Drive or ride?

This niggles me a tiny bit, so here goes.

Only a tiny bit?

*note to self: must try harder*

Ok, so horses have a saddle and you ride them, pedal bikes have a saddle
and you ride them. So why do dome people drive a bike, when it has a
saddle? Surely, cattle and cars you drive, horses and motorbikes[1] you

Only yanks as far as I know.

Surely, cattle and cars you drive, horses and motorbikes[1] you

The only people who say "drive a bike", don't have a bike.

Not always. They're either American, or drive a car more than they ride
a bike.

ride... coz they've saddles.

I have a similar niggle in spanish.

To drive = "conducir" (conduct, if you like)

That applies to any vehicle, although quite often they say "circular" -
to circulate.

To ride is "cabalgar", but noone says that.

Everyone says "montar" (to mount) which to me sounds daft.

"Today I was mounting along on my motorcycle..."

Just can't bring myself to say it.

# I was mounting along singing a song..

Heh... quite.

you prefer horsing around on your motorcycle?

Rope? Is that you?

but you can ride a pony bareback.

I've ridden my Bandit without a saddle, still doesn't turn it into
driving.

Not far you can't. Trust me.

I wouldn't be doing anything from Surrey without a condom for a while,
if I was you.

[1] Scooters too.

Sidecar outfits, you drive.

Driving doesn't necessarily mean being in control, right?

Naa.. those, you pilot.

Harrumph. As a pilot and charioteer, I rather think I may have the right of
it in this instance.

:) Sidecar outfits, you should beat with a stick.

That's camels you're thinking of.

I've done both.

The camel followed the camel in front.

I can't see that working with an outfit.

Ok, so what does number one camel do?

I only assume he knew where we were going.

An outfit is sounding more like a cow fitted with a saddle.

"Driving an outfit is very much like making love to a beautiful woman..."

NO-ONE rides a scooter, do they?

I do, my hands can't do clutches any more. :(

There are solutions to that, though, if you wanted to ride a bike.

Wolf's trike had this very nifty auto clutch/solenoid gearchange thing
on it; press rocker switch one way, changes up, press rocker switch
other way, changes down.

Mana. That's what you need. Or a Yammie FJ 1300

Last time I looked, a FJ1300 had a clutch. Mana? Sounds like something

The new one doesn't.

Oh, interesting. Those are a bit on the lardy side though aren't they?

If by "bit" you mean Double Decker Bus" like, then yeah.

It[1] does, though. The clutch is just operated by an electric
actuator. Not the same thing as a twist-and-go vario pulley
drive at all.

There isn't a clutch lever, if that's what you meant, but inside
the cases there is a normal multi-plate wet clutch and standard
5 speed constant-mesh transmission. The difference is, the clutch
and shift drum are actuated by electric motors rather than a
hand lever and your foot.

The point is that a rider who can't use a clutch could use an FJ.

There's a nice video of how it works at the link given above.

Of course the standard non-electric-shift version FJR1300 is still
available as well.

Not much use to the guy who can't use his clutch hand properly though, is
it?

I wonder if they'll put that system on other bikes?

[1] FJR1300AE.

Mana? Sounds like something

you get in a board game.

That it may, but it'll be slightly more fun I'd guess.

Interesting device. Still not an in line four though.

The FJ is though, so you need to tighten your criteria. Not a nimble V-twin
with plenty of torque and not an in-line 4 unless it weighs less than 200kg.

I'd like an R1 with it on.

Who knows, maybe one day sprotbikes will have the option.

I hope so, it'll make life easier for me if I've still got probs when
I'm able to buy a sports bike. It's not like the system is a full auto
with torque converter, still got a proper gearbox and wet clutch.
Thinking of fully auto bikes brings that Honda 400 auto Superdream to

Not fully auto. Nor was the Guzzi Convert. Two-speed systems, both.

You had to change manually, or did it do the changing for you?

Manually but clutchless. You could leave either in the higher of the two
ratios all the time, but getaways were even more leisurely.

Heh.. oh dear. Hence it didn't take off. :)

mind. I'd rather have my scooter thanks.

Guzzi Convert. I don't *think* there's a clutch lever on those.

There's a hand brake - no honestly and the mounting points can be found
on all the other rear disc machines too. Small cable operated caliper
independent of the main hydraulic one.

If you look just under the rear calliper you can see the mounting points
on the brake bracket.

Proper torque converter on those IIRC

Made by Sachs - replaced the clutch. Still had a two speed heel and toe
manual change.

Oh, I think things have moved on since those days.

And is automatic/clutchless.

Bike with a foot clutch?

Yebbut you can drive cattle or sheep

Exactly. No saddle.

Saddle of lamb

Exactly, it would ride on your fork, right into your gob.

Riding them is also a Welsh way of passing the time.

I can see it being used on a lot of bikes in the future. It was once

Oddly enough, I'm fine when it comes to adding things but I draw the line at
anything that can release the magic smoke.

That's as much use to me as a television with no picture.

I've got any number of them. I'm an EXCELLENT hand at soldering, but someone
needs to make sure I'm soldering the right wires together before they turn
me lose.

Ahh. I get the picture now.

So that's me not getting a scooter then.

Heh.. still too complex? :) I've learned a lot about electrics recently

Well, I wouldn't recommend getting a Quota - they use a Ducati
regulator and alternator and yes, I've got through one of each, though
it was from corrosion in both cases.

by fixing them, and reading some excellent documentation that explains
my electrical system in detail. No, it wasn't the HBoL.

It dun't help me at all :)

regarded as being "odd" that cars have auto transmission, but things changed
and they will for bikes too.

Sure but not on sprotbikes as not in proper sprotcars