Bill Hagan

Not sure I really want the details, Don, but having spent some time in your pickup between Virginia and Atlanta, I don't recall a ... uhm ... "facility." Guys can hang, but never known a sweetie like yours to have an iron or large bladder. And, on the merits, while hardly worthy of mention here given your and other LD riding claims, I've ridden my Ballabio to SW Missouri (and edging into Kansas and Oklahoma). Four 400 mile days or so. Actually like it better than EV when not two-up or needing serious wet/cold protection. No comfort issues beyond that of aging, with its creaks and groans!

Patience? I am (and I suspect I speak for all) darn grateful to you all for making this happen. Actually, you should also be able to market Greg Field's request for these; mighty high praise! I'll send you a check (or paypal) right now if you'll provide payee and mailing address info. Again, VERY grateful to you all for your efforts. 'Course, now I have to decide which Guzzi to take to the wildguzzi rally in May. "She loves me ... she loves me not ... Bill

Don't read too much into that title! As you may recall, I have had an "issue" with my Ballabio's rear crossover after the dealer replaced the original with a Stucchi one and swapped out stock pipes for oh-so-fine ones. I posted about this before here: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7039&hl= The basic problem was a very noticeable, annoying, and occasionally embarrassing (reminded me of my old VW 411 add-on AC; so loud at stop lights, folks turned and looked) vibration. The cause appeared to be the "floating" crossover, which had no connection with the frame with the Cal canister gone. This disharmonic vibration was especially noticeable in the just-under and -over 4K range, i.e., it soured the sweet spot. So, I took pics of a used Scura at ADT that had a solution for this, used a coathanger to "fix" mine while I looked around for a similar setup as the Scura, and, mostly, felt sorry for myself. Having posted my plight here before, Mike Stewart said he thought he could help. So, as Mike lives in the Bay Area, I obviously wanted to talk with him when I visited San Francisco this past weekend. Pics at http://snipurl.com/nj4j Well, imagine my surprise when I showed up at dinner and Mike presented me with the hanger! When I got home, I wandered around Pep Boys, Napa, etc., looking for the right rubber (so to speak). Bingo. Then went to my local Ace "Intown Hardware" (a great neighborhood store in the Virginia-Highland area so good that neither a nearby Home Depot nor Lowes can dislodge). Picked up some stainless metric hardware (no need to get onsies-twosies from McMaster) and headed home. The result is here: http://snipurl.com/nlmh No, is not a engine rebuild, but it is odd how even a minor thing like this can be inordinately satisfying, especially to tyro-class wrenches like me. Ah, but does it work? Seems to, but I only did a quick run down the street. Will know for sure soon, but, heck, sure looks better than that baling wire! Thanks, Mike ... and Janice. Bill

Actually, my East Coast Tour begins in April, Al. For those who care, here are some pics of our mini gathering of Mike & Janice Stewart and Patrick Hayes. Had a very fine time at Portofino's in Foster City. A nice place, but one cannot give an "A" to a restaurant that claims to be Italian ... but does not have grappa. Great folks: Patrick brought pics and great Guzzi stories; Mike had made a bracket for the Ballabio [pics of that project to follow soon]; and Janice--a rider and pillion--told tales of rides and Guzzisti here and elsewhere that I should have recorded, but demon rum and jet lag have made most a missing memory, darn it. Have to do a reprise so I can hear 'em again. http://snipurl.com/nj4j [No need to register; light up first pics; have settings so captions show] Bill P.S. Martin: Unless in active operations at home or overseas or engaged in some other major training or similar event, most US military has a 5-day week [tho exceptions eat up the rule]. These were reserve judge advocates, gathered for an annual regional "continuing legal education" event. bh

Oh oh. Just came up to my room to, as the ladies say, "freshen up," and see this. I am in town to stay awake in a military-legal conference and, at 4:30 or so, put other attendees to sleep talking about this stuff. I'm almost nodding off typing this! I'm a little concerned that Mike and others took my "I'll buy you a beer" a bit too seriously. Better call to raise my credit limit! OK, back down stairs. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Worked for me. And, I would think black would be suitable--as a sign of mourning--following the demise of March's beauty. Seriously, that all-black LeMans is stunning. FYI, the wildguzzi site has over 800 Guzzi pics in its visitors' gallery. Granted, tho I know some of you are already pretty sick of one particular Cali , there are many LeMans and other spine frames there, as well as many prior-generation Sports, etc. Meander through if you have the time: http://www.wildguzzi.com/Picspage/Picsmain.htm Bill

Fear not. Grappa will be there. Atlanta vacuums in many respects, but one can find grappa. I'll be in San Francisco this weekend, and will see if anything different is out there. May even bring something to Sweetwater fresh from our June tip to Bassano della Grappa, Treviso, etc. OBTW, yes, you will (eventually) get the tee; keep forgetting ... along with "where are my @#$%^& keys, glasses," etc. Sorry. Bill

I think Speeds is in Ellicott City and may even be closer depending on your location in metromania. Personally, while I appreciate the geography, I'd take it to Meyers, the Asheville, N.C., dealer. Have never seen or heard the first negative thing about them, have seen and heard much positive, and my "drop-in" visits on my way north and south have always been pleasant "Glad you are here and stopped, Bill" events. No time to give you the 411, but you should have no trouble if interested. Bill

Assuming you meant yesterday, Sunday, 5 March, as that is when you posted it, see: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=9wgryy...fz&x=0&y=jgk730 No need to register; just light up first pic. Fix settings to ensure you can read captions, as they tell about two unexpected events. I learned a lot during this, tho I may not see my wrenching and riding friend, Wayne Orwig, near the GarageMahalo anytime soon. :-) Bill

Yes, indeedy. Thou I have slabbed across the state many times, simply did not realize how great the roads are there until I attended the first wildguzzi rally in May 2004. Noel, in extreme SW corner. I am not a rally guy at all, and generally prefer riding to scratching my belly and burping at a campfire with other past-primers. Still, a group of us headed west from Atlanta and had a grand time getting to and at the event. [As I had had my Ballabio in a U-Haul for much of the return trip--pawl spring education--that leg was less fun]. Seriously, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas (at least) were wonderful. I particularly remember (tho the competition is endless) SR 90 in SW Missouri. Yee ha. Couldn't make last year's gathering, but I and several others (including non-Guzzisti I've sold the ride on) are going this year. If interested, see http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?PHPSE...7b&topic=2573.0 Hope to see some of you there. I'll be available, of course, for BOM autographs.

Well, speechless for the moment is better than being a castrato in a boys' choir, which is where I am likely to be when the V11 Sports SWAT crew finds me. That danger understood, Kathi and I are very excited about this and understand there are various perks that come with this honor, with the premium-class KLM flight to Amsterdam for the induction ceremony, the Moto Guzzi motorcade to Mandello, and the various press events throughout the EU as just the beginning. Seriously, I suspect there will be a call for revision of rules soon (!), and my EV may not grace the forum as BOM for all of March (Feb, as a shorter month, might have been safer). I understand that Calis do not call to everyone, and may even seem repulsive to some in the spine-frame crowd, either for looks, performance, both, or more. That said, tonti-framed Calis are really rather remarkable motorcycles. Having both a Ballabio and an EV, I find them both so different in all the ways you'd expect, yet unmistakably Guzzis, too. And, I assure you that a Cali in competent hands (that is not code for mine) can embarrass a Sport ridden less well. A local Guzzista and friend, Wayne Orwig, who makes riding look like dancing (an odd compo, perhaps, but I have in mind the fluidity that gifted riders bring to our sport) has two EV's (96 & 04) and a Centauro. It is only a bit of an exaggeration to say that he is a challenge to keep up with--when he is two-up with his Vicky and pulling a trailer! --when I'm on the Ballabio. Yeah, don't doubt that many here could have him fade in their mirrors, but fewer than think they could. But my point is to suggest that if you have never ridden one ... and can get past the styling ... do so. If you are in Atlanta, ride mine (after the Barber Motorsport Museum returns from BOM viewing, of course! Flog it. When the suspension is right, everything else is, too, and you will drop squids. As an aging boomer, I love doing that. Of course, as an aging boomer, I also realize I will not ride forever, so I do it every chance I get. Went out for lunch break today, and, rather than eating dead meat on bread, ran the Ballabio hard thru some virtually deserted roads in the rolling hills around here, south of Atlanta. What joy. BOM (or day or week) and this, too. Life is good. Bill

"typical xenophobic bad taste"??!!??!! Great Scott. After reading that glass-not-only-completely-empty-but-broken post, I am going to go ride the Ballabio home and reflect on how my post got me a "lighten up and get a life." Sweet [deleted name of religious figure sacred to many but certainly not all as the use of said name might offend someone as it would be breaking one of the Ten Suggestions thus it is, as stated above, removed herewith]! Actually, I was already crabby when I read that as I just got back from the driver's license torture chamber (mine, tho unexpired, had, somehow, cracked in two). Realized after I got there (and actually had the documents I needed; surprise) that I was wearing a pink shirt, probably not what I might have chosen for my 10-year ID pic if I'd been thinking clearly. Ah, but I reveal my insecurities and Freud knows what else. It's ride time.

Actually, I live in Inman Park; L5P is in Inman Park. Come visit; we'll take our Guzzis to the Vortex. For the rest of you, wander around these sites ... carefully : http://www.thevortexbarandgrill.com/TheVor..._motorcycle.htm http://www.inmanpark.org/gallery.html

Yes, yes, I accept ... as those are about the only "tech" points I'd ever get here!

Howdy. Just reread the posts and the closest thing I could find to vitriol from a US Guzzista was some foul language from someone who agreed with your position. But that is not why write instead of letting this thread die (as perhaps I should ). As for getting out of the country and traveling the world, I am not so presumptuous as to speak for all Americans (meaning, in this instance, USA), of course, but I know not a single xenophobe here, tho I am sure there are some. I was born in Europe and am a dual-citizen of Germany. I have traveled extensively in Asia and Europe and lived overseas a number of years. Kathi and I have had more than a 20 houseguests (actually, several more, I think, but that was a quick "finger count!)--for dinner or overnight--from other countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America in our home during the past three years. We have more coming in March, and were just invited to spend three days in Fano, south of Rimini, this summer by another couple. Virtually everyone I associate with professionally and socially is open to new ideas and well-educated and -traveled. I live in a neighborhood that is ultra-liberal, thus I am exposed far more to those views than to others. I tell my neighbors I add diversity--one of their favorite words My point is that I am not insular, and know no one who is. But, when I am overseas or with foreign visitors, I do not talk politics. I leave that for members of the same polity. Bottom line is that I do need to lighten up, and Kathi has me on treadmill every day to make that happen , and I assure you I have a (wonderful) life, and don't wish to get another one. Seriously, the real bottom line is that I do not mean to make too much of all of this, but neither do I think that politics, has a place here. IMO, that includes humor about another country's head of state or political leader. Such divides, period. I nevertheless trust no hard feelings remain for stating that. I certainly intend nothing mean-spirited, and regret it when that happens. As for me, there's another hour or so of sunlight here, and the "Renoir light" comes soon. I'll be on the EV (it was chilly this morning, and the big w/s helped), taking the "long cut" home. Regards and best wishes from Atlanta, Bill

Your comment--and not, btw, its merits or lack--proves my point.

I will never understand the seemingly irresistible impulse to raise politics on a Guzzi board. Even given the "no prohibition" here, as at other boards, e.g., wildguzzi, where such is ignored anyway, the end result is rancor, ill will, and divisiveness. How does that serve us in Guzzidom? I care about the past, present, and future; have strong political beliefs; vote; and discuss current events and politics with others. I believe, however, that freedom of speech--that right of incalculable value--is best exercised with due regard to time, manner, and place. For political commentary, this board is, IMO, none for those.

I was once as obsessive about this as one could be. Having clean automobiles was (once) very important to me; now, in my m/c state, I don't even care about cars. But, when I bought the EV, almost 6 years ago, I followed my car approach and washed it ... lots. It is a chrome queen, and gets dirty easily. Soap, water, hose, the works. I now believe that Luigi didn't cause several of my electrical and other problems along the way; I did. Even after I bought the Ballabio in the summer of 2003, I washed it "traditionally." Sure was easier to do than the EV, too. Sometime, tho, relatively soon into that new love affair, I realized that I could accomplish the same thing with far fewer washings, and with soakings almost never--if ever--needed. The number of "products" out there is astonishing. One can, without resorting to soap and hoses, or using caustic chemicals, get great results. Plexus is my mainstay right now, tho Pledge is a close second, for the paint and plastic. I like WD 40 for the black engine casing, and use UV protectorant and silicone spray for cables, hoses, and saddle (well, not silicone for the last!), Anyway, I suppose I'd counsel against much water, and, especially, on a pressure washer. You do have weather issues I don't, but best wishes on what you do. Mine is also unlikely to be Jaap's BOTM, so, if being a foldout playmate is your goal, spray away. Bill

I, too, am jealous, as my longest trip has been (actually, several) in the 2K range. Most have been on the EV, as Kathi won't ride the Ballabio more than down the block. Rode the Ballabio out to SW Missouri (with a run to Kansas and Oklahoma to say we did it) in May '04. Hope to repeat that trip this May. If the shims from Anthony and Aaron get here in time, I'm inclined to take it as, from my perspective riding solo, even with luggage, I find the Ballabio at least as comfortable as the EV, and, actually, a bit better for long hauls. Mostly a spine issue (NPI), as no matter how I try to remember, I tend to slouch on the EV, while the Ballabio encourages better back position. YMMV, of course. The real determiner on the May trip will be the others who come along, as just now I have "tentatives" from a ST1300, 03 EV, 04 EV, Duc MS 650 ... and a HD RK! Have a grand time, zoom zoom. Bill

Deal. I get there very other year or so. Last time, Lee Bruns got me over to Betty's Bike & Buns. No grappa, but fun. http://www.bettysbikesandbuns.com/index.ph...1ab182eb21c5294

Hey, Ben, coming to docc's rally in Sweetwater in July? My best buddy, Scott, has something for you. Seriously, at one time, I think you may have been right about grappa, tho it's not really a wine. Instead, it's a distilled liquor, a sort of schnapps, but, rather than pears or all the other (and some truly strange) things used to make schnapps, grappa is made from the leavings of grapes after the pressing that made wine. Actually, while I do like the rustico types, there are some very sophisticated versions that one actually sips and tastes, not merely tosses back neat or uses to "correct" espresso. Really. So, if you like Italian motorcycles, you should consider completing the experience by trying grappa again. Besides, applied properly, it can make girls do some fascinating things. 'Course, being an old fat man, I'm going from memory here.

Heck, there's a single-malt thread going on wildguzzi, so why not grappa here? Anyway, here's a very abbreviated summary: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappa I like grappa and always have several on hand for impromptu tastings (which, I've learned, can get of hand!). IMHO, while there are clearly qualitative differences in the daunting selection of grappas, a spirit that has developed dramatically in the last 30 years or so, I still find myself drawn to the "cruder" and "more rustic" versions. In other words, opt for the cheapest, not the yuppiest. Whoa ... wait a minute ... YOU are buying. Never mind what I just said. Bring something from Treviso, from the Prosecco grape, perhaps one of these: http://www.bisol.it/eng/sch_grappe_prosecco.htm OBTW, I'm looking for someone to ... uhm ... " counsel" DeBenGuzzi. Interested in some part-time work? Bill P.S. If you go that grappa distillery website, take a look--and try to say--the name of the street it is located on: S. Stefano di Valdobbiadene. It's a beautiful word, that, "Valdobbiadene," a town in NE Italy. And, if, after a few shots of grappa, you can still say "Valdobbiadene," you can probably still ride.

Nice try. I literally had gotten out of the shower and was clean 'fore I tried it on. Seriously, if you are a small XL, you can have it ... unless Kathi's whip has me svelte soon! I'll bring it to docc's Sweetwater rally in July. You know, this reminds me. Once in Italy, I needed an extra tee and briefs. Went into an UPIM or Standa or whatever and bought a pair of Grande/Large (this was in the previous millenium, smarta##es! ). They were too small. I think Europeans sizes run small ... and I'm not changing my story.

Whoa! What happened? Early this morning, I thought I saw a post that alleged that I was too fat to fit into an XL tee. Guilty, Your Honor! So, after plotting my revenge, I return to reply with wit and counter-insults ... and ... it's gone. Rats. Just because I sobbed silently for an hour or so to regain my composure and sense of self-worth, surely no one thought I was that sensitive? Actually, my sweet wife--a jockette who does our stairs every morning at 4:30 a.m., with weights, while saying the Rosary (yes, a dangerous woman, that!)--has me started on a fascist treadmill regimen. I'm sick with a sinus infection just now or she'd have me out there today. "Get the lead out, Maggot!" Anyway, just posting this to say I do not wear my feelings on my sleeves and took no offense. Besides, truth is a defense in a defamation case. Bill

I love mine; too bad I can't wear it as ... sigh ... I need an XXL, not an XL. I have a red, worn long enough to see it didn't fit (less than 5 sad secs ). Don't care if red or green. Anybody want to trade? If not, no problem. I'll find it a happy home and order another one down the road ... or try harder on the treadmill.