Frenchbob

Yes, I got it, too. I was very put out. As I told Jaap in my response, I don't think I've been impolite, political or in any other way counter to the spirit of this forum, but now I'm out. I'm too old to be told to behave myself. I really appreciate the help I've had from people on this forum and, despite what has happened, I'm grateful to Jaap and the other administrators for all their work on it. I have valued the companionship on the forum, too. Ride safe, guys. Bob

Yes, leave the nylons and bra at home.

Loose wax cotton trousers + hot exhaust pipe = fishy smell. About 14 years ago I bought a cheap modern jacket, called a Motoline Dragon. Don't know who makes them but it was and still is waterproof, armoured, has a detachable quilted lining and when I tore the shoulder I repaired it successfully with the repair kit I found in the inside pôcket. It's still my winter jacket and it cost about £90, as I remember. What more do you want? Eh? Style? Then you must be young. What are you doing here?

Very strange...........doesn't look a bit like my old Belstaff. Some of us might find a use for the headgear, though: that zip looks particularly effective!

They last about three outings in the rain, after which you have to reproof them, then the next time the sun shines they melt all over your jeans. The way round this, of course, is to wear waxed cotton trousers as well. If you ever wear waxed cotton trousers, it will become immediately apparent why they're not re-issuing them as a fashion item.........! I suppose there might be a niche market among our fetish-loving friends in Holland and Germany................. I do have an original waxed cotton bike jacket with a strangely-stained, cloth Guzzi badge on it that I no longer wear, although next door's cat sleeps in it at the moment - I can honestly say it's the most use it's ever been!

Well................I had to look twice at the old guy who cocked up the timing, but.........no, it wasn't me

Excellent! My V11 sounds just like Francesca!

I hardly ever go to Paris. but recently, my son was stranded at the Gare du Nord in the strikes on his way down to see me; he knew this was going to be the case before he arrived and phoned me to ask if I could pick him up. "Why not?" I thought [dumb]. It took a while to get there by car through strike-ridden, traffic-jammed Paris, but when I was off the BP and asking directions [satnav technology has passed me by] I met with unfailing politeness and good humour: the last direction I got from a back-packing, hiking Parisian trying to get home was "Oh, turn left down there and you'll get to the back of the station; it's one-way but no-one will bother today!" When I got to the back of the Gare du Nord I had to pull up and phone my son, who was at the front. The taxi rank seemed the right place. "You can't park there, you'll block us in," I was told by a cabbie. "Where can I park then?" "On the pavement, like everyone else!" I made my call, met up with my son and got back to the BP using the bus and taxi lanes almost exclusively. Again, no road rage, just give and take from everyone in the same boat. Parisians are OK by me!

It's a Zen/Quality thing. No-one puts it better than Robert Pirsig: "The place to improve the World is first in one's own heart and hands, and then work outward from there. Other people can talk about the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle......." ['Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'] He might have been talking about Guzzi ownership [although his hero rode a 450 Honda]! Start with a V11 if you will; I started with something rather older - same principle. V11s fit the bill, however, as few other bikes do. My own isn't perfect: sometimes it isn't in the mood, sometimes I'm not, sometimes it tells me what's wrong, sometimes it leaves me to work it out. It replaced a modern Triumph that was perfect every time out, from the crate until I sold it in 2004, but there are those times when only a proper Guzzi will do. A V11 is authentic damn it!

Ben, this sort of stuff just does happen to the best of us. It happened to me once, on my last ride before a winter lay-up, with greasy roads and cold tyres and similar results. You'll sort it. Like everyone says, don't rush things: you've got all winter to fix it. Those photos bring it close up: feeling it with you, brother!

They'd end up with a president called Luigi Hussein................ Sorry, sorry!

We can agree on that: an MZ 250 would keep me from buying a Sportster! Hey, if you get a "Classic" [can't bring myself to use the term "V7" in this context], will you sell me your Nero Corsa, or your 1100 Sport?

Well, there are basically five threads on this site: V11s, tits, weird stuff, hippie stuff and war. All other, apparently different threads are actually variants of those.

Well, I was trying to be kind! I do have 30 years of pre-unit Triumph 650s! The fact is, my 750S3 will cover roads round here at the same rate as my V11 Sport, give or take a second in acceleration; I can't see the new 750 doing that! OK the new 750 isn't a state of the art sportsbike, as the S3 was in 1976 but then, why dress it to resemble a 1970s state of the Art Sportsbike......? The new 750 isn't homage; it's parody! It's actually the modern-day equivalent of an MZ 250.......in drag!

My friend, you have achieved the happy state of oneness with your Guzzi. Actually, looking at the list of bikes you own, I suspect that you achieved this some time ago, severally! May Luigi always be with you.