Q's about bikes in Blighty
in [UK Motorcycles]
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From: Pip Luscher on 22 Nov 2009 05:45 On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:40:32 +0000, totallydeadmailbox(a)yahoo.co.uk (The Older Gentleman) wrote: >Timo Geusch <tnewsSPAMMENOT(a)unixconsult.co.uk> wrote: > >> > 6. From pix I've seen on the Net, sidecars in Britain are generally >> > to the left of the bike. Is this true? My Dnepr's hack is on the right, >> > and apparently neither KMZ nor IMZ makes a left-hand version. So are >> > there Dnepr and Ural rigs on UK roads with the sidecar to the right? >> >> IIRC they're not legal here. One of the sidecar pervs might be able to >> comment. > >They banned l/h chairs some time in the 1980s, on some spurious 'safety' >excuse. Despite the fact that they could produce no accident stats for >them. Err, does l/h mean 'for riding on the left' or 'chair mounted on the left'? If the latter, then something's wrong! Are they actually banned outright or can you no longer buy/fit a wrong side chair but existing ones are OK? -- -Pip
From: doetnietcomputeren on 22 Nov 2009 05:45 On 2009-11-22 11:37:47 +0100, Sean_Q_ <no.spam(a)no.spam> said: >>> 1. Do they have the throttle on the left and clutch on the right hand >>> side of the bike? (ie, mirror images of the North American arrangement?) >> >> Good lord no. Just the same as in the pedal position doesn't change in >> their cars. > > Thanks for the info. Re cars, I suppose that a floor-mounted gear shift > would still be in the middle, operated by the left hand. (*That* would > seem very strange at first. Correct, but it won't take long to get used to. Except the occasional time where you try to shift with the door handle. > What about steering-column-mounted gear shifts (standard or automatic)? > Do they protrude from the right side like here, or on the left? As far as I am aware, that's a phenomonen not typically found in Blighty or Europe. I have an automatic and the shifter is in the same lace as you would find a manual gear lever. > (And where is the turn signal lever?) On a stalk behind the steering wheel. Could be left, could be right, depending on brand. >>> 6. From pix I've seen on the Net, sidecars in Britain are generally... >> >> ... reserved for the insane. > > I don't know what's so insane about a sidecar. My g/f categorically refuses > to ride pillion, no matter what bike. Why not? Don't ask me. (Women > weren't designed to be understood.) So I got a hack rig. She thinks > it's fun. See, insane. -- Dnc
From: Sean_Q_ on 22 Nov 2009 05:55 Nige wrote: > You people need to get out of that country of yours more you know. Appreciate the help. However, I got a slight bit of culture shock over the acronym "YTC". Looking it up I found the following possibilities: Yakama Tribal Council Yakima Training Center (US Army; Yakima, Washington state) Yearly Training Calendar Yeshiva Toras Chaim Yield to Call (securities-bonds) Yorkshire Tile Company (Sheffield, UK) Your Top Choices Youth Training Core Yuma Test Center (US Army) Yorkshire Terrier Club Yoga Teacher Certification Yamaha Tweetakt Club (Nederland) Yours To Count [On] Years To Completion Enlightenment would be welcome. TIA, Sean Patrick ("Paddy") Quinlan, expatriate since 1845
From: Pete Fisher on 22 Nov 2009 06:03 In communiqu� <dfent6-0l5.ln1(a)news.rosbif.org>, Cab <me(a)privacy.net> cast forth these pearls of wisdom >On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:09:29 +0000, Timo Geusch wibbled: > >>> 3. Do you wave at other bikers at all? Or are there so many on UK roads >>> that you don't bother. >> >> A lot of them don't seem to bother, mainly the fair weather >> squids. Those of us who are stupid enough to ride all year round usually >> acknowledge other riders. > >Unless you're in France then you get the "sideways V" or leg waggling. > >French bikers tend to be more civilised than Brit bikers. :-) > Indeed. I always try to remember to waggle a leg at car drivers who make a conscious effort to move out of your way when in France (which happens a lot on twisty D roads). In blighty I usually nod at other bikes and give a small left hand wave to cars that are helpful when filtering. If filtering on the motorway though I am usually loaded up or carrying a pillion so I revert to the gallic leg waggle - well I am often on a French bike after all. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: Peter(a)ps-fisher.demon.co.uk | | Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: sweller on 22 Nov 2009 06:03
Pip Luscher wrote: > > What about steering-column-mounted gear shifts (standard or > > automatic)? Do they protrude from the right side like here, or on > > the left? (And where is the turn signal lever?) > > Column shifts are rare here. I haven't seen one in years. Column shifts tend to be on the right - the last one I had was on a 1975 SAAB 96 (manual). The old Jag autos were on the right too. -- Simon |