PJPR01

What a beautiful day to ride…blue skies, cold and crisp, little traffic, very few motorcycles out today…fair weather riders…probably too cold! Several layers, balaclava and good gloves makes the riding very enjoyable. Good music in the helmet…just perfect! 140 miles on the Scura through the forest…halfway thru stopped for a Peppermint Latte to warm up! Still feels like the holidays! Scura runs like a champ!!

El Paso will be even colder than that and for the elevations of West Texas. Maybe a suggestion...have the seller take several short videos so you can hear it start, how it runs, with some revs and a walk around. I just did that with a bike I bought in Tucson in November before I did the fly and ride...it was very helpful. Of course, the bike I bought was a 2021, so no real concerns, but in your case, I'd be much more cautious of getting something that actually breaks down or runs so badly that the vibrations are intolerable for a 1200 mile ride back, assuming you do interstate the whole way. I took a scenic route and did 1450 miles back from Tucson via Big Bend and all FM roads in Texas to avoid the interstate....much nicer riding!

Hence the invention of the Pecan, I mean the Pee Can! Saves you trips to the rest room...common to see at Guzzi Rallies for Old timers! Sounds like El Cosmico was El Catastrofe....una lastima! It does look like they have Yurts however...that would be kind of cool for the next time. I stayed at the Riata Motel in Marfa in November...not much better, but at least it wasn't camping!! To be fair..camping at John Day is quite nice...it's a nice grassy field...plenty of fun activity...the bathrooms however are not far...they have porta potties setup within 100 feet of just about everyone...

You just pay your registration fee (there's a thread on WildGuzzi with the information on who to send the check to for registration prior to June), the campground is one big field, so you can pitch a tent wherever you like...no shortage of space. I think if you want one of the RV sites, there's a more formal process to reserve one of those...we just showed up the last time and grabbed a few tent spots together with friends.

Just hazarding a guess, since I have no idea what was the origin of the naming convention, but a Quota is also a Limited #, so perhaps it's the Italian Version of a Limited Version...like Harley's Limited edition. I don't think the production numbers were particularly large, right?

No need to do that anymore P6X...there are other options to get tires mounted in 24 hours...6 weeks is ridiculously long for tires.

Price for camping at the rally: Zero! For $500 bucks, might as well go to the Caribbean for a nice island vacation!

It almost sounds like you need 2 Quotas...one to ride and one for parts. Frankly, I think it's an odd enough item that's possibly hit or miss from a ride experience. Either a V85 or Stelvio sound like a more reliable longer term option...or better yet an 8V Griso...what a machine!

Of the 320 riders last time in John Day in 2016 I think the majority rode there…I did see a few toy haulers, but I’d venture that 80% at least ride their bikes to the rally.

Another 150 miles today on the Norge! Hopefully tomorrow out on the Scura!

Thanks P6X...indeed, received the 2 mails yesterday as well...I saw a couple of corrections. Am also hoping to be at Flying L to pick up the number flag early and get a few stops along the way...nice to get a few weeks advance start on the tour. There may be a nice gathering of folks there from 10-2... I registered 3 bikes this year for the Tour...we'll see which one wins the lottery for the first set of stops! I hope you find the Quota soon!

I would love to see Marquez win another title on the Ducati...that would be truly sensational! The bike and the outfit look absolutely fantastic and seeing his grin coming off the hot laps was priceless. Then again, let's hope he doesn't screw it up by the usual antics...here's to hoping that drafting, bumping and causing accidents (sorry...racing incidents!) are now over that he's on a great bike. No longer can we say what they used to years ago...Ducati, Ducati....Soldi Buttati!

Got two rides in already this year, yesterday and today. Tomorrow will get another one in! Weather is perfect...50-60 F, blue skies, not much traffic... Yesterday did 150 miles, today did 225 miles...have to exercise the fleet!

Mille grazie...molto gentile!! Ti invito un cappuccino pronto quando e arrivato tutto! Paul

Very kind of you!! If you have room, I'll take 3 pairs of the size II Mid height Merino Socks, two in red, one in blue! Saludos!

If time is that limited I wouldn’t recommend it for just one day. Alternatively perhaps You could fly into Seattle/Vancouver, pick Up the Coppa Italia for sale and enjoy a leisurely ride down to John Day and then book it home. I have to say that doing it express route style is just a wasted opportunity to enjoy some of the best riding in the country thru Montana, Idaho and Wyoming and Colorado…rushing thru it is like wolfing down a delicious fresh pastry and coffee in one bite…even if the socializing part is no longer your cup of tea so to speak, do enjoy the ride…it’s a shame not to savor it.

5 days out, a few days there and 5 days back. The fun route we did last time from Houston: Outbound: Houston - Amarillo - Pagosa Springs - Durango - Silverton - Ouray - Grand Junction - Provo - Golden spike/Promontory - Twin Peaks Idaho - backroads to John Day. Return: John Day - Pendleton - Walla Walla - Lewiston - Kookskia - Lolo - Red Lodge (over the Beartooth / Chief Joseph) - Cody - Thermopolis thru Wind River canyon - Steamboat - Dillon - Trinidad - Raton - Amarillo - Dallas - Houston Total of about 5200 miles on that trip, lots of time for nice sightseeing...I wouldn't dream of rushing it and slabbing it all the way, there are so many interesting backroads and non interstates to take. the Rally was about 320 folks, well organized, NOTHING like the Lone Star rally, onsite tech support at the time from Matt Forslund (NM Guzzi rep with a trailer/tools), plenty of nighttime events, songs, campfires, small groups, raffles, group photos etc...really nice event. It may or may not be one of the last times a National is held, who knows...but it's a fun event...last time in this location was 2016... Age is absolutely not an issue...you'll fit right in...

Was there the last time in 2016, planning on going again in 2024...it's a great ride to and from there..

Thanks for sharing P6X...an interesting catalogue and somewhat odd presentation at the same time. The products seem quite innovative in terms of technology/comfort, what's surprising (aside from only 1 Guzzi featured) is that almost all of the shots show the street riders wearing tennis shoes (Vans look alike) or lace up sneakers...while the offroad racers are fully geared up with proper footwear. By doing this deliberately I take it they are marketing to the urban rider where the V7 and V9 are more predominant. The socks look cool...but even that is somewhat odd...wind protection from socks (???), well, if you were wearing boots, why would you need wind protection from your socks??? They seem to be a cross between LD Comfort and Bohn Armor products (less extensive product availability but have similar applications for comfort) w/o the bulky pads. Might have to order a pair of socks just to try them out on the 2024 GTofT.

I don't know if I could live with that paint bubbling...it just takes away from the whole experience! Lovely red bike...seems like everyone has changed out their gauges...I'm happy my Veglias are still working nicely!

The museum would be perfect…I stopped there a decade ago on the way to Big Bend….would be very much in the spirit of the Tour. Another good one, let’s say a modern one, would be the launch pad site in Boca Chica for the Musk rockets…extra bonus points for a night time launch with rocket flames!! Pity that he doesn’t take your suggestions, I wonder how many he gets? I thought the ice cream trailer on the corner near Luckenbach would be an interesting one….they make gelato out of buffalo or bison milk and have a great place inside for lunch…and a massive parking lot…ideal for motorcyclists to visit!

Nice!! Thanks for the map! Much better distribution for us this year! I finally watched the video a couple nights ago…quite a few new stops to visit. The welcome to Texas sign is a fun one to chase…I usually stop and take a picture like that when I am crossing back from Oklahoma in May coming back from a Guzzi rally in Kansas…now I have to think about the long slog again back to Marfa! That’s a big trek just for one stop! Some of the other ones I will try to get if I can make it to the National rally in June on the way to Oregon heading up towards the northwest portion. Lots of planning needed this time and promises to be another fun year!!

Managia.... Figlio di pu... Porco...

I would go for one on a group order as well...that looks like a nice piece of kit.

A pleasant Xmas surprise arrived today!!