Q's about bikes in Blighty

I prefer to think they're reserved for the more adventurous.

 

You can use a rh mounted chair on bikes registered before a certain
cut-off date but not on anything newer

Apparently bad people buy newer outfits with a rh chair and then buy
an old scrapper and change the frame numbers to suit but I'd never
advise anyone to do something like that.

 

I used to, but my pillion doesn't like me waggling my leg as it
wobbles the bike. So I nod and she then gives a wave. The next step is
to teach her that a shake of my head means she should give an
alternative wave.

 

<g>

 

A motorcycle with a sidecar. (Dnepr MT-11).

SQ

 

Most Japanese *home market* cars have it (used to have it?) on the
opposite side to Europe - hence old Jap cars, grey imports etc are on the
'wrong' side when they get here.

 

unless it's a Jap - I've driven 1980s Toyota HiAce vans & Mazda pick-ups
with the column shift on the left. Seems the newer ones have a dashboard or
floor mounted lever.

 

My first car was a '52 Land Rover. It shook, rattled, wheezed & rumbled
with a few other endearing qualities. Later on I laughed myself silly
watching the antics of Andrew's Land Rover in _The Gods Must Be Crazy_.

Anyway, I could see on mine that the manufacturer had built
the coachwork in such a way that the steering gear could be attached
on either side. Placement of other controls is most likely standardized
by gov't regs, but they can vary between countries, so I'd expect
the auto makers to economize by designing some parts with multiple usage
options... but then WTF do I know, I'm just a TC.

SQ

 

Most Jap cars have indicators on the right because, like here, they drive on
the left so it is the correct way to do it. It means you can operate the
indicators whilst changing gear.

 

And you live on a small island, right?

SQ

 

Early Jap cars had the indicator on the RHS, just like my Mk1 Escort &
Capri.

Like most recent Mazdas, your M6 is a shared design with Ford and will be
using generic instruments from the corporate parts bin which will be biased
towards US & EU conventions.

 

Conversely, the two I had were on the left, so there's no
standardisation.

 

Yes, the humble 2CV has it sticking out of the dash.

I think it varies (but there may be a tendancy to have it on the left).

 

In communiqué <1j9kw5a.rsebb01jkpbeoN%>,

<cough>

The only time I rode a chair on the right outfit (my old mate's Ural) I
had a coming together between chair wheel and car on a narrow lane in
the Lake District. The brakes were pretty shite, which didn't help.
Silly sod in the car just stopped dead instead of tucking it in as close
as possible to the hedge.

Never had any such incidents riding the UK rig Mille GT and Squire in
France though.


--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

That would be very wrong and such people have no respect for
authority.
The law says you cannot register a Motorcycle Combination with a RH
chair after 1981.
However you do not have to notify the DVLA that you have fitted a
sidecar and the MOT
is tested as seen , so you can remove it , get the MOT and refit
it.Totally legal.
I don't believe that anyone has ever been prosecuted for a RH chair
and i'm not even
convinced it could stand up in court now that we are all Europeans and
what is legal in
one member country is legal in any other.
Steve

 

Indeed. Though I am pleased to say that the buy back of shares by Mazda
from Ford seems to have been reflected in the latest M6. Not quite so
obviously just a Mondeo in Samurai clothing.

--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Yeahbut we all know you're insane, so your opinion doesn't count.

 

You'd be right about that.
Most makers will design a shell to take an easy conversion (not so much
a conversion, but from scratch) LHD to RHD on the production line. You
do get some oddities, like remote brake servos being used, where the
home market had direct ones, etc.

 

The position of the driver doesn't affect the way the car is driven
(other than visibility). The position of the chair makes a huge
difference.

I suspect - with no evidence - that the decision was based on handling
rather than visibility.

 

it's not a Mondeo but the CD3 platform, not used by Ford in Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_CD3_platform