Text 29545, 80 rader
Skriven 2009-03-16 19:27:46 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
  Kommentar till text 29438 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
Ärende: Bikes
=============
Michiel van der Vlist wrote to Robert Bashe on Monday March 16 2009 at 13:21:

MV>>> So the situation *is* different. In Germany the one who does the
MV>>> inspection and the one making a profit on the required repairs is
MV>>> not the same.

RB>> No, there are special inspection installations here and they do no
RB>> repairs.

MV> No? You confuse me by starting a sentence with "no" and then
MV> confirming what I wrote in the rest of the sentence. In my logis the
MV> sentence should have started with "yes".

Are you now going to start telling me how I should write, Michiel? I agreed
with you, but you're still not satisfied because I didn't use the words you
thought proper. I wrote normal English, whether you realize that or not. It
might not be what you learned in school, but it's clear enough to someone who
knows the language.

RB>> Here there are two classes of problems that can be found: the "minor"
RB>> problems such as not enough tread on a tire or a defective headlight
RB>> or weak horn,

MV> All of these "minor problems" are reason for failure to pass the test
MV> here.

You pass here, but with limiting remarks. And if the defects are serious
enough, you must repair and re-inspect. But where the repair takes place is not
something that interests the inspection station.

RB>>  and "major" problems so serious that they present a safety risk.

RB>> Some people have their cars inspected by a garage before going for
RB>> the inspection, but most (including the inspectors) recommend first
RB>> doing the inspection and only then doing possibly necessary repairs -
RB>> that's cheaper.

MV> here, if you do not let the garage do the repairs, yu pay the full
MV> price for the inspection. Pass or no pass. Hasve it repaired elsewhere
MV> and come back for another test, you pay the full price again.

Nice way to "earn" money, but not very good for the vehicle owner, who gets
screwed coming and going. Lucky we don't have such a system here.

MV> These gel batteries are very nice, but be advised that on the
MV> downside, they do not take kindly to overcharging. if you overcharge a
MV> classic lead battery, it starts to "gas". The lost water can ease;ly
MV> be replaced by topping it off with demineralised water. With a gel
MV> battery that is not possible. So I hope you went easy on the charge.

I charged overnight at the "motorcycle" setting, and the final voltage was
13.something V, so I figure everything is OK.

Now, of course, I have to actually start the thing after not having it running
for the past 2 years or so. I figure that will be quite a job too, but one way
or another, I'll manage.

RB>> Much more practical than an open lead-acid battery, particularly for
RB>> people like me who repeatedly manage to (gently, but inexorably)
RB>> allow their bikes to tip over on one side.

MV> Batteries do not spoil the liquid so easely. Not the ones that i came
MV> across.

Maybe you haven't tipped a motorcycle over as many times as I have. The Bandit
is heavy and topheavy - get it a few degrees out of vertical and you don't have
a chance to prevent it tipping over. Just get out of the way to avoid crushing
a leg. And when that happens, acid runs out. No question.

I still dream about my Zuendapp 50 cc "Kleinkraftrad" of 1966... light, fast
and easy to pick up if you did tip it over. Naturally such things are no longer
made - too "politically incorrect". To get the same kind of performance as I
had then, you need 125-250 cc motors nowadays. Oh, environmentally clean as
hell - but nasty to ride and gas hogs - but who cares? Long live the holy
environment!

Cheers, Bob

--- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-0613
 * Origin: Jabberwocky System - 02363-56073 ISDN/V34 (2:2448/44)