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Can't see the forest for the trees!

I saw this video on YouTube a few days ago, so excited to visit! It's now on my Retirement Travel list. Our family has a vaction home on the island of Brac, Croatia. From there, I'll try to plan a moto adventure up and over the Adriatic Sea , into Italy. That will be epic. We have a few more years, though, until the mrs retires.

I don't know about that. Not likely unless your Kwacker's are built. The Aprilia 457 motor is pretty stout. That said, I am not a huge fan of selling Aprilia's as Moto Guzzi's. Sharing some tech I can understand. But if they just rebadge the Aprilia as a Guzzi that I hope not to see. On the other side of the coin, I don't see Guzzi as married to the transverse V twin. They have a long history of singles and parallel twins. I am fine with other engine configurations. I just don't want an Aprilia Tuono 457 sold as a Moto Guzzi. If I want that I will buy the Ape (I have already seriously considered it)

Docc -opens Sept 2026 at Guzzi Days-maybe we should plan a Spine Raid that rides to Mandello del Lario to see the new factory/museum….🤔😜

2010 V7 Cafe Classic

Well, all together I would really enjoy being in mandello when this new factory opens up. Specifically, when all of you will be there as well.

I'll remind you again that the V11 is now more than 25 years old, the threshold for vintage status with some clubs. Now do you feel old? Good. Alas only one V11 showed up but it's a stunner. Hopefully you'll enjoy some of the other bikes too. It was the Norton's turn to go for me. Next year I'll probably take the V11 because... it'll still be vintage too.

I'm reintroducing myself to this forum. I was on it around 2004 or so when I owned a V11 Ballabio. I sold that bike to help with the down payment on a house. Since then I've had several bikes mostly Ducatis including a black 2005 999S. At 69 y.o. that bike, although I loved it dearly, was just not working for me at this time of my life. I sold the 999S and had always wanted a V11 Le Mans. I searched around for a really nice example and located this stunning 14,000 mile 2002. Rode it home from Sonora via hwy 49, one of my favorites. Looking forward to re-joining the group.

I'm seeing people riding Ducatis in shorts and sneakers. There's proof right there...

You are showing your age

i used to drive a mid sixties Ford F600 with a 292 engine,it had a crossover right up front of the motor from manifold to manifold,scaffolding truck.Purred like a kitten

The 457 is more modern in every way, but actually makes 4-5 HP less - probably due to EU regs. Its chassis is light years ahead, but Kawi did a heck of a job way back when, with EX500s running 50-52 HP. One of mine has WebCo 245 cams, Cobra slipons, Dynojet kit, a K&N and an airbox mod. The chassis though, well, late 80s. The 660 on the other hand is up near 90HP and no doubt a serious weapon.

Agreed. The drone shots are a great touch and labeling the bikes for the less informed makes it all the more interesting. I hope to make it next year, which is what I said last year.

Thanks for posting the video, very well done.

I like what they are doing from a technology and legacy perspective. When you've got a 100-year old manufacturer the roots would run deep into the community. Business loyalty (or at least perceived loyalty) to a community is getting pretty rare these days. And can you imagine the hostility they would generate by moving to another city, or worse yet to another country? I don't know how the government works in Italy, but I would imagine that like most countries, there is a desire to keep domestic manufacturers going. So maybe there were also various incentives to remain in the location - or maybe the location has a lot of "grandfathered" types of permissions that would be hard to get elsewhere. As for the location... I think they are smart to capitalize on the vacation destination. When tourists show up, they maybe start thinking about buying a motorcycle and associate it with their vacation experience. And for the "faithful" it seems to have become sort of bucket-list item. Personally, I intend to go there at least once. Probably after all the the new stuff is open.

conversations with AI can be a bottomless rabbit hole. it would eventually find RSPP and then repeat everything it's already stated. No sense in boring everyone further, and promise to refrain from posting ai jabber. I did find it's response to my query interesting tho because Grok's summary of the topic is presented well, and is as close to my understanding of the subject as could be. A simple test of validity. Trust me, I trust AI no more than any other internet search, which only serves to gather opinions. It's just nice seeing that level of focus in under 2 minutes. It has been helpful in making several decisions recently. Great source for recipes too.

Perhaps marketing potential but not a lot of product.

I found it via this forum via a want to buy thread I made! And yes, I am looking forwards to the trip a lot!

I think it might have been a collaborative effort between Dave and Mike from the Mighty Garage. Mike was away that week so the editing might have happened after the fact. They both have some excellent work to see on YT. Searching Swooshdave or The Mighty Garage will get you there.

Dave is a master with his drone and pics. He captures the true essence of "vintage". Lots of passion on display here. It was a great show.

A 450? I have two Kwacker EX500s that will probably outrun it. AND I can work on them. However, I have to admit that the Aprilia 660 is mighty tempting, not to mention 150-some pounds lighter than the Goose.

The formal method is to use an axle through the support bearing in the swingarm that has a ring to centre on the outgoing axle of the gearbox. Horizontal adjustment is with the swingarm bearing bolts and vertical is by fixing the bolts of the underframe and the battery plate. In practice centering the swingarm axle bolts (on the side) is the way to go. With many thanks to JCK from NL

Looks like I am missing the output shaft seal....

Agreed. The 190 is right out of my driveway, so it's my backyard ride. The 190 has had some challenges in the last few years, specifically in March of 2023. We had a severe fire that previous Summer, and when a warm rain came in March, mudslides took out huge sections. 190 was closed for a year or so. Then, on top of that one of my favorite spots, Ponderosa Lodge, burned to the ground that Winter. The owners couldn't get insurance and now only a slab remains. I'm happy to report that CalTrans did a excellent job on the repairs, and many sections have been repaved. Don't know if it's allowed, however here is a photo of my 999S on the Western Divide Hwy on a stellar day (I haven't had the Guzzi up there yet). Also a photos of the 190 between Camp Nelson and Ponderosa after the storm and Ponderosa Lodge on fire. P.S. The 245 out of Woodlake is great too!

You will be missed! Yet, even more anticipation to enjoy your V11 Sport at SSR XXII . . .

190 east out Springville is my favorite asphalt on the planet.

I'm in Springville, so the 190, Western Divide, Parker Pass and Greenhorn Pass/155 are home turf. I've also done Sherman, Tioga,Sonora etc but not for a while since the 999S wasn't much of a distance bike. There are some fantastic under the radar rides around here!

Welcome Back Kotter !

I just returned from my Saturday Saddleback Church group ride. We didn't make it to Hamburger Hut, as I hoped. One person had to be somewhere by 2, and a newbie had a 250 Rebal and didn't want any freeways. We still had a great ride, nearly 50 miles round trip to Dana Point for lunch. This time I took the V7, unlike the V11, a cable clutch. Wow, the beach stop and go traffic really taxed my hand. The clutch is so heavy, regardless of any adjustments I've ever tried. However, just like the V11, it ran flawlessly. Always fun! …and no pictures.

Nah... history and sentimentality sell... and well, China. I think it's a brilliant start, they've made it a tourist destination second only to it's purpose as a factory. So someone with access to the checkbook understands their brand-loyal customers. The blindingly obvious black hole of vision is support for older models; look to John Deere and to a lesser extent H-D and Union Pacific for frothing fans. I can go to John Deere and expect to find deep support for my '53 AO. H-D still carries parts for Iron engines. U-P has spent a frightening amount of money returning Steam to the rails, for nothing more than PR and it pays off exponentially. If Mother Goose can fill that hole, they'll become a major brand again. I think. I hope.

I think we’re talking about the Cali 2 here Chuck in which case it’s yer basic Tonti ‘Crab’ project. The airbox is a trifle more involved than the earlier ones but really the ‘Nuts and Bolts’ are essentially the same. Many years ago when I was racing with Rob we used to be able to swap a clutch between practice and the race! The bike was a lot more stripped down though than a road bike.

Well, I suppose this will appease the purists and it certainly looks like it’s light years ahead of the old, crumbling, tween-wars fascist edifice but I still think it would of been more sensible to go to a true ‘Green Field’ site somewhere other than Mandello.

Well my plan is to be there for the 21st SSR. I was only able to get a room, albeit a 'suite". Also reserved the "almost unobtanium" 2 garage spots. If anyone has need for kitchen/fridge it'll be available for our S'SR use. Have a riding buddy who plans to show later, but at present he doesn't know which day he may arrive. Come on Cherohala!

And what did we do back early seventy's mounting a new double exhaust on a 440. Putting stripe of white chalk on the pipes and go for a spirited drive. The spot on the pipe with most evidence of heat was where the crossover was mounted. Seemed correct at the time. Crossover on the headers, NOISE reason. Cheers Tom.

Eight weeks out. Changed engine and gearbox oil, Decent Tune-up, and addressed some niggles. Pondering matters of tires . . . [edit/46 minutes later: "pondering" turned into a fresh set of Pirelli Angel GT on the way . . . ]

I have to say I’ve installed a ton of those Valtech ‘Blade’ type tensioners over the years and have never had a problem with them. I have heard of the broken spring problem but never a broken blade. I tend to think it might be an installation issue rather than a design problem. Yes, they do exert a higher pressure on the chain, at least initially and this can be heard as they whine quite loudly when new but they soon settle down as the blade ‘Relaxes’. The was I installed them was to take the blade off the pin/base and bolt that on and then install the chain and sprockets before slipping the blade on half way with the pin just engaging the spring and then swing the blade round and pop it into the timing chest before pushing the pin end all the way on to the pin and reinstalling the nut and washer. Make sure the spring fits inside the bolt boss for the timing cover that it passes by. If you miss this and it’s over the boss the timing chest will leak when you tighten it down. It’s easily done.

I know a guy that went down in front of Ky Oaks Mall w/Converse AllStars on. He erased 4 of his toenails doing this.

Dropping out AGAIN . I have to work ALL the hours I possibly can finishing out the years to meet a target.

Well, I hate to do it but I have to drop out this year. Just too much going on elsewhere to make it work. Boo Hoo. I really hate to break routines. 2 more rooms and 3 garage spots opened up.

Yesterday, I mounted an "Antique" license plate to mySport. I'm kinda proud of it. And dismayed at the same time.