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Bath day for the ladies.

As an analogue man in a digital world, these Timex watches appeal to me! I had one as a schoolboy and will buy another when the $20 Target one I wear on the bike and for mucking about gives up the ghost.... I have a Longines classic which I wear the rest of the time.... Cheers Guzzler

I just bought this one, a 1998 EV. The fellow I bought if from created a great-looking T3 clone from an identical blue 1998 EV as well. It seemed like the "best of both worlds" with great classic looks, but some of the modern features and styling elements that one might think would be cool to have. It didn't look like a very difficult conversion, so his results definitely got my mental wheels turning

2002 Lemans, 34k miles. Red/Silver. Has bar risers installed, the stock clip-ons included with sale. Pegs are in stock location but I have the moto-bits peg relocation kit which was on the bike when I bought it, I prefer the higher peg location. Has Hepco Becker side bags and top trunk. Will sell with luggage or without. Throttlemeister cruise control (throttle lock). Very few defects. Minor tank bubbling, some engine paint flaking. Runs excellent. Asking $4500 without bags, $5000 with luggage. Dave

Well, I just had this "delivered" yesterday... seriously, the previous owner rode it 40 miles and delivered it to my house for "free" (well, "included") ...good guy It's a 1998 California V11 EV ...so it's technically on-V11-topic I've never been a "cruiser" guy, but this was just up the road, looked great (Californias have grown on me over 20 years, but I used to really not like them to be honest), and was really cheap. So I thought for the price I could risk giving it a try. Plus it came with bags I've wanted for a while, that would have been 20% of the cost of the entire bike! The previous owner apparently was the national sales manager for MG in the USA in the early 90s when Moto America was the importer, located right down the road in tiny Lillington, NC. He said he almost certainly sold this bike to the dealership (if you can call the small shops selling MG back then "dealerships"), that sold the bike to its first owner, who he then bought it from 2 years ago. This guy has a garage full of BMWs and MGs, and is very fastidious about his equipment, and the first owner was apparently a mechanic who was also very keen on upkeep. So hopefully that bodes well for the overall bike. But definitely an interesting chain of custody. It has 41k miles, and is in excellent condition, with some understandable patina from its 26 years and a few small paint scratches and chips, but overall in remarkably good condition, especially as a "10 footer". Other than the seat and big plexiglass National Cycle fairing, it appears to be completely stock I have to replace the big Corbin seat with something similar to stock though, both for aesthetics (ruins the lines in my opinion), and more importantly because it really is too tall for me with that big couch

Twelfth South'n SpineRaid, Tellico Plains, Tennessee

Funny you should say that. (Telling, really.) Other than land speed and engine rpm, I would want to see just a couple other parameters I find pertinent while riding. The location and course to the nearest shopping or drive-thru fastfood? Er, NO! The ambient temperature and the motorcycle's electrical voltage, yes. The "time" in an analog display, please.

@al_roethlisberger stunning beautiful! I love the color blue too.... Looks like the bike to take for a trip in the Pyrenees.

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

Tonti designed the small blocks, too.

My TIMEX on the Sport is from their INDIGLO® series and has the backlight function when the stem is pressed . Thirty bucks and enough variety to find a face and bezel to match most instruments. Don't laugh at the thirty bucks. That is more than four times what I paid for the last couple "clocks" on mySport. I actually looked at cheap watch racks for a long time before stumbling across somethng to match my GB instruments (grey face, Arabic numerals, chrome bezel) . . .

I stopped wearing a watch decades ago,but I've got an older,cheap silver pocket watch I like to have with me if I need to keep track of time;I'll probably mcgyver a way to fasten it to my tank bags. Bill & Dan, I'm just thinking out loud; re both of you having those fine guzzi time pieces in need of repair. Iirc Scout63? over on WG is apparently Swiss & I "think" his area of expertise is watch & clock repair. He might be able to help yous or at least point you in the right direction. fwiw fyi

I've got a surplus speedo cable off my 2004 V11 having gone the Speedhut route. Got it from MG Cycle a few thousand mile ago and bent it a bit more to clear my throttle linkage. Works fine...replaced the gauge due to issues with the trip odo. Preference given to the first one that calls dibs AND shows up at Cedar Vale, KS next month for a hand-off. https://www.v11lemans.com/forums/topic/28546-cedar-vale-ks-spring-2023/

Correct sorry for the typo. Shift into first, tighten the switch until you get continuity to ground. Then check that shifting back to neutral opens the connection to ground

Yep. If I were able to have another bike a blue XS650D would be at the pointy end of the list....! Cheers

I bet the Shin Etsu will be perfect for that!

I love to learn about products I’ve never heard about before, “210” is a new one for me. There is another Honda product that works well for plastics, “Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish”. And they are both a lot cheaper (Guzzi content) than “Plexus”..

Shin Etsu grease (has a Honda part #) for rubber. "Plastic" can mean a lot of different things, but generally I use "210" spray cleaner/polish for "shiny" plastics.

Yes, enraging isn't it. I've searched high and low but to no avail. The really annoying thing is that the bearing itself is as common as muck! It's the odd sealing system that makes it unique. What is even more enraging is that the same sealing system isn't even very good!

You might contact Moto Machines, they're US distribution for HB. https://www.motomachines.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlumhBhClARIsABO6p-xhN6YqNUkQCw2wgcOXkySMVD___BG7s92BC6TJzbuQeSMh_jhwCX0aAuwwEALw_wcB In worst case scenario, order new locks. I had to replace one due a tip over. Not a big deal or expense, you'll need to have a hand rivet tool which isn't that expensive either if you don't have a generous neighbor. Another hint, if they're Jr bags, dings and bends in the plastic material can easily be worked out with a hot air gun. Yes, it was quite tip over. I have to thank Chuck from Ind for his help during that trip. Shouldn't be a big deal. Wait SIX? OK, can't help ya.

Yeah, I still have it. From memory, a little different looking than the V11 tach, but no doubt works the same. The guy said they worked, but I have no method of checking the tach other than wiring it up to the tach output on my little homebuilt airplane, and that would involve taking off the center section cover, windscreen, hooking it up, putting that stuff back on, and starting the engine. No. Not going to happen. About all I could do is offer a money back garantee. Oh, and I have another speedo.. I'm an antique airplane guy, and when I see something I think I might need on an antique machine, I buy it. At least I used to. I'm in de-acquisition mode in my dotage.

If it is these, they are a special item, not obtainable somewhere else.

Stop the presses. I *think* I have one if I didn't give it to Colt with the spares for the Mighty Scura. I bought a spare cluster for Darth Quota back in the day.. I'll check after breakfast.

No joystick but nice wooden steering wheels straight out of a BMW...

I wore mine (#11) daily up until about 6 months ago. Wore it to work in my auto shop as well as riding. The abuse was never an issue. Then I dropped it on a concrete floor. I picked it up and the winding weight was spinning freely. It still works but will not self wind. I'm looking for a reliable repair too. I've replaced it as my daily wear watch with a Hamilton automatic. Still I'd love to get the MG watch repaired.

This winter I treated myself to a Chinese lift to work on my European scooters right here in the Motor City!

Love the bike. My first new bike purchase was a '77 xs650. $1999. Learned all about carbon brushes on the side of I-8 around 3AM. Packing for road trips was......creative.

Very much so docc. I love the style of the classic standard. So many iterations to choose from. When I'm tempted with something new, I look back at mine and wonder what's the point in chasing what I already have. Early concept pic, some things have changed. it has mufflers now

I suspect your W650 is much like having a Honda GB500. Fun, interesting, reliable and my GB has kept me from buying lots (and lots) of other bikes . . .

I'm kinda with the reviewer. No real preference. I prefer the RE motor concept 270* crank, I'll bet it sounds lovely and I love twins. I'm not in love with the look however, as much as I am the BSA. Don't care for the BSA radiator but it's an advancement I'm wiling to accept. The concept of smallish/retro/standard is the only point I can consider and address, and that puts the BSA in front for me... I like that they embraced their Arms heritage coming back to market. TBH my interest in bikes in that category is firmly in the vintage originals. If I were to cave and opt for reliability and newness I'd go for a used W650 or even a new W800. For now my 1980 XS650 is occupying that space nicely.

Music from Vince at Ruapuna.