Chris Wilson

But the whole point is that Guzzi didn't and probably because screw fixtures look crap and spoil lines. The whole 'aero' thing had about as much subtlety as a sheet of corrugated iron with a bloody great hole in it. Bring on EICMA.

Should have had an eagle screeching in the background and drone cameras flying into the work shop ... Oh, wait .... that might infringe copyright too. Best to stick with Colin the rubber chicken and voice over some clucks at points of interest. Chris.

So why even have the brace if its purpose is not really air control? Resonance, the heat shield over the header would vibrate like a metal blade Venetian blind against an open window in a hurricane and the brace mass dampens it. The twist in the blade is an after thought and detracts from its real reason. How's that for conjecture? On another site there is a claim that the tank mounted air brakes are actually hand warmers. (Wow, and here is me thinking that was cylinder heads were for at stops.) So open the flaps and stick both hands in like pop up toasters whilst riding?

Mechanical support for the heat shield not the pipe. It would serve better use as a mitred brace if the shield is only clipped to the header in two points. (Sure I mentioned that before, then again maybe I didn't.)

Hi Phil, good to have a trained eye on this but please accept that I have had 50 years of being involved with model aircraft and kinda know where a bad place for a control surface would be. Low Reynolds number, shadowed by a bluff body, turbulent air stream all make for an ineffective device. Not arguing the intention but surely you, with less of a history in aerodynamics could design a better more fuel effective deflector in your sleep? The poster who mused that the "mad aero tech" would serve more purpose as a mechanical strengthener was me. And I stick by it. If you examine the entire body of the header you could well conclude that the heat sheild's wash could easily defeat any effect that the deflector has. It's a far bigger curved wing .....but look it's not worth arguing about further. Thanks, Chris. P.S. my guess with all of this is that in testing the bike the riders detected a heat waft coming from repositioned pipes, the accountants said no to double walling, the stylists said make it a feature and the engineers said provide something to obviate the predicted complaints - it doesn't have to work it merely has to be an attempt.

From reducing drag I agree, but deflection, no matter how it's done increases it. The so called aerodynamic blade sits in the highly turbulent area behind a bluff object and would accomplish little.

Just wondering how the "Aerotech" behind the headers claim to work when it's well ..... behind the headers? Anyone who knows the slightest about aerodynamics can see at a glance that it would do zero. Calling marketing bullshit on this one. Chris.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/mono2para/mono2para.htm If their is a will there is a way.

Easy, place a bucket full of solvent large enough to contain the entire barrel, lean the bike over until the barrel is inverted in the bucket, leave overnight, rinse and repeat for the other side. Please send pics.

Brake cleaner? If the coating on the caliper is proofed against brake fluid then I can't see a reason why a specific cleaner would effect it. Chris.

Um, if your oil was silver I would really worry. That amount of metal particles would be, putting it mildly, bad.

Don't have a V11 but my Bellagio is "Bella." And something else in Italian if it doesn't start....

I find the issue of "startups interruptus" and it's fix basic common sense. Took my Bellagio to the local auto electrician and Harley enthusiast who knew nothing of Moto Guzzi's and his comment was "wierd". The only other thing he said was " pick it up this afternoon." $150AU later and he had re-wired most of the starter circuit including a 40 amp soloniod. To him it was simply the way it should have been done from factory. Although I am on my second starter motor with a theoretical diagnosis of the leading brush arcing out and not conducting. Now that if someone who has no Guzzi experience solve this in moments it staggers belief that 100years of experience could not do the same. Chris.

Yep, I agree. The point was that at 52c in the blazing sun on a summer's day surrounded by diesel trucks and stopped in traffic with no air flow over the engine, I was almost passing out. And the engine ran faultlessly. If it was my old K75 BMW it would have boiled it's fuel easily and burnt my thigh when the fan cut in . As you might say, I part my buttocks at your water cooling. Chris.

Hi Phil, I believe that the slight fuel increase was very easy to do and had maximum effect at low speed and minimal at high. As mentioned, this bike is extremely tolerant to heat and I have ridden along Parramatta Road in summer with the dash reading 52C and it was fine - the rider not so much.

Ok, Pete is witness to all of this, basically I had Beetle map Mk1 installed to a stock standard Bellagio. And life was good, better fuel consumption, slightly more power and no popping on over run but - that only applies on a country run where your engine is thoroughly warmed up and you are surfing the mid range. The bike was remapped in winter, combine that with a destroked 1200 that suffers massive barrel finnage suitable for that larger motor and you get an extremely cold blooded bike that takes minimum of 3 minutes to warm up or it stalls regardless of the fast idle collar setting. My thoughts were that that the AFR was too dry and cold at off idle settings, and here Mark modified the map to include very slightly more fuel across the map - and it worked. Downside, very slight popping on over run but FAR better manners in city cycle where speed bumps and slow roundabouts would easily cause a flame out. To sum up, I am sure that Mark got the map right from square one but the gross amount of finnage and overcooling defeated that from the start. One fault had to be reintroduced to counteract another. If I ever have cause to remove the barrels then I would be sorely tempted to grind back the fins somewhat. Chris.

I had a reinstatement on the Bellagio.

Hi Phil, yes the inlet valve, it's extremely close to the head gasket area.

How does the Chrysler head pictured on the right operate when the exhaust valve fouls the head seal? I know that the claim will be ' bad camera angle' be jeez that is close!

Really don't see the Tatra following the then current automotive practice. It's a rare curiousity that has been forced into service.

Haven't seen many automotive V8's with air cooling, front exhausts, rear side intakes, solid engine mounts, off centre drive shaft, no diffential, hand operated clutch, foot operated gears etc. I know it's tempting to draw parallels but you could do the same with any IC engine of that period. Chris.

Ever try to get an oil level that is parallel to a windage plate when you only have a side stand? Even with one person on the bike and another with a strong light looking down the filler hole it's very difficult. I find that an accurate dipstick the ONLY way to check a Bellagio's level by yourself short of using a cradle of some kind to hold the bike upright. This is the main reason why I am not tempted with metallic rods as a dip gauge. As noted, using the original as a true gauge is possible. Chris.

If this has a polished chrome dipstick then I found that hard to read an oil level with the oil simply running down every time it's retracted and giving a false reading. And how does one get a reading when it really matters, riding and in the saddle? Chris.

I think that by the time IC engines are outlawed the laws on transport will have changed. The freedoms we take in travel may not exist and personal forms could become less and less. Could all be a moot argument. Chris.

To trace a leak I have always completely degreased, puffed the area with white talcum powder and then fired her up. It is immediately obvious where the source is by the dark staining in the powder. Chris.