v50man

Was it AN OMEN? I took a ride outside of Atlanta this morning -- specifically on a route that would take me by Stone Mountain Harley-Davidson -- where dreamy Buell XB12R are housed in abundance. Blow past the well-hidden (tucked away off the main) dealership -- see it only as I am passing it -- so I go a few miles north as I"m in no hurry. Ugly scenery, so I look for a place to turn around and head back toward the dealer. On my left is a small shopping center with few cars in the lot -- and a couple of Hogs. I leisurely take a left across traffic -- do a lazy U-turn around the lot -- and as I approach the exit to the main thoroughfare at about 2 mph my front wheel starts sliding to the left as if on ice. Bike goes down. What the f*ck happened? Turns out a cheap sign made of plastic blew into my path and as the bike was leaned slightly to the right -- acted as a sled and took it right down. Freaky. Just as freaky, a few seconds after I go down -- bewildered and pissed -- a Harley guy pulls into the parking lot and offers help. He saw from a stoplight and said there was nothing that could be done -- just plain bad luck. As we are speaking, the owner of one of the shops in the center (in full Harley regalia) comes out and offers help. We right the bike -- see no real damage except a snapped off brake pedal (and I use the HELL out of my rear brake) -- a busted bar-end mirror -- and a slightly scuffed valve cover guard. Both guys were very nice. The guy who rode up first and helped couldn't stop looking at the bike and smiling once we had righted it. "Beautiful" he kept saying. Anyway -- at first I thought this would be a clear bolt of lightning coming from the sky telling me to stay away from Buells -- stop being such an infidel. But then these damn Harley guys -- the ones I laugh at frequently -- came by and were genuinely concerned and helpful. I rode directly home and parked -- in no mood to look at bikes and not enjoying the Goose with just the front brakes -- and skipped the motorcycle shopping for the day. The night before, however, I had a few drinks and -- whilst the sweet little redhead slept -- I put a bid in on a white XB9R with only 400 miles on it on ebay. Was I punished -- or rewarded -- today? It keeps getting weirder and weirder -- but not weird enough for me yet.......... v50 the infidel who haunts Staedtler on a nightly basis

Any chance Staedtler or someone could post a download link? We poor Americans must wait 'til TOMORROW AFTERNOON to see it on the tube. v50

Maybe it's just a compensatory reaction. See -- 5 weeks ago -- after coming down with a nasty flu-like sickness -- I put down the cigarettes for the first time ever. We're talking over 20 years of 2 + pack a day smoking -- DONE! The poster child for chain smoking Type-A schmucks just up and quit. I like women (approximately) my own age, so I'm gonna keep the sweet redhead who fixes me coffee every morning and puts up with my eccentricities. Gotta do something else. Ahh -- a Buell! Yes -- indeed -- the answer. No. I just love the damn XB12. While at the dealer today, I sat aboard a Multistrada. May as well have mounted a grandmother. No feeling. Remember, guys -- I own two Guzzis and a Ducati. This ain't about NEED. Now, were I jonesing for a Corvette, I think my malady would be clear as day... V50

You all provide me with much to ponder... But I still want a damn Buell!!!

Had to by the bike shop (ATD) at lunch -- dropped a hint about my "Buell fund" -- and got quite the reaction. The bait was swallowed whole -- everyone chiming in with their 2 cents worth as to why I should NOT get such a bike. Am I the only one who sees a BRILLIANTLY ENGINEERED and thought-out motorcycle that is as much fun to ride as anything out there?

Actually, there's a dealer in metro Atlanta (Stone Mountain Harley Davidson) that actually promotes, understands, and -- dare I say -- loves the Buell brand. I test rode an XB12R there and was pleasantly surprised. If I wanted a Superbike, I'd consider the RC51 -- or even an R1. THing is, I don't want a Superbike. I just want ONE bike that can wheelie at will and I happen to really admire the thinking behind Buell's bikes. Would NEVER sell the V11 -- might cut loose with the Ducati (but I doubt that will happen because it's not worth THAT much and the lady likes it best because of its two-up comfort). Come to think of it, I'd NEVER buy an RC51 -- I'd find the extra dough and get a new Ducati. I dunno, maybe I won't do anything. One thing I found out in my research: I went to the Buell riders site (Bad Weather Bikers), and I must say that it was immediately apparent that the average IQ was far below what I find here in Guzzi land. Hmmmm.... V50

Bill -- Good to hear from you. Give a call or an email if you still want those mirrors. F

What is a Guzzsti to do? I MUST own an XB12R. Therapy? Intervention? It's becoming UNBEARABLE..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice bike. Too bad he can't sing.

Should I even admit this? When I was in my twenties -- drinkinking, partying -- I accidentally dropped a girl during a pool party -- and she fractured her pelvis (yeah -- I missed the pool -- oy). Yes, she probably still hates me. Yes, she healed up quite nicely in a month or so. There's hope. v50

CafeMan is obviously a person of great sophistication and impeccable taste.

I'm being completely HONEST here -- I LOVED the beige/sand prototype. Bragged to my friends that ONLY an Italian firm would possess the taste to pull it off. Was gonna buy one...oh, well...

I do believe that Quat-D is the choice of the cogniscienti... Sounds kinda good, too... http://worldstormartslab.com/dropbox/QUAT-D/

Call me Mr. Insensitivity, but... I didn't see much but a lot of whiney, obese, WIC-addicted human detritus in New Orleans. No potential Rhodes Scholars. No real contribution to humanity. Choose to live below sea level for long enough -- skirt disaster enough times -- and this is what you get. Poverty in America is a function of (lack of) ambition and (sometimes lack of) luck. And a whole bunch of other things -- but I'm not going to sit back and have the "system" impugned while sloth is tolerated -- even encouraged. Hard core -- yes. Come to the American South -- as I did -- take a look around -- clear your head -- and see if you don't see what I see. Thanks, FDR, LBJ, et al. It is now quite ugly. Probably gonna get a whole lot uglier... V50

Right, right. Amen. On the bright side, the weather in the ATL has been perfect since Tuesday -- haven't even started my car since -- bike's running great. Every time I look at N'Orleans, I'm reminded of the original "Dawn of the Dead" movie. Problem is, this stuff is FOR REAL. Hideous. No more whining from me for a while... v50

I'm sick for Sete -- happy for Loris and Max -- and waiting for the "Michael Jordan era" of Moto GP to come to an end. No matter how brilliant and wonderful Rossi is, I'm growing bored. This'll be much more exciting in hindsight... My

Guys -- Here in the Southeastern U.S., it's been terrible. Rain EVERY afternoon -- EXCESSIVE heat -- and (for me) a workload that would make a Viking cry. Cannot wait for Fall -- I have the best bike of my life, yet I've been on it only four times since the seasons changed. Don't mean to bitch but -- wait -- I do mean to bitch........ See all of you soon if I can stay on the east coast long enought to catch my breath. Sorry for my extended absence -- and whatever happened to DeBenGuzzi? From several posts a day to NOTHING for months. What gives? V50

Followed Mototune's instructs to the tee. NO oil consumption. Plenty of power. Will do it again with next bike. v50

No doubt about it -- Rossi is head and shoulders above the rest -- a man among boys. I just like to watch competitive racing, and I feel that as his confidence improves, Hayden will eventually CHALLENGE Rossi on a regular basis. He's a talented and likeable kid. My heart broke for Sete even though I'm not a fan of his. NEVER have I witnessed such a string of bad luck for such a great rider. Great stuff all.

Another pole for Young Nicky in Germany. Gotta love it. Maybe this guy IS for real. We'll find out...

Amen!

Biaggi classless? Repsol Honda’s Max Biaggi took fourth at Laguna Seca yesterday after an intense race which saw him battling with Honda factory colleagues Sete Gibernau and Troy Bayliss. “It was a good race. Surely we could have stepped on the podium this time, but it took me too long to pass Bayliss, who was slowing me down,” explained Biaggi, who had stepped on the podium at Laguna Seca back in 1994, but in the 250cc class. “So I lost the touch with the head of the race. I’m sorry because I got a good start, going from seventh to fourth place. I also liked the duel with Gibernau, tough but always fair. Well, I had fun. Today I really want to congratulate my team-mate Nicky and his guys. He was simply perfect throughout the weekend. Bravo Nicky!”

Nice pic, eh? Not if your name is Marco or Max. Maybe this will buoy young Nicky's confidence and he can at least give Rossi something to think about. Max and Sete have nothing for Rossi -- maybe Nicky will. Hurts to say this, as I've been a Biaggi fan for a decade, but I can now actually see him going an entire season without a MotoGP victory. That being said, when Danni Pedrosa shows up at the Repsol team HQ next year, it'll probably be Max who is sent packing. 'Til then, I guess we'll have to be happy to watch The Doctor duke it out with Melandri and Hayden. Ahh, racing...