Car (or bike) Chat!

[Marco]

Took the little Honda Civic in for an oil and filter change last month. I was charged £55.00 for the air filter. I found this exact same one on line at Halfords for £7.95.
http://bit.ly/2rfgxUZ . Admittedly there was no labour charge but still, they have lost a regular customer.

Indeed, Graham - what a rip off! Did you go to a main dealer to get the job done? If so, that was your biggest mistake

For comparison, my guy (and he's *top notch*) charged me £80 labour (ex. VAT), for a FULL SERVICE on my car. Parts were extra, and I bought the oil. IME, finding a good independent garage to carry out work on your car, which you can trust, is worth its weight in gold. That's usually where you'll be looked after best. Most dealerships these days are a rip off.

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Interesting, I didn't know that they had such a lengthy history. Never heard of the other two. I only discovered K&N a few years ago, when I became interested in souping up fast cars

They do notably increase performance (improving airflow), and I've found also change the engine note to a deeper 'growl', which I rather like. I also like the fact that they last a very long time, and so from that point of view are more environmentally friendly than the standard items.

Marco.

A quick search revealed that K&N invented that type of filter in 1969. My memory of them goes back to the late seventies where they were a common sight on big Kawasaki and Suzuki 4 strokes. My mate had some on his '81 GSX1100EX, and they did look pretty cool (obviously on bikes they were visible, and comprised one small filter directly fitted to each carb).

Piranha made pointless ignitions to be fitted to bikes that were using points (probably pretty much all bikes before about 1980, though I may be a bit out with this).

Micron made expansion chambers (among other things) which were a direct replacement for standard exhaust silencers on 2-stroke bikes. I think the shape increased back pressure and so performance, but as with changing air filters, it was necessary to increase jet size in the carburetors otherwise bike would usually run lean, and all sorts of engine damage could ensue.

If any of this is incorrect, I suspect Geoff or Grant would be more knowledgeable

[Gaz]

Going back to the petrol discussion, my Dad used to work in the Shell terminal at Avonmouth, it was interesting watching the Shell, Murco, Jet, Sainsburys, Tesco, Asda tankers coming in to fill up from exactly the same tanks.
Even more interesting hearing how people's cars run better on Shell than supermarket fuel lol
You get what you pay for lol

[struth]

only differences are the additives they put in to them. the fuel is the same

[Marco]

A quick search revealed that K&N invented that type of filter in 1969. My memory of them goes back to the late seventies where they were a common sight on big Kawasaki and Suzuki 4 strokes. My mate had some on his '81 GSX1100EX, and they did look pretty cool (obviously on bikes they were visible, and comprised one small filter directly fitted to each carb).

Piranha made pointless ignitions to be fitted to bikes that were using points (probably pretty much all bikes before about 1980, though I may be a bit out with this).

Micron made expansion chambers (among other things) which were a direct replacement for standard exhaust silencers on 2-stroke bikes. I think the shape increased back pressure and so performance, but as with changing air filters, it was necessary to increase jet size in the carburetors otherwise bike would usually run lean, and all sorts of engine damage could ensue.

If any of this is incorrect, I suspect Geoff or Grant would be more knowledgeable

Thanks for that, Steve. As I'm into tuning/modifying cars now, that sort of stuff interests me. I was too young, during the 70s, to be into motorbikes, so knew nothing about that stuff. Pedal bikes, yes, but motor bikes, no.

I got my first motorbike in 1981, but didn't start getting into them more seriously until later, when I obtained a gorgeous red and white Yamaha RD-350LC - now *that* was a fun 2-stroke!!

I race-tuned that bike to the max and it was a total RIOT - breathtakingly quick, especially in acceleration, due to a rather favourable power-to-weight ratio (a total wheely machine), sounded as sweet as a nut (famous high-pitched whine), with the sports pipes I had on it, and something the girlies loved a ride on!

Plus, there's nothing to beat the smell of burned 2-stroke oil... Big, smooth 4-stokes, back then, were for 'poofs'

Marco.

[Marco]

only differences are the additives they put in to them. the fuel is the same

Exactly - and *that* is what makes the difference!

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Thanks for that, Steve. As I'm into tuning/modifying cars now, that sort of stuff interests me. I was too young, during the 70s, to be into motorbikes, so knew nothing about that stuff. Pedal bikes, yes, but motor bikes, no.

I got my first motorbike in 1981, but didn't start getting into them more seriously until later, when I obtained a gorgeous red and white Yamaha RD-350LC - now *that* was a fun 2-stroke!!

I race-tuned that bike to the max and it was a total hoot - breathtakingly quick, especially in acceleration, due to a rather favourable power-to-weight ratio (a total wheely machine), sounded as sweet as a nut (famous high-pitched whine), with the sports pipes I had on it, and something the girlies loved a ride on!

Plus, there's nothing to beat the smell of burned 2-stroke oil... Big, smooth 4-stokes, back then, were for 'poofs'

Marco.

You are so right Marco, the smell of burned 2-stroke takes me back to my yoof, even more than cut grass!

And as for the 4-strokes, I recall going flat-out (about 90) with my chin on the tanks of my Suzuki X7, tailing a huge cloud of blue smoke, when a Honda CX500 wafted past at about a ton, making no smoke, and me thinking "smug bastard, I'll get you back one day".

Those Yam lc's were wicked fast in their day, and if I remember correctly, the stock exhaust was pretty much expansion pipes. The first 250 lc's were said to be responsible for the government saying "enough is enough" to the 250 learner laws.

If I had the funds though, my 'nostalgia bike' would be an earlier RD 250 or 400 with coffin tank, or if I was really minted I'd go for an early Honda CBX1000. All of these bikes (and especially the lc's) cost fortunes these days.

[Marco]

Still gives me a chubby (and brings back so many fond memories), just listening to this now:



Used to burn off and totally embarrass many a boy-racer in their XR3is

Marco.

P.S Have you been Christmas shopping yet in Shrewsbury?

[Gaz]

Exactly - and *that* is what makes the difference!

Marco.

Again I'm going back a few years to when my Dad work for Shell but it was very hit or miss as to whether the additives where actually added or not.

[Marco]

Good job then I don't use Shell

Marco.