Pressureangle

Before I say 'one of the best Fortnine breakdowns ever' and 'He's on point everywhere' I have to point out that probably due to youth and a dab of apathy, he's missed a couple relevant points that add to, but don't dispute, his analysis. H-D sold over 100,000 motorcycles in 1936, before WWII. They never achieved that number again until 1988. They bought half of Aermacchi in 1960, because they wanted a World Championship in a Euro theater, and brought the Sprint to the US- where it was a monumental failure. Before that, they had the Whizzer and the Topper; neither brought a significant number of new riders to the brand *in and of themselves*. So there was a basis for ignoring entry-level bikes. The real problem was the ability of the Company to manipulate politics; famously and obviously in flat-track racing, where only Honda was able to overcome H-D rulemaking via sanctioning body with fabulous engineering specifically targeted to the project. Pity Honda turned that into the PC800 instead of a decades-early Ducati Monster. So the Company became stereotypically ossified in executive mentality, a la IBM. Then Ford and GM, then all the auto companies, stood up internal Corporate financing, which put product and customer both to second consideration. Coupled with the death of Corporate legacy interest, and the coming of CEOs and executives who gave no shit for the legacy it's easy to see how they got here. And there's no indication it's changing. All the electric bicycles and hand-waving are nothing but a drowning man's flailing and grasping at straws. So Phil's correct, Fortnine spelled it out, and the only people who adhere to history and legacy are riding trikes or wheelchairs, or mouth-breathing gym-rat trust fund babies of the former.

Tell me you've never watched 'Two Lane Blacktop'. Seriously Next you'll say you don't have 'Dirty Mary Crazy Larry' or 'Vanishing Point' on DVD

You have to ride one old enough to have iron cylinders to understand. But those of us who have, as stated, are a dying generation. And many of us found ... less problematic units to fill the same spaces.

There was interest. They came with the Livewire, and it was a stellar hit *in testing*. Then they took 2 years to release it, ruined the look, made it $5k too expensive. Then all the Indian/Japanese/whatever the smaller stuff was, which was ugly slow and still expensive. There was nothing wrong with Sportsters as first bikes, except They want scarcity, they'll get it. Until they can source American parts, of which there are very few.

I don't have the reputation as a H-D fanboy, or tolerant of much of their customer base. I do like their history and many of their (past) motorcycles, including the (pre-production) Livewire. But I hate to see an American company folding due to nothing but arrogance, incompetence and inflexibility. Mix in a little tinfoil about internal destruction via infiltrators working for Short profiteers like Bane Capital and voila. So this doesn't have a point, just environmental drama in the motorcycle jungle. https://www.advrider.com/harley-davidson-board-member-abruptly-resigns-slams-company-leadership/

I'll definitely take advantage of this for the urchin redframe.

They seem to specialize in hard acts to follow- the drummer is even more impressive here, I think- Mom and Dad are in. Their ABBA cover is pretty amazing too, absent male voices.

I had to go back and watch twice after realizing towards the end that the lead guitar had completely lost the camera and fell into herself. That was about 2:30 around the organ solo. She started out 'acting' for the video, and while comptent she really lit it up in the second half.

I discovered while adding a hardened bolt to the heel of mine that there's a steel core cast inside the leg. Too bad they didn't make it a steel foot. Seems like they're hen's teeth- what happened? Is your mounting bracket ok?

I would check the nut on the gearbox carefully to see if it's split. If so, you could use a clamp or perhaps a sturdy zip tie to tighten it on the thread after assembly. If not, a few wraps of teflon tape should tighten the threads up enough to keep it in place.

Was gonna sell the BMW GSA, but I hate leaving the dog while touring and then, well

Yet they remain.

"It never needed any work and had things like self cancelling turn signals, hydraulically adjusted valves, and a big trunk to carry things. If the Guzzi is even close to as enjoyable I'll like it a lot." Ruht Roh, Rhaggy

One of the most beautiful things I've ever heard was some sort of loop frame Guzzi with a hotrod engine and Conti mufflers. Reno, NV circa 1980.

I got nothin'. AC/DC? Here's how I learned about Australia;

Funny, On a long ride I'll carry a pump and plug kit. I always have them in the car. But I don't always take them on short rides, and one day I'll pay the price.

Found the transmission cross bolt amongst the body parts. The pivot has 20mm x 1.0 thread x 28mm length, the stub being 17mm diameter x 21mm length. Hex head insert to turn. It's not impossible, given the state of affairs, that these pieces made their way into the box with the transmission itself; I'll have that in hand in a couple weeks.

Agreed, with the previous concerns noted if they come off they should just be made new. There are many fasteners on this thing that show their age, and those I replace will probably be replaced with stainless steel as a matter of appearances but also remove any question about serviceability. And yes, I know the different grades of stainless steels and their applications.

The PO is still out of town so I can't ask if he's found any additional bits- Taking inventory of what I need to acquire, at least the things I can identify before I need them. 1 pivot bolt and nut 1 long crossbolt for rear trans mount through the porkchops Easy enough to find at the breakers, but there are many different pivot bolts and not always identified adequately by the seller... What fits, who may know? it appears some differences may be nothing more than the tool used to turn the bolt, and the style of nut retaining it.

Is that the same tail piece as the green one posted above? Perhaps it's the angle of the photo that makes the green one look like a frog's butt? This one is so close but so much better.

That looks like a stunter's GSXR after too many wheelie loops. Nice tank, tho.

The things you learn along the way. Herb Alpert is the 'A' in A&M Records.