SINISTER SUGGESTIONS

In the article on the Moto Guzzi Convert in RC173, the marks on the flywheel will never line up if you think that ‘D’ is for left and ‘S’ is for right. The Latin is ‘dextra’ for right and ‘sinistra’ for left. These words give us the modern ‘dextrous’, to be able to manipulate objects easily and ‘sinister’ from the belief that left-handedness offended nature. The Italian words are destra and sinistra. This knowledge can be gain from study of the classics or the Carry On film where the Roman army marches to the command; Sinistra, Dextra, Sinistra, Dextra…

Also, if you are setting out on a tour on a Moto Guzzi Convert (which has a battery like an old Ford Fiesta) and you suspect that the battery is tired, then why do you carry the new one in your pannier? Fit the new one and leave the old one at home. When we toured the Continent, camping on my Bergman, I fitted a new battery every other year. Every time it started on the button in the middle of nowhere I considered it £35 well spent. Nick Crook, member 1342

As ever I enjoyed reading the latest article by Nick Adams, about his trip on his Moto Guzzi Convert. While I don’t speak Italian, I do believe that ‘destra’ means ‘right’ and ‘sinistra’ means ‘left’, and not the other way round as stated in his article. Could this be the sinister reason why the timing marks do not appear to coincide with tdc? Alan Taylor, member 8622

I’m no Latin scholar, but I’m sure the word sinister derived from the Latin for left; in less enlightened days, lefthandedness was considered a sign of demonic possession! Chris Sexton, member 5530