Jump to content

Bill Hagan

Members
  • Posts

    1,074
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    30

Everything posted by Bill Hagan

  1. I started off my grown-up life (assuming I'm there yet, of course. ) sending big bullets downrange from very heavy tracked vehicles. That can be ... uhm ... loud. VFL. That taught me early-on that hearing is a fragile and valuable sense. Cannot imagine riding without earplugs. If anything, I think it enhances, not reduces, the "symphony." Only drawback from my perspective is when, with helmet still on and plugs in, I forget that my wife or the gate guards here can hear me just fine without shouting. Bill
  2. Bill Hagan

    Ballabio

    What the others here said. 20K smiles on mine. Well, OK, mebbe 19,999. The pawl spring thing and speedo cable (both mentioned above), took the grins off at the time, but it's the best material purchase I've ever made ... with the possible exception of the EV ... cuz I rode it in to work today. Getting ready to take the Ballabio--or, more accurately, it, me--for a stretched Labor Day weekend Atlanta to Erie, Penna., and back. No slab, all "Guzzi Gulch" kind of roads up and over and through and around the Appalachia spine. Can't wait. Feel free to call if you have questions. Bill 404.808.8486 (M)
  3. I was reminded today of yet another reason to support my local dealer. So, there I was, sulking about my self-inflicted damage to my valve cover. I remembered that when I bought the Ballabio in summer 2003, it had some minor crate damage, including a slight mar to the same valve cover that now is etched with my stupidity. Eventually (and we all know what that means in MGNA time!), it showed up ... as in 2005! I went down to pick it up and discovered my original one actually looked better. So I told Atlanta-Triumph-Ducati (MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Hz, etc.!) http://www.atlantatriumphducati.com/ that I'd just keep the one I had. Called the dealer today (i.e., a year later) and they said, come on down, it's still waiting for you. Gratis. Yeah, I suppose that's "only right," but it still makes me hope that Piaggio and ATD can be friends again so I can get that red Norge from 'em some day soon. Bill
  4. Jon, you are a saint ... or, at least, more self-disciplined than I am. I'd still be cursing or stewing or both. As for turn signals, I looked both Buell and Piaggio ones form my Ballabio and found them "not quite right." OTOH, did find that those on a new Triumph Speed Triple, and, I think, other Triumphs, were almost exact matches, with the "almost" an improvement as the lights were identical to the original except the stalks were flexible. I don't have the parts #'s with me, but can provide. Two points before you get too excited. At $38USD or so, ain't cheap. OTOH, breaking 'em as I did by walking too near in my tight garage (a Honda Civic and only 2 Guzzis ... BN: Before Norge! ... in my case) is less likely.
  5. Check out the "a professional welder did that?" shots as opposed to the fix by Ray Clay. Ray welds stainless steel every day: he specializes in whatever you call those teat & cow udders things. Burrs are a bad thing in that business! http://snipurl.com/uxks Now, it's out to the GarageMahalo to see if I can put it all back together.
  6. Well, rats, don't think I can make this one. May get a ride in as I have business in Tuscaloosa, but it won't be those gorgeous roads you'll enjoy. OBTW, bit on the "killboy" vanity thing and bought pics of my ride through Deals Gap on the way to our rendezvous in Sweetwater: http://snipurl.com/uxfl You gotta love capitalism; what a market niche. http://www.killboy.com/ That intro pic of the girl stroking the pavement is, as are many of the other shots there, pretty compelling. Scott, I scrolled thru the Saturday shots for 22 July and didn't see you or Gary. Might have missed you or you flew under the radar? Bill
  7. ... clean gasket residue off of your valve covers. Home this afternoon after squiring 86-YO mom around doctors, etc. I need the rest! Anyway, so catching up on some Guzziadministrivia, such as this post. So ... there I was, all pleased I'd learned how to adjust valves, after dutifully listening to Wayne Orwig explain the process, show me how, then mess up the settings to see if I could do it. I could ... I think. Well, Wayne left too soon, as had he been there, I'd likely not foxtrot uniformed my valve cover. Decided Goof Off http://www.valspar.com/val/resident/goof-off.jsp would do the trick. Oh, yes, and then some. http://snipurl.com/uxdg I am, obviously, sad-faced. [it will not help to tell me about reading directions ] So, any suggestions? Presume these aren't on ebay every day.
  8. Paul, Paul, Paul. Relax. That is a Breva 1100, not a Ballabio. The Breva 1100 is a new Guzzi and (sort of; others here will shoot me for saying this) a successor to the spine-framed V11 Sports and Californias as it does pretty well (but not quite) what both of those very different Guzzis do. Call if you like and I'll say more, but I have don't have time to peck keys as the GarageMahalo and my Ballabio's in deshabille. Bill 404.808.8486
  9. Paul, I was serious about the offer, but you'd better wait a few days cuz it's apart on the lift. Should be ready by next weekend. As for luggage, lotsa options out there, but I've been VERY happy with this: http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.ph...=148&cat=43 As for where, up to you, but if you mean Moto-International, cannot go wrong, IMO. MPH, Speakers, others are great, too. On a not-quite-what-you-asking, think on this one, too: http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?PHPSE...mp;topic=5399.0 I sat on it yesterday. Rode identical one in Italy. VERY nice. A very good deal, I think. Bill
  10. I agree with Martin Barrett about a LeMans variant being a more likely equivalent to/transition from Kaw Concours, tho I don't think any Guzzi quite fits that bill. I have a Ballabio, and have ridden (albeit only a few miles) an 04 Concours (which, btw, I liked, especially for what I suspect is its forte, eating miles). My Ballabio has 20K miles, all mine. I think I must have an iron butt, without nerve endings at all, because 1) I like the stock 98 EV seat and 2) have ridden my Ballabio, fully loaded with saddle bags, tail bag, and more, from Atlanta via back roads entirely, to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, etc., without any discomfort issues. Also just had a fine 4-dayer up in the S.C., N.C., Tenn., & n. Ga. mountains, again fully loaded, with docc and other members here. See pics at: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...opid=95959& And, assuming I can get it serviced and back together (it's not merely naked, but stark, just now out in the Garage; Wayne Orwig is on his way over this a.m. to teach me--a useless wrench--the art of adjusting valves, etc. [yes, Martin, et al, I've printed all the "how to" posts here on various tasks, and will tackle those after Wayne leaves )], plan on 5-day, 2K ride up to Erie, Pa., again, via "long cuts" and back roads. My point is that I find it a fine tourer and sportbike and all the things that brought most of us to Guzzi ... and kept us here. That said, you will find a Ballabio a seriously different m/c than your Kaw and the LeMans a bit closer, at least in wind protection, such as it has. I love mine, know of no one who has one who doesn't feel similarly (with an off day or two! ), but I urge you to try to borrow one to ride it a few miles before you leap. Leave your lotions, mouthwash, etc., at home, and take a day flight to Atlanta, and I'll let you take mine for a romp in the mountains. Best wishes in your decision; hope to see you here as a member/owner sometime soon. Bill
  11. Use search function with "torque settings." There are few entries that may be of some help.
  12. Whew. Scary thing just happened as I read this thread: "3 User(s) are reading this topic (0 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users) 3 Members: Bill Hagan, Greg Field, Enzo" Wasn't sure if I should duck and run, hit the floor and low crawl out, or try to mediate.
  13. Thanks, Greg. Those are the ones the HD guy showed me. Hard to argue with $11.25, plus the flex, a real benefit in my tight garage. I am still musing on the possibilities, and the probability I'll break one of the little #$%^ again. Bill Just went to the website. You are right, as the fronts on the Typhoon sure look my Bio's: http://www.piaggiousa.com/pscooters/typhoon.cfm#nowhere Hit the "enlarge" button.
  14. I've had my share of flats on the Ballabio (5 rear, 1 front!), but none recently and none with the Powers (tho 2 of 5 rears nailed were Roads). Just R&R'd my rear Pilot Power from wear and about to put second one on. I've had the same experience as you with pebble-picking, and agree that the Powers are awesome. Have given me enough confidence--perhaps too much!--to lean more, including scraping my right can the other day, a first for me. Bill
  15. Well, thanks to you both, DBG & Wick. Just rode over to the nearest Buell dealer. Expected to be treated like someone with flatulence on an elevator, so I was a bit nervous when the parts guy quizzed me about which Buell I owned. I finally squeaked out that I owned a Guzzi. No problem, and he remained helpful. Unfortunately, altho I brought my dead turn signal along, we couldn't find anything close. The Buell t/s were sure priced right ($11.85), and were "smart," as the flexed instead of, as mine did, breaking on contact. They were, however, a bit bigger, mounted somewhat differently, and had very visible amber bulbs and lenses. I suppose I shouldn't get too hung up on cosmetics, but I wasn't sure enough they'd fit to buy two, even at that price. So, I'll look some more, then, even tho the B'io's are different than yours, mebbe PM you, DBG. Bill
  16. Goodness, my friend, dlaing, have you read the Declaration recently?! http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
  17. An interesting irony, that, i.e., your use of "common sense," which was, as you may recall, the title of a stirring work by Thomas Paine, a transplanted Englishman, that was of incalculable help in calling us to arms when we disagreed back in 1776. http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/
  18. Well, you have the advantage of me, as, regrettably, I seem to miss your point, or, perhaps, you, mine. Surely the exercise of governmental power--whether in South Africa, Germany, Singapore, i.e., wherever--that restricts the use and enjoyment of motorcycles is of interest to other motorcyclists, wherever they live and is, thus, worthy of an international. forum. In this instance, a US Government entity, the Army, purports to issue a rule that exceeds what I, at least, see as its lawful powers. Is such "international" only when it originates outside of one's country? If so, you and I could not post of any matter arising within the USA, and JAAP, restricted to the Netherlands. That would be (again, assuming I understand your point) an odd result, at least to me. I note that Beuphonium and coz1100, who posted in response, recognize the issue. Would you like to park your Guzzi for so long as did the former becuase of the unchecked actions of bureaucrats? I vote no, thus my complaint to authorities and the posting of what I thought would be of general interest here and on wildguzzi. One last comment. Based on my many up-close-and-personal experience with bureaucrats in North America, Asia, and Europe, as much as I am proud of things American, I don't think our bureaucrats would make it to the quarter-finals. My apologies if I have missed your message, but I appreciate the opportunity you gave me to make mine clearer. Regards from Atlanta, Bill P.S. No, dlaing, as I understand the DoD PPE, the DoD rule says only this: "Sturdy Footwear is mandatory. Leather boots or over the ankle shoes are strongly encouraged.". SeeDoD Instruction 6055.4, "DoD Traffic Safety Program", http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/...099/i60554p.pdf The Army rule goes further: "e. Soldiers will wear proper eye protection, full-fingered gloves, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt or jacket, high-visibility garments (bright color for day and retroreflective for night), and leather boots or over-the-ankle shoes whenever and wherever they operate or ride a motorcycle or moped." See para B.3.e, AR 385-55, http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r385_55.pdf
  19. OK, I 'fess up. I am too dumb to use the search function to find what I thought was posted here somewhere, i.e., that when--hypothetically, of course --one walks into and breaks one of a Ballabio's turn signal stalks, how one can find the replacement at a Buell ... or was it Ducati dealer? Or did I make that up from whole cloth? Thanks for the help. I just got depressed out in the GarageMahalo staring at the #$%^ dangling thing. Bill
  20. Howdy. Interesting points. But, if I may be so bold as to offer my own view, it is that what I think you and others who comment on the issue may miss--perhaps because you are blessed to live in more pastoral settings than I, at least, and I envy you--is not that I have a gun to repel the "classical" home invasion perp. Actually, I think there is little to fear from that. Instead, at least in my neighborhood, a gentrifying (almost -ied) area see www.inmanpark.org only a mile from the city center and abutted on at least two sides by ... uhm ... "improving" areas, is civil disorder in the event of most any sort of excuse, whether a manmade or natural disaster. If, e.g., some enterprising terrorist or madman (no need to parse the differences here and now) drops the overspan of Interstate 20 on top of joined Interstates 75 & 85 at the heart of downtown Atlanta, or if a tornado rips through, the first responders will be very busy. And, sadly, there will be armed mobs of pondscum roaming the streets, including my neighborhood, looking to redistribute wealth. In such an event, I have no intention of relying on 911-dial-a-prayer. We might debate endlessly on what ordnance works best in such an instance, but I do not intend power of persuasion to be my sole choice. I have seen mobs in action and they are ugly and deadly. Accordingly, I will not gamble my wife's life or our property on the speculative benefits of unilateral disarmament in such circumstances. On the spectrum of possibilities, I see civil disorder as a probability-to-certainty, and that means be prepared or suffer the consequesnces. I choose the former without misgivings whatever. Now, all of that said, I do not worship weapons and I do wish the world were otherwise. It's not. In the meantime, life is good. Kathi just brought me a G&T, and we'll work around the garden, followed by an hour in the GarageMahalo trying to demystify things mechanical. Regards from Atlanta, Bill
  21. Well, after a lifetime around the Army, I finally filed an inspector-general complaint ... and a freedom-of-information-act request. Yikes. As these involve motorcycling and, in particular, motorcycles on military installations, thought I post the former here. The FOIA was, essentially, for all correspondence, including emails, relating to motorcycle safety at our local installations. The short version is that military demographics and other considerations lead to what appears to be a disproportionate number of motorcycle deaths and serious injuries among military personnel. That is expensive in obvious and other ways. The Army, tho less now than formerly, remains a paternal organization (not a bad thing, IMO), thus leaders are trying to find ways to reduce those sad numbers. Unfortunately, some of the ways are fornicatingly stupid and CYA more than helpful. In my case, our local garrison commander issued a new regulation that requires, among other things, additional personal protective equipment (PPE) beyond that required by the Department of Defense and the Army. The Army rules require prior approval before local commanders may supplement them. Doubting that had happened, I filed the attached complaint about 10 days ago. Not much has happened, and it may take awhile. In the meantime, the gate guards--whom I try never to hassle, as theirs is a tough job already--gave me a "courtesy warning" that the post now requires a complete reflective vest. I'll let you know how it turns out. "Fighting city hall" is always a struggle, so I'm not optimistic in this Bill v. Army match, but we shall see. To read the (long-winded, but you'd expect nothing less ) complaint, go here: http://snipurl.com/u62v Bill P.S. Yes, I know, I know, there are a few typos, so don't tell me about them.
  22. That was hurtful. OK, OK, the odds are it could have been true, but I actually did this myself. After the Tennessee trip and advice from the crew there (grappa-based inspirations considered and discounted), decided to lossen the entire exhaust and shift some to the left. When I backed out the left-side header pipe, well, "Thar she blows!" For more pics of that and other weekend wrenching, see: http://snipurl.com/u5q1 P.S. thanks to all for the other suggestions and comments. I dropped off pipe at a "possibly too neat" welding shop this a.m. We shall see. [And, oh, yes, I took in the flange and mentioned it had to be on before welding nd be able to slide! ]
  23. Developed a pronounced backfire on decel during docc's great ride in the Tennessee and N.C. mountains last weekend. http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...ic=7421&hl= Hmmmmm. Usually, that means an exhaust leak, but none to befound. Well, on trying to fix my ad nauseum harmonic vibration, I tried loosening all exhaust fasteners. Whoa! What's this? See what I found on exposing the left-side exhaust-header pipe. Yikes!
  24. Withdrawn with apologies. I am having a bad day and lost my sense of humor. Thanks. Bill
  25. General Gage likely said much the same thing; we felt differently.
×
×
  • Create New...