On Thu, 08 Apr 2021 08:34:12 +0100, Chris J Dixon
wrote:

snip

I now find it hard to believe that I regularly did the run from
Barnsley to Manchester, over Woodhead Pass, on this bike. There
were occasions when I had to resort to 1st gear in order to
battle against the wind whilst actually going downhill.

;-)

I didn't usually do the trip during winter, but there was one
February at the end of term (thin sandwich) where I had to get it
home to Barnsley. As I began the run the throttle started
sticking open. Stripping it down in sleety rain wasn't an
attractive proposition, so I just pressed on.

As you sometimes do. I tried to do that when the condenser became
disconnect by pedaling to supplement the very low engine power.
Unfortunately pedaling a moped any distance wearing the same gear you
would wear when just sitting on a moped at 30 mph through a cold night
aren't the same thing so I (fairly quickly) had to stop and see if I
could do anything about it.

As it had an
automatic clutch, I was a bit unsure how I would cope, but it
made it OK. Changing down, the engine was slowed enough to cope,
changing up was a bit more vicious.

Sometimes the risk (of further damage) is worth it though.

There was only one stop
line, and I managed to crawl across with judicious braking.
Turned out it was water in the slide that was jamming it, and a
bit of oil was all it needed.

Which, had you know, you might have had on you via the dipstick or
gearbox filler / level screw, assuming you didn't carry anything. I
generally carry one of those mini spray tins of WD40 wrapped up in a
rag.

It did have indicators, but they were almost completely hidden by
the panniers. When right hand signals were called for, the
throttle grip flew back. Nothing I could do with the various bits
of springy steel seemed to improve matters, so life could be a
bit interesting.

My BMW has a friction knob on the throttle so you can actually lock it
off, or give it a load more friction but it just feels too dangerous
to me to use (unlike an electronic cruise control that would
automatically disengage etc).

Whilst *having* to fettle the less well made / less reliable machines
(not the Hondas here) was a PITA when they let you down on a trip,
they did make the journeys you did make with no issues more of an
event. With the reliability of modern transport and with it's
automatic / home comforts and features, most people are completely
disconnected from the both the mechanics and the process /
responsibility of that they are still driving a dangerous machine
amongst other people / things.

I'm not blaming people *today* because there isn't much most could do
to fix anything should it happen, but I'm not sure they still get the
idea of the (completion of the) journey itself being part of the
event. [1]

Or maybe they are bringing that back with PEV's and 'range anxiety'!
;-)

Cheers, T i m

[1] I say that when in nearly every instance I was able to sort
something to be able to get home. Two exceptions being a failed clutch
splines on my R100RT BMW 175 miles from home and the other being a
snapped cambelt on the Sierra. I was previously towed home on the BMW
when the ignition amplifier failed and the most embarrassing bit was
being towed by the Mrs on her Yamaha XV750 Virago. Not sure you would
be allowed to do that now days, other than to get to a 'safe place'
possibly?