Gmc28

I think there’s an enzyme in the one, like in Startron. That’s what I do for the V11’s, which mostly sit all winter, but will definitely get ridden again by spring. All good, and can do same here with the loop, but that gas may sit longer. Seems as though a good fellow on wildguzzi has a rear fender for me. So the process is moving very slowly, but it’s moving. looks as though MGcycle is out of stock on the solo seat they carry, but cycle garden has some. Still giving thought to recovering the saddle I have, but it’s a mess, not stock or even remotely like stock, and I don’t think I like it. Also thought about a lower, non stock style seat. Probably not, but have seen some nicely applied on the V7. Don’t need to stick with stock on this machine, so that’s not a key criteria, but a consideration. I love the stock restorations, and I love many of the well done custom builds. Partly based on what I’ve got to work with, I’m inclined to depart from trying to go back to original/stock, but keep it in the subjective area of “respecting the stock style”. Whatever that means…. We’ll see.

makes sense, and thats what i've done in the past, but never for as long. was just wondering if there were any other nifty hacks for that kind of thing. i'll drain and refill with fresh petrol... Probably the best habit to establish for this machine anyway, as it presumably will never be a regular rider bike, even when i've done what i'm going to do with her.

I’ll drain the old fuel out of the machine, as it’s apparently been in there a long time, which can make life more difficult with carbs (or FI). But whats the best option for long term storage… fill it with clear/non ethanol to keep the inside of tank less susceptible to moisture, or leave it dry? i’m in a moist wet environment, so have always defaulted to keeping stored bikes with clean fuel in the tank, but have never planned to store for more than a winter.

(new thread here to unclutter dave swansons thread) I may have accidentally ended up with this machine. Oops. A friend wanted to unload it, and offered it a few times over the years, with me declining, but finally circumstances, an adjusted set of desires, and price aligned, and now i have it. I honestly had thought it was a ‘72 V7 from just eye-balling it casually in passing a couple times, but it’s a ‘68 V700. Need to strip the paint and redo the tank (etc) paint scheme to something stock, or stock-ish, and am loving that red/chrome. the chrome would presumably be harder to reproduce. probably will be a while till i actually do much with it, as this was not a planned thing. Need to clear out some other projects first. Will be eye-balling stock or close-to-stock paint schemes, how to clean up the semi-hacked rear fender on this one, getting new fork seals in, ways to maybe enhance/improve the clutch activation, etc.

(thanks Docc for moving this thread over. I wasn’t thinking clearly when I dropped my little tangent onto Dave’s beautiful rebuild thread instead of starting my own.) I’ll be keen to get input on this machine. For instance, Daves pipes look great, and am interested in details on those. Etc. I’m new to the 50+ year old bike category, other than bikes i rode as a kid, so even things like any hacks for the clunky center stand that wants to fall down to vertical, or the clutch engagement which is beautifully simple but clunky… are there hot tips on any of that floating out there in this group? Link to @Dave Swanson's thread:

beautiful. I may have accidentally ended up with such a machine. Oops. A friend wanted to unload it, and offered it a few times over the years, with me declining, but finally circumstances and price aligned, and now i have it. I honestly had thought it was a ‘72 V7 from just eye-balling it casually in passing a couple times, but it’s a ‘68 V700. Need to strip the paint and redo the tank (etc) paint scheme to something stock, or stock-ish, and am loving that red/chrome. the chrome would presumably be harder to reproduce. Link to my "eventual project" . . .

up early on a weekend? Just back from italy (vacation), then heading out on road for work, and don’t think i can weasel out of work, but will rally if i can pull it off.

Years ago I bought an “Alaska sheepskin” pillion cover for my Cagiva, and have used now for almost 20yrs as a seat cover for longer rides. I got some nylon strapping and snap buckles from amazon, and each of my bikes has the under seat strap,mostly hidden out of sight, which i can just attach the seat cover to. pillion cover was how it was old, but its perfect for all my bikes on front/rider seat. gets wet and dries really quick. has a fairly tight texture, not so shaggy (not that the shaggy i’m seeing in these pics isn’t sexy!) i’m a big fan. will even roll it up and bring it on long fly-and-rides, if i plan to be in the saddle for 8hrs or more a day… a butt saver. that company that sells them is still there in Anchorage near Spenard. i think i still ads from them in the moto rags now and then.

you sure thats not an african graduated cylinder? it's all a matter of how you grip it... My beloved Red needs some of that TLC. Looking and running fine, but has been a dearth of V11 riding this year so far, so for me its "what have you not done to your V11 today", sadly. I watch your goings-on with some jealousy. But sounds like I may be back in Mandello, briefly, in September.

top of my list in a few years when I “cut back on work”, which is my version of retirement, is to spend a bunch of time touring australia. the missus will go, so it’ll be a combo of renting a bike for some strategic touring here and there, as sub-routines of the main car or camper touring with her.

well hold now.... its takes all kinds, and if we were all the same it would be rather boring. and look what entertainmnet came from it all in this thread. and pretty funny, moto guzzi owners calling someone else diseased. thats a gem!

since there are other V85tt owners on this forum, figured i'd add a comment or two here on my ongoing relationship with the V85, for any that may be interested. Maybe take the liberty to have this be a little bit more of a V85tt thread. over the winter, i skipped the Guzzitech mods after some consideration (another story) and just did a SAS delete, Agostini exhaust/decat, added the heated grips via the popular mod from WildGuzzi (popular aftermarket slip-on heated grips which we tie into the factory switch), and a few other odds and ends, and all worked out great. Just an incredibly pleasant bike. Still doesn't strike me as a beautiful machine, but one of the best all-around machines i've owned, based on my current perspective (which has been known to change...). i'm done taking her off-road, other than gravel and such, for while she handled all that just fine last year, it was cruel abuse, and I'm just happier on a real off-road bike when on single track and fire roads. win-win. next i'll likely go for the fork cartridge inserts/upgrades, that were well spoken of at John Day last year by other V85-ers. front end is ok, but would benefit from some upgrade. the rear hugger fender i sourced from a chinese site works well, but the mounting setup is crap. It won't fall apart, but its hokey, so will noodle a better way to attach it. Fyi for anyone interested in a hugger. I live on a gravel road, so tend toward those kind of mods more than i would if I didn't live on gravel. i've mostly had (and have) older bikes, so was mildly shocked to learn that AF-1 had gas tank body work for sale, new-in-box, to match factory paint scheme. for a couple hundred bucks i was able to clean up the cosmetic damage (replace it) from the rash the previous owner did to it. the damage is what helped me get the bike at a great discount, which i figured i'd just live with, but was a cheap fix and she looks like new.

some great weather for that shot (and ride). none of the birds I work with or fly are as sexy as the fighter or the older birds that Chuck gets to play with. Well, not since we had to retire the DC-7's... they were lovely old gals. (captured here by someone at an opportune time with the lightning).

heck yes…. been on my bucket list for while, to get over to the motherland to tour, for the beautiful scenery, family roots, and the decent handful of nordic guzzi folks over there, like Tom! But playing tour guide for my own family on recent visits has cramped my riding options. eventually will work it in.

Or i think i’ll put the license plate on one of my odyssey batterys. Like a harley… larger and with less power, but thats ok because it’s heavy too!