 30 years I can say authoritatively, if this knucklehead was going 170mph and hit a car going 70, there would be no organs left to donate. Hitting a stationary object the rider would be an organic spot. Maybe big enough to put in a baggie

                      • 5 votes
                      #7.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:49 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      what a waste of a story.. Come to Houston.. We have alot of speeders who dont give a damn about anyone but themselves..

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#8 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:51 AM EDT

                      Dude, try the great salt flats. :)

                      • 3 votes
                      Reply#9 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:52 AM EDT

                      There you go! Or a legal track, there are plenty out there and not all of them cost a ton of money to drive at. He didn't even have his cycle license. There are ways to do this stuff legal.

                      • 4 votes
                      #9.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:37 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      Why do the manufacturers even make street bikes that can achieve this speed? Pure insanity! The guy should be glad that he didn't wipe out at that speed. They'd be scooping him into a body bag with a shovel. I definitely see a Darwin award in this idiot's future.

                      • 10 votes
                      Reply#10 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:52 AM EDT

                      More like sponging up the remains. Not enough to use a shovel on.

                      • 4 votes
                      #10.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:12 PM EDT

                      they make bikes that go that fast cause there are people who actually abide the laws and race them at racing tracks. this guy obviously didn't care about any laws since he didn't even have a license.

                      • 1 vote
                      #10.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:29 PM EDT

                      "More like sponging up the remains. Not enough to use a shovel on."

                      Only if he hits something (which is very likely on a public road). Otherwise he'll get off easier than if he gets hit by an SUV at a stoplight.

                      • 1 vote
                      #10.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:31 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      Why is he being charged with fleeing police? The article doesn't say he didn't immediately pull over when they finally did pursue him when he slowed down. In fact, it states that the first office just radioed ahead. How are you supposed to know the police are chasing you if they're not actually chasing you?

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#11 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:53 AM EDT

                      If you pass a police officer at 170 MPH I think it's reasonable to think they would be in pursuit of you, except they don't have a vehicle that can keep up. Just what we need on the interstate, a 170 MPH chase with a motorcycle and a few police cars.

                      • 8 votes
                      #11.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:57 AM EDT

                      Cops need to make the budget (read: quota - cops will deny it, anyways), too. Extra charge (although phoney) may create more income for the PD.

                      • 1 vote
                      #11.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:58 AM EDT

                      I was wondering the same thing.

                        #11.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:14 PM EDT

                        Because it gives the prosecutor something to bargain with when the plea is worked out.

                        • 3 votes
                        #11.4 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:33 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        Nothing works better than FREE advertizing. I guess, Suzuki Motors loves msnbc for that :)

                        Go Suuu-zuuuu-kiiiii!

                        • 2 votes
                        Reply#12 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:53 AM EDT

                        Slowzuki? Huh?

                        Lol

                          #12.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:07 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          He knows the dangers and everything...

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#13 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:54 AM EDT

                          170mph on a crotch rocket. That's unheard of. The bikes sole purpose is to go very fast in a short amount of time, so this story shouldn't be surprising.

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#14 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:55 AM EDT

                          Foolish? Yeah! Fun? Oh you bet! Daredevil? Yep! And, now he's got great stories to tell...and a fine (oops).

                          • 4 votes
                          Reply#15 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:57 AM EDT
                          Comment author avatarAaron Kirchmannvia Facebook

                          And that is why we don't let the meth heads ride Busas, ladies and gentlemen.

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#16 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:58 AM EDT

                          Fortunately for this guy, stupid is not a crime yet. I would give him the maximum penalty allowed by law. The bottom line is that there is no reason for these bikes to go that fast, the same thing applies to a car. I can see exceeding the speed limit to get someone to a hospital, but I doubt you'd be doing that on the back of a motorcycle. Maybe we need to look at these motorcycles and put a limit on the top speed they can go in order to get them into the country. I see the most stupid behavior from guys on motorcycles, from speeding, to zig-zagging through traffic, to wheelies, and standing on the seat while going upwards of 60 miles per hour. I really don;t care if these people kill themselves while acting like morons, as long as nobody else gets hurt from their stupidity.

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#17 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:01 PM EDT

                          Stupidity is not a crime, fortunately for many people. However, as you note the ACTIONS one takes while practicing stupidity DOES HAVE repercussions.

                          He will be heavily charged and prosecuted. Speeds like that will equate to a felony charge, plus the likely reckless endangerment felony charge.

                          I think he should go dust off the skateboard. That's probably the only thing he'll be able to drive or ride for a whole lot of future years. Of course that's only after he gets out of jail.

                          • 3 votes
                          #17.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:23 PM EDT

                          The bottom line is that there is no reason for these bikes to go that fast, the same thing applies to a car.

                          Thank you, I'll feel free to take my bike to a track where I can legally go as fast as the track and my equipment will allow... My car too, while I'm at it (or my old car, 240sx was fun on the track, but a mazda 3 just won't do it...)

                          Just because YOU don't participate in something, and some OTHER asshats abuse something, doesn't mean there is 'no reason' for it.

                          • 1 vote
                          #17.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 11:09 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          Let people drive at the speed they want. People are not stupid, they can regulate their speed better that government does. Slow moving cars - take right lane.

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#18 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:11 PM EDT

                          Excuse me.... at 170mph that 500 pound motorcycle will do enough damage to your car to kill you and anyone else in it.

                          I don't mind people 'speeding', but speeds like that are beyond insane. Especially on a motorcycle.

                          • 11 votes
                          #18.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:18 PM EDT

                          Just so you know XD. A VW jetta (3100 pounds) going 60, would do more damage than that 500lb bike doing 170. So honestly, if your only worried about the impact, then you should be pushing for lower highway speeds.

                          • 1 vote
                          #18.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:32 PM EDT

                          The Jetta is less likely to lose it that a Cycle at 170 mph with an unlicensed driver though. Mileage may vary...

                          • 4 votes
                          #18.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:39 PM EDT

                          DonnyL... Interesting thought, I believe you're wrong, but cannot say definitively. I'll ask someone who has a physics background what the possibilities are though.

                            #18.4 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:45 PM EDT

                            What good would lowering highway speeds do, this guy broke all of the highway speed limits as the story relates.

                              #18.5 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:50 PM EDT

                              The jetta is less likely to lose it. I wasnt contesting that.

                              The car weighs 6 and 1/5 more than the bike. In theory, it should be able to obtain the same impact, at a speed 6 and 1/5 what the bike was going. In this case. 28.3333333mph.

                              • 1 vote
                              #18.6 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:03 PM EDT

                              Lowering the speeds wouldn't do anything. I was talking about XD's "a 500lb bike going that fast would kill you" comment. A car going 60 would kill you.

                                #18.7 - Thu May 3, 2012 1:05 PM EDT

                                All men responding about just where to draw the line on speeds, I see. Our modern culture praises men who are adrenaline junkies over responsible leaders.

                                My father was a Harley/chopper builder, and he never, ever cared about speed, and thought speeding was irresponsible. He preferred to ride free on country roads (not fast) and just relax on his bikes and let the cares fall away.

                                C'mon guys, don't try to find the place to draw the line in the sand on speed. Just be responsible bike riders. Perhaps none of you have been rear-ended with an infant in your car by someone irresponsible as I have. Scares the crap out of you, and afterwards, you have no mercy for dumb speeders.

                                Lastly, from the sounds of it, this guy is a likely sociopath if he truly has no remorse. Sociopaths also get "bored" easily, have no respect for laws, don't worry about hurting others, and are likely to do something stupid like this. I hope they watch this young man closely.

                                • 1 vote
                                #18.8 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:37 PM EDT

                                The analysis presented by DonnyL- is not accurate. The formula for kinetic energy is Mass X Velocity Squared. The relationship would be as follows:

                                Bike 500 lbs * 170 * 170 = 14.45 million 'units'

                                Car 3100 lbs * 60 * 60 = 11.16 million 'units'

                                So in the example the bike has greater kinetic energy, although not much. Of course there are many variables to consider with an elastic collision including surface area and elastic deforamtion.

                                  #18.9 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:57 PM EDT

                                  Organ Donor my butt, more like cat food donor!

                                    #18.10 - Fri May 4, 2012 1:33 AM EDT
                                    Reply

                                    Unfortunately this fool is not long for this world. He has his whole life in front of him, but at 170 mph, one mistake and he won't even have time to say "wha". Perhaps he might have just a smidgen of intellect and realize he should be on the race track where safety equipment is mandatory, and he might just make some money at it as well.

                                    • 2 votes
                                    Reply#19 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:12 PM EDT

                                    Good idea Rob,that would increase the re-sale value of my CBR 600. ( top speed 167 mph)

                                      Reply#20 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:14 PM EDT

                                      Its a shame this slimeball idiot didn't hit a guardrail at 190!

                                      • 3 votes
                                      Reply#21 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:17 PM EDT

                                      Speaking of idiots, this slimeball shot a rare and endangered whooping crane standing in a cornfield. Hope someone claims the big reward from the state of S.D. and the feds.

                                      http://operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html

                                      • 1 vote
                                      Reply#22 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:18 PM EDT

                                      They should have let him go until he scattered himself all over the turnpike. Problem solved.

                                      • 3 votes
                                      Reply#23 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:26 PM EDT

                                      The man was probably posing a lot less risk to others than you idiots do while talking on your phone or texting or arguing with your family while driving. I don't do this myself anymore, because I gave up riding due to you idiots in cars terrifying me. I get my speed fix at the dragstrip where it's legal, & safer for me... not you. Rob; you are more threat to him than he is to you. Yes; I am personally aware of the damage a high speed bike can do to a car, but the occurance rates are astoundingly opposite. Drivers of cars kill riders regularly. You are a bunch of hipocrites.

                                      • 5 votes
                                      Reply#24 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:26 PM EDT

                                      Nicely-put Jeff. I feel much safer when I ride with other bikers, as opposed to on the road with cars. In their cages, texting, talking, women doing their hair & makeup, not giving a damn whats around them.

                                      If this guy could ride that fast, safely, he's probably a much better driver when he's in a car than the vast majority of drivers out there.

                                        #24.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:34 PM EDT

                                        Come on Jeff, all this squid has to do is sign up for his local track day and he can speed all he wants.

                                        If I was a betting man, and I am, the smart money says he's never completed an MSF course and was probably doing his 170mph run without boots or leathers. What a tool.

                                        If you ride you should be more concerned about morons like this giving all of us a bad name than the people rightly criticizing him for it.

                                        • 6 votes
                                        #24.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:35 PM EDT

                                        A) Reviewing these comments, even after allowing for the Internet's element of anonymous dumb-but-cute commentary that would never happen face-to-face, it's still clear that there's an element of hatred for bikes. Multiply that by the increasing distracted driving of cagers, and throw in a little Road Rage/frustration, and you can see why riding in traffic is more dangerous than ever.

                                        B) I like bikes, especially hotrods. I ride bikes. It still completely freaks me out when some tool that wasn't even in my mirror two seconds ago blasts past at over The Ton (100 MPH). And I'm no fan of open jag pipes, either.

                                        C) Licensed or not, dufus or not, way illegal or not, this guy in fact managed to complete his joyride without busticating himself, nor anyone else. And this probably isn't the first time he's done it. So all the organ-donor, bike-went-thru-a-busload-of-nuns, velocity-squared discussion is freakout gibberish, based on something that did not in fact happen.

                                        • 1 vote
                                        #24.3 - Thu May 3, 2012 3:54 PM EDT

                                        OK Beezup,,yah see Poindexter , and thank you for allowing my cute commentary,,the point is and probably wasted on the wasted is prevention you know kinda like you don't have cavaties but you brush your teeth anyway,,you do right?

                                        • 1 vote
                                        #24.4 - Fri May 4, 2012 1:37 PM EDT
                                        Reply

                                        why didn't they stop him sooner? what if he got killed and/or killed someone else from the time he was spotted to the time he was stopped

                                        • 1 vote
                                        Reply#25 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:30 PM EDT

                                        JFC... MOST but not all police don't try to chase motorcycles just for the reason you note. Chases often times result in serious accidents and police have been held liable for them. They also know that they DON'T have the ability to keep up with a motorcycle when they're driving squad cars. That's why they radio ahead. They also frown on using road spikes to flatten tires because that is also too dangerous to the rider.

                                          #25.1 - Thu May 3, 2012 12:49 PM EDT

                                          If these Monkeys kill them selves, no lose, but the terrorists on the HWYS always seem to butcher somebody else that is following the rules of safe driving.

                                            #25.2 - Thu May 3, 2012 2:14 PM EDT
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