LowRyter

I've always wondered about that and finally asked. But it has to do with privilege, since the expensive seats are in the front and those people also get dibs on the most convenient overheard.

Worse, we had rail but tore it down. A little before my clear memory but I do remember the local train station. I once believed that my parents put me on a short train hop to visit my grandparents but am told that it never happened (dreamed it or false memory or mom forgot). No one needed a train ticket when gas was $.25 9/10 and everyone had a V8.

Actually a rail triangle from Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Houston might make sense, of course it will never happen in Texas. If you have a good memory, that was the inspiration for Southwest Airlines in the early '70's. When Bill Keleher was asked about competing with American Airlines, he said "no, we're competing with Greyhound." I think that killed a lot of cool movie plots with busses in Texas like "The Last Picture Show" and "The Getaway". Oh, I've not seen it but "Chainsaw Massacre".

So far the great travel stops I've encountered in Europe, with the great foods, cafeterias and selections, Buc-ee's wouldn't even touch a Euro McDonalds. Someone said they don't even tables and chairs.

@p6x Top Tier gas is listed on the pump, if the store carries it. I find is laugh out loud funny that Buc-ee's, the greatest and biggest new thing out of Texas, doesn't even offer it. OTOH, I seldom care about paying for Top Tier although, I try to buy the best gas for the bikes but the cheapest for my cars. So far as Buc-ee's, I really wanted to stop at one since they opened in Texas 5 years ago and did so at the first chance. Like I said, I was put off by the sheer size having to walk so far just to get the building and noticed a big hit on my gas mileage. IIRC the gas isn't cheap either. IMO just a marketing rip off. So long as I'm on a rant, I'll make another point regarding small rural gas stations closing and these large convenience store - mega gas stations taking over. Folks out in the country might have go 30 miles to the nearest gas station. I can imagine that we'll see an increasing demand for EVs in these places, particularly when more local stations close down. For rural folks, getting gas will be like finding the closest WalMart.

They might have magic bathrooms but I'd rather not walk three blocks to get there. Hot water you say? Anyway two posts here question the quality of their gas. I'm not saying I wouldn't stop there, I'm saying I'd probably go anywhere else first, even risking have to wash in cold water.

The first time I went to Buc-ee's for a fill up on my way from Houston, my mileage went down immediately. I'm no expert whether they can put filler or air in their gas volume but something ain't quite right. I don't like walking three blocks to the bathroom either. bigger isn't better.

these guys are new to me. Goose. The local NPR station plays Blues on weekend.

I bet you filled up at Buc-ee's

please don't listen to me about wine. I only have it occasionally with a meal. Not what I drink when I want to have a couple of drinks (Scotch).

Perhaps my favorite red. otherwise a chianti ..... (I usually drink wine with a meal, so I'm no expert) I'll admit (being a philistine), it's usually a Yellowtail Shiraz in the bin.

I remember looking at the classified on Wild. Someone had a Greenie for sale. It wasn't ridden but instead was an art object on display in a house.

@4corsa Chuck builds airplanes in his backyard, with a hanger & fab building and grass strip. Your bother's plane is beauty. You guys be careful up there.

@KINDOY2 Mike + Tom = Heartbreakers

you might notice it if you were in heavy traffic in 90 degree heat and 60% humidity. Like stuck on Main street at Daytona Bikeweek or on a muggy summer evening trying to get into the Indianapolis Fairgrounds to see Flat Track race. Actually I ran my first Guzzi on regular. Not used to the gearbox, I took off in 2nd gear enough times to know better and went to premium. Yeah, it clattered pretty bad.

@p6x I'm not suggesting anyone run cheap gas unless they have no choice. But it would make sense for Guzzi to make that a spec just for warranty and liability purposes. I'm guessing that air cooled big bore bikes don't have a lot of tolerance in heat and traffic. Perhaps better on the open road with lots of wind and not lugging?

All this talk about more power and faster...it has a place. But no one rides a Guzzi for that. It's the "feel", the inertia of that locomotive flywheel pulling you, the steady feel in corners. I ride my Ducati and it's almost too good. Some times it's just boring. I get on one of the Guzzis, it still gives me a smile. I like all my bikes but I spent so much time on the Duc, I get on the Guzzi and it's a nice change. Lately, the Duc has been sitting. I don't have enough curvy roads for it.

It's a copy of the V11 Lemans but not a good one. In fact, .........

No, it's a '94 LT-1 engine. Has sequential fuel injection. It was good engine, reverse cooling (aluminum heads first) but that optispark distributor (running with the water pump) and getting to the sparkplugs and wires was awful. The main seal leaking at 160k miles finally did for me. Would I spend a ton of cash to bring this up to spec or spend a little more and find an a nice LS3 'vette? If I was a mechanical wiz like you I might have resto mod'd it but it's easier to sell it and write a check. I love the 'vette BTW..it has 150 more HP but the torque is more an equalizer between the two than one might think. The Z/28 was a nice ride, the 'vette goes to another level and thank goodness it has traction control. Both cars ran the same on 87 ...at least by the seat of my pants. Never a knock, faster than I can go. Note: when I had the Camaro at 18 years old (140k miles), one of my buddies got a new Hemi Challenger (6 SPM like mine). We did a street run, like at 10 mph and hit it on cue, he didn't pull away. He sold the car thereafter. I just thought he was playing with me, I only know he sold it. The bullet Camaro was a head of it's time. easy car to drive with my right toe. The 'vette takes a little more experience to play with. And you can change the plugs and wires in an LS engine in about 45 minutes. who wouldn't like this?

I've wondered that as well. No doubt there is cheap gas in the hose or whatever the last person filled with. Running a bike getting 4 gallons, how much is high test? I'm guessing more that 3 1/2 but I haven't a clue. I've wondered about that just about every time I fill up.

all cool bikes. So far as styling, the V11 Sport/Lemans is still better

@Joe I think Pete has got the 1400 in a CARC bike already covered. At least for the past 4 or 5 years.

I know that. My old Camaro had all that too. Computer + knock sensor. Where I'll disagree is that it won't go any better or faster. No seat of the pants difference whatsoever. I ran both cars for years running 91 premium. I switch to cheap gas and it runs exactly the same. So I've done a before and after. The computer was already calibrated for premium. I don't even pay for 100% gas, I get the cheaper 10% ethanol. If I felt a difference, I'd pay for premium. One advantage with cheap gas, it's fresher and gets pumped out sooner, less chance of old gas and contamination. If I was tracking the car or running down the strip, I'd follow your advice. I'm a little skeptical it would make more than a few hundredths on the quarter mile but why leave it to chance? For my bikes, I buy premium. I don't want to risk detonation, particularly those legacy big cylinder air cooled Guzzis with the clunky gearbox that makes me occasional lug the engine if I take out in 2nd. But that's another story. And I will admit that I'm not totally convinced that what's pumped out of the 91 pump is any different than the 87. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't

yellow? otherwise $7500 is a real bargain.

On hot restart, make sure the fuel pump is primed and tank is vented. If it doesn't start due to that, open the gas cap and add fuel as necessary. Don't ask how I know this. Public service notice