GuzzTim

Well.. thought I'd add a few observations on the two weeks of Tuono ownership (say that three times fast) and comparison to the V11. Although its the same parent company, the turn signal switch on the Guzzi is above the horn button.. the turn signal switch on the Tuono is below the horn button. I've been honking my way through intersections. Don't do this at home, its not very effective in letting other drivers know which way you're turning. The plus side is that I've made friends with a few soccer moms in SUV's. "Hey mommy, I think that biker is honking at you".... The Tuono is a bloody fast bike. I drove it for the first few days, getting used to the power, riding position (quite good), and smoothness. The first time I got back on the Guzzi I was frankly dismayed. The vibrations felt lke someone was hitting the handlebars with a hammer. It wasn't so much that there were vibrations, just that the impact though the hands was really hard. We've had a lot of rain lately, and with a break in the clouds on Dec 31st, I wheeled the Tuono out of the garage and tried to fire it up.. Click.. Click.. Click... Having recently gone through a dead battery on the V11, I checked the voltage (11.5) and threw the charger on it. With battery fully charged it still went click click click... Jumped the solenoid with a screwdriver and it turned over. Great.. early life failure on the solenoid. and it was Jan 1 with the bike shop closed for a long weekend. So I took the Guzzi out for a ride instead.. It was lovely. I love the riding position as it feels like you're in the bike rather than on it. The power is just fine and plenty enough to get into trouble. The vibrations didn't seem to be as annoying as that first ride after the Tuono.. and it still is the sexier bike of the two... Back to the Tuono.. when the shop opened I took it back to the dealer, they confirmed the solenoid and swapped it out under warranty. After spending the first couple of months sorting out quirks with the Guzzi, it didn't even faze me that the Tuono had a glitch like that. I recently got a set of Givi bags for the Guzzi, and will post pix of them and the soon to arrive Staintunes when I get a chance. Looks like the sun is breaking through, I think I'll go for a ride at lunch.. Ride on ! Tim

Now I have this mental image of Jaap standing in the beer section of a supermarket drinking 10 beers while the clerks anxiously wonder what to do with this crazy tourist...... then getting into his RV and driving to the next supermarket.. beer tour across America ..

Upper Canada Ale... Lager.. Pale Ale.. Anything from Upper Canada Brewing.

As Spock would say... "sounds logical" But what's the return in investment? With a 2 cyl motor such as we have, how much incremental benefit would you expect to derive from this ? Is it a pursuit of speed? If so, for me I think I would take the $$ and do another track day, buy better tires, tweak the suspension as a better return on investment. However, you can't put a price on the inherent value of tinkering... Cheers from sunny California, at least for the couple of hours before the rains return. Tim

so hopeful you not invite for a date. you will then need to look some other places.

very cool..

LOL.. ah, trust the constabulary to recognize the weapon. It is in fact a trebuchet.. taken from the http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/t...het/builds.html website. useful for launching mini coopers into empty farmers fields. If you're under siege from your mother in law, you can put the old bird in the sling, telling her its a new comfy chair, and launch her into oblivion. also good for getting rid of holiday left-overs, stock mufflers, air box lids, and any other OEM bits and pieces.

I do miss Wallace and Gromit.. This avatar was supposed to have motion and was related somehow to the "mother in law & lethal weapons" thread. although I personally think all mothers-in-law are a form of lethal weapon... or certainly a lethal nuisance... Guesses anyone? Cheers, Tim

Tx.. I've had this cookbook for a couple of years. You may enjoy. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=books&n=507846 Cheers Tim

Great fix.. did it this morning Thanks! Tim

let us know how you mount the candelabra on the triple tree without upsetting the aerodynamics.. www.candelabras.com

Ya.. keep in touch.. I'd be interested in something like this.. especially if I can figure out a way to trailer the bike to Mongolia !! Cheers, Tim

ouch.. that brings back memories. what a clapped out old tart she was...

one of my favourite quotes was Lemmie saying "We're the type of band that if we moved in next door your lawn would die"...

that's the same expression I had during my last physical

Tx. you may like Caroline Alexander's Book - Endurance. I thought it was well written. I also read Shackleton's South. I was lucky enough to be in NYC years back and they had his actual lifeboat on display at the Museum together with photos and artifacts. To see how small that boat was in real life gave me a whole new appreciation for the journey Tim

Way Cool.. I share a birthday with the drummer from the Pogues !! #1 hit was Elvis Presley - "It's Now Or Never"

I guess my take is that its blowholes in general that are a waste of my good breathing air... politically correct or incorrect.. There's a difference for me between "in your face" and a blowhole. I like someone who knows what they're saying, and stands by it. Good or bad you can count on them. People saying stupid sh*t for the sake of being heard without the conviction behind it are the worst kind of liars in my book. and that is NOT directed at anyone on this forum.

East of San Fran. I've thought about Mexico too. I've got a KLX300R (not street registered) that I could slap an IMS tank on... But I'd have to trailer it to Baja.. Wish your friends good luck for me... Cheers, Tim

great post .. thanks. coincidentally, I was viewing the www.dakar.com site recently. While shopping for a second bike, the KTM Adventure was a candidate and of course nearly all the bikes in the Dakar list this year are KTM's. It's a goal/dream of mine to ride somewhere "exotic" before my own valves give up and I blow a gasket (no, nothing impending...) I don't think I'll do Dakar, especially since neither the V11 or Tuono would be up to the task.. I have been looking at these sites though.. http://www.hctravel.com/chinamongolia.htm or this one.. http://www.asianbiketour.com/Motorcycle_to...LAOS_Tour_5.htm Fun stuff Cheers, Tim

Guido.. sorry to hear about the fall, glad to see you can still type. I've got a 2001 V11 and never had this problem. I spent a day at a local race track (Laguna Seca) earlier this year and never experienced any sort of wobble or slap. Was the rod broken after or before the fall ? Cheers, Tim

Brian, kudos for riding ! I agree w/ the metaphysical, don't understand why it happens, I just know it does. Some of my riding moments that are absolutely seared into my memory are those which occured just after "suffering" through rain or darkness. I've done a couple of long hauls, 24hr 1300 miles, coast to coast in 46hrs, and will always remember the empty stretches of road as the sun's coming up.. the bike humming along, senses more or less intact, and the prospect of doing nothing but thinking and riding for another day. Cheers to you, Tim

Martin..well said. I personally enjoy this "moderated" forum for two reasons. 1) The forum members have a wealth of technical knowledge and a common love of Guzzi's that I find both informative and entertaining. Frankly we all have our daily grinds of work and family etc, and this is like our clubhouse where we can kick back and bulls**t about bikes without getting into political, social or moral issues. I can find all sorts of avenues for political discussion or fighting, its nice to leave that on the doorstep of this forum and focus on Guzzi's. I think its Jaap's active moderation that keeps this forum on track, keeps it light, and makes members feel welcome. 2) Given the lack of face to face contact its too easy to get the nasty comments, or as Janusz says, for the morons to identify themselves. I meet enough morons on a daily basis, I don't need to see them in the forum. I don't think moderation of this forum is the type of evil censorship that makes the liberatian in me cringe. I just view it as common courtesy/manners (call it what you will) that lets people of different strongly held views share a common interest in bikes... and books and music... oh, and Italian women.. ok, getting off topic there. The interesting thing about the moderation or rules around this forum, is that I don't think its prevented anyone from expressing themselves.. During the US election, there were a few comments that identified some members political leanings, without it turning into a political forum. Truth always has a way of getting out despite restrictions. We can see hints of each other's opinions in the little comments/jokes without having it be a free for all. Thanks for the soapbox. Cheers, Tim

Dave.. not sure yet on which one I will ride to the MotoGP. I also have to ride to San Diego in mid January and am debating which bike to take. But for sure I am keeping the V11. Its such a beautiful bike that I can't see parting with it. Tim

got a Tuono just before Christmas... brilliant red. Tim