The Original 'Ode To Joy' thread - Page 68

ET_ · 2011-08-06, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by davieddy

Love the music. Could only be ZZTop. The track is "Tush" (the meaning
of which I now know).

As for "leaning to turn" have you ever tried cornering while remaining
vertical?. There is a famous Law passed sometime around 1700 which
dictates that you will move in a straight line unless something
(e.g. the road) pushes you sideways.

David

You like three-wheels bikes, and still like leaning to turn?
And maybe an hybrid petrol-electric engine?

Look here...

Luigi

cheesehead · 2011-08-06, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

The red bike has been exchanged for a much less vicious bike.

Those of us who are concerned for you are glad!

Quote:

The old bike had 154BHP and the new one has 57BHP,

Eyeballing the HP charts, it looks like the new one may actually have more HP than the old one @ 4250 RPM.

Perhaps you could've just put a rev limiter on the old one? ;-D (But that wouldn't have been a happy bike. It's better to make the more appropriate match.)

Quote:

But, we are alive.

We are very happy about that!

NBtarheel_33 · 2011-08-06, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

Over here you are not allowed to ride a bike with an engine over 125cc, except in certain constrained circumstances, until you pass a full driving test. The test is quite rigorous and professional instruction is, I believe, obligatory.
Paul

Xyzzy's first bike had a 1000cc behemoth of an engine, if I'm not mistaken!

Re: the test and instruction - isn't there a similar standard in the UK for operating *any* motor vehicle? Something that wouldn't hurt the US to consider adopting...(I'm reminded of an English friend who moved to South Carolina, only to be required to take a South Carolina driver's test (despite having a UK licence with nary a single penalty point). He went to the testing office, did the bit about driving around the parking lot at 10mph, parallel parking, etc. etc., and then began to drive out of the parking lot onto the highway with the flummoxed examiner still in the passenger seat! The Englishman couldn't believe that the test had started, let alone concluded, and so was on his way to undertake the "practical" part of the test that, surely, was yet to be completed!!)

My friend still cannot believe that you can be licensed in the USA at age 16 to operate pretty much anything with 4 wheels and weighing up to 13 tons at speeds of up to 70 MPH in multiple lanes of heavy traffic, after doing nothing more than demonstrating your ability to turn the car on, get her up to 10-15MPH, parallel park, back up, stop, and park in a regular space.

'Tis truly a wonder that motor vehicle accident fatalities aren't an order of magnitude (or two) higher.

cheesehead · 2011-08-06, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBtarheel_33

My friend still cannot believe that you can be licensed in the USA at age 16 to operate pretty much anything with 4 wheels and weighing up to 13 tons at speeds of up to 70 MPH in multiple lanes of heavy traffic, after doing nothing more than demonstrating your ability to turn the car on, get her up to 10-15MPH, parallel park, back up, stop, and park in a regular space.

At 16, I would've been terrified to try driving without having taken a driver education class. It wasn't mandatory where I was, then -- I hope it is now.

davieddy · 2011-08-06, 14:01

My father started his GP practice in North Norfolk (England) in 1927.
Needless to say, he became a rather proficiient driver.
When I was 17, he gave me my first lesson on the safest stretch of road
within 5 miles of Aldborough.

He was sufficiently satisfied with the promise I showed, that he
said "you can drive home".

Now I hadn't had need during my lesson to think of or use the
the brake pedal.

On the way home, on a onetrack road and round a blind bend,
I was confronted with a tractor towing a hay rake....

Await next week's thrilling instalment

David

Xyzzy · 2011-08-06, 14:24

In Arkansas, a learner's permit for an automobile can be obtained at the age of 14. We think there are special circumstances (hardship?) attached to that deal, but it seems like there are a lot of kids in that category. Maybe it is a "wink wink" thing, if you know what we mean.

davieddy · 2011-08-06, 16:35

I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas

mdettweiler · 2011-08-06, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBtarheel_33

Xyzzy's first bike had a 1000cc behemoth of an engine, if I'm not mistaken!

Re: the test and instruction - isn't there a similar standard in the UK for operating *any* motor vehicle? Something that wouldn't hurt the US to consider adopting...(I'm reminded of an English friend who moved to South Carolina, only to be required to take a South Carolina driver's test (despite having a UK licence with nary a single penalty point). He went to the testing office, did the bit about driving around the parking lot at 10mph, parallel parking, etc. etc., and then began to drive out of the parking lot onto the highway with the flummoxed examiner still in the passenger seat! The Englishman couldn't believe that the test had started, let alone concluded, and so was on his way to undertake the "practical" part of the test that, surely, was yet to be completed!!)

My friend still cannot believe that you can be licensed in the USA at age 16 to operate pretty much anything with 4 wheels and weighing up to 13 tons at speeds of up to 70 MPH in multiple lanes of heavy traffic, after doing nothing more than demonstrating your ability to turn the car on, get her up to 10-15MPH, parallel park, back up, stop, and park in a regular space.

'Tis truly a wonder that motor vehicle accident fatalities aren't an order of magnitude (or two) higher.

It seems that licensing standards vary quite a bit from state to state: up here in New York the test does in fact involve driving (and parking, etc.) on actual city/town streets. They don't test expressways and the like (which these days probably should be included on the test!) but you do have to demonstrate more actual street-driving ability than, from what it sounds like, is required in South Carolina (at least as of when your friend took his test).

xilman · 2011-08-06, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

Maybe it is a "wink wink" thing, if you know what we mean.

Say no more! A nudge is as good as a wink to a blind bat, know what I mean?

davieddy · 2011-08-06, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

Say no more! A nudge is as good as a wink to a blind bat, know what I mean?

Purley? Photograpy? Bit of a goer?
Suits you sir! (Oops wrong show)

Xyzzy · 2011-08-07, 03:23

Another scary thought: Because we waited until we turned 18 years old to get a driver's license, we have never taken a driver's test. When we renew our license and have to take the vision test that has all of the little road signs we have no clue what most of them are. We have driven over a million miles and we have never seen signs like that in real life.

One of our vehicles (2011 Ford Escape) parallel parks itself. How crazy is that?

2011-08-06, 14:01	#742
davieddy "Lucan" Dec 2006 England 2·3·13·83 Posts	Learning to drive My father started his GP practice in North Norfolk (England) in 1927. Needless to say, he became a rather proficiient driver. When I was 17, he gave me my first lesson on the safest stretch of road within 5 miles of Aldborough. He was sufficiently satisfied with the promise I showed, that he said "you can drive home". Now I hadn't had need during my lesson to think of or use the the brake pedal. On the way home, on a onetrack road and round a blind bend, I was confronted with a tractor towing a hay rake.... Await next week's thrilling instalment David Last fiddled with by davieddy on 2011-08-06 at 14:19

2011-08-06, 16:35	#744
davieddy "Lucan" Dec 2006 England 2×3×13×83 Posts	Tell your Mama, tell your Pa... I'm gonna send you back to Arkansas Last fiddled with by davieddy on 2011-08-06 at 16:35

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2011-08-06, 14:24	#743
Xyzzy "Mike" Aug 2002 5×17×97 Posts	In Arkansas, a learner's permit for an automobile can be obtained at the age of 14. We think there are special circumstances (hardship?) attached to that deal, but it seems like there are a lot of kids in that category. Maybe it is a "wink wink" thing, if you know what we mean.

2011-08-07, 03:23	#748
Xyzzy "Mike" Aug 2002 5×17×97 Posts	Another scary thought: Because we waited until we turned 18 years old to get a driver's license, we have never taken a driver's test. When we renew our license and have to take the vision test that has all of the little road signs we have no clue what most of them are. We have driven over a million miles and we have never seen signs like that in real life. One of our vehicles (2011 Ford Escape) parallel parks itself. How crazy is that?