Grumpy Old Men Thread

[dieselyoda]

Or Winterpeg, or "damn, at least i get to ride my snowblower!".

Pooh, the bear, not the hockey pucks the deer leave, was actually inspired A.A.Milne on a visit here when he posted for military training.

Therefore, since I know that useless bit of trivia, makes my "pig" or "peg" look damn great and I should complain about the lack of red-head babes in the bar a serious complaint.

But, I can't complain because every red-head babe I meet loves the; "furgruvenehbabe."

[Paul_F]

I have a couple Canadian BMW bikes and being a metrics country, the speedometers are marked only in kilometres, as are the European models. However, why doesn’t BMW do for Canadians what is done on American Beemers; have both kms and mph markings on their speedometers?

American models have mph as the main markings with kms the secondary speed indicators. Why is the reverse not possible for bikes being exported to Canada?

We are close neighbours and it is a fact that many of us travel south of the border.

Grumpy Old Paul

[Omega Man]

I have a couple Canadian BMW bikes and being a metrics country, the speedometers are marked only in kilometres, as are the European models. However, why doesn’t BMW do for Canadians what is done on American Beemers; have both kms and mph markings on their speedometers?

American models have mph as the main markings with kms the secondary speed indicators. Why is the reverse not possible for bikes being exported to Canada?

We are close neighbours and it is a fact that many of us travel south of the border.

Grumpy Old Paul

It’s a Canadian thing-

Looks like BMW is off the hook on this one.

(4) A speedometer shall indicate the speed of the vehicle in kilometres per hour or in kilometres per hour and miles per hour. The unit or units of measurement shall be identified on the speedometer or at a location adjacent to it.

https://canadagazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2...ors24-eng.html

https://tc.canada.ca/en/corporate-se...ons-crc-c-1038

Nov 6, 2019 — Speedometers and Odometers. (4) A speedometer shall indicate the speed of the vehicle in kilometres per hour or in kilometres per hour and miles ...

OM

[akbeemer]

I have a couple Canadian BMW bikes and being a metrics country, the speedometers are marked only in kilometres, as are the European models. However, why doesn’t BMW do for Canadians what is done on American Beemers; have both kms and mph markings on their speedometers?

American models have mph as the main markings with kms the secondary speed indicators. Why is the reverse not possible for bikes being exported to Canada?

We are close neighbours and it is a fact that many of us travel south of the border.

Grumpy Old Paul

Evidently, the Germans consider Canada to be a civilized and advanced society.

[GTRider]

I have a couple Canadian BMW bikes and being a metrics country, the speedometers are marked only in kilometres, as are the European models. However, why doesn’t BMW do for Canadians what is done on American Beemers; have both kms and mph markings on their speedometers?

American models have mph as the main markings with kms the secondary speed indicators. Why is the reverse not possible for bikes being exported to Canada?

We are close neighbours and it is a fact that many of us travel south of the border.

Grumpy Old Paul

The flip side of that is that on Canadian BMWs with digital speedometer displays, the speedo can be flipped from km/h to mph and back. On the same models sold in the US, the speedo is locked into mph and can’t be flipped to km/h. So in the matter of speedometers, BMW has managed to disappoint customers on both sides of the border.

Best,
DeVern

[Paul_F]

The flip side of that is that on Canadian BMWs with digital speedometer displays, the speedo can be flipped from km/h to mph and back. On the same models sold in the US, the speedo is locked into mph and can’t be flipped to km/h. So in the matter of speedometers, BMW has managed to disappoint customers on both sides of the border.

Best,
DeVern

[mcmxcivrs]

Having only km/h on the speedo gives us Canadians a built in excuse for why we were performing beyond the expected parameters. "Gee, sorry, I guess I did the conversion wrong officer." FWIW, it worked.

[skibum69]

I just remember the conversions for a fw regular speeds. 50 km/h is about 30 mph. 90 is 55 etc etc...

[BC1100S]

Speedos in Canada have been metric since '78. So what?

When I travel in the US I can either convert speed/distance to Imperial using my brain or I can switch to Imperial on my GPS. I prefer using my brain. I do the same when I fill my tank and want to figure out my fuel consumption. It usually works out to about 4.5l/100km.

For what it's worth, I much prefer metric.

[Pauls1150]

Das Faktory is overlooking an obvious place to reduce the overall parts count by using identical instruments in all places. Let the final consumer make the choice.

Besides, with only one unit of measurement, you might not get the proper fit...
Speedo1.png speedo2.png

[GTRider]

I thought this thread was grumpy old men, not dirty old men?

Anyway, on the speedo thing—dual marking on US models is likely a throwback to when we were going to do the sensible thing and switch to metrics, like the rest of the industrialized world. That effort was stymied by the decision to do a phased switchover instead of a clean cut, which meant teaching and learning conversions, which caused a vocal portion of the American public to get their knickers in a giant knot. Hence, no metrification.

What’s interesting is that my US cars with digital instrumentation allow switching between miles and kilometers, yet BMW motorcycles do not. What’s the reasoning--fear of litigation over someone being injured or arrested because they misconfigured a speedo? Or…?

Best,
DeVern

[Pauls1150]

It's good to be multi-talented.

[fmdualexhaust]

While you guys are busy being grumpy, Sophia Loren is hanging out in my garage with me.

[GTRider]

While you guys are busy being grumpy, Sophia Loren is hanging out in my garage with me.

Well, she’s a grumpy old lady now so she’ll fit right in with this crowd.

Best,
DeVern

[Paul_F]

Rode both bikes today. Why was BMW able to put self cancelling turn signals on my '87 K but not on my '98 Oihead? The Oilhead now has an after market cancelling module.

Grumpy Old Paul wondering WHY???