ferguzzi

Well, it wasn't me, as the tenni is at home on the emerald isle, but I was out jogging outside Duncan yesterday, and vaguely in the distance I saw something approach that seemed oddly familiar. By the time it passed me I realised it was an older guzzi, no idea how old though, riding 2 up. As a complete guess I'd say it was a T3, or similar vintage, but between sweating to death and averting a coronary, I couldn't register anymore.

Well it's that's time of year, we're heading over to bc to visit the in-laws, drink some cream ale, drive my corvair and hopefully see some sunshine because there's been bugger all over here. We've decided we need some custom made leathers for my mrs. 'cause she's just too damn tall for off the rail gear. I was just wondering was there anyone in Vancouver, or on the island, who does that sort of thing? I was also thinking of test riding a demo norge while there. Is there anywhere in particular you'd recommend? Thanks....

Well, I am very dissappointed that anybody had to witness that, it's probably just as well I wasn't there, as I would have felt I had to get involved, which would probably have ended stupidly. The only vaguely plus side was you say they were not locals. Any type of racist/sectarian comments like that would be almost unheard of in the south, and considered in extremely poor taste. We do pride ourselves in our hospitality after all. God knows, we've got other faults! Please don't let it put you off next year! Here's a couple of photos of a few of the bikes. Don't ask me what they are....! well that only sort of worked. Lets try again. well, they're worth loking at more than once.

I decided to go down this year, as I missed last year, and haven't seen another guzzi in the flesh for a while. The meet was in insheegeela, in Cork, same as always. I've moved to Clare now, near Limerick in the southwest, so the trip to cork was a short 3 hours. We got there late, so checked into the (one and only) b and b in the village and went down for a few pints. There was about 20 guzzis parked outside ranging from v7s,older le mans, a couple of grisos, some older shite I couldn't recognise, and a norge. Nearly all the bikes were from the uk, as were most of the people in the bar. Suffice to say, a good night was had by all, and lasted into the very wee hours. I love lock-ins! There seems to be a reluctance on the forum to explain what happened at the 2006 meet, I reckoned something must have happened, as this wasn't an official uk guzzi club meet, as it has been for the last 2 years. Anyway, being the nosy bugger that I am, I asked just about everyone, and got about 20 different answers, varying from the silly to the vaguely plausible, but the general concensus was that whatever happened was a shame, was down to one or two individuals and a lot of drink, and with any luck next year the full meet should be re instated. Certainly this year was a laugh. The next morning, we had a lovely breakfast and said our fond farewells to the sasanachs( or sasanaigh.. damn my Irish is terrible), but not before Lorcan from Dublin gave me and Angela a spin on the norge. It seems what I took for an enjoyable jaunt the day before had been torture for the mrs. and she's had enough. I can't blame her, she's 6 foot tall and I made the mistake of renting an electra glide in the states last year and now she realises not all bikes have to be a pain. Long story short, we're buying a norge next year. I'm thinking of buying in Mandello, and riding it home over a month. I don't know if you can buy direct from the factory or not. I've dealt with the bike shop next door, and they were very good, so maybe I'll do that. Watch this space. We then rode home under blue skies(remember them), and that's about it. I'm going to try to attach a few photos of the more unusual guzzis, but bear with me, it may not work. If it doesn't I'll get the mrs. to do it in a few days. The bikes are, er, a red one and a blue one. the blue one was sick, and firing on one cylinder. Luckily it lived in Cork. The red one is, um, older. I think I'll leave it at that.... Actually I just figured out I cant attach the photos because they're too big. Gimme a couple of days and I'll try again when I've dicked about with them. Fergal.

I was at an Italian track day recently, me and 50 ducatis. About 4 aprillias. I started the tenni up in the garage, and sat at Idle for a few seconds. Only then did I realise I was being stared at by some of the ducatisti. the clutch was doing some of it's usual jiggery pokery, and one of the guys comes over to me looking worried, and asks me if the bike was ok? Was it supposed to sound like that? 'Course it is!

oh,I like that!

hmmm. dunno. My first serious ride was 900 miles from bristol to freiburg in germany, and couldn't get over how comfortable it was. 900 miles 18 hours. stock. 2 up is a different story. Mind you ,I was 33 at the time.

Gotta love the way the doctor scythed through the masses last week to win. there just seems an inevitability to the way he competes. 100%, 100% of the time. It's funny ,but I've never felt that exhileration watching any body else dominate a motorsport.Maybe it's because every week there is never a certainty of winning. Great fun.

Couldn't agree more. I rented one of those behemoths for 3 weeks last year. never again. Mind you, as I've written elsewhere in this forum, my better half loved it. How much is a norge again?!

I screwed up last year. I rented a harley electraglide for 3 weeks in the states, and now my 6 foot wife expects comfort(or at least some form of it) when she's on the bike. Last week we went to the guzzi rally in Cork, and she's basically said she's had it. I can't say I blame her, and it seems a norge is on the cards next year.... However, I'd still like the le mans to be at least an option for shorter rides. I've just ordered a non slippy seat cover, and those handle thingies that wrap around me so she has a little more stability, but that's only a minor fix. I need to extend the rear pegs. I know people have done it, because I've seen the threads, but has anyone made a few, so I could buy one?

chevrelait. That's a big ugly american car,isn't it?!

I'm no expert, but he sounds like he's been snorting something.

Well,apparently they now reckon St patrick was Welsh, or possibly french. So I guess God can be from wherever he likes. But I bet he wishes he was Irish!

Can't remember the name, but it was in Hurghada, Egypt. Not only was the Toilet full to the brim with (quite fresh) poo, but so was the sink beside it. Still steaming,too. I think it was $5 for both of us.

Somewhere over the congo last night, trying to stay awake, and it suddenly occurred to me why was my bike called a le mans? Did guzzi win something important there once?

Very sad to see what was probably a pristine bike lying on it's side like that. Great to hear nobody was badly hurt. There but for the grace of God....

Got back from Tokyo yesterday. Feeling a bit rough and narky. Turn on the telly, and what do you know is on? Cheered me up no end. That long straight was really something else, and the chopper shots of how late some of the guys were braking were spectacular. Even the weather was good.

If it was July, I'd certainly be interested.

I just found out that the Ducati Dublin people, who are now also doing guzzis and Aprilias, are having a trackdayat Mondello on the 28 may, limited to 60 bikes, only for italian bikes. there are 3 classes ie experienced to idiot, and one Jeremy Mcwilliams will be there. Whoever he is. Prices are 175euro, plus 10 for lunch and it seems I won't be the only guzzi there, surrounded by Dukes. 'Though I'm sure I'll have the only Tenni. Give'em a ring at 01 4603168, and fly the flag for Mandello at Mondello! (sorry). I'll take lots of Photos anyway. Also there might be a few rides going on the 1098, and I think also the new Duke hypermotard thingy.

I'm in tokyo at the moment. very sensible bunch of people. shit beer though.

Well, if he eats all the beef they feed him down there, he may get the runs!

Pretty sure I'll not make it (again). I'm moving house in late april/early may, so have no idea what I'll be doing , but I'm pretty sure it won't involve bikes. Is there any news of an Ireland trip this summer?

I love new york...

Back in September 02 I was taking the Tenni for Its first long spin, From Ireland to Croatia and back, about 4 weeks and 5000 miles. It was a great trip and apart from the standard pawlspring failure, miraculously fixed in Austria, problem free. I was leaving Zadar in Croatia, with a view to going inland for the day, and then north to Slovenia. The ride down to Zadar was a spectacularly windy coast road, with cliffs over one side, and fairly well travelled with foreigners. Croatia's beautiful coastline was almost a secret then, and so not too touristy. I wanted to go inland, away frome the tourists, and see maybe some remnants of the war. I'm a bit sick that way. It didn't take long before I started to come across a lot of burnt out houses, and old memorials, tanks and the like. It was also a little bit daunting as I had heard stories of the landmines everywhere, and the war was only over about 10 years, and still stewing in other parts of old Yugoslavia. One thing I did notice were the police everywhere. Before and after almost every town, there would be a squad car with a few bored looking cops lolling around. I think that what may have happened was that instead of demobbing the whole Croatian army, a lot of guys just swithched uniforms, and became coppers. Fair enough. But it still struck me I should be careful. Anyway, long story short, after a while I started climbing a loooong windy road, climbing one of the most spectacular mountain views I've ever seen. Beautiful day, blue skies, no traffic, life is good. A couple of car arrive ahead, and I zip past , barely noticing them. I'm not going terribly fast- but I'm going a lot faster then they are! And then in the distance, I see them. 2 bored cops, who've been watching my progress forv the last 10 minutes from on high. Oh bugger. They wave me in. It's all sunglasses and coolness.I produce licence insurace passport, the lot. They walk back to their car for 5 minutes ,letting me stew. And I'm thinking, "how do you say ky jelly in Croatian?" They come back, looking very unhappy. Wagging his head, I'm informed that the charge could be 2000 Croatian wotsits. About $14. I try to look suitably worried. Then suddenly, he takes his shades off, gazes at the bike, smirks at me and gives me a thumbs up. "Moto gootsi!", says he, and walks off. Cool.

Holy shit, ratchet, do you type for a living?! It took most of March just to read that.