Allan1956

Done

Bought 2002, 4klms now 54000klms Bundaberg to Phillip Island x2 Bundaberg, Brisbane to Darwin and back and the rest just riding no major probs. Even geting used to the peeling crinkled black paint ('cause they won't do anything in Australia). Front brake pads rear bearings (that seems popular) mine were Polish would you believe it no relays, tranny etc (touch wood)

Would they really work on the front forks. I would have thought that if the bike as dropped that the bodywork and handlebars would keep the forks from dragging and scraping Allan

Mark, Coventry Autos have sites in Australia and stock Redline. Their website will let you know where they are. Check between stores 'cause there was about a $10 diffence to the quart between 2 stores in Brisbane. You'll need two containers if you do the gear box and rear drive. Well worth it though. Smoother changes and have stopped the gearbox seep. No leak in some 10oooklms. The quarts are US, not imperial Allan K

With all these laws.... Like my Da used to say "the only decent fellow who ever went into parliament house was Guy Fawkes" Allan

Hi Mate, Just down (up) the road in Bundaberg. We should catch up. Give us a whistle off line. Always down to Bne to see family etc etc. Bundy not far away either. Allan K BTW going to the bike show Bne on 4 Nov? AllanK

From day one my gearbox weeped. I am satisfied that it leaked all the time but when you are riding it the small amount of weepage just burnt away. Four years later and after 30000klms I go it to stop. I used redline. NOW 10000klms later not weeping. Only way to go REDLINE SHOCKPROOF HEAVY

Ditto. One day it'll all fall off and then I'll paint it. Allan

Mates and I just returned from a 5500klm trip to the Phillip Island GP. One of the mates has a balabio which has been pinging so we called into a GUZZI mechanic we know (AND TRUST). To get rid of the pinging he says you need to: connect some piping from the airbox inlets to the front of the bike so that when you are travelling the air is being forced into the airbox. Ram air I think that Japs call it on their bikes. He did mention to my friend the type and dimension of the flexible piping but I have a FBF open airbox so wasn't taking too much notice at the time. Would be worth a try though. Average mileage on the whole trip about 50mpg. The balabio slightly better. The bloody Ducatis where getting about 60mpg and we weren't mucking around either. Hope this helps

Okay, for the stupid What's the "squish". I thought it was just the noise that the cane toad made when the guzzi ran over it ( or sometimes ...BANG...but that depends on the size of the toad)

Great stuff Pete. Let us know when you want to $$ from us here in Oz. It ain't going on till you get back (have a safe trip) and I get back from Phillip Island, 6 sleeps Yee Ha Allan K

Yeah, the Griso 90 degree stem is about $27.00 Australian

Bugger Still if epoxy can fix it, it's better than nothing can fix it Allan K

Haven't I read up on valve stems in the last couple of days. Some months ago I got a puncture in the rear tyre (bridgestone 020) and got it internally plugged. It started leaking about 2pounds per day. Bloody nuisance. Checked and changed the valve. No change. Thought that it was the repair and put up with it. Just got new tyres (F 014 R020) and the rear is still leaking. Checked and found a leak between the valve stem and the nut. I started to worry about all the threads talking about stems coming away and causing quick deflation . WHAT!!!! This won't do. We're headng from Queensland to Phillip Island for the Gp(again) and back in a few days (about 5600klms) Time to look into this. My investigations with my 2 shops (read "trusted") reveal: - the nut on the valve stem should not crack and break off if not over tightened; - replace the O ring to return to a better seal; - replace the crap stem with a stainless (or replace with each tyre change); - if the stem is too tall/long, replace it with a 90degree stem from a Griso. Yep, sounds the way to go. Allan

Hi All, Well I got myself a set of Aaron's shims for the LeMans through Todd Haven. Nicely machined etc. Thanks Aaron. Anyway, a couple of questons. After taking out the factory "gaskets" from the xover I spread the pipes in the headers and then put the shims and crossovers on. Tightened up. When started there is a small amount of exhaust gas coming out from where the xover meets the headers. I guess this is just where metal and metal meet (some gas getting past the 2 parts of the shims where they meet). Tightened further when the xovers/headers were hot but still small amount escaping. Questons- 1. Is this small amount leaking ok (but if so isn't that the same as the factory gasket "blowing out" in part)? 2. When I put my exhaust pipes back together after I have had them off I smear or place silicon gel on the pipes that join and at the joints to stop any small leaks (and to stop "popping" when you back off the accelerator). Should I just pull the xover joints apart and place silicon inside between the xover/shims/header pipes to solve this leak? Any hints, Thanks, Allan

Well I better get one too Pete. Otherwise when I pass away and my estate tries to sell off the LeMans to pay the wake bill no one will believe it is an original VII cause it didn't have a "Roper Plate" when everyone knows that it seems all VII's worldwide have them Thanks, for the work in advance. Allan

Well my mate has most of the parts organized to turn his balabio into a lemans???? from my CRASH (and Guzzi50) BUT he needs:- A left or right hand scoop that attaches to the fairing; the bottom centre part of the front fairing; an original (bent broken or otherwise just so he can take measurements) of the brackets holding the fairing to the valve covers. He's off from Rockhampton to Phillip Island early Sept for the Oz GP and hopes to have it all converted by then. Can anyone help??? Thanks Allan

Thanks fellas. Note that I cut out the mate's BMW. Mt Hotham (Snowy Mountains) en route to Phillip Island for the 2004 GP from Bundaberg Qld. Yee Ha we're going again this year. 3 1/2 months to go

Highly recommended. Had the rack and bag on my old Mark IV LeMans. Bought a new one for the 2002 Lemans as soon as I bought the bike. Bags zip together (30litre and 45 litre) if you want so great capacity on long trips. Stable at high speed and no real movement that causes a worry in tight (read "tight") corners. On really bumpy roads may get some movement but not enough to be distracting or affecting the bike movement or geometry. Fairly well water proof too. If I've done it right a picture with the bags on each way Story goes that too may people were buying the racks and not the bags. Putting (cheaper?) Gearsack bags on instead (Now that's an ugly bag). Maybe can't now buy the rack without the bag. Not sure

Highly recommended. Had the rack and bag on my old Mark IV LeMans. Bought a new one for the 2002 Lemans as soon as I bought the bike. Bags zip together (30litre and 45 litre) if you want so great capacity on long trips. Stable at high speed and no real movement that causes a worry in tight (read "tight") corners. On really bumpy roads may get some movement but not enough to be distracting or affecting the bike movement or geometry. Fairly well water proof too. If I've done it right a picture with the bags on each way Story goes that too may people were buying the racks and not the bags. Putting (cheaper?) Gearsack bags on instead (Now that's an ugly bag). Maybe can't now buy the rack without the bag. Not sure

Highly recommended. Had the rack and bag on my old Mark IV LeMans. Bought a new one for the 2002 Lemans as soon as I bought the bike. Bags zip together (30litre and 45 litre) if you want so great capacity on long trips. Stable at high speed and no real movement that causes a worry in tight (read "tight") corners. On really bumpy roads may get some movement but not enough to be distracting or affecting the bike movement or geometry. Fairly well water proof too. If I've done it right a picture with the bags on each way Story goes that too may people were buying the racks and not the bags. Putting (cheaper?) Gearsack bags on instead (Now that's an ugly bag). Maybe can't now buy the rack without the bag. Not sure

Yeah agree with Gallo se and Belfastguzzi. Stopped at the Townhouse for a few days in 2003. reasonable price, close to CBD. No parking? from memory

Crikey. I'll be back in a minute. I'll just have to go to the shed and see if I've got any pads left on the front and rear of the bike 'cause they haven't been changed since new and I've got 31000klms up. Nah, it's alright. They're still ok. Seriously though, all on highways (except the recent advanced cornering and braking course at a local raceway - 250 kls for the day at full blat. Shite, those jap bikes are fast on the straights but can't keep up in the corners)

In Australia the government has this pre occupation with speed, cause if they can convince all those idiots out there to slow down there won't be any deaths on the roads. They have the expensive campaign 'EVERY K OVER IS A KILLER" My sticker taint really a "bumper sticker" 'cause it's on the back of my helmet: EVERY K OVER IS A THRILLER