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Bill Hagan

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Everything posted by Bill Hagan

  1. Great. I ride in that area a bit. As you know, it's quite fine. Will check out those loops this evening. Kathi abandoned me this morning for a trip to Italy, so I'm In the Moto Grappa getting the V7 III ready for my run to the KSR. I'll be back for two days, then return for my semiannual Mutton Run. Yee ha; war is heck! Bill
  2. The best "Good Idea Fairies" don't only come up with suggestions, they do what Joe has done in Kentucky. So, Randy, assuming that your use of "we" was in the royal sense, what's your plan? Bill
  3. As tech is pretty much a spectator sport for me, I look forward to hearing some stories about that girl you dated in college. Bill
  4. Welcome. I hear that the US is a big place. So, unless you are in a very tight witness-protection program, consider narrowing that down a bit. Oh, and maybe a pic of that new V100. Best, Bill
  5. Talked with Joe last night -- who was having his own 4-wheel travel adventure at the time. As I told him, my planned conflicting trip to the PNW has been cancelled/postponed as a result of my riding bud deciding that he should break his arm! So selfish. Anyway, as the old saw goes, "it's an ill wind ..., etc." So, I am back to attending. Joe said that my readmission will only cost me this: After this event, I'll ride back home on Sunday/Monday, and head back to Kentucky's Daviess County on Thursday for the Mutton Run! On the bright side, too, I'll get to see ailing Aunt Wilma again ... probably for last the time, at least on this planet. But, as Kathi will be in Italy , I can play. Have to figure out some way to keep the hummingbirds fed, and the grass will grow to the point I'll need a herd of goats to keep it mowable, but I don't want to miss the fun. Thinking that I'll ride the V7 III for Act I at Dale Hollow, then the Griso for mutton's Act II of My Old Kentucky Home on a Guzzi. Bill
  6. What a great thread. I'll contribute when I get the time. See you in '24. Bill
  7. Some of you who decry luggage are either bachelors or wear the same underwear for a week. I am neither of those, and am happily supervised. Bill P.S. The other reality for me is that I am a lousy planner and packer.
  8. I'll ask him when I get back to Virginia. Naturally, there will be a surcharge for my providing contact info. I don't know the experiences of others, but I was aware of the sticking cable before the recall fix, but not since. Actually, my throttle grip still sticks, but because of my inept installation of heated grips. I have decided to view that as a "feature," i.e., aftermarket cruise control. Bill
  9. Even though my EV has been garaged unless being ridden or on trips, all of my turn signals went south relatively early on. And, of course, with 107K miles, such is not unexpected. I used popsicle sticks as splints, black vinyl tape to cover those, and caple ties for additional support. Pretty lame, but, hey, they worked and only looked half-, not all-, bad. Then, the (Great) Wayne Orwig, Guzzi Guru Extraordinaire, sent me these: Made those on his 3D printer. Pretty high end -- as is all of Wayne's work, and even come with a period Guzzi eagle. Haven't installed them yet, but look forward to doing that soon. On an unrelated note, found that lost pic of HRH, Al, Lord Roethlisberger, at that moto-gathering this past Saturday in Cartage, N.C.. Off to home at the top of Virginia later this morning. Even tho I'll be on back roads where traffic is slower, I'll still be cursed by many for my Grapes of Wrath rig. The mighty four of the 2009 Honda Fit -- with 270K+ miles! -- can only do so much when towing. Bill
  10. I tried pasting the whole post I put into the ADV V7 sub-thread here rather than the link, but failed in several ways to get that to work. Given the Al Rothlesberger content , it's worth your trouble to go elswhere momentarily. Actually, as I mention in that post, I failed to get Al's pic. Well, I thought I took it, but it disappeared from my phone. Maybe he's in a witness-protection program? A great fellow. Here's the link: ADV Post about "Meeting Famous Al" Bill
  11. I'm cheap (he says, snapping suspenders ). Pledge works just fine. Bill
  12. Too bad today won't work. Back to you on your EV questions soon, but here are a few quick comments. I have been attentive to servicing, and thus it's had few issues. One -- "over washing" as a new owner led to a corroded ignition switch and expensive tow. Almost missed a daughter's wedding. Needed TPS in early 20K's; fine since. Only recalls I "recall" were (1) rear wheel had potential spoke problems, but never heard of a real life instance of failure; and (2) to add a throttle=return cable. Recently, I have had "rough running" of the seemed unbalanced TB sort. Finally came to conclusion that it needs new injectors. Ordered those; they await installation. Our Wendell kids and grands are in Hawaii, returning tomorrow. I go home to Virginia on Monday. We come here every few months, so will let you know. Oh, HDM? Hot Dog & Mustard. Bill
  13. Very nice, Al. Pity about your blue. My '98 is in the much more desirable and coveted HDM livery. Seriously, it has 107K miles and is still a strong runner. BTW, I am riding my Stornello over from Wendell for a 1 p.m. lunch at http://www.pik-n-pig.com in Carthage. It's a (small, I think) gathering of some all-brand locals. We are housesitting down here for a set of our kids vacationing in Hawaii. I trailered the Storny down here -- yes, I know; for shame -- and have been doing some local roads past few days. See, e.g., N.C. Day Ride 1 & N.C. Day Ride 2. Anyway, maybe I'll see you in Carthage. Bill
  14. I am not sure what the best solution is, but I know that it doesn’t include this: I really like the watch -- #002/300 -- as a memento of good moto-times, but it is decidedly not from Glashütte. Have had it for 15 years or so. Stopped running about 10 years ago. Had watch shops in Davenport, Iowa, and, later, one in Fort Lauderdale, try to fix. Seemed to work awhile, then went back to sleep. One of the repair shops said that wearing it while riding a motorcycle transmitted too much vibration. Hmmmmm. OK, but more than flying one of these? I'll bet that those controls buzzed as much as a big block Guzzi! Anyway, a nice watch; wish it worked. Think I’ll send it here, http://www.watchrepairsusa.com, and hope for the best. Bill
  15. This isn't a reply to Skip's, next above, as that's in Joe's lane. But ... legendary Virginia Guzzista Ron Komoroski forwarded this email to his list. I paste it in so that attendees of the sKSR might plan a raid on the krautrad riders and fellow travelers. I am still sad that I had to back out for unfixable calendar-conflict issues. Bill ======= Va Guzzisti, Dear Ron and Alice Komoroski: My name is Ken King and I represent the BMW Motorcycle Club of Nashville (BMW MCON). The BMW MCON is hosting its annual European Riders Rally in Burkesville, KY May 18-21. This is the 24th year for our Club to host the European Riders Rally in Burkesville, KY. As the name of the Rally implies, all makes and models of Euro bikes are welcome at the rally. In the past, we’ve had a decent contingent of Moto Guzzi bikes owners attend the rally. I noticed on the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club website that you were listed as the "Virginia Reps”. I just wanted to make you aware of the Rally should a group of Moto Guzzi riders out of Virginia want to attend. You can learn more about the Rally by visiting our club’s rally web page at European Riders Rally 2023 - BMW Motorcycle Club of Nashville (clubexpress.com) Also attached is a PDF of an promotion we’ve posted in various motorcycle magazines advertising the rally. It has a QR code you can scan to get to the same web pages. Feel free to pass the PDF along to other Moto Guzzi riders or even post to your social media pages. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at ken.king@comcast.net or call or text me on my mobile at 615-495-6374 (m). Thank you. Ken King Rally Chair - 2023 European Riders Rally BMW Motorcycle Club of Nashville 615-495-6374 (m)
  16. Concur on sound, Dave. Moto bliss! Sure miss my Ballabio with its Mistrals. Your vid is rolling as I peck out this envious reply. Bill
  17. Hmmmmm. Can't see pic, Pete. Might be "operator issue" at my end. Bill
  18. Can't "like" that, @gstallons. I, too, have that affliction, but, as it's on the mild side, I find that aspirin cuts it (enough) to push through. My right wrist is the way more painful of the pair, following a "I laid 'er down" event in 2003. I was attempting to pass an old red pickup on that sweet stretch of ridge-top pavement on Alab. SR 281 near Cheaha S.P. -- yes, flashed lights and tapped horn -- when said bubba turned left without warning of any kind. Told me it was his "reg'lar turn'round point." Bent my right thumb all the way back! Yes, that hurt some. Then rode the EV to a friend's house in Anniston. Said friend's wife was a RN, and he a bourbon aficionado. A nice combo. OK, must go on with (related) Paul Harvey. So, had surgery. Seemed to go well. Then, after wearing cast for a bit, I went in for a checkup. You know it's a bad sign when the doc's assistant starts to heave when she removed the first cast. Next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance headed to the hospital! In the prep for surgery #2, the anesthesiologist -- a stunning darling of a woman who looked (at least in my memory and retelling) like Andie McDowell right out of Groundhog Day -- asked me if there was anything I wanted. I passed over what I wanted to say , and came up with a lame "How about a beer?" She responded with "Let's make it a six pack," and punched the button. Lights out. OK, back to writing that speech on 19th century military law. Call me if you are suffering from insomnia along with arthritis. Bill
  19. Well, darn it, along with some much stronger expletives. I cannot be at this inaugural event. I PM'd Joe about it first, and appreciated his kind response. While the details aren't worth relating, it just got too hard to bundle the sKSR with mutton run and trek out to the PNW to wrestle with the grands out there. I really cannot fathom how a 75-YO retired guy and (cradle-robbed, of course ) bride can have calendars without any breathing room between now and August! Then, when it already was getting stressful enough, a sweet aunt in her late '80's (also in Kentucky) who has been an inspirational dynamo of energy for decades, has fallen seriously ill. She asked for us to come in sooner than (an unsaid) later. That tore it. Well, I guess you got the details anyway. Sorry. Joe, I am way more sorry about missing your great event. I am sure there will be pix ... other than the mugshots of course. I and others look forward to seeing them. Bill
  20. Yours reminds me -- perhaps because I am dealing with someone whose location is listed as "UK (Oz)" and who quoted an American -- of this from a 16th century Englishman: The Lawyer makes no plea but for privat profitte, and buildes goodly houses, and purchaseth whole countries about him . . . . The souldiour serves his countrye for a small stypende, and would be contended with alowance but to buie meate, drinke, and cloath. **** [Lawyers] affect eloquence to maintain bad causes; they are studiously affable to procure new clients; they are devilishly subtle to cloak inconveniences. Seeming to be ministers of light, they hunt after continual darkness, concluding the truth within a golden cloude, making blacke white, and white blacke, darkenyng all things with their distinctions that should give light, so that in all things they seem civil, yet in all things they are most uncivil. Barnaby Riche, 1577 Best wishes, Bill P.S. On the merits, maybe Piaggio is right to grab better control of its name, V100's seem to be selling very well. I am even considering -- while looking carefully to see if Kathi, who is sitting next to me can see this -- getting one! I really dont need one, and a Kubota calls a bit louder, but, of course, none of that is important when dealing with moto-lust.
  21. Apropos vaginas, I don't own one, either, but I have found them quite useful over the years. Lawyers less so, and certainly are less fun -- well, except for one or two that possessed the subject private part, but that was before my Perfect Pillion & Polish Princess , so the less said about that these days, the better. As for lawyers, I understand how folks can think as you do -- and, occasionally, I even share that view. Still, when I hear such statements, I am reminded of the several times over my 50+ years of practice when I picked up such lawyer-bashing folks at the local jail and how happy they were to see me. Bill Member, Kentucky Bar, since 1971
  22. I am starting to worry about the Moto Grappa … … and am glad I decided to put this sign inside instead of outside. OTOH, living as I do in Frederick County, at the top of Virginia, I think my views are more of the Molon labe sort ... Seriously, I appreciate the commercial need to protect intellectual property of all kinds, yet, especially for mini-brands such as Moto Guzzi, balancing the loss of trade dress protection by the name becoming generic against the gain from “advertising” by enthusiasts of the marque would sure seem counterproductive. Rather than absolute “cease & desist” letters, Piaggio suits might have accomplished the same thing with requiring a token payment for use, thus protecting their ownership without alienating so many Guzzisti. They must have a rosier view of the moto-future than I do. Maybe it’s just the “principle of the thing.” That then gets to that old curse: “God grant my enemy a lawsuit in which he is right.” Back to reality here, which, in my case, means Her Grace’s list. Bill
  23. Yes, quite the place. BTDT ... but, thankfully, not in June of '44. Our entire 10-day tour of airborne battlefields in France, Holland, Belgium, and Grmanywas inspiring. Touring cemeteries was sobering. The latter visits included German ones; two of my uncles were in the Wehrmacht and my mom a physical therapist at a German military hospital in Rottweil! As a retired career U.S. Army guy that amazes even me. Stories, if you care, in May in Kentucky. Bill
  24. I had to look up that “Burning Man” reference. I then saw that "smells" at one had nothing to do with the other. A noncombatant in the sexual and other revolutions of the '60's and '70's, I have never been into druidical gatherings of the Burning Man sort, tho my parents, both closet bohemians and hippies, would have loved to attend the early ones at least. For me, however, the term evoked another “burning man,” and I was puzzled by the connection until I did the wikipedia thing and learned about about the one @docc mentioned. The "Dead Man’s Corner” in my head was this: I visited that spot in May 2018 with five other Old Flatulent paratroopers like me who, at least in our fading memories, “were soldiers once … and young.” We toured several battlefields and cemeteries where, in particular, our “alma mater,” the 82d Airborne Division, the 101st, and other airborne formations had fought in WWII. Many are still there. As I started my Army life as a tanker, and my father was an armored crewman in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy in that unpleasant international event of ’39 - ‘45, I was especially drawn to the affair at Dead Man's Corner. By now, if still reading, here’s that story: Dead Man's Corner God bless all those brave folks. Feeling (somewhat) apologetic for thread drift, Joe & others, I did do some Guzzi-sightseeing, too. Met these folks at a rest area at a rest area: And stopped here to kick tires: Jaap was, regrettably, vacationing in the UK when I was near his home Nijmegen/Arnhem, of “A Bridge Too Far” fame, so we couldn’t link up. Ciao, Bill
  25. Probably much less for a horse! The U.S Army once had a field manual for executions. In quintessential Army form, there was a depiction of a circle on white paper for firing squads. For hangings, a "drop chart" listed various possible weights of the prospective condemned withcorresponding feet to drop. Adhering to the guidance ensured breaking the perps' neck without decapitating heads! Behind every such rule there is almost always a "bad example." Bill
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