Superbike owner shares how being respectful to cops worked out for him

I have been stopped multiple times on the Yamaha R1 and the Triumph Tiger too.

BHPian krishnaprasadgg recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by V0rtex:

Honestly, I understand why the cops are strict in Kerala. It is because of a few people that put these ridiculously loud and annoying exhausts in their scooters, Duke 125, NS etc.. that the cops have been strict about exhausts.

Precisely, when you tend to do things just to show off and be a general nuisance to others on the road, the authorities or even the general public are never going to stand with you or appreciate you. At the same time, try being respectful and slip under the radar, and the experience is the polar opposite by said parties.

Originally Posted by V0rtex:

If you get caught by the MVD for an exhaust, I don't think that there's anything you can do to escape from the punishment. Have you had any trouble with cops because of the exhaust? An exhaust change would be the first change I'd make to any bike, it makes a hell of a difference.

You'd be surprised.

I have been stopped multiple times on the R1 and the Tiger too. Mostly just normal checkpoint stops. I never antagonize the cops or the officer, answer to them respectfully, if they call you out on anything, accept gracefully, and show an understanding that they are also there to do a job. Arguing or teaching them the "law" as you see it is never met with a welcoming smile.

I have passed through numerous checkpoints throughout Kerala and Bangalore city and have yet to face any issues. I don't rev my bike and make noise deliberately, in the city I just mind my own business and putter along drawing as little attention as I can and I don't engage in ego clashes that bait you to do stupid things where you are caught in an incriminating situation.

I will take this chance to put out a situation I had in Cochin on a Sunday morning while I was on the Tiger, it had the arrow exhaust on and all the touring accessory support brackets(no panniers or top box) on it and I was fully kitted out. I was flagged at the bottom of a flyover and 2 cops came running apart from the officer who pulled me over and started accusing me of not stopping at a previous checkpoint and that I ran away from them. I politely greeted them and told them they might have been mistaken as I did not pass through any checkpoint and filled them on the route I took and that I was travelling from Palakkad to Cochin. They did not agree and told me I should not lie as the consequences would be dire. I reiterated stating that they are welcome to radio the officers at the previous checkpoint and cross-verify that the bike or rider description is the same or not as I have not passed the said checkpost they were talking about.

This seemed to calm them down a bit and they again stated that it had been reported to the higher-ups the vehicle would be impounded and I'd have to report to Cochin on short notice at any point in time. To which I said no issues, I am willing to wait for any amount of time to clear up the confusion. 15 minutes of waiting the officers had fully calmed down and we got chatting about the bike, its cost, and from where I got it, and why I was t Cochin, by that time they officers at the other checkpost had given communication in that it was indeed a white bike (Tiger was white) but it had no number plates on and had a pillion along with it with some colourful helmets and were dressed in t-shirts and jeans. Clearly, they understood that I was speaking the truth and by then the amped-up officers had cooled down and we were having a friendly chat, they apologized for the inconvenience to which I responded by saying I understood the nature of their job and I was not inconvenienced at the slightest and I moved on.

So there is nothing special about being Kerala (I am a Native myself) cops or MVD apart from the fact that they are just doing their job and are expected to hit quotas almost like they are salesmen, while that doesn't warrant fake penalties some bad apples don't represent the entire force. But when the offender/citizen gets in their face and tries to be the wise man and starts antagonizing them, they can put you in a spot of bother. So be respectful and move on, if you are penalized at the end of the day for an aftermarket exhaust(road legal or not), accept it, pay the fine, and move on ahead.

So the moral of the story is, that being nice and respectful can go a long way and things are not always as black and white as you might think.

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