Anyone know why the foot operated gears and brake are switched round compared to modern bikes? 40+ years of riding Japanese bikes, I'm not sure if I could get use to this.
From what I was told - (and I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong and this is just "urban myth") - the Japanese word for "learn" is the same as "copy". I was told that the Japanese took bikes that they had commandeered during the war and simply mirrored everything so as not to be an exact copy. The one thing they did manage to improve on was to make their machines oil - tight and reliable. I have a Honda VF500F2F and a BSA A65 Lightning Clubman and whilst one puts a massive smile on my face every time I hear it running and gets attention wherever it goes - I know which one would i would trust to do a 1,000 mile trip without problems..... As for the gear change on the other side - I go from one down 5 up on the left to 1 up 3 down on the right without even thinking about it. 😀
@@noizyneighbour5790 Thanks for your comments. I've heard that the Japanese copied and perfected a lot of stuff basically, I do own a 2014 Triumph too but it's got more in common with a Jap bike, no oil leaks etc. LOL
All Brit bikes certainly in the 50/60s had r/h gear and l/h brake pedals ,even going back to my dad's 1930 Scott the gear change was on the right though it was a lever up by the petrol tank rather than a foot change . BSA Triumph swapped sides in the early 70s? principally I believe for the US market though it may have been for US legislation .
@@Rugbyman269 Here's another thing that I don't get, all bikes have their side stand mounted on the left hand side of the bike right? That's fine for parking on the road in the UK but what about other countries who drive on the right? Seems odd to me that your bike would lean closer to the flow of traffic when parked.
I have a 1970 but yours is one handsome machine, lovely.
Oh, my ....... that is beautiful !!
I'm no expert but surely the switch gear and front brake is from later than 64, possibly all the front end.
Gear shifter and rear brake location became mandated in 1975 and they've all been the same since ( I believe this was an American thing) !
71 or newer front fork assy brake and switches for turn signsls
Anyone know why the foot operated gears and brake are switched round compared to modern bikes?
40+ years of riding Japanese bikes, I'm not sure if I could get use to this.
From what I was told - (and I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong and this is just "urban myth") - the Japanese word for "learn" is the same as "copy". I was told that the Japanese took bikes that they had commandeered during the war and simply mirrored everything so as not to be an exact copy.
The one thing they did manage to improve on was to make their machines oil - tight and reliable.
I have a Honda VF500F2F and a BSA A65 Lightning Clubman and whilst one puts a massive smile on my face every time I hear it running and gets attention wherever it goes - I know which one would i would trust to do a 1,000 mile trip without problems.....
As for the gear change on the other side - I go from one down 5 up on the left to 1 up 3 down on the right without even thinking about it.
😀
@@noizyneighbour5790 Thanks for your comments. I've heard that the Japanese copied and perfected a lot of stuff basically, I do own a 2014 Triumph too but it's got more in common with a Jap bike, no oil leaks etc. LOL
All Brit bikes certainly in the 50/60s had r/h gear and l/h brake pedals ,even going back to my dad's 1930 Scott the gear change was on the right though it was a lever up by the petrol tank rather than a foot change .
BSA Triumph swapped sides in the early 70s? principally I believe for the US market though it may have been for US legislation .
@@Rugbyman269 Here's another thing that I don't get, all bikes have their side stand mounted on the left hand side of the bike right? That's fine for parking on the road in the UK but what about other countries who drive on the right?
Seems odd to me that your bike would lean closer to the flow of traffic when parked.