Using the brake pedal at traffic lights?

Trebor16

Cash-Strapped.T32 wrote: »

Ayes, that's the one (very close, Mana). Ideal commuter; powerful enough to do anything you'd want from a bike, but the CVT makes it ridiculously easy on things like chain-wear, rear tyres, etc.. and the best part?

No matter how hard you try, you can't sit there & rev the tits off it in neutral!

Close, but no cigar for me Am I right in thinking that you do have the option for manual gear changing on the bike?

Cash-Strapped.T32

Close enough for me.
To avoid being told off for going o/t I won't talk too much about one single bike, but yes, you're pretty much correct - ish.
(then again, the thread has gone on about auto cars for long enough so I suppose I'm not going too far o/t)

It doesn't have a gearbox at all, the crank powers a simple drive-belt (hard-wearing, I got over 20k miles from my last one), which runs to the final drive so in auto mode it is literally just like a scooter in operation - at traffic lights you let go of the throttle & the bike just sits there, idling.

The "geared" mode uses the same hardware, the drive-belt snaps to pre-defined positions on the variator to give the ratios which emulate 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc (exactly like the derailleurs on a mountain bike, as opposed to the gearboxes that your or I might think of).

There is no clutch lever (the left-hand bar has no lever at all) and the rider changes gear using a foot-shifter, or alternatively +/- paddles on the handlebar, like one of those sequential paddle shifters you get in some cars.
It sounds complex to explain, but when you see it disassembled, and when you use it, it's immensely simple, and practical - I can't believe that it's not more common, and I'm kinda ashamed that it took the Italians to do it on a modern bike (not counting 70's Hondamatics )
/essay ends

Lum

So it's basically a DAF variomatic CVT only on a motorbike? awesome.

thefishdude

another reason why we were taught at w0rk to sit with foot onb brake and clutch down in gear apart from making it more obvious to someone you there with the extra light is alos the defence driving aspect if you sitting there and see someone say about to plough into you from some were its a lot quicker to mov from brake pedal to accelerator and lift clucth and move your car/van/minibus then it is to press clutch engage gear remove hand brake press accelerator lift clutch move away etc etc

Road_Hog

keys wrote: »

I have been taught not to put the handbrake on as i used to , unless your car is going to roll{ on a hill etc } - this meaning you do not have full control of the vehicle . To prevent delaying other road users I have been taught to stay in first gear with handbrake off - which also shows you are anticipating and prepared for what is going on around you .

Good to see that driving instructors are moving into the real world.

Yep, I think that's what I posted earlier on.

Road_Hog

colino wrote: »

In a manual car, if you know you will be halted for more than a few seconds, whether traffic lights, policemans signal or even a junction, you should put the handbrake on and into neutral.

No you shouldn't. If you want to see how outdated some of the HWC is, just look at the stopping distances. It still quotes 315ft at 70 mph from about 45 years ago, when most cars had drum brakes. Now, most cars have discs all round and the stopping distance is less, but will they reduce the stopping distance, no.

Years ago, you were advised to use the gearbox to aid braking, but these days you wouldn't dream of wrecking your gearbox to help stop the car.

Front brake pads (where most of the stopping power is) and discs cost next to nothing these days. Use them and replace them.

thefishdude

even when i passed my test back inabout 93 i was taught to sit at light with teh car in gear and foot on clucth ready to move off all be it with hand brake on then

missile

Strider590 wrote: »

...
With modern cars, many so heavy that most won't sufficiently hold the car on a steep hill (especially with disk brakes). The best way is to use the handbrake AND the brakes imo..

IMHO, that is utter rubbish. Modern cars are lighter and their brakes are better than ever. Disk brakes are much better than drum brakes.

If YOUR handbrake won't sufficiently hold the car on a steep hill you should get it fixed asap.

missile

Trebor16 wrote: »

Would that be an Aprilia Manos (I think) by any chance? That is a rare beast!

rare beast for a good reason ......... it is a dog.

andrew-the-cat

Road_Hog wrote: »

Years ago, you were advised to use the gearbox to aid braking, but these days you wouldn't dream of wrecking your gearbox to help stop the car.

Saving the brakes?