Was it here we were discussing the above? I'm sure this virus is confusing me...
Anyhow, I remember the mention of the above and thoughts/ merits of left hand control. during my frequent visits to John and Simon's Vintage Norton site I came across this little snippet from a Binks Carb manual the boys had saved for us. They actually sold specific left hand Twistgrips for use with throttle or Ignition. Tim Hunt used it on many of his works machines, buyt I have not spotted any other rider using it.
Now the old story about the "Indian" having left hand throttle so the sheriff can shoot his gun with his right is also dispelled, as they offered either side for throttle or ignition depending on the gearbox and hand change and ignition control arrangement preferred. Not until the throttle became the most common form of managing the motors output did the positioning resolve itself.
( And I guess foot change).
Moving on to gear change I always felt the original gears on right, clutch on left set up far more balanced than all braking on right, gear selection controls on left. Seems to keep the rider more in touch with the machine as it attempts to stop in a straight line.
Maybe I'm just old...
The weather looks better than the temperature. Went for a run on the SS on Sunday, I now appreciate the conservatory after thawing out in the bright sun...
Best regards
J
You are right about the…
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Walking, running, marching, and climbing ladders...
... although fire service training tries to stop you alternating; to stop the ladder whipping... apparently.
Be a few more days before I have warmed up enough to venture out again Rob...
Cheers
J
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Twist grip-dip switch
I tried one of these many years ago on the Domie, didn't like it, thought it was a good idea at the time of fitting. Tended to dip/main without thinking. Similarly I can't get on with dip on the right handlebar, again tended to dip or main when changing throttle or even changed throttle when dipping!
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Twist Grip manual action.
Hi all,
One of my mates (yes I have got more than one) has a 1939 Panther with twin headlights. The dip beam is controlled by a left side twist grip, but there is only one bulb in each lamp. When you want to dip the beam you turn the grip and this pulls the nearside headlight towards the kerb via a standard control cable. As the lamp moves it seperates an electical contact so the off-side light goes out. When you want to go on full beam the nearside returns under spring tension and re-lights the off-side lamp. Could be dodgy if you go abroad !
The Brough Superior SS80 sidecar outfit in the Brooklands museum has a left hand twist grip to control the ignition. This is probably an old idea from the belt-drive days when you only had one gear, but must be a pain in the backside when you've got a 4 speed 'box and a clutch lever.
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Tim Hunt's twin twist grip.
Hi Jon,
I was thinking about the left hand twist grip on Tim Hunt's bike and this looks like it is the ignition control. If you look at the attached photo from John's website you will notice Tim has a twist grip on each side, and does not have the usual adance/retard lever like Woods and Guthrie. Tim was a top rider at the time so must have found it useful, although riding the bike flat out he wouldn't really need to retard the ignition much.
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"There is always Governor's…
"There is always Governor's Bridge" to quote Amal. Maybe he found it was a way of getting a quick exit from such places?
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You are right about the gears on the RHS, our bodies were designed to go on all fours like a monkey ( some more than others!) with oposite corners working together. Obvious !!.