A Warning to All Arkansas Riders...

Discussion in 'USA - South' started by H.C.D., Jun 14, 2009.

  1. H.C.D.

    H.C.D. New Member

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    or to anyone coming here to ride in the near future.

    A friend of mine was riding up in N. Arkansas yesterday, and encountered a police roadblock/checkpoint on Hwy 123. They were checking licenses, insurance, registration, tires, etc. Evey vehicle, bike or cage, was being stopped and checked. The checkpoint was set up about 3 miles north of the Hwy 7 intersection.

    For those of you who aren't familiar with the roads in this state, Hwy 123 is a very popular motorcycle route up in the Ozarks. 70 miles of twisties if you run the entire length. Its also a very technical route in many sections that will kill you very quickly if you do something stupid, which is apparently what has been happening on a frequent basis lately.

    The cops at the checkpoint told my friend that they've been averaging 2motorcycle deaths a week up there since late april, and better than 10 serious crashes a week that require evacuation/hospitalization. Three people died last weekend alone. The cops said that the vast majority of them involved the rider loosing control of their bike.....

    Another problem the cops pointed out to my friend is that it takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get an accident victim to the hospital from this part of the state, and that a few of the riders may have survived if they could have gotten to a hospital sooner.

    Anyway, if you are riding here, watch out! The cops also told my buddy that they planned to do this much more often this summer on all the more popular routes here in Arkansas, and were going to be much more strict about bikers speeding, etc.

    A classic case of dumbshit riders screwing up everything for the rest of us!

    Regards,
    H.C.D.
     
  2. TravelingViffer

    TravelingViffer New Member

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    This is the time of riding season where people are "comfortable" on their bikes again and inhibitions vanish. I hate to say any of them deserve it, but in most cases I'll bet most of the incidents are virtually preventable.
     
  3. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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    We have a simular situation in Ohio on one of my favorite riding spots. Too many riders with mush for brains were playing AMA racer on my favorite road and crashing and or killing themselves all too frequently. So now this has the attension of the local LEO's and they are now out on over patrol. The roads no good anymore.

    It pisses me off that some guys just dont comprehend that sportbikes are like jet aircraft on the ground. You cant expect to just jump on the thing and know what you are doing. Idiots! Boot to the head! They ruin it for the real riders.

    MD
     
  4. IA-Mike

    IA-Mike New Member

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    Hey thanks for the heads-up! We're coming down there next week for a few days. We'll probably base out of Eureka Springs.
    We decided several years ago to back off on the speed road riding. We had a couple of guys go down and it made us realize that maybe we were just riding too fast for the roads and also being 500mi. from home make it a long ways back if we and the bikes are broken.
     
  5. H.C.D.

    H.C.D. New Member

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    And a lot of places here in Arkansas are remote and have very spotty cell service, so if someone needs help it might be a while before it gets there.

    I usually stop at local stores/gas stations and ask the clerks if the Law is busy that day. They usually know if they're on the prowl and will tip you off.
     
  6. viffer_monkey

    viffer_monkey New Member

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    Thanks HCD for the info

    Thanks for the info, rolled into Russellville this afternoon. ' ready for some twisties next two to three days. Will be on the look out.:ninja:


    p.s.,....any local wanting be host pace setter/tour guide, drop a PM.

    Happy Trails
     
  7. IA-Mike

    IA-Mike New Member

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    The first time we were down there we stopped for gas at a mini-mart and some local kid was in there with an old GSXR. We were remarking about his tires since they had no chicken strips, we don't see that much in Iowa.
    He was looking at us like 'why are they looking at my old bike?'.
    The 2nd trip a local Bueller came out and showed us some of his favorite roads. We are amazed at the good condition of the roads, ours take a pretty good beating with all the freeze/thaw cycles through the winter.
     
  8. H.C.D.

    H.C.D. New Member

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    Arkansas is a great place to live if you like to ride motorcycles. If you're into the big city stuff, its not so great.

    My favorite time of the year to ride is during late fall/winter/early spring. We get some nice clear 50-60 degree days then, and since its 'cold', all the fair-weather sissies are at home and not in my way. :thumbsup:
     
  9. kd4ysi

    kd4ysi New Member

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    thats like the tail of the draggon in tenn, too many jerks ridethere and think they got to run 40mph or better to have fun shoot i only ran 30 to 35 mph and had a blast alott of miss conception on knee draging is u have to run fast but u can knee drag at 20 mph or slower and have a blast doing it
     
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