po18guy

I'm about ready to post you round-trip air fare.

What Vincent??? Can't seem to get past the GREEN.

Saw the Norton barrels and head on the bench during the Rapide build. Knew there had to be more to it. You've undoubtedly got better riding weather there in Orygun than we have up north. I think my cousin in Seward has better riding weather than Seattle.

He's out now! No more hiding behind the interwebz persona!

Have been watching the progress of a bloke in Oregon refurbing a Vincent Rapide. Cueing up the "first start" video, I note in the opening shot that the man (or his friends) has excellent taste. In fact, it might leave you greenie with envy... Is it one of us???

The Ballabio is the red-haired step-child of the family, but mine had two prior "mature" owners, only 4.5K, was stored inside and came with all the records and about 2K of accessories. Thus, I was not afraid to pay the price of a new Nina 300 for it.

If you want the look, buy one pod filter, cut it in half lengthwise, and hot-glue half to each of the intake boots just upstream of the throttle bodies. Only you will be the wiser. Seriously, airboxes are big talk even at the EX500/GPz500S forum. That bike uses CV carburetors which need a certain restriction to function properly. All the cool dudes toss the box and put $10 pods on, only to lose tons of mid-range (if 498cc can be said to have that), as well as some top end, as the slides may not rise completely. The EX airbox has a 7 litre capacity and is a very odd shape, fitted into each and every available nook and cranny in the frame. 5 separate pieces and two snorkels. It was most certainly not done for looks - it was done by reading dyno charts at the factory.

The NGK wires pictured on page 1 of this thread are more than long enough. Less than $20, a relative steal as Guzzistuff goes. This listing is $16.78, but make sure you specify the 90º cap. https://www.ebay.com/itm/NGK-Racing-Wire-90deg-Solid-Resistor-Cover-100cm-90-100cm-8736-N-CR6/333270758936?epid=171310303&hash=item4d987c3618:g:kZwAAOSwU7Jd-~Dc

True! My lowly, ancient EX500A1 (1987) has a 56.5 inch wheelbase and bars that rise about 4" above the triples. I am that 6-02/190 "mythical" rider and that bike just plain fits me. Few bikes that I have thrown a leg over have given me that impression. Of memory, the Victory V92SC, the Buell XB12 - for two polar opposites, and as I recently discovered, the Ballabio. Many bikes, especially at shows, have "the look" but not "the feel". Since I actually ride the bikes, I prefer them to have both, but the feel is paramount. The V11 sound, "filtered" through the Staintune cans, is simply icing on the cake. It is a manly bike, if one is allowed that term these days, and requires some muscle, skill and involvement on the rider's part. No droning commuter bikes need apply.

Too many political, financial, manufacturing (airbag) and other scandals, I guess. As well, the Koreans are putting a big dent in their auto sales, at least stateside.

Docc, just paint'er John Deere green and put an orange triangle on the rear... Yeah, not silver, I know.

I picked up the idea from magazine content such as Cycle World, Cycle, Car and Driver, etc. in the 80s and onward. From the interwebz: "Three years after purchase, every new car has to go through an expensive inspection process, and once every two years after that. Furthermore, vehicles older than 10 years have to pass the inspection every year. As a result, most car owners in Japan write off their cars after 10 years and buy new ones.Jun 14, 1998" Collector motorcycles? Nothing that I could find after searching several ways.

Work is progressing very nicely! I see the snorkels cut right about where I plan on trimming mine back to. From there forward, I'd "like" to run red silicone car turbo hose to just above the oil cooler, with screened openings. Ah, dreams...anyway, we've seen the fabricated sheet metal (alloy) valve covers for Yank and Aussie V8s. Would be really nice, really pretty (really $$$) if a shop could fab a polished, tig-welded alloy airbox, larger intake openings being part of the package. Speed of thought advancing to "tepid" here, the airbox lid is a simple shape. A sheet of .250"/6mm ABS, some cutting and some gluing might just provide a reasonable alternative. And, I can make the intakes the size I want - space between tank and frame as the runners go forward being the limiter. 3.00 inch/76mm silicone tubing could be compressed to oval shape between tank and frame I suppose. What I really need: 1) more energy or 2) a younger workmate to carry out the work, and/or 3) warmer weather. With patience, I'll get #3.

Wealthy Japanese have an intense interest in things Italian. With all of the trouble taken to purchase and import it, there is certainly reason to question why it was then sold back out of Japan, and not to another Japanese resident.

"Scura" means dark. Red is not dark. And, since when does a 2004 have a chin pad tank? Imported from Japan, I think something was lost (gained?) in the translation.

Nice work - proving that perseverance pays off. We apparently love these bikes inasmuch as nothing is simple. Maybe a plug change and air in the tires. Outside of that, we repeat or invent Italian curses and/or become impromptu Guzzi engineers (and darned good ones at that!).

Oddly (maybe not), my airbox lid has no recycling symbol on it. Perhaps even more strange is that it carries the 'e11' mark, which seems to be the UK certification of motor vehicle safety and environmental acceptability, issued to the UK by the EU authorities. The part itself appears to be 'blow molded', in that the outer dimensions are controlled and texturized by the mold, while the material thickness fluctuates somewhat and interior dimensions are smooth and less consistent. Such a manufacturing process tends to favor a thermoplastic - but in recent decades, many new and hybrid types of plastic have entered the market. So, back to the start: who knows? Acerbis may not even remember... As well, the box itself may consist of an entirely different material, formed differently. :shrug:

If it is made of the same stuff as the lid, I have a spare which I can check and advise of the type of plastic it is. From the pic which Paul Minnaert posted above, it appears that it might be glass-filled nylon, which can be bonded with liquid epoxy, JB Weld (steel-reinforced epoxy) or similar. If it did not melt and ball up on the hole saw, it is probably a thermo-setting plastic.

Hmmm. Some late-night musing here, as the snow falls. It's either a thermoplastic (weldable) or a thermo-setting plastic (bondable). Have you had it off recently to see the recycling mark molded into it? Or, do you have the bits trimmed off? It either melts to the soldering iron or you can epoxy a like plastic to it. If a local plastics supply has a sheet of similar stuff, you could make up a ring which would be concentric with the intake boot,covering the gap and appearing somewhat "factory."

There is nothing like a good fixture, wood, metal, what-have-you, that will hold the work piece! No drill chattering, no dancing as Phil stated. All of the force used is put into fitting the guide, not moving the head whilst placing the guide. A lot of lost motion and wasted effort. I mean, how difficult is it to run 4 carriage bolts up through a scrap of plywood to hold the head still?

Indeed, a marvelous, almost mystical, if not mythical machine. Ah, if only it was a review of the road-legal version... However, for a mere $55K, one can be had here in Seattle. https://seattleusedbikes.com/pre-owned-motos-and-gear/?&SingleProduct=40

Indeed! Nice, shiny, well packaged springs arrived. By way of comparison, they make the OEM spring look like something from a Pearl River Delta toy.

I marvel at the technical and practical research that this seemingly unknown organization is capable of. It labors in obscure parallel with the Piaggio Group, a multi-billion € manufacturing giant of a corporation. Yet, from this position of obscurity, it is capable of identifying design and manufacturing faults, engineering superior replacement parts, arranging for their manufacture and worldwide distribution, in a timely manner and at a cost which the average consumer can afford. Unsung heroes they are! Where is this covert operation located? Right here! Pete, Chuck, Phil, Scud, footgoose and many others who devote irreplaceable life energy to polishing up and perfecting what the colossal Piaggio group could not (or would not) do. What caused this effusive praise? Admittedly, some dark roast coffee and the fact that my re-engineered shift mechanism springs arrived today. Kudos, gents! A multi-national David who has slayed the capabilities of Goliath. Or perhaps beaned him in the melon whilst his attention was focused on "greater things."

Ditto! In the rainy Seattle area, we are setting records for rainfall. Today it is snowing or all things. I have a new Adv/Touring jacket to try, a new helmet, and Gerbing heated glove inserts, but all of this may have to take place within the confines of my garage. Not to mention a new-to-me V11 that I have put only 500 miles on. Harumph!

From the OP: "I am NOT separating the bike from the extras, or the extras from the bike."