Sat Jun 7 09:26:56 1997 - Message No. 1017
From: Andrew Cotterell <101606.2566@CompuServe.COM>

Subject: Various AT things


Hi everyone

My  input on some of the discussion topics.

AT General.
I chose the AT primarily for its practicality.  There are not many bikes that
will: cut through city traffic; ride safely over tram-lines, cobble-stones, mud,
pot-holes and gravel; cruise comfortably at high speed on the motorway; carry
heavy luggage; clean-up easily; rarely go wrong and still provide some fun.  I
use my AT as daily transport, for shopping, going to the airport (for business
travel) and general entertainment so all of these qualities are important.

Scott-Oilers.
I had a Scott-Oiler fitted when I bought my current AT.  After 7 - 8000 miles I
have only made slight adjustments to the chain and I am still on my first bottle
of Scott-Oil.  The chain is always spotlessly clean and I get no residue on the
back wheel (I didn't know that back wheels could stay so clean!).  I ride fairly
aggressively and in all weathers so I think that this is good performance from
such a cheap device.

Luggage.
A 50 litre Givi Maxia top-box means that I can arrive somewhere on the AT, put
my helmet, gloves jacket et.c. into the top-box and then walk around in normal
clothes.  During the winter (bigger jacket and gloves et.c.) I use an additional
36 litre Givi box on the left side.
I have a second 36 litre box but, as many others have pointed out, it sticks out
too far.
I am also trying out some soft bags that hang on either side of the fuel tank at
the moment.

RD04 Fuel Warning Lights.
Someone was asking how far they could travel once the lights come on.
 Although you can put a rough figure on this it misses the point and the major
advantage of the two-lights system.  When the yellow light comes on you can
start, using your trip-meter, to measure the distance travelled before the red
light comes on.  You then know exactly how far you have to go on the red light.
I find that my fuel consumption varies hugely according to my speed, luggage,
clothing, the weather et.c. so this is a very useful facility.

Waving to Other Riders.
Someone (sorry, I forget who) wrote to the list telling German riders to join in
with the waving and nodding that British bikers do to each other.  I just wanted
to point out that German drivers do "wave" but not in the UK way (I am British
but living in Germany, by the way).  German riders will normally extend one or
two fingers of their left hand either still holding the hand-grip or slightly to
the left of it.  There is normally no movement up or down and no accompanying
nod so it's easy to miss.

XRV850/1000.
The extra power would be nice but only if it is in a bike that retains the
heritage of the original.


Excellent mailing list - keep it up everyone!

Andy



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