a few questions

[TopCat]

Before the few questions ...... I did Reefton Spur for the first time today after about 30k bike kays in Aus. Went up the Black Spur first, lovely job of resurfacing spoilt in places by people in jamjars . Had a bit to eat with the family and overseas in-laws in Marysville and then did the Reefton Spur from the top down . Veeery noiice. Probably be as good if not better from the bottom up. Need to do it again .......ROB!!!

As I missed out on yesterdays spin with Ron and the lads / gals I got to thinking on today's sighting lap (not speeding or qualifying).

1. Is there a bias against Shell petrol .... yesteday we got petrol at a BP station. Is it because BP, Mobil and Caltex premium are bike friendly and Optimax isn't?
2. Can anyone recommend a back protector or any features that a good one has. Also any info on prices and best shop (Melb) to get one would be appreciated.
3. Whats the difference between a single unbroken white line and unbroken double white lines. I looked for this a while ago on the Vicroads site and can't remember getting a decent answer. It's also sooo long since I passed my test that I can't remember or just old age .

Thats all folks.
Tony

[smek]

Sheet you've only just got to reefton? 'bout time i reckon

I could be wrong here but ...
Single white lines: can't cross em at all
Double white lines: can't overtake but can u-turn and make turns over them.

I have a feeling you used to be able to overtake over single lines in vic, but that's changed now to bring it in line with the rest of aus.

[smek]

just looking at the arthurs seat action shots... noticed where the lookouts are there's a single white line, and everywhere else is double. so i've either got it backwards, or you shouldn't turn right onto the lookouts from the left lane, which kinda makes sense cos its a really bad place for a car to stop to wait to do a right turn.

anyway i'm sure jason will fill us in, cos i can't find my book anywhere.

[TrenShadow]

Rule 134 from this link: http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrpdf/randl/part_11.pdf

Single unbroken and single broken appear to be the same thing. Only double unbroken you can't overtake.

If you haven't gotten there already, try Chum Ck Rd from Healesville to Toolangi (aka Healesville-KingLake Rd) and come back down to Healesville on Myers Ck Rd (turn right at the top of the hill after the twisties have finished). Fantastic roads

[Smitty]

1. Is there a bias against Shell petrol .... yesteday we got petrol at a BP station. Is it because BP, Mobil and Caltex premium are bike friendly and Optimax isn't?

ppl have had problems with Optimax (me included)
the threads on this here come out in favour of Caltex Mobil or BP

2. Can anyone recommend a back protector or any features that a good one has. Also any info on prices and best shop (Melb) to get one would be appreciated.

I got one from UnderDog Leathers (Joe-aka the Baron is a member here)
excellent price and quality (with KSRC and Netrider discount)
the website- http://www.under-dog.leathers.com
and look under Accessories-Track/sport on the LH side
contact details are there as well...
mine was $80 (*inc GST AND POST to your door!)


cheers

[Blackzxr]

The black strip between the two white lines, is a bike lane.

[chikin]

I asked a mechanic about shell optimax;

The word is that it is apparently made up more dense than the other fuels, therefore you don't need quite as much fuel for the same sized bang as the other premiums.

Problem arises with carby run bikes as they can't tell this and just dump in the usual amount of fuel resulting in the bike always running rich.

I dunno how exactly the CPU controlled engines with EFI work and how they tell density... but yeah I'd steer clear of it anyway.

[MickLC]

There's a pretty good writeup about the BP Ultimate in Rapid magazine, although the guy had just been to one of their promo junkets (sorry had a mental blank on his name). Still what he had to say was pretty positive and he does know what he's talking about.

[mrmina]

With optimax suposidely its not got for the carbs. I usually use mobil 8000 or bp ultimate.

as for the lines on the road they are used for decorations, instead of plain black road, they thought why not put a couple of white line.

[aardvark]

1. Optimax makes my bike run like crud.
2. Got my Dainese back protector from the Trading Post for 30 bucks.
3. You can cross a single white line to enter/leave property. You CANNOT cross a double white line.

[tape]

The black strip between the two white lanes, is a bike lane.

BWWAAHHHAHAHA ROB

Ummm you guys do realise that the Oil companies STILL do swaps and buy offs of fuel don't yas... pull into Caltex and ya still may be getting Shell Optimax etc. BP seems still to be the least offendererer in this regard... but shhhh I didnt tell yas that.

Cheers

[Smitty]

Ummm you guys do realise that the Oil companies STILL do swaps and buy offs of fuel don't yas... pull into Caltex and ya still may be getting Shell Optimax etc. BP seems still to be the least offendererer in this regard... but shhhh I didnt tell yas that.

Cheers

yeah Mick I know this but AFAIK Mobil do not do it at all
and coz of possible Trade Practices implications the others
are not doing it very often these days (if at all)

BP have been doing it as they got caught short with the release of Ultimate
-they have been blending it with Optimax
me? (I have been using Mobil 8000 or BP Premium, NOT Ultimate)

things of course might change if there is a further rationalization of
refining capacity by the oil companies in Oz

cheers

[Smitty]

I dunno how exactly the CPU controlled engines with EFI work and how they tell density... but yeah I'd steer clear of it anyway.

simple
they have an O2 sensor (sometimes called a lambda sensor)
which measures the zorst output
and the EFI brain adjusts the injector time cycle to increase/decrease
the amount of fuel that gets into the combustion chamber
to maintain the correct air/fuel mix
(a funny thing called stoichimetric combustion)

The denser fuels apparently produce a different cocktail of exhaust gases
to normal (or PULP) fuels and the EFI chip can adjust this....


hth (or confuses )

cheers

[kempy]

1) From what I've heard widely, the problem with Optimax is that its designed for car EFI systems. Meaning its full of aditives and the such designed to clean the EFI system and provide better performance. When you stick this shit in a carby bike, all those aditives and the such clog up the small gets on motorcycles, compared to those of cars. So steer clear.

I ALWAYS get BP Ultimate, as humanly possible as can be.

[TopCat]

Thanks lads, amazing the number of replies in such a short time.

I had heard something about Optimax and never use it and given that the bike (ZRX) has carbs I never will. I use regular unleaded and never noticed any improvement in performance when I used premium unleaded (on my birthday, anniversary of buying the bike, just after getting paid, etc.)

I'll get a back protector from under-dog leathers (but after I check the trading post) - thanks Yoda.

Thanks for the single / double lines info - appreciate it. Seemed less than straight forward on the VicRoads site when I first read it but you've clarified it for me (especially Rob / Mina!!!).

Again thanks - proves how good the site really is!

BTW one last question - where is the best place to get updates on safety issues such as WRB and front number plates - I used to go to Netrider for this but haven't in a while - is there an alternative?

Seeya,
Tony