PJPR01

I'm also still waiting to see if I won the raffle...I bought 100 tickets, so hoping to have a twin...if I win it, will sell it to you very cheap! I had my Norge out yesterday for a nice 100 miler thru the forest, the bike is running phenomenally after several months of extremely detailed electrical work, fixing some corroded wires, painting some panels and general extreme cleaning with a steam cleaner from head to toe. All of that to say that I'm now getting 50 mpg, which I've never seen before on my usual run, as I'm used to getting 42 all of these years. Good karma I'm guessing!

Eric…I think you would be very happy on a solid Norge for touring! Here’s mine from earlier in the year at Rusk camp ground! Hard to beat for all day comfort, great in the twisties with an upgraded suspension and high speed touring…

Finished up yesterday with a 600 mile round trip for the last 3 stops! Hope your suggestions make it into the tour next year!

Very complete set of torque wrenches! All the way from Umeå to Luleå and everywhere in between. A Greenie, a Coppa and a Nero...someone has an addiction to V11's I would say, what is that, approximately 30% of all of the V11's in Norway?

Congrats Eric...all official now! I should finish this weekend as well.

Fresh brisket on the board!!!! Things you hear in Bucee’s !!!

Nicely done - that's a fantastic achievement to knock it all off in one shot...lots of endurance! I bought a 100 raffle tickets for the Norge also (it's the twin of my Norge)...we'll see if I win! Are you headed back to the Norton rally this weekend also?

One additional benefit we have here at the local Bucee's is 91 Octane Ethanol free gas...coupled that with a fresh brisket taco and a coffee and you're good to go!

Hey Eric...how are you doing on the tour? I'm at 47 stops, P6x at 49 stops. We should be wrapping up in the next couple of weeks to complete all 50 here. Another friend on a Stelvio is going thru Big Bend National Park as we speak picking up stops also.

I see you made it to Bucee's! The Champagne one looks in nice shape...at what price was it being offered?

It seems that there is 1 missing Carabiniero...as they always work in pairs! Great pics as always!

It's like a pair of chopsticks...wood or ivory. Both work, both will last, you won't need this tool on a regular basis forever...maybe once a year at most. Trust me, you will not wear out the green one or break it. If you want to spend money, buy a metal fuel disconnect from Beemer Boneyard that is lovely metal and will allow you avoid having to use this tool at all...you'll just need to cut into the fuel line to add it in parallel...that would be a better spend. There's also no need to relieve the pressure, but be prepared for gas to come out of the tank once the line is disconnected so having a relatively empty fuel tank is a good idea, and having a handy tube that is already inserted into a multi gallon/liter container to catch any overflow to put on the spigot once the fuel line is disconnected is helpful to avoid spilling gas on the garage floor or work area. The green one works perfectly, use it gently, no need to force anything. The orientation of which side goes where will be obvious once you put it on the fuel line and connector. Worst case scenario, you buy a new spigot for Guzzibits.

I have that set and it works perfectly…have used it a half dozen times, good workmanship on the tool, you will not wear it out.

I do believe that Texas (myself, P6x, PressureAngle) just had one of these precious Spine Raids following the illustrious long standing Tennesse one and the recent California (Scud & LaGrasta) one. So that leaves several other states and countries that can now follow suit! Post 'em up! Imagine if we had a National Spine Raid somewhere!

Sounds like a happy ending after all. Great news.

Nice Texas Spine Raid rendezvous and enjoyable lunch at one of our favorite local cafes and not coincidentally also a stop on the Tour of Texas. Great to have you here Eric and Pascal thanks for coming up as well!

Thanks Phil...very good and educational explanation...I'll try experimenting at the next oil changes on the Norge/Griso/Scura with a viscosity spread of 30...if I can perceive any improvement in performance, "feeling" and / or mileage that would be a bonus.

For the fools, including myself, who follow the owner's manual, but occasionally check for updates out there, and I include looking at cars as well, not just motorcycles. So far at 60K miles of use, the Norge hasn't blown up yet due to improper oil usage! Based on official documentation and owner discussions, Moto Guzzi has not changed the oil recommendation for the 2008 Norge. The manufacturer's specification has remained a high-quality 10W-60 synthetic motor oil. The original recommendation At launch, the official factory recommendation for the Norge was Agip 4T full synthetic 10W-60 oil. The reasons for this specific viscosity include: Air/oil-cooled engine: The air-cooled V-twin engines run hotter than liquid-cooled counterparts, and the 10W-60 weight helps the oil maintain its viscosity under high thermal stress. Higher film strength: The engine has specific characteristics, such as a dry clutch, that necessitate a high film strength oil for longevity. Updated guidance While the fundamental recommendation has not changed, the brand of oil has. Since the original Agip oil is now more difficult to find, Moto Guzzi recommends the equivalent Castrol Edge 10W-60 synthetic for its modern big-block engines. Considerations for older models Some owners of older Norge models have noticed changes in oil API (American Petroleum Institute) ratings over time. Specifically, some older formulations of Agip oil had a more desirable SG rating. Because newer formulations may have different ratings, many owners prioritize finding a quality 10W-60 synthetic oil with a higher concentration of zinc and phosphorus to protect the valve train. However, the 10W-60 viscosity remains the most critical specification.

Marfa, Ft. Davis, all nice riding...lots of curves, and a stop at the observatory is an interesting one! I gather from your route then that you are starting from the East and working your way west. I anticipate being in Atlanta Thursday next week, after picking up stops south of Dallas and then in Dallas area/Greenville, ending up in Atlanta. Enjoy the riding!

Bravo Docc...well played! Touché!

Has anyone just ran flat 30W oil for an oil change in a CARC bike and noticed any difference in performance? In the garage for the various cars, I have a collection of Advanced Full synthetic Mobil 1 10W-30, 20W-50, 10W-40, 0W-40 and of course 10W-60, all full synthetics. I'll try some experiments on using them in the Norge over time and see how the bike feels/behaves. Good to know there are these options available

Aha…next week I’ll be picking up Tour stops in Dallas and Greenville and Atlanta…then up the scenic way thru Arkansas to Missouri and Kansas. Time permitting I may get a few of the extended Republic of Texas Tour as well and then some more standard stops on the way back! Ojinaga to El Paso…doesn’t look it goes all the way. I’ve only gone the other way to Lajitas along the River road.

What is the life expectancy of the viscosity modifiers under normal, not arduous use? Does one really need to be concerned about that when using 10W-60...I've never given it a thought on my 2008 Norge bought new, with almost 60K miles and still not consuming a drop of oil between oil changes.

Intriguing: 10W-60 full synthetic is the recommended oil for the Norge and Griso...are you suggesting that be 0W-30, 10W-40 or 20W-50 instead?

Oh I see....you've already done the tour then! That's cool...