docc

'Optimist' is a charitable term. If I had to call the wife to town for the rescue some other term might better apply. I've never had one of these 'absorbed glass mat' or 'gel' batteries. ( I'm still not sure what's in there?) The typical $30 wet cells for motorcycles do have about a three year life. I was amazed how this thing held 12.7v even in winter and long periods sitting. No doubt, the first time these need a charge - the end is in sight.

Not to be uncolorful, but, other than the depreciation ( shocking!), my warranty was stellar and the bike is so servicable, I believe I can keep it running for decades. Makes me so glad not to have bought that BMW.

Paul, Guzzis are a wonderous connection to reality. Plan on getting your hands dirty. Knowing how to use a Volt-Ohm Meter is good. My Sport would not be running without this forum( 41,000 miles ). In the end, there is no substitute for the wonder, the exhiliration , which is Guzzi.

True, it's actually pretty likely this is being spun off from the drive splines. this grease lubes the cush drive then spins off onto the wheel. Is there grease here . . .

I was feeling pretty macho, but I must admit it didn't occur to me to burn the toilet paper. next time I'll know what real men would do . . . Hell, the hairdryer was even pink . . .

After 5 1/2 years and 41,000 miles, the Sport's original battery didn't want to bring me home from the clinic this evening. It sat for six weeks while my broken leg kept me occupied and needed charging after that. So it did warn me. I just wanted to squeek the last amps out of the thing before ordering the Hawker. With everyone gone and the temps dropping I went back in the clinic to retrieve a hairdryer we use to dry x-ray film. After warming the battery for a few minutes it did fire up! Ran like crap, puffing raw fuel but got me home before total darkness. Here's to trying all measures before crying on the cell phone for a roll-back wrecker.

Unless your hoses still go to the vapor recovery cannisters from the fuel tank. The only way there would be one hose from one intake to the other is if some un-named sort removed the recovery cannisters. "Sir...I am not aware of such an operation nor would I be at liberty to discuss such an operation if it were to have existed. Sir."

Is the Jupiter what McGregor bought for his cameraman in Russia on LWR?

When I met my wife she had a nice little Strada she liked to call "Fiat Nam." My tools and I soon found out why . . .

This is la-la land. No cussing shows up until step #33? My oil changes are accompanied by equal quantities of cussing and pints. "the tourettes mechanic."

Here's a pic of the side stand switch installed. If it's not what you're looking for , I'll have another go.

My selling dealer was a cooperative chap. And 120 miles away. He assured me that he would vouch for my service records if there was ever a question. There never was. I had the one-year-only year 2000 three year warranty.( OK , maybe they did those in 1999 as well). Both the dealer and MGNA served the warranty with flying colors. Your dealer holds the key to your warranty, as I understand. Keep good records, use quality parts and lubricants and get an understanding with your dealer.

i'm speaking out of turn here , but I thought this is an ALFA Romeo Sprint Speciale, body by Zagato? Around 1959? Do you really drive this thing? How beautiful!

Wonderful device! Ride right in, hop off. Lovely! Sport Chock Dothan, Alabama, USA (334) 794-2393 www.baxleycompanies.com

Welcome! What accessories are you looking for?

Now you could call it 'Norge' for that Guzzi connection!

Just a squirt of solvent like lighter fluid and a blast of compressed air. Followed by a little dielectric grease to keep out the road crud. The bolt head which activates the side stand switch can get deformed or out of adjustment. Make sure it depresses the switch fully. It has a lock nut that is a good place for blue Loctite. The connectors on the clutch switch are stuck right out in the air flow on the Sport. I make sure they stay crimped and a liberal dose of the dielectric grease. The tiny ball bearing inside the lever housing should be cleaned from time to time so it moves freely. "Break-Free CLP " works great for this. Same for the connectors which are pretty exposed beside the steering head. After the grease and a firm crimping, I've sealed them in heat shrink. While your messing with the levers, run a zip-tie through the Brembo pivot pin. They have a bad habit of trying to leave without permission.

You may be inviting a bit o' the nefarious RedFrame ill weave at speed. I found the little Stucchi to quiet this along with all the good suspension settings. Yet, the move away from the fork mounted fairings has been little discussed as part of Aprilia's strategy to tame those awful RedFrames.

Good questions, Alex. Plus it's easy to slide the pump or filter too far one way and butt it up against something. Even allowing a hose clamp to be in contact can buzz unnervingly.

You must pull the tank to get to these connectors cleanly. The clutch switch connectors are on the left side next to the steering head. How well you join them will determine how trouble free the connection will be. Solder and heat shrink? Trace the wires up from the side stand switch. I can't remember where the connectors are. Should be easy to find with the tank off. I keep my switches clean and lubed and have never had a failure. I wish I'd never ridden off with the stand down. Stupid but I've done it. No awful effects but I wonder what Dr. Gil would do?

I think Pete has let us off easy on this, yet another , oil thread. Noggy, on the other hand, I'm afraid may be unconscious from too much single malt by now. Or maybe he's dipping into the rhino jizz.

Most days: 4x4 Jeep Cherokee ( the 'Scout Buggy') Nice days: Ford SVT Contour ( Mondeo) - fun to toss around, still hauls the family and paid for. Wife's ride: Volvo V70 T5 - mini money magnet, but a good solid ride. She loves it. Most wanted: Maserati ( can't get ALFA here anymore). More likely: Porsche Boxster - or maybe a Cayman S in a" few years".

I'm thinking the Scura instruments and headlamp are fork mounted like the Red Frames? That will bring the Coppa flyscreen in much closer for a tighter look.

My book says rear drive holds 370 ml ( 350 ml 80w/90 and 20 ml Molykote type A). Richardson in Guzziology warns that pouring the oil in the rear drive until it runs out the level hole is likely to underfill as the oil cascades off one of the gears and out the hole. By careful measuring I found my bevel box 20% low from this method. Now I always measure and like to use the Guzzi Final Drive oil that contains the moly. The gearbox holds 850 ml. It's easy to like the Redline products and they have a lovely color. Overfilling may irritate any leak tendencies your box may have. Bel Ray makes good products. I e-mailed them once about their waterproof grease as an application for the Guzzi final drive. I think they're still laughing about the specifications I asked about. The book says: " To lubricate the cardan transmissions, only use saponifying greasers (sic) with lithiumof a grade 2 consistency, 265/295 penetration and with a dropping point of about 180 degrees. The lubricants must not containadditives with MOS2." Other than the widely held notion that rhino jizz will do, just what does all that relly mean?

Oh, we never get tired of talking about oil. Wonderful stuff and everybody has some.