tomsp

Pic show my room at the Walker River Resort. Expensive room - $76/night. NO radio or tv in room! Had a kitchen and stuff but that did me no good. No restaruaunt there either - hence going back into to Smith to eat (don't do it!). They did have a terrific pool and spa , They also had a huge bar with big screen tv- which is what I was looking because they promised they could get the Giant's vs Dodgers game -- wron,g they couldn't I was beside myself at this point! I left by 6:00 am, had breakfast in a casino (only thing open) in Yerington (great place with a terrific ride in -- Stunning scenery and twisty along the river Had another great ride into Fernly (no traffic that early) and then on into Nixon on Hwy 447. Nixon is an Indian Reservation by Pyramid Lake. They do have a very visible Police Presence although the town itself is gone in one blink of an eye.

Tuesday through Friday - 1120 miles -- Stockton, CA, to Cedarville, CA and back by different routes . Went my usual route into the hills in CA over HWY 4 - over Ebbits Pass and Monitor Pass (3 hours). Light traffic. Pic is at Mosquito Lakes on Hwy 4. Very little snow on the ground there now -- and that only higher up a couple of feet. Over the two passes I was getting ticked off at my goose for lacking some omphff (read grunt) ripping out of turns. I know I was really tired but I felt the goose limping along (again read ME!). After Monitor Pass I looked over Lake Topaz. My plan was to get to Topaz Lodge (Casino), spend the night, and move on the next day through the desert in Nevada - Route 208 to 95 Alternate to 447. Topaz Lodge ($58/night) looked OK but I got there too early so decided to go down the rode a bit and see if any other lodges were available for less or with more amenities. Wrong. Nothing really on 395 where I was. One guy told me to go to Smith on 208 and stay at the Walker River Resort. OK. I'm game here I ride to Smith (hint-- do not eat there! - although the people are really great!), found the turnoff to the River Inn 2 miles beyond town -- paved road turns into gravel -- oh well!

I suggest just loosening the damper and riding it. My o3 le mans seemed very lively and nervous in turns - I was thinking like a very weird feeling going into turns carrying any speed. I had zero confidence in what the thing would do! This was not like my other bikes: VTR's, R6's, even XJ600. I rode the goose- now it has 7k on it and ALL the weirdness in turns appears to be gone. Strange. Part of it was me learning how to control the throttle (exactly where to cut off and where to crank on) and part was learning what to feel/watch/listen for from the front end in corners. I'd keep riding it with as little "fixes" as is reasonable. It will improve vastly

Good What type of softbags do you use there? While in Portugal, did you ever get to Henry the Navigator's place? Great pics. YOu need to write a book. And from your stuff -- the Moorish-Spanish line area is great history. Absolutely too good. What's next?

so I got my days wrong -- 26 not 55 still longer than I've ever done!

Orson -- awesome story. How'd you get your le mans from Italy to Portugal? And why did you pick Droborsnik (spelling) as the destination -- right-- they have been through it! Did you keep a daily log, etc.? Where did you sleep jeach night for 55 days?! I think I'm doing good when I venture out for a 3 day cruise

Great trip pics and text. How about some background (maybe you had it posted and I missed it) on how'ed you get the bike over there, why'd you do it, was anyone with you, etc. Best and worst parts, etc. thanks and this is very cool

oh yeh, from davidb-- sounds like a good idea-- I will tear out my canister and emission hose lines, etc., whenever I can get this bike registered! I bet by doing that it'll start easier.

I have an '03 -- tried doing the cycle the kill switch 4,5,6 x with not hearing that gurgling sound (I do hear the fuel pump sound), when I press the start, takes 4-5 x before starting! When I turn on the key, give it 1/2 throttle, hit the start, it starts -- not like any of my other bikes (instantly) but after turning over 2-3 x, it fires up nicely.

on that 100 bhp + with 2 valves per-- Al I think you're right. My Honda VTR, with 103 hp (I think!) has 4 valves per cyl. anyway, welcome to the forum

Stainless Steel! Oh, that's what ss looks like I guess I'll need to stare at some aluminum and ss side by side so I'll learn the difference But, important thing is that they are perfectly tooled -- Al is right, it's a shame I have to hide them. Safe riding all This fix is just in time for my annual July ride too.

Wow - Turtle is definately extremely high on my list of guzzi good guys Since I got my 03 le mans on 4-26, my crossover pipe has been totally loose. Loose as in rattling around constantly. When I got the bike the crossover was tight - for about 2 hours. I never considered bringing it to a dealer since the nearest was 1 hour ride away. So first (and last) I bought graphite coupling material, put it in both sides, and clamped down. That lasted about 30 minutes as that material broke up and fell out I posted my situation here, found other strings with similar concerns, and Turtle stepped in and custom made these couplings. The couplings are aluminum and machined perfectly. They even arrived with cool, clear instructions and were packaged like professionally. I got home at 5 pm and by 5:30 the couplings were installed I could tell by just dry fitting the couplings onto the crossover pipe that these were a perfect fit and would do the job. I should have taken pics of the job but it was really too easy and quick! Best part was stating up the goose. I had never heard - really heard-- my goose before ( and mind you, since 4-26, I've put on 2200 miles). Man, the thing sounded good This whole time, I'd been listening to exhaust escaping from my crossover, etc.. What a cool and stunning difference. Thanks Turtle.

hey dave, nice lake alpine run! wish i was with you.

Oh, in the pic, notice the guzzi tank bag -- I love this thing- it expands nicely/easily, it unzips easily from the sub-structure for gassing up or just plain taking it off, it makes into a nifty backpack too! This thing is really cool. And I forgot, but in Markleeville, all the Harley gang were checking out the goose!

June 3,4 -- Trip on 03 le mans 425 miles. The route: from Stockton, CA - up hwy 26 to hwy 12 into Angels Camp to hwy 4 on up the mountain to Ebbitts Pass. Non-eventful up to Lake Alpine, i.e, pretty much cruising at 55 due to chp/traffic. Lake Alpine and beyond on 6-3 ZERO traffic until Markleeville- so the goose and I really had fun. The Le Mans can really handle- it was sooo comfortable going into turns using 2,3,4 gears-- don't think I got out of 4th from Lake Alpine to Markleeville. A couple of the turns were into 1st gear with my boot toe edge scraping the ground (steep elvation change along with radical 180 switchbacks). Made fantastic time and scenery was too much. Only complaint was vibration buzz! Zipping to Markleeville using high revs in 2nd, 3rd, 4th gears, my right hand and foot were really numb! (even with the throttlemeister- time to add lead in there). Stayed overnight in Markleeville- not recommended - rooms were too high and food expensive too! Although there was an Austin Healy car show there. In the morning I'm up a 6:30 and ready to eat -- wrong. Nothing is open until 8:00. I ride over Monitor pass (cold, windy and really fun) at 7:00 am. Zero traffic. Delight does not describe this pass - again using gears 2,3,4,5 and even 6th on one nice stretch through the Aspen trees (I kept that at just tripple digits - I do not need a ticket (I know- that's really bad logic ). Had breakfast on the Nevada Side, gassed up and went back over Monitor Pass-- again zero traffic- and I really much prefer storming a hill going up than down any day - the bike was PERFECT - then once over the pass and back on hwy 4 going W up to Ebbitts Pass, I pass a fishing type truck just before a turn- As I pass him, I upshift into 4th, get setup for the right hand turn, and downshift to third -- attempted downshift into third! My first false Nuetral of the trip! Yes, I'm braking with my front brake and trying to get the goose into 3rd gear, I finally manage it and it must have gone into second cuz my rear tire locks up and I FISH TAIL left/right/eft/right, settle down, and do the turn! Whew I know there's lots of discussion about "sprung springs" on 01 and 02 and I bet 03's are having some of this too - Sometimes when I upshift into 3rd or 4th, the gears grind and sometimes downshifting-- Now this could be me as I have broken my shift ankle twice and I do have some restricted movement there (my shifter is moved down to accommodate my limited movement). Anyway - beautiful ride -- went through 90 + degree heat and went through snow on the side of the road. This would be a great ride for some of us to take as a group!

nice fix-- clear description. is this related?--my 03 le mans sometimes goes to a false nuetral in downshifting, like from 4th to 3rd-- this puts a few scares into me as it has occurrred mostly when coming into a corner too hot and trying to downshift. Clunk-- goes into nuetral and it takes a real pounding to get it to shift down? What is that -- me or the bike??

ok all, dumb question time-- when I got my bike (used with 4.9k on it) the previous owner said he didn't like it cause the bike wouldn't turn for him! When I got the bike I set the damper (stock) for fairly light turning. Made all the difference in the world to me. The le mans dove into turns nicely- the whole bike felt light and nimble. In hard turns though the front end wants to jump around on me! So now, 3 weeks with my bike and 1000 miles later, my front tire's left side tread is almost completely gone and the right half looks terrific. Related to steering damper???

Count me in 100% This place rox!

I called mg cycle and two dealers about getting another ss band clamp for the crossover pipe. MG Cycle was the most help - the two dealers didn't have the clamps or the part numbers-- but none could really tell what size clamp fits there! MG cycle thought it was a 42.5mm band. Anyone care to add their 2cents here?

Great and cool. I emailed Turtle. Will wait for reply. On the dealer thing-- That one did say that he is currently waiting to hear about warranty requests already submitted. And, cause everyone probably thinks I'm very delayed -- I did go to your fine link above but could'nt figure out that all I needed to do was contact--via this site-- the person who made those great looking collars! Oh brother.

Good hearing from you Al! OK, (duh) it's the OEM crossover in Front of the alternator cover , not the Stucchi under! I called a dealer in Sacto (who is a really good guy and who I trust)- he wanted me to bring the bike in but he felt mg would not warranty it cause (1) things are shakey at mg right now (!) and (2) if it was caused by vibration then warranty wouldn't cover it anyway. I'm thinking in that case just to do it myself or bring to a local shop. One of the crossover strings on this site has a terrific looking coupling gasket someone manufactured for this crossover for this type of problem. People were interested in buying these but no address was given. Do you know where those can be had??? thanks - this is a great site!

Wednesday night. I just finished installing Throttlemeister weights/control (very fast and easy) and took my 03 lemans out to test it. Sounded "rattly" (is that a word). Got back and noticed right off that my crossover pipe in front of my alternator cover was loose. The stainless clamp on one side was missing. The clamp on the other side was there, but the crossover was really loose still. From the missing side a piece of braided ribbon was hanging out. So my question is what else besides the clamp keeps that crossover tight? What all is supposed to be in those joints linking the crossover to the header pipes? Any info will be valued! Also-- the remaining clamp looks like its weld-tacked to the pipe so even when I backed the hex bolt all the way out, the clamp isn't going anywhere. Are they supposed to be welded in place? Thanks