Leaderboard

The one tool that seems critical to every 'Guzzi job is the scissor jack from a cheap car. I can position the jack in any place under the motor to adjust; front wheel, rear wheel, and it's slow and infinitely adjustable. Seems the flat jacks are too bulky, always in the way, and want to pull my front tire out of the clamp or jackstand. I welded a 3/8" drive socket on the cranknut to make it easy with a speed handle.

Astoria bridge, 4 mi span across the mouth of the Columbia river on the OR/WA border.

At age 60, I have eight bikes and have been asking similar questions. Three dirt bikes (200, 500, and 700 ccs). I rarely ride the 200, but my daughters and some guests do. I expect that the two big Husqvarnas will be with me for a long time. I was thinking about letting three bikes go, and getting a new Stelvio, but the "math" kept suggesting to sell the Scura or Nero Corsa, which I think would regret. So I think I am going to have with a 2:1 event, reducing the "stable" to seven. The prior owner of my 1989 LeMans misses it, and I think it might go back to him soon. (Which means I could still potentially have visitation rights). My Stelvio NTX has been a workhorse, but I am about to trade it on the new, water-cooled Stelvio - likely later this week, depending on actual arrival and set-up at GP Motorcycles in San Diego. @LaGrasta Have you every ridden a Stelvio NTX? Let me know if you want to come down and try it before I trade it in.

gstallons, Here in NZ all vehicles must undergo mandatory inspections every six months or if they were first registered after 1 January 2000 this is required yearly. It is a "Warrant of Fitness", WOF is the acronym, but getting a warrant is the term generally used. This inspection is comprehensive and thorough. Kapiti kiwi is correct in that a vehicle's speedo reading to pass the inspection cannot be based off a GPS signal. Rob

It sounds like time to purchase a new ignition switch, What is the mileage on the bike? Do the lights turn ON with the key? another possibility, use a 12 Volt relay connected to the good remaining contact to bypass the ignition switch. Shortly after buying a used VII Sport I had it splutter and die I suspected the ignition switch and found the contact resistance to be over 18 Ohms so I pulled the switch apart, the grease in the contacts was quite stiff holding the contacts apart, wiped it all out and replaced with fresh, soft, Vaseline This should be done every year or so. The Key mechanisms are sometimes very hard to remove, if so you can sometimes just unscrew the contact block. I wonder if you could just shim the lock barrel using shim stock? Sometimes the wires snap off where they are soldered to the switch the switch due to the constant flexing back and forth, the copper wires work harden and becomes brittle. Try to clamp the wires so they don't flex next to the solder joint. If you can re-locate the switch from the steering to the frame somewhere so there is no wire flexing that's an improvement.

@Lucky Phil yes, so true. Had my CBX get too far over in my ground level basement while maneuvering it into its spot. Used my body to prevent it from lying on the floor and managed to get my phone out to call for help! They sure laughed at me! Six years ago at 65 I was looking after my personal 4 aircraft and Heli’s (Glasair 3, R22, C120 and Mini 500) 16 cyl., 14 motos 34 cyl. , and 2 autos 14cyl., and was working 50 to 60 hours per week at my job. Don’t know how I did it. Now at 71 down to 7 bikes and 2 autos and need to make that number smaller as too much work!

296km today up in the mountains. IPA time for sure. Cheers Tom. Sent fra min SM-S906B via Tapatalk

Quite a stable of maintaining books, 48cyl ned attention. Age related stuff seems to slip my mind. Ok, some reminders. Getting a lighter bike at some time, but only 71+ . Cheers Tom.

" . . . a speed handle. " . . . .

I downloaded the instructions Pete wrote that is on This Old Tractor site. I might put this off a little while, the Quota rear brake is giving me issues and the little oil leak is getting worse, so that is first, still have 8 weeks of hot weather, so plenty of time before Fall gets here. Quick question, would a motorcycle jack with the big base (Hobo Freight) be good for the crabbing? Or just re-use my box I built for the loop frame?

I only have 30 cylinders to maintain now, and I just sold three bikes.

Tonti is pretty east to put a clutch in. Tank off, Pull the swingarm, wheel in if you have the hands. Trans top mount, loosen the front mounts. A few fasteners here and there like the battery box. Be sure anything strapped too tightly to the frame is released, and pull the frame up far enough to get at it. Starter, ground wire to the trans (hopefully, if not put one) Of course, you have to stabilize and secure the front wheel and block the motor sufficiently to wiggle the frame 'off'- unless you're stronger than I am you'll want some sort of hoisting mechanism to a rafter (in my case, open garage door braces on a 600lb hurricane rated door) as the whole event gets less than stable as it goes up. The only special tool you'll need is a clutch alignment tool. I'm pretty sure there are complete writups with photos on Wildguzzi.com. As for releasing the stuck plates, everything will come to hand easily enough, then you can attack it on the bench with increasing zeal and chemistry until it's apart.

That's a lot of miles docc. Very best wishes back from Canada.

I have eight bikes, so many to keep running and registered here in California. But I do it successfully, I ride them all. Minimum yearly registration, regardless of age is $175. This inlcudes my two 50cc Scooters! I keep considering selling a few, but truly I want them all, and still use them all. My V11 is absolutely spectacular, even just to look at. I love the form and shape, colors, etc. It's running so fantastic, putting thousands of miles on it since acquiring it, and working out the bugs. What a joy to ride. The only shortcoming is distance; my body aches after a hundred or so miles. I tried talking myself into trading teh V11, my 2004 Kawasaki Concours, and maybe my highly customized 1982 Honda GL500 in for one of the new V85 or watercooled Guzzis. Give up three for one new one that gives me a lot of power, long mile rideability, etc. nah.