Tyres have come a long way in development since the 70's piggyman. Blowouts are fairly uncommon with modern tyres these days. Stick to speed limits on A roads and motorways, B roads are different. I'm not saying its for everyone, but..... sportsbikes are built for a reason, they're designed and developed to be ridden hard/fast. There is little point in owning a sportsbike if its not going to be used properly, in which case a cruiser/retro/trailey/Harley etc, should be the weapon of choice. Its a choice you make and a chance you take. Because some ride fast, it does'nt necessarily make them a hooligan. There are risks and there are calculated risks, the latter being the one to stick to. I agree there are some maniacs out there, but lets not tar every quick rider with the same brush. I've raced and ridden on and off tracks and roads for the last 28 years, and the one major accident I had (i've had loads of minors over the years) involved a car at 50mph. If I'd have been going faster then he'd have missed me.
We're all in this biking malarky together, and it irritates me sometimes when I hear bikers putting other bikers down for speeding. Maniac or suicidal manouvers, fair enough, but speeding on a bike ?
Lets face it, travelling at speed is not for everyone, but lets not have the finger pointed at those who do responsibly in the right places.