chewy Posted April 30, 2013 Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 Being old enough to remember the arguments about the compulsory use of helmets I was sceptical about these things but bought two for us.......after 18 months of using them I have to say they get my vote, loads less damage to crashing bikes as well as bodies what I can't understand is why all manufacturers aren't fitting as standard equipment and of course why they are so expensive......got to get a bit of rhetoric into my posts! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted April 30, 2013 Report Share Posted April 30, 2013 Also, being magnetic, the damn things wander. Here's mine stuck to the side of the kitchen drawer, which is not much help when you've driven nearly an hour to a trial to find that it is not on the bike. Just for those cases make sure you have a magnet in your tool box and some duct/electrical (whatever the popular European type of ) tape. and just tape the magnet on and viola!!! problem solved 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr neutron Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 (edited) he fashioned a kill switch with a set of points and non-conductive something or other attached with a wrist strap. Worked every time. The very first bike I ever bought (paid for with money from throwing a newspaper route in 1969) had a kill switch exactly as you described. It was used in hillclimb competitions by the previous owner. Most folks agreed that when the rider & bike became separated, it was handy if the motor was at least not running...... Jimmie Added in EDIT: Sideup, are you gonna ride the Trial next weekend at Goldendale? I'm gonna try to do a Saturday ride there.... Edited May 1, 2013 by mr neutron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinshocked Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 US Nationals should require these. I saw rider fall on his own bike and his hand go through the sprocket. none severed but many broken fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 A riderless out of control bike is a lower-probability-but-higer-consequence event at a WTC event than at clubman level, what with the close proximity of a group of spectators pushing to the edge of the Section. So at this level the dead man switch keeps an event safe. For we Clubbies, it probably is more of an aid to keep our bike safe by avoiding a handlebar end and throttle jammed open in the dirt while we pick ourselves up. On a less serious note, I bought myself a lanyard switch a few months back.... I found that with it on the handlebar you CAN scratch your forehead (the elastic lanyard stretches quite a way while staying attached) but that you CAN'T scratch your back (it only stretches so far before letting go). Nothing like belting along in 4th gear between sections with one hand on the bars, the other behind your back, and suddenly the engine dies. Also, being magnetic, the damn things wander. Here's mine stuck to the side of the kitchen drawer, which is not much help when you've driven nearly an hour to a trial to find that it is not on the bike. Now, that is funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funtrials Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) I put a dead-man switch on my Gasser last year (and, uh, no, I'm not planning on riding world rounds, I just wanted the extra bit of safety.) Edited May 4, 2013 by funtrials 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funtrials Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 Sideup, are you gonna ride the Trial next weekend at Goldendale? I'm gonna try to do a Saturday ride there.... Speaking of Goldendale: as I write this the boys are heading out to ride in Goldendale.....made it last year, but can't this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funtrials Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 How does a dead man operate the switch in the first place in fact why would the FIM even let a dead man start the event. Dead men have a real hard time adhering to the new "constant motion" rule, for one thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funtrials Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) or the mittens tied together with strings so we wouldn't lose our mittens on the way to school. That's why I got the lanyard, I kept losing my darn bike. But not anymore. Wait, after reading through this thread it seems like you guys are implying that the lanyard PULLS AWAY from the bike at some point(?)....but then I couldn't find my bike. Edited May 4, 2013 by funtrials Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guys Posted May 4, 2013 Report Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) So lanyard type "Dead man switch" "kill switch": maybe a good idea for all levels of competition............... but the way I ride I would rather have it attached to my chest. I use my hands to make dabs on trees too often. There is a type of lanyard that attaches to the waist, so you can hug trees... In Belgium, at national events the lanyard kill switch and the rear sprocket guard are compulsory. Edited May 4, 2013 by guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 There is a type of lanyard that attaches to the waist, so you can hug trees... In Belgium, at national events the lanyard kill switch and the rear sprocket guard are compulsory. OOH I do love me some trees!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 done that too...took one of those magnets supplied with toytown speedo kit and keep it inside my helmet ( steel stud for strap)......strangely enough since I did this I havn't forgotten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofasttim Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 RE: the sprocket cover. Why cover the holes in the sprocket when the sprocket has nasty gnashing teeth, the wheel sharp spokes? It's just so silly. The lanyard I can understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 I think the filling in is so it cant act as a guillotine, as per disc on front which have a full guard, all to do with minders loosing fingers! saw it once from 50 yds away and it wasnt nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofasttim Posted June 18, 2013 Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 (edited) Dabster: what about the teeth on the sprocket? They can sever digits just as well as the holes but nobody has attempted a work-around for them. Edited June 18, 2013 by toofasttim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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