Jump to content

guzziownr

Members
  • Posts

    189
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by guzziownr

  1. " I would guess the US versions run with indicators on as running lamps and only flash to turn." US bikes are the same as yours, only flash to turn. For British roads I imagine that the headlight would be different with the cut-off to the other side.

     

    Renting from Agostini is an option...

  2. I would like to visit Europe and ride around for a while including a visit to Mandello. I would prefer to do it on a Guzzi and have been calculating the economics. If i brought a bike over from the US could I sell it in the EU? What hurdles would the buyer have to overcome? In the US importing older bikes is much easier.

     

    TIA DW

  3. Former V11 Sport owner and current 8V Griso owner here.

     

    My poor Griso has had a rough start to life. I bent both brake levers and the shifter and after un-bunging them I noticed that my left footpeg has a bit of an odd angle to it.

     

    Are there any bolt on footpeg choices beyond the stockers? I figure the G11's will fit. TIA DW

     

    twins.jpg?t=1268363286

  4. Well I dunno what you mean by fast, & I only had a brief ride on BFG's Griso (same model I think?) but I found it hard to hang on hung up in the breeze like that. I find V11 riding position much better for fast. V11 is heavy on rear & it may well be that Griso is better balanced front/rear or it wouldn't be able to carry off such an exposed riding position so well at higher speeds. I'd like to try a Griso with clip-ons. I agree that back end design on new models is light years ahead of V11 for feel & compliance though I found shock itself crude on Griso compared with Ohlins, & I don't feel it was just down to adjustment. Griso motor revved easier, much smoother but less characterful than V11 - more Japanese. I'm sure Griso makes more power & torque than V11 but V11(Ti kit/PC111/K&N) motor felt more gutsy, more visceral....probably just down to inconsistent delivery & loud pipes!

    KB :sun:

     

    For fast read painfully slow, creeping around bends, terrified whenever I can't see far enough ahead.

     

    I found my V11 to be very confidence inspiring. I enjoyed following faster riders and copying their lines. I'm not at that point with the Griso but I feel the potential as I did a bit of charging forward when conditions and confidence came together.

     

    On the highway ride home I cruised at 75-80, passing slower traffic saw the speedo hit 85. I didn't really notice much buffeting and I wasn't really dressed for the part. I was wearing jeans and a jean jacket instead of my Joe Rocket ensemble. I kept thinking how amazingly comfortable the seat was after hours of riding...

  5. I had an '04 Sport and recently upgraded to a G12. I put on 300 miles yesterday with some super back roads in the Catskill Mountains. The G12 is very easy to ride fast with a stiff suspension as found from the factory. It is also super comfortable with a great seat and riding position. After a full day in the saddle the only thing sore was my quads from weighting the pegs over hill and dale.

     

    Greg is right about the brakes, a M/C transplant would go a long way. I disturbed three deer sleeping in the tall grass by the roadside and one jumped into the center of the road. I pinned the brakes and aimed for his ass and he skeedaddled. The G12 tracked beautifully and I felt in complete control, ready for evasive action. I think the sit up riding position really adds confidence as your weight is so well balanced.

     

    I think the bike is balanced better on it's upgraded suspension. With the genny on top of the block and the long swingarm our favorite tractor motor is centered in the frame and the too small gas tank battery, ect. are centered as well.

     

    This bike is not the same revolutionary change that the spine frames were compared to the Tontis but it is a change...

     

    DW

     

    graveyard2.jpg

  6. The 1000S is a verey cool looking bike. A buddy of mine has one here in Vancouver, he mentioned that they are getting up in price. That said, E-bay is not an example of what true pricing is. Auctions build in a feeding frenzy which enhances pricing.

    Ciao, Steve

     

    There are three recent Guzzis that do well at auction: V7 Sport, Le Mans I and '75 Eldorado Police. As prices at auction have spiraled up examples appeared out of barns and collections to meet the demand. Cubic dollars were spent on restorations of these "rare" bikes until the cost of restoration exceeded the price at auction.

     

    The 1000s is following the same pattern. The auctions you cited look to be original bikes with low miles. The next wave will be garage queens from private collections and then expensive restorations.

     

    Anyone with experience with big dollar auctioneering knows that the process is crooked. Ebay is no different that Barret-Jackson or Sothebys. Anyone want a $100K Hemi Cuda? It's an authentic reproduction made of new parts in a hot rod shop...

     

    There is a contemporary artist named Cy Twombly who had a better grasp of this than most. He produced very few paintings over the years and set his prices high. When his work came up for auction he would bid for the paintings himself against collectors and museums to ensure that prices stayed high. A large Twombly painting goes for millions today due to his manipulation of the market.

     

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6910377.stm

     

    DW

  7. Thanks for the interesting post, GZNR.

     

    I should get that as a plate, I bet it's not taken.

     

     

    I've been wondering why I seem to get uneven pad wear on the rear brake -- yet in my case, the disk is perfectly centered in the caliper. :huh2:

     

    Thanks much Ratchet soon you will be telling me there is no Santa Claus.

     

    Seems to me the hydraulic pressure on each brake piston should be the same and even things out perfectly. Every disk brake I've ever had -- every bike, every car, including the Brembo fronts on the Guzzi seem to work this way and give even wear.

     

    My limited experience with juice brakes led me to this conclusion. WE will see if they wear evenly now. To test my theory I will stop the bike at least once during every ride.

     

    DW

     

    Where's Dan the Brake man? :huh2:

  8. Some may remember my complaint that my rear pads were wearing unevenly, a problem I tracked to the rear caliper being off center. I ordered new pads from MG Cycle and did nothing for a while as I couldn't figure out how to move the caliper closer to the wheel relative to the disk.

     

    I was visiting the Erik Green the other day and described my problem. He gave me a pair of Brembo shims and explained (as if to a retarded child) how I should put them between the caliper and the carrier on the two securing bolts. :homer:

     

    Easy Peasy right? It took a little doing because you have to loosen the rear axle, remove a pin and small block and rotate the carrier to get at the caliper securing bolts. Then, once the shims are in place and the new brake pads are in, you have to secure the carrier to torque the bolts. Then, ah, assembly is the reverse of disassembly.

     

    I am happy now, because I have fresh pads in and my caliper is centered.

     

    v11one.jpg

     

    DW

  9. If you fit the slipons you don't need the PCIII. Only if you also modify the X-over and/or intake.

    It'll run fine without PCIII.

    (Sorry Todd...)

     

    I have a PC III on a totally stock bike. My impression is that the throttle is smoother throughout the rev range and the bike runs cooler, especially on hot days in traffic. As a commuter this is important to me. Stock it was fine, PC III was a noticeable improvement and well worth the money. I purchased from Todd as well.

     

    DW

  10. Any one heading to Branchville for the open house on Sunday? Its in Connecticut 50 miles from NYC.

     

    Branchville Motors

    63 Ethan Allen Hwy (RTE 7&102) 8 Miles south of Marcus Dairy and Danbury Mall

    Ridgefield CT 06877

    Phone: (203) 544-7900 Fax: (203) 544-7904

     

    Sensitive to bad web pages? Do not open this one:

     

    http://www.branchville.com/

     

     

    DW

  11. I agree it is irresponsible, no way I could do that in the traffic where I live in DC area.

     

    When I was younger I used to try and shave a few minutes off my commute every day. I cut through gas stations to avoid lights, slipped between trucks and routinely ticked mirrors with my bars and got into screaming matches with other stressed out freaks.

     

    The same commute I made then in 30 minutes I do now in 40 with little stress and danger. Older and wiser now.

     

    Oh, and now I have an '04 V11 Sport.

     

    Back then I was playing urban canyon racer on a '72 Eldo with drum (rhymes with none) brakes.

     

    Idiot.

     

    DW

  12. guido if you think Guzzi rubber is poor quality check out a Ural.....it deteriorates while you watch :(

     

    The rubber battery trays for Seventies Tonti bikes will be with us when the last cockroach has turned toes up. I have one off a '75 that I use as a tool tray. I was at a well known Guzzi mech last week and he had one doing the same duty. 30 years + as well.

     

    DW

  13. Ever read Tristram Shandy?

     

    "hobby-horses": the narrow and often esoteric pursuits (hobbies, essentially) that interest people--often, to the point of obsession.

     

    I had dinner with Racer X and John T. one time in CT. Previous to the meal I was worried that I was becoming an obsessed crank. I'm not even close.

     

    DW

     

     

    Christ,here we go again

     

    bikesingarage.jpg

  14. I have been riding my V11 to work regularly and enjoying it very much. I lanesplit, cut off cars and use trucks as blockers for my sprints through rush hour. On a good run I can average speeds of up to 20 MPH and am occasionally forced to use third gear during hard acceleration.

     

    My wife takes the subway.

     

    Yesterday, during the how-was-your-day part of the evening she mentioned that some teenagers were acting up in the subway:

     

    A pair of teenaged lesbians making out in the car.

     

    Sitting in the seats?

     

    No, standing up and hanging on to the pole. They were tongue-kissing and one was feeling the other's leg.

     

    Doesn't sound so awful.

     

    They were wearing those Catholic schoolgirl outfits with the short plaid skirts. It was really rude!

     

    Ah.

     

    I considered this to be an isolated incident so I will continue to commute via bike.

     

    DW in NYC

×
×
  • Create New...