Bill Hagan

An interesting thread. Thanks, @Pressureangle, for posting it. This illustrates how those who are driven more by content and their cause du jour than process could find themselves sputtering if the underlying reasons were reversed. For example -- to use an absurd example simply for effect -- imagine if PP had said the same thing about those who support abortion anytime on demand. Some, now untroubled by this present rule because they agree with PP's political stance, might be aflame with indignation were the rationale otherwise justified. I also like what I understand to be Poland's approach to internet censorship by government or tech corps: folks are free to post anything that is not patently unlawful. In other words, no matter how stupid or farfetched, one is free to say it, with the rest of us free to accept or reject on the merits. It is sublimely fascinating to have former commies school us in freedom of speech. To say we peasants are not capable of sorting wheat from chaff is highhanded hubris of the self-appointed elite. As for alternatives, @docc, I have used PP lots, but do find this disquieting, and will now think about bailing. I can send ACH payments directly from my online bank when cash need, or use CC for others. I have used Zelle and Venmo -- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/zelle-vs-venmo/ -- but much less often that PP. Enough. It's now time to focus on way more important matters. So, I'll go putz in the Moto Grappa and see if I can wrench a bit without doing any major damage to my Guzzis. Bill

I did not know about Warner passing. Will look for link here or obit. Bill

Dennis’s wife, Taew, has recovered and returned to the U.S.Because many of Dennis's family and friends live overseas, his memorial service was delayed, but has now been set for 16 October 2022.Here's the announcement for that in the event any of you might be able to attend. Dennis's family would be touched to see any of his extended "moto-family," too. The family understands, of course, that few might be able actually to attend the ceremony in Georgia on 16 October.Dennis’s daughter, Martina, thought, however, that some who knew Dennis — and even those who did not but had read of his motorcycling life and loss — might wish to say something at the ceremony even when not there physically.Martina found a web-based way to include those at a distance in an easy-to-use video platform that enables her to collect and combine video clips to create a group video tribute. She thus asks that anyone interested add a video using this link: https://app.memento.com/celebrating-the-life-of-dennis-kristof/SSHP8uP5nl/record Many thanks.Bill

As I threatened earlier in the South’n Spine thread saga, this post is about the latest "Mutton Run" to Daviess County in western Kentucky, and includes -- at no extra cost — (a very few) pix of a Hagan family reunion. this evening As longtime readers here know, for several years, I and others similarly afflicted with a love of motorcycles and willingness to eat mutton — not necessarily a common combo! — have ridden from various points to eat mutton twice a year at the St. Mary of the Woods picnic and at restaurants in Owensboro. OK, OK, as many also know, it is possible that it is not only mutton alone that calls us, but, perhaps, beer, bourbon, and BS, all of which abound on the Mutton Runs. Here’s the latest of these, told in (yes, too many) pix and captions, of our ride to Daviess County. My moto-accomplices began arriving on Tuesday, 20 September, and we returned home on Tuesday, 27 September. My total mileage of about of 1300 miles in four riding days was hardly of the “ironbutt” sort, but not a mile was on the slab, and most on very fine backroads in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and Kentucky. I rode my Griso. What a wonderful beast and fine tourer. Mine now has 32K miles. With the exception of the well-known "rollerization" debacle, its only problems have been self-inflicted by me. : I managed to fix -- to the "good enough" standard, at least -- the stripped threads on the rear brake and the associated severed speed-sensor cable. Neither was an issue on this trip. Larry, who started from Ormond Beach, Fla., on his shiny new V7-850, tallied 2300+ miles. His return home was less of the “smell the flowers” sort than his outbound leg, as Hurricane Ian smacked his hometown hard. Bob started in Rochester, N.Y., and rode with us on is '01 EV to Maysville, then returned home via a side trip to visit an ailing friend in Columbus, O. Larry and I rode on with a brief appearance at the Kentucky rally in Frankfort. Fun to see Zoom Zoom and other Guzzisti there. Then, Scott, on his really nifty MP-3, met us in Owensboro. Kathi [] slabbed it in one day in our little Fit, carrying enough tools to do roadside depot-level maintenance. Back to the pix. As I usually do, I have these on Smugmug in “collage landscape” form. That way, they all open in collected thumbnails first. You can then hover your cursor over the individual pix to read — if desired — the captions. That process truncates one or two captions a bit, but most appear completely. You can make the pix bigger and see (again, if you wish) all of captions in larger text size if you select the slideshow option. Nutt'n But Mutton; September 2022 As a (slightly related) aside, I dropped my laptop in the hotel on this trip, resulting in the “black Screen of Death.” Kathi gently suggested that bourbon was involved. Possibly. :boozing: Anyway, as it was long out of warranty, I decided to try some self-help “surgery.” Friend Lannis -- who has been on several Mutton Runs -- is blessed that I didn’t perform his recent bypass op. I watched a few y/t vids, donned gloves, used the right tools — delivered by Mr. Brown the same day! — and converted the MBP’s dead monitor into a large paperweight. $igh. Yes, I now have a new laptop. Hope to see some of you on a future Mutton Run! Bill

I am about to post about the latest "Mutton Run" in a separate thread. But to muddle this a bit more on the whole BBQ question, I'll add these comments: * I grew up in Daviess County (Owensboro). For years, I felt similarly about Old Hickory, i.e., it's where the locals ate. We all did. That said, (most) (Catholic) church picnics were better still. Then, last May, our mutton-eating (and beer & bourbon-drinking) moto-bubbas went to OH as usual. I was very disappointed. Moonlite, then and in this latest trip, even with all of its kitschy and off-putting trappings, was much better, especially in the mutton category. * As for BBQ generally and anywhere on the planet, the critical first question is whether the meat has been parboiled before grilling. If the answer is yes, it's amateur fare. The second point is that if you need to slather meat with sauce, you are a sissy and the BBQ unworthy of tasting. * See the links: https://bbqfest.com & https://festivalnet.com/7196/Owensboro-Kentucky/Food-Festivals/International-Bar-B-Q-Festival. Note location. There is a reason for that. I knew you'd want to know all of this. Bill

^^^^^^^^^^^ My lawyer will be contacting you. As for current events, Kathi -- sag wagon driver and support-team supervisor -- and I are in Daviess County, Kentucky, for mutton and more. I rode the Griso; two friends joined on other Guzzis. A very WET first day, then a grand ride on Friday. The big mutton event is today. More pix on return, but here's one ... Bill

I am at an age where memory isn't the only thing that's going, but it's up there. That said, did "we" not switch some years ago from May raids to September ones because of of several soaking T-storms? I am, of course, mindful of having been more than bit dampened by fog at the latest raid, but it seems to me that the September weather is (usually) a bit better. OTOH, as with mutton runs, we could have two. The Lodge would like it. Bill

Kinda lonely around “these here parts” tonight. Just me and the Canadian Harleyists. Bill

It is turning out that way. Yet, even if things were balmy and dry here, my middle name is Rainer (pronounced the way Reiner usual is). My German mother had a Weimar-era adolescent crush on Rainer Maria Rilke, so that “boy named Sue” sort of name has been part of me since the beginning. So, it is SpineRainer every time I come here! Bill

The V7 is ready ... sans the too much stuff I think I can pack on it -- but sure glad launch is tomorrow, not today! Bill

We can discuss this under the pavilion. I am still scarred from waking up on the floor in a dorm shower room at UK in 1969 after a terrible blind date. I had tried to drown my sorrows with barrel-size quantities of Maker's Mark. Almost worked. Having it -- and all of Beam -- now owned by a Japanese sake company doesn't help. On the positive side, it is distilled in Loretto, a lovely place in the heart of old Catholic Country, where "my people" came in the late 18th century after being run out of Maryland. None of us would enjoy Kentucky bourbon of any brand had the Puritans settled there instead of corn-whiskey-making Catholics from Wales (my folks) and all over. Back to readying for launch tomorrow. Bill

Mine of that is empty, but it was quite fine. I like WR well enough, but am careful with it and when near Versailles. My ex (R.I.P) was from Woodford County. When we parted ways before my present blissful -- Kathi lurks; I am not as stoopid as I look -- incarnation, all her family used exacto blades to cut my head off in family pix. These days, it be easier with PhotoShop and the like. But I still stick to the speed limits in them thar parts. Maybe I should bring the EV instead of the III. The former has capacious luggage; the latter carries the CC's to buy things one needs! I plan to bring a bottle of grappa and a bourbon. Might be a Virginia one, tho that does trouble my Kentucky roots a bit. @Joe, did you get to Owensboro and Green River Distillery? Bill

Managed to R&R the V7's rear tire without losing any of my blood or fingers. Now, I am cleaning it a bit after a recent run in the rain, tho we all know what a waste of time that is. But, as @Joe posted, we still do it. Bill

So, Docc, I haven't gone back through all the posts in this thread, but might you have a close-is-good-enough headcount of who's coming? I plan on leaving the top of Virginia on Thursday morning, then spending that night TBD, and arrive in Tellico Plains late on Friday afternoon. Will spend Sunday in Hiawassee R&R'ing the battery on my brother's Multistrada. I'll depart on Monday early; home Tuesday. Still not sure what I'll be riding. My Griso is, sadly, hors de combat. If I can swap out the rear tire on the V7 III in time, I'll probably ride it as I don't think it's been to an SSR. If not the III, the venerable hotdog & mustard EV -- V11 LeMans Forum pinup of the month back in '03 or so -- will return. Bill

I seem to recall that discussion now. I remain, however, somewhat confused -- my usual state -- as to ordering . The fastener is a M10x30; a 1.25 thread pitch I think. But most of the "tunnel" from flange to stop is unthreaded. Seems a pretty short throw for a thread fix, but the billet aluminum threads held it, so the steel fix surely should, assuming, of course, that it has enough space to seat. Bill

So, there I wuz ... attempting to fix, as I mentioned in the SSR thred -- -- a self-inflicted wiring issue involving my Griso's speed-sensor cable. In the course of that, I managed to screw up, this time in a more serious way. Even tho I always use a torque wrench and tighten to 50 Nm, somehow I stripped the threads in the rear caliper's mounting upper mounting hole. So ... while that sure is a critical 10mm fastener, any reason I can't helicoil (or similar)? I am not in the mood to spend <$400 for Mr. Brown to bring me a new one. Speaking of Mr. Brown, he'll bring me a new speed-sensor cable tomorrow, but if what I did today in splicing those wires with Haisstronica butt connectors works, I may put off that installation. In the meantime, I would be grateful for your thoughts on the helicoil or other options. FWIW, the former is c.$40 for the one size on Amazon; a Chinesium brand, Orion -- tho Helicoil is likely made there now, too! -- multi-size is $35! https://tinyurl.com/OrionThread-Repair-Kit Thanks for your counsel. Be kind. Bill

Not sure which of the 3+1 options, above, fits my situation, and possibly some combo. So, when Kathi and I got home last night from a few days away in Wellsboro, Pa. -- more at the Tellico pavilion about her attempts to cash in on my LI policy by killing me on Bataan Death March hikes! -- I found these on our front porch ... New shoes for my V7 III, the likely -- just now, anyway -- candidate for the run down to Tennessee. I had hoped -- never a method -- to R&R both front and rear and convert rims to tubeless, but time, always the least available resource, especially when as disorganized as I am, is kicking my gluteus maximus. So, even if I find the time to R&R the needy rear, it'll be tubes again. Moreover, while I'd like to replace both at the same time, only the rear is problematic. Still, did I mention time? I am retired; this is shameful and inexplicable. Trailering, the safest and most sissy option, is too sad to contemplate, but I'm not ruling it out (just yet). Other mounts? Sold the Norge. The Stornello is more my local machine, and its tires are needy, too. The Griso is hors de combat on account of my ham-fisted wrenching. While mounting its new tire -- my first No Mar victory, by the way -- I managed to muck up the speed sensor cable. My "fixes" have been both unsightly and unsuccessful. I'll spare you the graphic pix of those. The part is, as a practical mater, at least in any sort of "in time" sens, unobtanium. I just called a friend in Italy a few minutes ago who will try to find there and send to me. That leaves my "old shoe," the venerable EV. It has 107K miles but is -- knock on Mandello maple -- reliable ... AND has new tires front and back. Apologies for babbling on. Time to go down to the Moto Grappa, ponder my options, and, most importantly, execute, execute, execute. Kathi just looked over my shoulder, saw what I was doing, and said, "Bill, don't forget mowing, yard work, blah, blah, blah." At least she is a sweet-tempered supervisor. Bill

You could do both; I am.

Any chance you might join us -- mostly Guzzisti -- in our "Mutton Run" to Daviess County at the end of September? I'll post a general announcement in a separate thread soon, but it's the St. Mary's picnic in Whitesville on Sunday, 25 September. Here's a slideshow of last May's: May 2022 Kentucky Mutton Run Bill

Ha! I was that guy ... but you know that. As for this SSR, I have yet to decide which Guzzi gets the nod. The Norge is now, sigh, history. Tales of that sale on site for the price of a beer (or better). Kathi has been looking forward to the XVIIIth, but our Seattle daughter just made her a conflicting offer of two weeks with the three grands out there, so I'll sadly solo it. Speaking of grands, one of our Maryland set is visiting. Plan to give her a ride on the EV today. She is game, but worried as she thinks "motorcycles are so dangerous." That from a 13-YO who does this every weekend, and just back from a blue-ribbon "event(ing)" in N.C.! Anyway, looking forward to the SSR albeit sans supervisor. Bill

Mutton is senior-citizen lamb. Bill

“Yet More” because this is about yet another “Mutton Run” to Daviess County in western Kentucky. This one was from 26 - 31 May 2022. I have posted about others before here and elsewhere. Mutton may not be "everyone's cup of tea," but bourbon, beer, and BS seem to see the haters through. And for attendees, these forays are always great fun, which is why, after all, most of us ride. The photos probably tell more than you want to know, but ask if anything is puzzling … and you care. The pix open in “landscape collage,” which means you can look at all at once without slogging through in a rolling one-at-a-time slide show. If you care at all about captions, hover your cursor over the pix. If you don't … well, don't. Here goes: Motos & Mutton May 2022 Bill

Bumping for any update. I was sure betting on the heat treatment. No news is not likely good news in this instance. Bill

^^^^^^^ BTDT. Ferries are great fun. Bill

^^^^^ Those look to be very high-maintenance items. Bill