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Maybe he is in a band? that is why he called it a sound check? I was surprised that Mistral would already have an exhaust designed for the V100; but according to Akrapovič, they work hand in hand with the factories in order to have the exhaust available at about the same time the bikes get commercialized.

A constructive review from that same guy:

Here's a V100 equipped with a Mistral instead of the stock; What do you think?

Nothing... My company shifted highly specialized oilfield tools from its own factories, to China. If you keep the same standards, it is not lower quality simply because it is not produced in Europe or in the USA. Obviously, it is a lot cheaper, and this is what everyone is looking for. However, there is a hidden con. By shifting your production, you lose talent, know how, machinery. I think the Covid years just introduced the mask crisis, when everybody realized that all the production came from China.... China is introducing very good quality bikes in the European market. The CFMoto 800 MT held its own when compared to the BMW F 750 GS. Many European Motorcycle companies export their production to other countries. KTM, BMW and you will not be surprised if I tell you none of the Triumph sold in the USA are made in Hinkley.

Joan Mir injured himself in the Sprint race, yesterday in Argentina; he is skipping today's GP. Back luck for Honda then. They are out of their two factory riders. On another topic, I decided that the two days of MotoGP is a format I don't like. There is no way I am going to watch two races back to back on a Saturday and Sunday. Even if it is easier in the USA, because you can usually watch early in the morning.

I found a more comprehensive read about the TT650 and TT650 Baja; https://www.odd-bike.com/2014/04/moto-guzzi-v-twin-off-roaders.html I must admit that I had never heard about the 1000 QUOTA, nor about the NTX (not the Stelvio NTX obviously.

I think it is part of his image. It would be interesting to meet him in person. At least, he seems to know what he talks about.

So, on all European motorcycles, you have a lockable hook for your helmet. In Europe. you leave your lid on your motorcycle, or anything else for that matter, and when you come back, it is gone. At least this is my experience in France. Therefore, on the V11, the lock for your helmet is on the left hand side. If I remember correctly, all the helmet locks were on the left hand side. I am going out on a limb here, but I am guessing Guzzi put the seat opening on the opposite side, for symmetry, or because they could not put the lock directly under the seat, where everyone would expect it to be?

It was there on mine too. I installed LED everywhere in an attempt to be more visible. As you know, if you change the incandescence bulbs of your turn indicators, you need to change the blinker central. This is how mine looked before I replaced it with one for LED, that failed one month after I had installed it.

I think they made the song: -"Under the seat" after the V11 release...

@Tomchri Bjorn Langseth taught me everything there was to know about Norway's taxes while we were working in Port-Harcourt Nigeria. As he was going to be transferred back to Stavanger, he looked at bringing a Lexus tax free into Norway since having been abroad multiple years, he was entitled to. Another strategy, was to purchase your vehicle from The Netherlands. There, at the time, you could purchase a new vehicle and keep it in Temporary Transit for 6 months, then import it in your country and pay the taxes on a 6 months old vehicle. I understand the Multistrada works well:

Marquez has been towed so many times now, that it is to be expected; he actually crashed in practice 2 while in one of these "tows" behind Fabio Quartararo. The new aerodynamics on the motorcycles have exacerbated the need to be as high as possible on the race starting grid. This is one of the main complaint from Quartararo and others, but specially Fabio who says he cannot overtake. Before the Stegosaurus backs, pilots starting from the back of the grid would manage to make their way back to the front of the race. Like it is still possible in Moto2 and Moto3. But in MotoGP, qualifying outside of the two front rows often imply being outside of the podium. Some pundits anticipate the next time the rules are going to be reviewed, aerodynamic appendices will be forbidden. But yes, Marquez has his own way of over-exceeding his motorcycle's limits, causing chaos around him with Dorna's forgiveness. Anyway, DORNA has informed Portimao that next year's MotoGP won't happen unless they improve the safety of the track; changing the gravel in the speed traps, and installing air fences everywhere. To avoid a repeat of what happened to Pol Espargaro.

I was reading a comparison between three motorcycles in one a magazine, the "mid-size" adventure bikes, between the BMW F750 GS, CFMOTO 800 MT touring, and the Moto Guzzi V85TT. The Moto Guzzi V85TT comes on top in every department by the way... but that is not what this is about. In the presentation, the journalist stated the V85TT was an honorable worthy creation originating all the way from the Moto Guzzi TT650 Baja!!! This brought back a vague remembrance. But I did not recall anything specific about this model, which, according to what I read, was very successful. If you scrub YouTube, you don't find much about it. More questions than answers. Apparently the TT650 Baja spawned from the Paris-Dakar. Who here knew about this obscure model?

Many think the same. That he is often getting away because of his notoriety. Note that before him, the same was said about VR46. I think DORNA is stuck between a rock and a hard place; trying to rebuild an interest for MotoGP, they need Marc Marquez. I feel that he is the main act of the GP. Everyone wonders if he is going to be able to throw a spanners in the Ducati works. Therefore, they have to thread carefully with what they do to him; I bet he knows it too.... I respect that after all his injuries, he still has the will to win. He makes 30 million Euros a year, plus bonuses and sponsors. He certainly does not need to continue to race. However, he needs to play by the same rules as everyone else.

I would say DORNA is at fault since they altered the penalty serving judgement from "2LLP at the Argentinean GP" to "2LLP at the next participating GP". They can't rewrite the rules as they go. Independently on how I feel about the penalty, the rules are the rules. They announced them to the pilots prior to the races; they have to stick to their own words and lick their wounds. I personally would have picked a departure from pit lane. Or a back spot on the grid for both starts.

Some of us do not have that many years left to wait for the bikes to become flawless....

If it is going to make you feel better, the first time I hand maneuvered my Le Mans from the little ramp on my garage, I left the side stand extended as I thought it would be a safety stop. I planned it as if I lost my balance, I will push the bike and it will safe land on its stand. I did not have enough strength to flip the bike, so it felled on me. I was lucky that none of my limbs got pinned under anything protruding. So much for taking precautions. Now I don't try to push it by myself.

I agree with you. You cannot start penalizing each time a pilot attempt a pass that did not go well. It is somewhat part of the expectation and show provided by MotoGP. But when there is a pattern, then there should be some ways to curb behaviors before someone injury. My main grief is that the rationale behind sanctions are never made public by the stewards panel.

This morning there was a clarification; Marquez will have to do his double long lap penalty whenever he will be fit to race next. I don't know if this is a result of the grumbling that has happened since Marc was going to get away without any penalty. Also, there are more and more voices pointing out the opaque way the stewards are punishing or not the pilots involved in incidents. Fabio Quartararo pointed out that Luca Marini who injured Bastianini did not incur a penalty. Mir had an incident with Fabio Quartararo, crashed out, but got a long lap penalty for the next race. The steward body does not have to explain their decision, but they are losing credibility. Fast!

That "auto-retract" feature reads as a recipe for disasters. I do not know you, but I do not need anybody to think for me. Keeping my mind on the task at hand is good. You start losing your skills when you don't make use of them. Remember those pilots who were unable to fly their plane after the auto-pilot exited when air speed became unavailable?

I am more an "older" motorcycles kind of guy. The "new/modern" stuff does not do it for me. I do not want to be surveilling a robot; I want to change my own gears, I don't need nobody between my throttle grip and the injection system. To each its own. I think I am old, old fashioned, and don't really want to pretend the world has changed. One exception though. I have purchased an airbag jacket. Yes, the 27,490 EUR is for the Multistrada V4 Rally; VAT included. 170 hp - 227 kg. In line with the competition since adventure bikes are those that sell the most, at least in Europe. If I manage to solve my parking space, I will go for a Stelvio.

I am dreaming of the days when I did not have to depress the clutch to start either my motorbike or my car today. Until the Le Mans, I had never owned a bike with having the side stand deployed cut the engine if in gear. Zero is the number of times I attempted to start my bike while in gear; including kick starter. Zero is the number of times I forgot to fold the the side stand. I know, suffice one time to mule over the: "how could I forget it".

I think they really nailed the marketing. But the prices don't make sense... 27k EUR for a motorcycle?! Even the Guzzi Mandello at 17k feels... a lot!

Erratum: Only 4 pilots out for the Argentinean GP; Jorge Martin will be participating his injury is benign.

Oliveira is out for Argentina, so with Marc Marquez out, they have 5 less pilots. Taking into account they already started with less bikes this season, with the departure of Suzuki, it is not good... And because they can't replace any of the missing pilots. Rules say you have to have one GP before you can find a substitute, but the main reason is the fact they can't find substitute pilots given the complexity of the MotoGP nowadays. The only possible candidate for KTM would be Pedrosa, but he does not want to. He will only make an exception for the Spanish GP. Let's hope nothing bad happens this week-end.