Tried all the usual advice - still can't shift it!

[Neil955i]

Yep, there's a view over here that hot tea cools you down on a hot day?...  Never seen it myself Stig.  Sooner have a cold beer or even chilled water.

[Lord Faversham]

I must confess, I never really bought into the idea of a hot cup of tea on a warm day in order to cool down. It allegedly makes you sweat which then is wicked away by the breeze supposedly giving a cooling effect. Frankly, I’m not convinced. I always found that the heat of the tea trumped any cooling. I suspect it’s a throwback to our days of Empire when tea drinking was seen as pretty much a panacea for anything ranging from a minor malaise to having a leg off.

Neil to your point, I suspect you’re right about the reference to Triggers Broom. So for those unfamiliar with the concept, it’s an amusing interpretation of the Ship Of Theseus paradox, whimsically recreated in one of our better comedic exports.

Enjoy chaps.




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[Lord Faversham]

So, as promised, herewith some pics of the aforementioned anodised trinkets which now adorn the bars of my scoot. The adjustable levers are very comfy and allow me to use just a couple of digits to brake rather than the whole handful and I rather like the effect as I think they give the scoot a bit of a rakish air.

What think ye chaps?

[Neil955i]

Nice & judicious application of the anodised gee gaws there m'lud.  Gives me an idea should the Xciting acquisition masterplan ever come to fruition.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I added adjustable levers to my Forza, but never saw the advantage of braking with 2 fingers rather than 4?
It's not like you're resting the other two to join the game later.
I DO like a fluid reservoir out in the open!
Encourages more attention to keeping the proper amount of fresh fluid in there. It is difficult to even see the sight glass on too many scooters.


Stig

[Iahawk]

I added adjustable levers to my Forza, but never saw the advantage of braking with 2 fingers rather than 4?

Stig, I'm sure you already know this but the '2 finger' braking comes from riding your bike with your first two fingers on the brake lever (at all times) and your thumb, ring and pinkie fingers gripping the throttle. That way you can activate the front brake in a split second or even better, you can light up your brake light any time you let up on the throttle to warn those behind you.

The braking difference comes in the short time it would take you to remove all 4 fingers from the throttle to grab the lever vs always having 2 fingers on the lever. At higher speeds the extra 20-50 (?) feet shorter stopping distance could very well save your life.  With small hands it's hard to do this without adjustable levers.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig, I'm sure you already know this but the '2 finger' braking comes from riding your bike with your first two fingers on the brake lever (at all times) and your thumb, ring and pinkie fingers gripping the throttle. That way you can activate the front brake in a split second or even better, you can light up your brake light any time you let up on the throttle to warn those behind you.

The braking difference comes in the short time it would take you to remove all 4 fingers from the throttle to grab the lever vs always having 2 fingers on the lever. At higher speeds the extra 20-50 (?) feet shorter stopping distance could very well save your life.  With small hands it's hard to do this without adjustable levers.

Well Jim, (bear with me - this week daughter & I must call everyone Jim, incl. ea. other *

I never ride with 2 fingers on the lever.
I think I might have years ago - but my first winter riding with the bulk of battery heated liners under thick leather gauntlets made that a non starter for my leisurely rides out on country roads.
At 19°F, using no screen - I have to keep things simple.
Every time I tried (years ago) it felt too awkward. Now I just ride with 4-on-the-floor, so to speak.
I was periodically lighting all my rear LEDs on the foggy/foggy ride home the other day. To illuminate me presence!
But I just did it with the weakest brake, the rear, which hardly slows the scoot.

However, you make a very good case for riding with 2 fingers in one position and 3 in another. I hope people take your advice.

Major Jim

* Last week it was "Steve"

[Lord Faversham]

I must admit that all my previous means of two-wheeled perambulation had standard levers, the enormous size of which forced the use of the full set of digits. (I don’t have particularly small hands, just short fingers - go figure).

The X500 with its new accoutrements is the first  modum onerariis I have owned where the ability to use just two fingers is far removed from the archetypal English insult and is very much a form of comfort in my advancing years.

If as Jim suggests it can help to reduce reaction time, I’m thinking that as old age and senility takes a firm hold, anything that can offset this degeneration can only be a good thing. It’s taking some getting used to but I shall persevere....!


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[Iahawk]

I've just started riding with 2 fingers always on the brake, this year. I read an article in (can't remember the name..some motorcycle magazine) that laid out in great detail the benefits of this...but it makes perfect sense if we can eliminate that brief delay when moving all fingers from throttle to brake..how many feet do we cover in that short time? who knows..but anything to shorten our stops and keep us alive is good enough for me!

I'm also making a conscious effort to ever so slightly activate my brake light when I release the throttle, alerting those behind me of my intentions. I can probably ride without using brakes if I really want to but that doesn't help keep me from being rear ended as most car drivers are paying little attention...so lighting up the brake light is a good warning.

It's still taking some getting used to with the 2 fingers on the brake (no adjustable levers on the scoot so it's more difficult for me...but motorcycle has adjustable shorty levers so it's easier). With anything, practice makes it easier.

[Neil955i]

Persevere Hawk, it will become second nature.  I've been riding this way ever since being introduced to it during advanced training back in the 80's.

[Lord Faversham]

So this week I’ve been treating the old girl to a few more goodies. I also bought some new trinkets for the scoot too!

Not that I drive too demonstrably when out and about, I do happen upon the occasion to have to use the scoot’s horn from time to time. Sadly in its standard trim it’s not so much asthmatic as it is reminiscent of a muted duck fart.

Not wishing to muck about with adding in extra relays in order to add one of the amusing truck horns that the YouTube fraternity seem to find so amusing, I’ve plumped for a smaller upgrade in the form of a Denali Sound Bomb Mini. It sounds a little hooliganesque in it’s description but hopefully will be a sufficient improvement.

I’ve also shelled out on a USB port and RAM mount to be able to mount my phone atop the instrument binnacle. It’s current position mounted on a mirror stem obscures the instruments and means I have to take my eye off the road too far.

I’ll fit all these when my new windscreen arrives from France and I have cause to pull the front end and floorboards off all in one go.

Pics of the finished job in due course but for now here are said trinkets ready for adornment.



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