Tuesday 6th August 2002

Merlin

Unique way to travel

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[epo88]

To see more Merlin outfits visit our club site at www.mysite.freeserve.com/MerlinSidecarOwners - the folk in your photo are mates of mine - the silver TDM bike used to be mine! - the Merlin outfits go as well as they look - mine is orange on a 145 bhp Yamaha Thunderace. JP

[dern]

the Merlin outfits go as well as they look

As badly as that

[epo88]

Oh well, you always get one don't you.

For the record the chair pulls top of ours whack down to 135 - but that's not really the point - which is having a bit of fun - acceleration is good too - but I'll not bore you with numbers and it has it's problems in the wet when the back wheel spins in every gear. oops.

>> Edited by epo88 on Tuesday 10th December 19:34

[dern]

Just joking

If you're connected commercially with merlin then good luck with it I say.

All the best,

Mark

[hertsbiker]

very interesting looking, and most likely excellent technically. BUT (there's always someone who is going to say this), don't you have the disadvantages of both worlds, with the advantages or neither?

eg,

Bike = narrow, high speed, and leans over, get through gaps. Lots of power.

Car (Caterham?) = good road holding, stable, fair amount of power. Doesn't lean. May be able to carry luggage, may keep you dry on a wet road. Won't crash as easily, or fatally on a wet road.

Bike+outfit = wide. Lower speed. Doen't lean properly (which is the fun bit of bikes). Won't keep you dry. Won't fit through gaps. Looks unstable. Won't protect you.

Ok, maybe fun to be different, but I can't help think that if I could ride a bike, I'd just have a car...

Is it just me?

C

[epo88]

You're right - there's no logic to it, but it is fun. I have a solo bike too which is also fun and certainly good on the congested roads we have here in the good ole UK. If you've the talent these outfits can be cornered very quicky with controlled slides etc - I don't have such racing skills but the bloke who makes them has.

For the record I'm not comercially connected to Merlin who make 'em - but the folk there have become mates since I bought it.

Thanks for the interest

Jonathan

[mrsd]

I'm with you on that one hertsbiker. I've never really seen the appeal of trikes or Goldwings/Hardly Abletos either, what's the point of a bike that's the size of a car 'Course if anyone wants to take me out for a ride on one I might be persuaded of their merits

BTW, no graphics when I comment on a news item, is this normal ?

[Leadfoot]

Anyone remember seeing a Hayubusa trike at one of the shows? It had a bloody great wing on the back & looked loke Dick Dastardly's latest rocket sled.