Baldini

BigBore MGS01 is no more related to stock spiney than a "tarted up track Sportster" or Buell is to stock 883. The merits of the BigBore Motor was what I thought we were talking about. As to "Sportsbikes" !...a bike is whatever it's used for. Labelling = pedantic semantics. Perhaps a list of all motorcycles defined by purpose to save us all this discussion. It could be government legislated & improper use, such as footboard scraping a Cali or touring a LM1, penalised. This rant isn't directed at Ben or anyone particular here, quote was just something to hang it on. Seems forums are more & more stadiums for preening egos, for batting around pre-conceived delusions & scoring imaginary points off each other. Short written pieces lack the subtleties of meaning of a personally delivered phrase or comment. There's only reader's interpretation, referenced against preferences & hang ups, picking isolated words as important or relevant, tho they may have been incidental to the writer. As I am doing here. Sad git. Oh well. BigBore motor seems to me an honest attempt by a Guzzi enthused company to keep the marque in the performance arena, where the parent company have thrown in the towel. If it didn't work, it wouldn't win races. Given Guzzi's history, & though it may not be the prettiest thing, I think Millepercento should be applauded for it. As should Eric Buell for his valiant attempts against the odds with HD. KB PS: Editing quotes could mean we didn't have repeated large photos of 883 Sportster. Surely we all know what one looks like & it must eat bandwidth.

I had a Crossbow absorbtion type "silencers" - very similar design to yours - now have Lafranconi s/s copies (Keihan). Those short pipes sound great, but noise can get a bit wearing, even with ear plugs - Lanfranconis are quieter. The later black plastic alt covers w/spacer help vent alternator. I fried a couple alternators & I think the front balance pipe may be partly to blame sat right there in front of it. That pipe's forever cracking at welds too. I run 2 seperate headers. I dunno re the Dyna. I kept original points which are very reliable, last for ages & I understand! Does it have original coils, alternator, regulator, rectifier? LM1's are going for a lot of money recently, but they doubtless will hold their value. That does look a nice one - like Jaap, I like the Blue ones - Red are common as muck! You will not regret! KB

Congratulations Dimitris!!! They're lovely old bikes & still hold there own easily on the road in most company. That looks a pretty original one & well preserved, guess Greek climate is pretty kind to machinery. PR pipes look well & sound great no doubt! KB

It's not how fast you're riding but how far you fall & what you hit when you get there

It don't look that bad to me....

I dunno anything much about the BigBore motor. But I admire Millepercento for working with Guzzis whatever. Seems to me to complain that "for that money I could have something that would go faster" is itself "missing the point": if you follow the logic of that argument you wouldn't be riding a Guzzi at all, cos you can bet that for whatever you paid for yours, you could have found something faster. Whether or not the BigBore works (didn't they run it in an MGS01 racebike - I can't find anything on Google?) is academic to me, I don't have that sort of cash, but good luck to Millepercento for having a go & putting their necks on the block trying to achieve something where Guzzi themselves seem to have given up. See they list some nice ally timing gears on their site too... KB

Hi Michael. No I didn't try w/o the pin. My gearbox works OK as is. That pin limits extent of pawl arm movement. I saw a photo (here, I think) of an eccentric pin fitted in place of this rolled one, which would give adjustment here. That & other variations we've seen suggest to me that MG have experimented with this mechanism, presumably looking for fixes to issues with function or reliability. Not sure if I remember you right, but did you say earlier you left adjuster screw w/o locknut? I should lock screw each time you adjust. It's an eccentric pin & 360degrees (1 Turn) is full range of adjustment. It's a long time since I've been inside that plate & would have to have another look to offer any more useful help to you. Sorry. KB

I use Pilot Power 2CT's on Scura, love them (grip, handling, wear pattern) never noticed added noise but then I wear ear plugs so.... What pressures you run em at? They need a bit more air than the skinnies. KB

The truth will reside somewhere in between... KB

Editing is spot on in parts, esp intro! I like the Sesame Street one too...

No - BURNOUTS! ! BFG, I knew it would come to this...those sportsbike types are clearly a bad influence on you. Damage may yet be reversable: a few sessions with your local BMW club might help you see sense. I just hope The Club don't get wind of what you're up to. Great pix tho KB

It's new to me... Last week's news is as good a read as this week's if I haven't read it before.... KB

I liked this over on WildGuzzi forum: http://www.coolestone.com/media/882/Retirement-Investing---Just-A-Couple-Of-Good-Ole-Boys/

Back in 1980's I remember seeing a pop star sweating in a full Barbour trials suit at after gig party. He must've been warm, but least he would've been safe from splinters. In discussion with people into fashion clothes they'd often say "it's self expression, my way of expressing myself" - i always thought the opposite - it's a way of hiding yourself. KB

Lovely bit of writing BFG, thanks! Does perhaps even better without the camera? Your words evoke pictures in mind & imagination. Cheers, have a good winter! KB

Welcome to Guzzis! You still run the BMW's? KB

Welcome! Spectacular landscape, lovely T3 & good luck with the V11!!! KB (Cymru: where the roads are open, the mountain passes plentiful, and the traffic is non-existent - only on a much smaller scale! )

Guzzi transmission, like the rest of the bike responds to & reflects your differing performance & attitude at different times & in different conditions, more so than any other vehicle I have experienced. I don't know why this is, but I suspect massive moving parts, air-cooling, loose manufacturing tolerances & variable approach to design & build at factory. I think this is partly why Moto Guzzis are so involving long term for those who get sucked in, & so readily put off those who will not put up with such things. I have concerns how strong the V11 6speed box is. There may be a particular issue with your transmission & you must determine that. There is no question that performance is improved by good adjustment & maintenance. But the symptoms you describe - false neutrals & occasional tricky shifting & missed gears - have been present to some extent, occasionally in all Guzzis I've had since 1980's. IME, unlike Japanese product, Guzzis respond differently every time you use them. Bit like chancing the corner cafe or getting a MacD*****s in a strange town... KB

I would recommend; forget the reading & look what's in front of you: Whilst the Big Bore (watercooled) motor is shown fitted in some of the build photos, it's not used in the bike in the track video. That has a stock-looking MG 8V air cooled motor. If you look at the video, the Alba circulates with (what appears to be) a Griso for a while, which looks pretty well matched for performance, think someone suggested it's a Griso cup bike. As for the plastics - I have nothing particular against fairings generally - though I'd like to see the Guzzi motor - it's just imo the side panels on this bike are real ugly & their lines at odds with the rest of the bike. KB

Well I don't know about the USA but UK press aren't that biased against Guzzi & ime, usually over the last few yrs try find something good to say. Guzzi do not produce a bike that would lap everything else but if they did then the press could not ignore that - it's not the press or anyone else, it's Guzzi that shoot themselves in the foot every time. The pace of that Alba in the video looked to be down to a decent rider who knew the track - in fact it seemed pretty slow on the straight (compared to a full on modern sports bike) as of course it would be, with stockish Guzzi motor... Still it's great to see someone trying to do something with a Sports Guzzi, good luck to you Millepercento - just get shot of that awful bodywork (I notice they'd blacked it out on that track session...)... KB

...& belly pan or not keep swept back pipes...

Why all the plastics?

Hi FotoGuzzi - thanks, enjoyed that - especially the bit where the acid kicks in whilst you're passing a truck... We were in Minneapolis a couple years ago, loved the place - really friendly, laid back sort of city. I remember best the farmer's market & the corn you got there, best I ever tasted... Cheers, keep up the good work! KB

I hope all will be well again, once kind Baldrick has held your bike in his gentle caress. KB