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Expecting the cold front to reach Houston tonight, lasting throughout till Wednesday... I am hoping we are not going to have power cuts like in 2021... two days without power, and water is unfathomable in the modern world.

If you want the real Yurt experience, head to Kazakhstan.... closer to us, indeed the Yurt is fun. When I got to El Cosmico they had a family in one of them, and they have a lot of RVs or Trailers that have seen better days. I think some of them have AC; They also have an area dedicated to those who bring their own tents. The facilities are rudimentary. Not much privacy; it reminded me of the army, including filthy bathrooms!!!! I always try to stay at the Hotel Paisano; however since it housed James Dean and the Giant movie crew, it gets full easily. I like to watch the old photographs of them and what is left of the shooting site. As you know, we have a solar eclipse over Texas on April 8th, 2024. It would be a great reason to head to Marfa. Unfortunately, Marfa is in Zone A, so only partial eclipse. The Marfa viewing area is more or less in line with Chihuahua, thus in the path. @docc sorry again for leading the John Day topic astray...

Sorry; Andy Timmons. I spoke about him in a different post, under the topic: favorite songs. He lives in McKinney Texas. (45' from Dallas) I really like his music. I used to go to his concerts at the Guitar Sanctuary, in McKinney. Sadly, during the pandemic they created a virtual platform "StageIT", so musicians could still safely perform and earn money. The equivalent of "Zoom" for the rest of the work force. After the pandemic, he continues to use "StageIT" which obviously allows him to sell his shows from home. No equipment to carry, setup, rig down, carry back. No living home and family. No travel. Not the same. Going to McKinney from Houston was a good excuse to V11 or 911.

If you ever get the need to do something very different, and you decide to do it in France, I would like to recommend a boat trip along the Canal du Midi. This is a unique experience that does not require any specific skills. You rent a boat and off you go; bring the entire family, and live the most incredible 15 days of your lives. I have seen motorcycles on the boats too. This video is subtitled in English, and shot by Canadian French. It gives you an idea of what the trip can be. Once in a lifetime. You can even follow the Canal on your Moto Guzzi while your better half drives the boat. This beats anything you have ever done so far, shy of riding a V11 perhaps! I lived several years in Sète, and the Canal du Midi experience is mind-blowing; each time! for those of you living in Europe, you should give it a try. This is enchanteresque!

@docc @PJPR01 My best ever version of Tin Pan Alley is of course this one; In Texas, Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose name I mispronounced for a long time, is an institution. I was saying the "ghan" like "gan" of Organ.... lol... I include a live version too, for good measure. Which one do you prefer? When I first moved to Houston in 2008, my first trip was to Austin to check Antone's where he used to play before he was known. The place has now closed down. It is a pity, because they had all the pictures of him on the stage when he was still a 16's year old guy. I have seen Lucky Peterson live in Paris. I was always a Blues enthusiast from my early days. My mum took me to see Jimi Hendrix when he played at the Olympia in Paris. This was a revelation, and I immediately decided I was going to learn to play guitar. So I learned music and trumpet for 7 years after that. (my mother did not get a good impression of Jimi Hendrix; she said Electric guitar was not a noble instrument! Louis Armstrong was a better incarnation of music in her mind! Trumpet then....) When I finally could buy my first guitar, I was already past the time when I could dedicate the time to learn. Strangely, my favorite guitar player is not a Blues guitar player, but that is another story. He is also based in Texas though! Sure thing for BB King; I also saw him live in Paris. But I am more a Texas blues style of music. Lucky Peterson is Chicago style. I also like Robben Ford very much. His use of the half diminished blues and pentatonic scales is incredible; playing Blues with a Jazzy touch.

I wonder if people know what a vaudeville is.... But I came across similar issues; such as the song Tin Pan Alley, and the Chitlin circuit when I became interested in Blues guitarist. Plenty of those that don't translate well in other's cultures or languages.

It had to happen, sooner or later! Piaggio wants to have an entry level bike for Moto Guzzi as every other brand is currently purporting; only it will not be one with the legendary V twin; rather, it would use the Aprilia RS 457 parallel twin, and final chain drive. This is not 100% confirmed, it is just a guess: https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-news/moto-guzzi-retro-roadster-spy-shots/ Whoever came up with the idea, I think it is a mistake. Moto Guzzi must remain special and different. I am not certain, slapping an Aprila power plant on a Guzzi chassis will do much to promote the brand. The Guzzi identity must be preserved. Why couldn't they take a V7 and make it a V5?

This went right above my head..... unfortunately I will google it to understand; Peoria as Peoria in Arizona , next to Phoenix AZ; now I am aware of the Phoenix!

I use a tool to plan my journey according to weather.... of course, I can only check a few days ahead only.

@Icenian I would recommend buying the motorcycle with the least foreseeable problems; unless you are completely dead set on a particular model, which you don't seem to be, since you requested advice. When I set out to purchase my V11, I knew it was going to be a Le Mans, and it had to be red! any other consideration unimportant. The same applies today when looking for a companion bike. I want a Red Quota or nothing. No compromise. There is no rationale to it. I am dead centered on what I want, whether a good or bad choice. I don't know yet. Something I do understand pretty well, is what I want to do with the Quota. That also helped to focus on a single bike.

No more camping for me.... You know I camped at Marfa, this year for the tour, at El Cosmico... this was my first time since I last camped, like when I was 16? my tent was the furthest away from the sanitary. How pleasant to do the trip every three hours during the night. Under the Chihuahua desert sun, a fan is just as useful as a band-aid on a prosthetic limb. The lady staying next to me had a huge dog parked outside her tent, very keen on getting a meal supplement each time I passed, barking mad and waking up everyone in the process. El Cosmico? never again!!! If I buy that Quota, there is a huge trunk in the back. I should be able to carry a lot more equipment now.

I spoke to the seller tonight. He apologized for not answering email promptly, as he said that he was simply overwhelmed with the amount of email he was receiving daily. Not for the Quota, but he has other items that he is selling. The owner of that Quota passed away; he was a Guzzi enthusiast, and owned two Quota. The owner only sells one, if I understand properly, which is fine with me. He said that he fixed the turn indicators with duct tape, and all the electricals work as they should; his only concern would be the tires. My next step is to get there, check the bike, and return with it without breaking down. I was thinking it was going to be a walk in the park, but he said they have lower than normal temperatures in Peoria; 39 degF... Of course, I have no winter riding gear...

You mean the inspectors would be able to identify a weld camouflaged under the paint? without x-raying it? or is it compulsory to report any chassis repair by law?

I don't really understand it myself. But I looked together with Mike at the Road 6 availability, and from his supplier they were out of stock. I was travelling anyway, so it would not have made a big difference. Tomorrow, I will check with Davey; I am hopeful the bike is ready.

Hotel prices have gone insane following the general freeze. Besides that you no longer get room service after the initial move in, but still pay full price per night. Many hotels have also implemented the infamous Las Vegas "Resort fee" which you need to pay even if there isn't any resort. Furthermore, I tried a couple of dates on their website, and it is a two nights minimum stay.... the cheapest I found was $500, while the average was more around the $700. Three nights, and I could buy another Moto Guzzi Quota.....:-)

@audiomick thanks for sharing. If there isn't some real structural damage, I can see that a weld would most likely fix it permanently. Also, you need to factor in how the bike was ridden, such as strictly asphalt or terrain. With such a heavy power plant, top-heavy, it actually makes sense the frame may not have been conceived to endure big shocks. One concern was that Mike of MPH Cycle Houston was very negative about the Quota, without being specific on what. Once I get more details from the current seller, I will go to MPH and find out what he thinks; at the same time, I hope he had enough of six weeks to install my new Michelin Road 6... Duh!

That I have read throughout the many forums Bard nicely compiled for me. It is amazing how AI can actually help, as long as you verify everything compiled. However, what I read that the problem happened on the 92/93 1000 Quota, after the switch from Carburetor to EFI. So much, that some owners reverted to carburetors. But as far as I could read, the 1100ES 2000 was not perfect, but not as bad as the earlier models.

@Chuck I saw the four screws you mentioned on the diagram of the workshop manual. They are at the front of the tank. Must be very hard to put inserts behind....

@Chuck how many miles could you do on a single tank?

Thanks; Correct re the single throttle body, unfortunately; this is from the workshop manual... Unique throttle group; The turn signals are not a dealbreaker "per se", however I can't risk being stopped by a trooper because my turn indicators don't work or dangle. You mean the tank inserts? I have not yet gone through the workshop manual. Am I to understand the fairing screws go through the tank and are held from the inside?

@Chuck Thanks for the tip; this is an issue because I only have thirty days to pass the State's inspection, and working turn indicators is compulsory. But the main issue is that my plan was to bring the bike riding it. With the failed stalks, I have to fix them before. I see they are available from MG Cycle at $30 each. I don't know if it has a bad wheel. The owner said it was imported from UK by its owner. The current owner has several motorcycles, and seemed to be proactive with me. I can easily ask him if his has single or dual throttle. But I would think that all the 1100 ES Quota of year 2000 had dual throttles? I am going to check in any case. This is going to be hard to check. The seller of the Red one is only flipping it. That is my understanding. He purchased it from an estate, and has no personal knowledge of the bike, other than his previous owner was taking good care of it. I think the photos show that too. If you look at the Red Arizona tag, the sticker seems to indicate "20"; meaning that the bike has been off the roads for 4 years. I am going to speak to the seller later on today. I will ask him if there is a place where the bike can be serviced before I bring it back to Houston. The Red is the first one I am going to go check. It is in Peoria Arizona. About 57 minutes away from Phoenix by bus.

Help me with inquisitive eyes.... The Red appears to have the four turn indicators broken? bent? or is it my imagination? The Black: The owner has many bikes, and he seems to be more interested. He sent me all the pictures below. That bike only has 4700 miles. He originally purchased it for his son, but the bike is too tall for him to ride comfortably. He replaced the rear rotor and brake and the rear-wheel bearing. He is the second owner. The original owner brought the bike from UK. The ask price is 5100 USD.

Exactly! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxoTSqWgJhk

I have not; now ride testing a V85 will most likely be less challenging than tracking a Quota, or so it seems. I can easily go to AF1 in Austin and check out a V85TT in less than two shakes of the lamb's tail. I have ridden "Trail bikes" before. Honda dominator, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki while I was in Sicily. My bike was an Harley Davidson at the time, but my colleagues liked to ride on the beaches. I have been drawn to the Quota because of its oddity. I also like that the engine is very similar to our V11s. I had the opportunity to see a Quota up close and personal last year in Boise, and I liked it. If the seller had not tempered with the clutch and brake levers by removing the balled ends, I probably would have gone ahead and purchased it, despite not really liking the color.