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YAMAHA and the ATRA might ask: Why are there so many personal injury lawyers?

By Steve Lombardi

This is the headline the American Tort Reform Association would write:

Iowa motorcyclist, out for a Sunday driver in Cedar Rapids clocked on radar at over 164 mph!

Greedy trial lawyers to blame!

Poor Yamaha being put out of business by greedy trial lawyers who blame everything from bullets causing a few deaths to cigarette smoking causing lung cancer!

Who will they sue next? Poor Bernard Madoff? Help us to help Bernie!

Kill a trial lawyer!

Okay, enough foolishness from me, but it gets me angry to have to listen to the tort reform associations preach about injured people taking responsibility and yet you never hear those same organizations talk about corporate responsibility. Let's get to today's news story because that's exactly what it is about - corporate responsibility or the lack thereof.

This story starts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa aboard a very fast motorcycle. What does a 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle have in common with a jet? Well apparently a jet can travel at speeds of 164 mph but not in a city and not so close to the ground. Kyle Russell, just 20-years-of-age knows what it feels like to go from zero to 164 mph in less than 9 seconds. And apparently the Cedar Rapids police weren't especially impressed with his prowess for going faster than a speeding bullet. Seems how several motorcycles going 104 mph were caught on radar. They split up but a police helicopter kept up with one catching him on radar going 164 mph. It's reported he was found hiding in a boat when they caught up with him. And I though Superman changed his clothes in a telephone booth?

What, if anything does a crotch rocket have in common with an assault rifle? Well both can kill you along with innocent bystanders.

Take 28 seconds and run through the gears of a YZF-R1.

I have to wonder, what responsibility does Corporate Yamaha take for setting a good example for the young buyers that might just get the wrong idea about using the speed of one of these crotch rockets on city streets?

It would certainly help if someone could point out to me how those greedy trial lawyers are involved with selling a motorcycle that has a top speed of +/- 160 mph and is spec-ed out for city driving.

Is it really 160 mph or more like 200 mph? You be the judge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ty-7bTId5M

"Comment and rate this video, please. This machine does 0 - 200 km/h in almost 9 secs.. and goes ahead to 305 km/hr!"

305.0 km/h = 189.51 mi/h

Top Speed Video on this city driving machine:

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/yamaha/2009-yamaha-yzf-r1-ar63535.html

But one has to wonder, can a Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle really go 164 miles per hour?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MfTSxobwYc

FYI: How fast were they going when they cut off your soccer mom car load of kids?

According to Convert-It, 305 km/hr is the equivalent of 189.51821363238685 mph.

And 164 mph is the equivalent of 263.932416 km/hr.

Foolish is as foolish does.

According to Motorcycle Magazine, here are the specifications:

TECH
Price	$12,390-$12,490
Engine type	l-c inline-four
Valve train	DOHC, 16v
Displacement	998cc
Bore x stroke	78.0 x 52.2mm
Compression	12.7:1
Fuel system	Mikuni EFI
Clutch	Wet, multi-plate slipper
Transmission	6-speed
Claimed horsepower	178.4 bhp @12,500 rpm
Claimed torque	84.5 lb-ft @ 10,000 rpm
Frame	Aluminum twin-spar
Front suspension	43mm Soqi inverted fork with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping
Rear suspension	Single Soqi shock with adjustable spring preload, high/low-speed compression and rebound damping
Front brake	Dual Sumitomo six-piston radial calipers, 310mm discs
Rear brake	Single Nissin one-piston caliper, 220mm disc
Front tire	120/70-ZR17 Dunlop Sportmax D210F
Rear tire	190/55-ZR17 Dunlop Sportmax D210F
Rake/trail	24.0 deg./4.0 in.
Seat height	32.9 in.
Wheelbase	55.7 in.
Fuel capacity	4.8 gal.
Claimed wet weight	454 lbs.
Color	Team Yamaha Blue/White, Raven/Candy Red, Pearl White/Rapid Red, Cadmium Yellow/Raven
Available	Now
Warranty	12 mo./unlimited mi.

Contact:
Yamaha Motor Corp. USA
6555 Katella Ave.
Cypress, CA 90630
800.962.7926
www.yamaha-motor.com

Verdict 4.5 stars out of 5
The most effective, accessible and charismatic literbike we've ridden yet.

Is the question: Why are there so many personal injury lawyers?

Or should the question be: Why are there so many personal injury accidents?

What does the American Tort Reform Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have to say about Yamaha selling a motorcycle for city driving, a bike that can reach speeds of almost 200 mph?

Answer:

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on June 17, 2009 (boomark / email).