Carrying a fire extinguisher

I agree, I think you can blame our EPA for that one.
Of course I like what the EPA is doing as far as getting back to metal fuel tanks on some of the new bikes and cars.

Aw relax we all play around with fire but risk of fire is extremely low compared to everything else out to get ya and many go w/o a helmet and get away with it. We read of more axle fractures than fire destruction yet no one, not even me bothers to safety wire the axle in place until afterwards. I could see how the flashy sight of an exposed fire extinguisher on a British bike might invite some snide comments too.

I agree with Hobot if your fuel system is in good order an the oil is (mostly) inside were it should be and the electrics or good then fire is not the biggest problem you are likely to have an fact normally posts are about a lack of fire in the cylinders when it should be happening !!
I have new amals steel tank with new taps braided fuel lines an ham can type filter so even if there was large backfire the carbs are well supported an the filter should contain the flash so unlike the pic the carbs should stay on not blow off an maybe flood that may feed a fire. If you were going to be miles from anywhere it may be an idea or if in a group maybe one bike could have one but how many have needed one an did the fire start because of a problem that was preventable I have read a few where an old carb or wiring etc. caused the fire.

Totally concur that worrying about a fire on a Norton is not worth the trouble. There's a lot more dangerous and far more likely things to occur that, as noted, we don't worry about at all…

Might look stupid on a Norton but not as stupid as you would look helplessly watching your pride and joy disappearing in a cloud of smoke. The many hours I've spent over the last 38 years of owning my Commando justify a £11 extinguisher, Then at least I can say "I gave it my best shot,………………… where's the bar?"

Extingishers can only do so much - this one set off at famous Harley party couple decades ago. That gathering is no longer after party goers did same thing to tour buses attending. My 1st mc fire was when P!! ticklers over flowed on pints right below on start up next to gas pumps. Second one catch at mere smoking off paint and wire installtion stage when a ballast reistor of all things went bad.



If ya can stand it lookie hear to flash on when out and about...
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqI-XYu5dKw[/video]

Some bikes were meant to be "on fire". Maybe those are too??

A bit of lore we learned 15 yr ago from the fading original NOC UK club members was that Norton was derivative of an ancient Druid term meaning = "leaving flaming trail off into the sun set" but didn't tell us if that was from the comet tails they saw in the sky or everyone's snorting to high heavens at the fellas who caught their furs on fire warming up...

Dear Brit-Iron,
The tried and true remedy for an immediate kick-back fire is to go shut off the gas tap, go to wide open throttle and kick start like mad. Thereby sucking the fire into the engine (where it belongs). this has worked well for me on several occasions (DAMHIK). But nerve is required. A back-up plan is to have a blanket or dry cloth handy to smother the fire. (Having turned off the gas tap.) Next level of back-up is to have the proper kind of fire extinguisher for gasoline fires handy.
But before the fire happens, it is best to have the fuel lines, taps, floats, carb controls, ignition advance/retard/timing set properly so that the combustion occurs where and when it should.
What is wrong with that group of motorheads? Maybe just panic?
Al Johnson

Click to expand...

A few yrs ago Trixie Combat blew out an inferior quality flame ring out the
oil drain hole on my way to work with about 10 miles to go so thot I'd just limp on in but then remembered talk about fuel lines close to head so looked down to see jets of flame abraiding the fuel hose and pulled over just in time - that a finger nail could of parted what was left of the hose, YIKES!. So just how lucky do we feel vs how light and cute we look and feel on the fly.