Dr Gil

Thanks guys! I tried to run down Opel paints online without much luck. None of the touch up paint sites let me look at colors to see if anything was close. The AutoZone paints are a good tip. I did run across their website while looking for that Chrysler light champagne metallic. There is no AutoZone near me here in the back woods of Northern California so I thought I'd do some phone calling tomorrow (today is a holiday, Labor Day, in the US and not much business is being done). I do have a Kragen Auto Parts and several paint shops nearby however and may just go looking to get a "close" match on champagne. The spots I want to touch up are very small scuff's and probably would never be noticable with a "close" match. Someday I'll have the bike painted with a more readily available color and my problems will be over.

So I'm trying to match the "champagne" color on my '02 Le Mans for a bit of touch up. From previous posts I get the "best match" as Dupli-Color's SF CC 383, CC Code KV4 (Chrysler Corp, 1990-1993, Light Champagne Metallic). My problem is that this color code doesn't seem to be real and can't be ordered from any online or local Dupli-color merchants. Does anyone have anything more relevant? Due to my heavy handed repair work I really, really need to touch up my paint job...I confess that I'm a bit embarrassed.

Even though I have nothing to add I just had to make the comment that, "This is perhaps the "MOST Guzzi-centric" remark I've ever seen...well done!

I just happened to notice this Guzzi tankbag for sale on eBay and know that there are some here who are looking for one. Check it out HERE

Lovely Tom! I've been considering doing the same to my Le Mans (yes, I too was impressed by last month's BOTM) but wasn't sure whether I'd go with a light or a dark color. I love the way the Centauro turned out! I NEED that color...so what is it? My exhaust looks like shite...I was also impressed with the relative low cost (please don't tell Jet-Hot). It was much less than I expected to have to pay. Brilliant!

Keep an eye on the classifides here. I bought my Moto Guzzi rack (made by Stucchi) from one of our members. I'm very happy with it and it does a great job of hauling around those "extra" items on shopping trips around town. And I agree, they look great! Here it is on my Le Mans.

While I remain known as a "gentle on the throttle," "gentle on my mind" kinda guy I figure what's good for the big boyz is good for moi (purposefully mixing something there but not sure what). Sign me up to decrease my sumpage slop pleeez...even though my oil light only works "intermittently" (hey, it's a Guzzi...a non-functioning oil light is a sigh-n of character, roight? Translation: Pete, I am interested in the sloppage sheet.

I thought I'd like it...but I don't. Taste, everybody' got their some. It's all good.

Well of course we missed you Joe...but hell man, we knew you'd be back. NOBODY quits Guzzi. You were just "Doin' yer own thing in yer own time man."...my favorite "Easy Rider" quote.

JB Welded the whole damned thing together. Nice and ridgid now for 6 months.

Yes, I'm interested in doing it right also so any tips on how to remove, touch up, etc would be appreciated (I really, really don't want to remove the cylinders though) would be appreciated. Thanks for the tip and link Mr. Tucker...I followed your link and ordered a can. Much appreciated...except for my usual bitch about Dennis Kirk, ordering an $8 item and having a $7 shipping and handling fee...sigh.

I'm sure that this must have been discussed before but I'm not finding anything with searches. Some of the silver (what? an engine paint thread that's not about "bubbling black?") on my engine cylinder's fins is flaking away and looking a bit scruffy. I'd like to touch it up and am hoping someone here has had luck matching the color. Any suggestions?

Greetings from Eureka, California.

Loser bastard! Obviously not understanding where the Center of the Universe lies... ...seriously though, it's all good and good luck with the new bike.

I so wish I lived in So Cal and could take advantage of this opportunity. My bike pings (pink) more than I like and is WAY too sensitive about the on/off throttle...I NEED to get my Le Mans on a dyno and get the Power Commander adjusted. Sigh, I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and take it to the Redding Harley shop and have them do the adjustments.

She's so bella Tom! I had my first "encounter" with a Centauro at the Sport Touring.Net West Coast Regional. I'd never even seen one before. It was yellow, it was lovely, it was...well, it was SO Moto Guzzi! Love, passion, Guzzi. My wife and I rode our bikes down from our home here in Eureka, CA (a scorcher here...mid 70's F, 20's C) down south along the Avenue of the Giants to Phillipsville for a burger and pie where it was 103 F (40 C)!!! We were glad to be "just visiting" the heat and ran away home right away to the much more sane temps here on the northcoast. You really needed to take an extra day and avail yourself of our guest room and enjoy the relative cool of Humboldt County. Next time. Which brings up a point. Any Guzzisti traveling through this area (northern most coast of California, crazy good scenery and legendary motorcycle roads) are welcome to stay the night in our guest room. We can offer a double bed, bathroom and laundry useage to all Guzzisti on the road. PM me for reservations. Congrats Tom...we all know how special a new bike it and it looks like you've found a charmer! Gil p.s. I want some better pictures of the bike please.

Hey! I've got that too! I've always just considered it to be the "nature of the beast." It's air cooled and all. I've had mine take a big fart accelerating from a stop and into a corner...very disconcerting having the engine stop, even for a moment, while turning. I'll be interested in what those more learned than myself in the ways of Guzzi's have to say.

Yah, that's what I wanna know too! I finally actually own the bike of my dreams and my local (albeit 300 miles away) support has disappeared...what's with that?

Isn't Farrah a bit long of tooth to be doing Pirelli calendars. Disgusting.

We may have covered this before but I have no memory of it...alas, I am getting older and my second favorite organ (brain) sometimes fails me. Also I should clear up any misconceptions about my being a "doctor" or a chef...my doctorate is from the Universal Life Church and it's a my "doctorate" is in "Divinity" (same as "Doctor" Hunter S. Thompson's)...and I can't cook at all, I actually only "heat" things. The bolt I tightened was the one directly on top of the spine and is visible with the tank in place. I've resisted removing the tank again but can see I'm going to have to do so now and take another peek to see what's actually happening. I guess I'll just make a day of it and remove the front fairing as well...there are some other bits I need to tend to under there. It's just as well. It's been too long since I've seen my bike naked (4 months) and Guzzi's love that stuff...and so do I.

Is the consequence of this "oil breather hose leak" failing that you find viscous fluid on the "under fairing splash?" I've got that. Periodically I find "fluid" (I suspect oil) on the splash that you see when seated on your bike and peer downwards along the forks past the fuel tank. Sometimes a "lot" (dripping). Sometimes a "little." Sometimes "none." I've removed the tank and tightened the bolt on the spine but the problem still persists. I was thinking that I need to remove the bolt and replace the washer...am I wrong? Is this a consequence of the hose itself and it should be replaced? I ride an '02 Le Mans with 17K on the odometer...seems a bit "young" for hose replacement.

That seems to me to be a great price on watch that offers SO many features!

Yep, I've been tempted by the Uni's also. I have an open airbox now and while the bike does seem to love to breathe the noise is really too much for my style of riding (sport-touring). I see pod filters as another option but have concerns about how well they actually filter and also the consequences of hanging the extra weight on the boots.

Ahhh, thank you for the explanations...I've got it. So my guilty confession is that a couple of months ago, after I crashed the Le Mans and put it back right I took it down to my "local" dealership (250 miles away) and had them do several of those nasty chores that I don't really want to do while they looked over the bike. Among these to-do items was bleeding the clutch lines (along with balancing throttle bodies, greasing that #@$$&* fitting on the drive shaft, etc.). I had previously tried bleeding the clutch myself and bollocks the job badly and was initially happy with their improvement (I now have a Speed Bleeder that I will install upon next rear tire change and I expect things will be MUCH better). So anyway, my somewhat rough shifting may simply be a consequence of me needing to bleed the system again. In the meantime I will dutifully "clean, tighten and grease all moving parts, check the pushrod and go with Redline when next changing the bike's precious bodily fluids. I am clueless about the "sliding dogs" recall. I bought the bike used and am not sure if any recall work has been done. I do know I still have "crinkle paint!"

Damn but I hate playing the fool...but I can't help myself. I have no experience with a "pushrod" in conjunction with the clutch. Would someone kindly point it out to me and tell me how to adjust the booger.