Forum

[Leon Novello]

Automatic gearboxes are probably responsible for most of the cars being shot through the front doors of shops these days. Bring back crash gearboxes, mechanically- noisy engines, mechanical brakes, dashboards with only essentials like speedometer, oil pressure and amps. No wind-up windows, only celluloid clip-ons, no air-conditioner. Make drivers concentrate on driving. Today`s cars are too quiet and laden with distracting gadgets, lulling the driver into a comfortable stupor, similar to being at home in their comfortable chair thinking about anything except looking where they are going and what they are doing. No starter motor, only a crank-handle might be another option. Radios an expensive extra and difficult to fit.

[papasmurf]

I would not hand crank this for a bet:-

[PeteF]

Sat at the lights in gear with the clutch in??
Excellent way of wearing your clutch out Jefrs. And if you haven't worked out where your controls are yet......!

[Reg]

I totally agree with Leon, though having said that, I saw a Brough Superior recently at the Manor Cafe at Bellerby which had every imaginable gauge on it including an altimeter, and a device normally found in aircraft which shows the angle you're flying at relative to the horizon! All seemed to be fitted as standard!! Oh yes, and a fire extinguisher.

[simon]

There is an obvious reason for wanting to keep the bike in gear at the lights. If you arrive at the lights just as they turn red then most definitely sellect neutral however as far as I am aware the only country that has the yellow light as a get ready to go signal is the Uk the rest of us just get a green. If then you arrive at the lights with a red of an uncertain maturity or you have, as we are want to do in the driving badlands of New Zealand, sneeked up to the front of the cue between cars you do nt want to miss the change to green. The fact is you should be able to have the clutch in for any amount of time without it failing. If you get stuck in a slow moving line of traffic the clutch is also going to overheat if that is what it is prone to and then you are a hazard on the road.

[Beezabryan]

Anyone wishing, or feeling the need, to continually hold the clutch in for any amount of time is riding the wrong bike. They should leave the Bullets and go for a modern bike with a modern drive train.
BTW red to green is the norm in mainland Europe too, never caused me any problem with my old clunkers