docc

Left over parts are simply placed in the universe to make you drink more ale. In fact, I think I'll have one too . . .

Don't know much about Californias, but the "air gap" is more important than the volume . . .

Funny how both TX/RN/Jim and CA/?/Dave came to my rescue when I needed help with my wrecked Sport. Kindness, apparently, knows no boundaries.

And why isn't there (or is there?) St. Andrew's Day for the Scots? "St. Andy's Day" . . . has a nice ring . I'll have another pint. And with some proper Scottish slogan, like: "Touch Not the Cat, Lest I Do Something Ugly to Yer Bike's Wiring Harness." (or however that comes out in Gaidhlig).

Sniff . . . it makes me justly proud. I think I'll have a pint. As if my folks weren't stern and dour enough they married in with Germans. My dad, a military bomb disposal expert, didn't joke around much, but if he did, it was wise to laugh. He apparently disliked motorbikes, reportedly having dumped a Harley rather indelicately pulling up to the Officer's Club. Yes: the 17th! (The 18th was my late mother's birthday). Erin Go Bragh : Ireland Forever

So, next week, the 18th of March, we call "Saint Patrick's Day" here in the States. Lots of us have Irish roots. Probably after being 'transported' here by the Crown for various and dubious acts. I'm thinking me Great-Grandmother Nolan is me Irish tie. Which and whatever, the Guiness will not be be left by on the designated day. Trouble is: what is this "Erin Go Bragh" business? Ireland duz sumpin' I'm guessin', but what??

What a gas! I just brought this movie home two days ago to watch with my 15 year old. He was completely captivated ny the whole sense of suspense and daring! I suppose I saw the thing once on NBC Saturday Night at the Movies around 1968. Oh, how we 'remember' things! I "remember" him jumping four or five fences and getting away! Hmmm, not so! Also, I thought McQueen did his own jumps. The riding, yes, but the jump was done by his riding buddy: Bud Ekins.

Weird is as weird does But, there is hope: after 8 inches of snow here Saturday (odd for Tennessee), it's like sunny and 72F for next Saturday. The known antidote for Winter Weirdness!

I had a clutch master cylinder go bad that degraded my shifting. The spring inside had shattered. Have you bled the clutch and inspected the lever travel?

Riding along today made me think: it isn't the relays (sure, they're good to check and even change, but wouldn't cause your problem). If it's not the sidestand switch itself, it could be the connections for it under the left side of the tank. Good luck!

The middle relay could also be a little sticky. search here for relay replacements, whether OMRON or GEI. If the bike's not been run much, she'll be happier and happier just to have regular attention.

"Place of Service?"

OK, here it is: Accessory Fuse Box Thread

Here's an image of some of the re-arranging of the Sport's electrics (I know there's a better picture of the power distribution in some old threads): EDIT: The negative distribution block is at the top of the photo. The positive is under the "POS +" cover. (I'm still looking for a link to the older thread).

I think I've repaired every panel on my 2000 Sport; some with fiberglass and some with epoxy (2-part) and perforated fiberboard. Honestly, I can't remember what I used to reinforce the starter cover - fiberglass, I think. Whichever, don't expect to just stick the edges together. Use some sort of 'backing' (glass fibre or perf board)

Is he still posting over on Wildguzzi? I miss his input, and learned a lot while he was posting here. Good guy.

I tried applying the infra-red calorometer to the posts above, but didn't find any 'measurable' difference in the 'heat' so I guess we're all still getting along. I hope we get more Spine Frames and V11s at this year's Spine Raid. Last year we were outnumbered by Tontis and CARCs. They're nice bikes and I enjoyed all the folks who came. Still, I sure enjoy comparing the spine frame variants. It's amazing how many things, large and small, changed over their model course. As for brakes, I think, yeah, they're good to have. I use 'em.

Are those pads or a caliper system?

Lots of folks on the tech forum never look elsewhere, but: check this out: come ride, hobnob, and otherwise hang out! Just three months away: the Fif' South'n Spine Raid Have your rotor temps probed, explore the nuances of grappa, meander into the climbs and descents of the Appalachians. It ain't the Long Way Down, but I guarantee there will be no AK47s at the border crossings into Virginia and Kentucky.

Bill and I have decided to ride a little further on Friday to get into some new territory and try to make the meet more accessible for for more riders. We'll gather at the Comfort Inn in Newport, Tennessee, about 40 miles east of Knoxville on I40. This is petty close to where I40 meets I75 and I81 as well as I26. Not that we're riding any interstate, just that it may make it easier for a rider to pop in if even just for the evening. Mention "Moto Guzzi" when you call for your reservations for the 'group rate.' I don't know if that means they're putting us all in the same room. Riders will be arriving in small groups, solo and two-up on Friday May 15 during the late afternoon and evening. Saturday many o us will head out into the countryside, probably north into Virginia, for the non-route/un-ride since this is not a rallye, isn't a sanctioned event of anyone or any known entity. Whew, there, riding with lawyers is challenging. I'll be teching some rotor temperatures on the Saturday ride just to see who hasn't been cleaning their pistons lately.

Funny! I thought about this as I warmed my (left) hand on the valve cover: If I was riding a VFR or Concours or such, there would be no way to 'lay hands' on the motor. And at every stop, I rested my gloves on the heads as I fueled and such. The ride ended 280 miles with temps in the 40's. With the wind chill at 60-70 mph, it was, well yes: COLD. Arriving home I discovered all the plated parts were terribly corroded, either from the deep crushed limestone gravel of "Hawkins Hill" or the salt on the descent from the plateau, or the careless application of S100 cycle cleaner. It has been a long afternoon applying various solvents and Scotch to clean up the Sport. The dense air and clear roads gave the Sport some sense of flight as it devoured the way home like a Supermarine Spitfire eager to recross the channel.

I love that look. I thought that shot came out of Sweden or Norway. The V11 will always be hampered by its short suspension and rear set footrests as a big trailie. And it may be heavy, but it's lighter than a Quota!

"Fly casually, Chewy . . ."

Thanks for the link! Our weather here hardly compares. Yet, I don't want to be taken by surprise in a frosty corner. I typically run the rear pressure up to 40 psi for hot weather (90 F), with high speeds and loaded panniers. I suppose I'll back that down to the factory spec; which is probably moot since I'm running a 160. Here in the States we have something called Ground Hog Day which happens to fall on the halfway point through winter: February second. I always try to celebrate with a ride knowing we're halfway to spring, shadow or no shadow.

Urf! I was expecting more disociated encouragement than all that bald faced truth! The hook looks like 55 degrees F going over and no chance of ever making it home. But, what were all those pictures from the UK with snow on the tents and frost on the Guzzis?