Quoted post said:Regarding the SM, there was a sort of review of three types of 'touring bike' in the recent CTC
rag (it is their 125th anniversary edition) to relent the history of the bike
Yes, I'm in the CTC so I've read it...
Quoted message said:While the SM came out pretty positively, one comment was that with the under seat steering and
panniers on the lowrider rack that the turning circle was a bit limited. Is that an issue for
you Pete?
The answer for me (and it seems most SMGT riders) is "no". The steering lock *is* limited, but only
to the extent that if you want to do a U-turn in a narrow street or similar close manoeuvre then you
stop, stand up and shift the bike around. But since I don't generally want that degree of manoeuvre
and I'm usually stationary anyway if I do it's never nagged at me. I've never had a problem in urban
situations or traffic, or anything like that. Not sure what the problem with the panniers is meant
to be, to be honest: I use a pair of Altura Orkney Universals on my lowrider, and they've never got
in the way of anything (and they're bigger than most lowrider panniers at 17l each).
Where I do actively find the SMGT a pain is if I have to carry it anywhere (up stairs, for example).
It's a heavy and unwieldy beast out of its element.
But if you don't like the limited lock of the underseat steer, just get the standard option
above-seat handlebars! I have written in to Cycle to point out that the USS issues could be cleaned
up that simply but nobody had seen fit to point out the options. He also fancied a disc brake for
loads, and though I've not had trouble with the Vs in the standard equipment there are also several
flavours of disc (cable and hydraulic) as standard options.
Quoted message said:Been wanting 'bent since I first tried a Peer Gynt for a day over 10 years ago, somehow it has
never quite happened for one reason or another. Since I managed to ride one all day over the hills
of mid Wales with just a little try around the carpark for a few minutes I've always wondered what
the fuss about balance, starting off and hill climbing was all about.
Mainly FUD, I think, though some designs are easier than others. I had to abandon ship on a Baron
I'd stopped in too high a gear at a junction: just got off, picked it up and ran over the road in
the end, scoring Nul Points for style... GF hasn't had any obvious major problems getting the hang
of the SMGT, and is currently displaying signs of her soul being corrupted in a Dark direction in
the not too distant future. Short list to try is currently quite long though!
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
