What's an RLET?
- Thread starter Ghis_imp
- Start date
Lord Popgun
Road warrior
emptysea
Road warrior
Oh no, Popgun! You have just inadvertently raised another question, or perhaps a series of questions, about our beloved RLETs.... Are they a farkle? Is something so essential to the enjoyment of this bike actually a farkle? Or is it a required accessory? Accessory? Can something that is essential also be an accessory?
Once I read the RLET Manifesto (see link above) and became a true believer, I just assumed that tiny little spheres belonged on the bike and never really analyzed whether they were optional or integral. Farkle or accessory. I fear that you have raised a philosophical question here much like the question of the chicken and the egg or the sound of one hand clapping.
So...IS the RLET a farkle? Let the discussion begin!
Once I read the RLET Manifesto (see link above) and became a true believer, I just assumed that tiny little spheres belonged on the bike and never really analyzed whether they were optional or integral. Farkle or accessory. I fear that you have raised a philosophical question here much like the question of the chicken and the egg or the sound of one hand clapping.
So...IS the RLET a farkle? Let the discussion begin!
ride4now_imp
Road warrior
Not again...
emptysea
Road warrior
Prediction: JustPassinThrough will create a post titled "Zen and the Art of the RLET" and we all will pretend we understand the underlying message of it.
metallyguitarded_imp
Road warrior
The word "farkle" is conspicuously absent from dictionary.com. A search on my preferred site for the true meaning of all words - urbandictionary.com - reveals that "farkle" is a combination of the words "function" and "sparkle," with its origins traced to a 1997 Honda ST1100 rally.
The answer, of course, is that an RLET is in fact a "farkle." The true question being, what then, is a "farkle"? "Function" clearly refers to having a purpose while "sparkle" denotes an unnecessary but visually pleasing addition. What else comes to mind when viewed in that way? Why, a wedding ring, naturally.
Unnecessary in the true sense of the word yet serving a well accepted function of publicly and privately symbolizing the union, commitment and devotion between loving partners. Isn't an RLET just that? Aren't we, by gracefully slipping an RLET onto our beloved CBs, privately and publicly professing our undying love and devotion?
It is a farkle. As much as a wedding ring is a farkle. Let us not use that word so lightly. Ghis, do you love your CB? Do you promise to honor her in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, during the long cold winters of discontent as well as the joyful days of spring? Is she the one you will treasure forever? if so, what are you waiting for man?! Put an RLET on her and make her an honest motorcycle!
The answer, of course, is that an RLET is in fact a "farkle." The true question being, what then, is a "farkle"? "Function" clearly refers to having a purpose while "sparkle" denotes an unnecessary but visually pleasing addition. What else comes to mind when viewed in that way? Why, a wedding ring, naturally.
Unnecessary in the true sense of the word yet serving a well accepted function of publicly and privately symbolizing the union, commitment and devotion between loving partners. Isn't an RLET just that? Aren't we, by gracefully slipping an RLET onto our beloved CBs, privately and publicly professing our undying love and devotion?
It is a farkle. As much as a wedding ring is a farkle. Let us not use that word so lightly. Ghis, do you love your CB? Do you promise to honor her in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, during the long cold winters of discontent as well as the joyful days of spring? Is she the one you will treasure forever? if so, what are you waiting for man?! Put an RLET on her and make her an honest motorcycle!
emptysea
Road warrior
"if you liked it, then you shoulda put an RLET on it".
Lord Popgun
Road warrior
Dang Ghis, you didn't read the 38 page thread I posted the link too. Well, I don't blame you but it does have pics.
Rubber Lever End Thingie
They go on the ball on the end of your levers. Part number in the thread about 500 times.
ES, I'm not as good with words as you, Ferret, and Cormanus. I figured you guys would jump in with the poetry of RLETS
Rubber Lever End Thingie
They go on the ball on the end of your levers. Part number in the thread about 500 times.
ES, I'm not as good with words as you, Ferret, and Cormanus. I figured you guys would jump in with the poetry of RLETS
emptysea
Road warrior
I would argue that a farkle is a non-essential addition to a motorcycle. A farkle may or may not be functional, but it is never necessary. So, are RLETs "necessary". One may be able to operate a Cb1100 without RLETs and may even think they are happy, but have they maximized their happiness? Is it necessary to maximize one's happiness on the CB? If it is, then is it not necessary to add something to the bike that maximizes that happiness? So, wouldn't it be necessary to add RLETs? If they are necessary aren't they something different than farkles?
BTW, my philosophical waxings may or may not be influenced by the two gibsons I have consumed this evening.
BTW, my philosophical waxings may or may not be influenced by the two gibsons I have consumed this evening.
JustPassinThru_imp
Been there
Imagine! If Pirsig had had RLETs, his whole life would have been changed. He'd have been One with the Karma, immediately...instead of riding through 2000 miles and 400 pages of angst; instead of getting up in 30-degree weather in a North Dakota motel at dawn to set valve clearances. His troubled son's mind would have been set right. His friend John would have IMMEDIATELY understood; and would have sold BMW Motorrad on the idea of BMW RLETs.EmptySea_imp said:
Our whole hobby would have been changed! Pirsig called it the classical/romantic dichotomy. We could have tossed the tools, and just gotten with the groove....
:banana:
Rebel73_imp
Been there
So RLET doesn't stand for "Really Long Eternal Thread"?
Lord Popgun
Road warrior
Well it should. A 38 or 39 page thread on 2 little rubber thingies and now 15 posts on this one! I see its 2 pages now...
the Ferret
Road warrior
Imagine! If Pirsig had had RLETs, his whole life would have been changed. He'd have been One with the Karma, immediately...instead of riding through 2000 miles and 400 pages of angst; instead of getting up in 30-degree weather in a North Dakota motel at dawn to set valve clearances. His troubled son's mind would have been set right. His friend John would have IMMEDIATELY understood; and would have sold BMW Motorrad on the idea of BMW RLETs.JustPassinThru_imp said:
Our whole hobby would have been changed! Pirsig called it the classical/romantic dichotomy. We could have tossed the tools, and just gotten with the groove....
:banana:
:rofl: really enjoyed this post JPT
Thanks Popgun. I have now read the thread. Now I know
I might show my lack of CB knowledge here, but I have never seen those on any CB750 FOURs before. And I have seen many fully restored ones, and learned to ride on one. So what's the deal with them? Never seen them on 500s either. Did bikes from factory go into the crate with those rubber lever end thingies to protect the levers during transport, and came off with all the other protective stuff once out of the box at the dealer? Were some delivered to customers with the RLETs still on, and left for them to remove, showing maybe that the bike was brand new, and had never be ridden? Please enlighten me on the origin of the RLET.
I might show my lack of CB knowledge here, but I have never seen those on any CB750 FOURs before. And I have seen many fully restored ones, and learned to ride on one. So what's the deal with them? Never seen them on 500s either. Did bikes from factory go into the crate with those rubber lever end thingies to protect the levers during transport, and came off with all the other protective stuff once out of the box at the dealer? Were some delivered to customers with the RLETs still on, and left for them to remove, showing maybe that the bike was brand new, and had never be ridden? Please enlighten me on the origin of the RLET.
Lord Popgun
Road warrior
Ferret is the expert on that history. We need him to chime in.
Calling Ferret, Mickie, come in...
I do know that my dealer has a 305 Dream that has RLETS.
Calling Ferret, Mickie, come in...
I do know that my dealer has a 305 Dream that has RLETS.
the Ferret
Road warrior
If you saw a restored Honda without the rubber lever end covers they were not restored correctly. All CB Hondas came with them, including the 1969 CB 750 as well as many other Hondas. I posted a list of bikes one time from Honda that used that part and believe me it was quite extensive. Google 1969 Honda CB 750, look at the Wikipedia definition, the bike in the Honda collection hall has them, look at Google Images of old Hondas, look at images of early Honda ads. Look closely they are there. If you didn't see them on the original bikes, you just weren't paying attention. They came with them and no one I know removed them. I worked in Honda dealerships from 1972-1989. My first Honda was a new 1966 CB160 it also came with them.
1969 Honda CB 750 KO
If you saw a bike without them the lever was replaced by someone but not the rubber lever end cover since it was a separate part from the lever.
BTW many other bikes from Japan came with them too, like the Suzuki GT 750
Honda History
[url=http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1969cb750four/]http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1969cb750four/
look at the images on page 1 and 2
1969 Honda CB 750 KO
If you saw a bike without them the lever was replaced by someone but not the rubber lever end cover since it was a separate part from the lever.
BTW many other bikes from Japan came with them too, like the Suzuki GT 750
Honda History
[url=http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1969cb750four/]http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1969cb750four/
look at the images on page 1 and 2
JustPassinThru_imp
Been there
I didn't know this.The ferret_imp said:If you saw a restored Honda without the rubber lever end covers they were not restored correctly. All CB Hondas came with them, including the 1969 CB 750 as well as many other Hondas. I posted a list of bikes one time from Honda that used that part and believe me it was quite extensive. Google 1969 Honda CB 750, look at the Wikipedia definition, the bike in the Honda collection hall has them, look at Google Images of old Hondas, look at images of early Honda ads. Look closely they are there. If you didn't see them on the original bikes, you just weren't paying attention. They came with them and no one I know removed them. I worked in Honda dealerships from 1972-1989. My first Honda was a new 1966 CB160 it also came with them.
1969 Honda CB 750 KO
If you saw a bike without them the lever was replaced by someone but not the rubber lever end cover since it was a separate part from the lever.
BTW many other bikes from Japan came with them too, like the Suzuki GT 750
Honda History
[url=http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1969cb750four/]http://world.honda.com/history/challenge/1969cb750four/
look at the images on page 1 and 2
I just took them as a retro-touch farkle,,,like wide whitewalls on a car, or outsized hood ornaments.
Didn't know they had a real place in UJM history.
...See? We can all learn something.
