Bill Hagan

AJ, that's why I've taken to saying Hail Marys when I ride. Lord knows--literally--I need 'em, and, besides, the mantra keeps me from thinking impure thoughts about hydraulics and other issues I know nothing about and which will torment, not soothe me.

The first half of Antonio's post is certainly correct. Actually, you simply cannot go wrong ... well, unless somehow you end up on the autostrada in a traffic jam. Assuming you are renting from Agostini's, ask them. They will have more suggestions than you can ride in two months, much less two days. And, you really cannot go wrong. All SS roads north of the Po Valley are delights. Best wishes. Post pics & a ride report. Bill

Actually, yes, but in my cage, and a 244 Volvo at that! In the late '80's, came around a long sweeper at 90+ on what I thought was deserted back road in SE Georgia (yeah, that's a bit redundant! ), to see a state-police roadblock. Turns out they were looking for an escaped convict, and were masterfully placed to be undedected with no escape route. After a Hotel Sierra decel, I pulled up to the unsmiling trooper with the outstretched hand (while four or more others had leveled shotguns and other quite impressive ordnance. They dropped their artillery when they saw the wife, kids, and cocker spaniel (the last eager to drool on anybody). After examining my DL & registration, the trooper -- who looked right out of the movies of Southern law enforcement, and not like someone who had a sense of humor -- deadpanned: "Son, better not touch your hood for an hour or so after you get home. Takes awhile for 'em to cool on reentry. Have a safe day. You, too, ma'am."

Thought for sure I'd find something on this in archives, but either I am an inept searcher or nothing's there ... and, yes, I suppose both is a possibility. Anyway, nailed yet another rear, and dealer ordered Michelin Pilot Roads for front and rear. based on my very positive experience with stepping down from the EV's wide stock rear to a more narrow one, resulting a nimbler motorcycle (yeah, I know "nimble" and Cali are not normal pairs. ), I wanted to do same with Ballabio and go to a 170. dealer said don't cuz it would decrease contact patch. Well, OK, if you say so, but not tire not in and no sign when it will be. Well, guess what, they do have a MPR 170 in. So ... if this horse has been beaten to death here, my apololgies for resurrecting it, and I'll be happy to read the thread or FAQ if one of you will point the way there. If not, may have I have some thoughts so I can mount the 170 today or impatiently wait the 180? Many thanks.

Michael, Let me make two points that are (only somewhat) responsive to your questions, but may be of interest to you as you try to figure out what to do. First, as to exhaust, I bought a Ballabio in Aug '03, and and rode about 1K with stock exhausts, then swapped those for FBF & Stucchi c/i. Dealer remapped and did a great job. Love the sound and performance gain. No clue how they fare compared to MG titaniums, but you are, as I think I offered before (or, if I didn't, I do now! : ) welcome to come by and hear and, if you like, ride it. Give you an idea, anyway, what an upgrade in cans will do. Second, ever since I bought the Ballabio, I've had mildly wistful misgivings about the suspension, i.e., I have wished from time to time (especially after riding a Cafe Sport one day) that I had spent the extra cash for the Ohlins. Well, duh , mebbe if I had tweaked the suspension sooner than waiting 7+K, I might have discovered sooner what I just learned in the past week. The stock suspension is VERY good ... if you are smart enough to set it up to fit you! So, I'll share my own ignorance with you and all here, retract the various unkind or at least non-glowing things I've said about the Ballabio's stock suspension. My point is that unless you absolutely have to have a Nero Corsa, you might save some significant beer money by looking at stock Nakeds or LeMans or Ballabios or whatevers, and spend that cash on the exhaust upgrades ... or beer. Again, call if you like or stop by Inman Park (785 Edgewood) if you'd like to see, hear, ride the Ballabio to see how it's set up. Best of luck whatever decision you make. Bill Hagan 404.469.3346 (office/desk) 404.581.9779 (home) 404.808.8486 (mobile)

Frank, Several Cali-mounted friends and I rode out to SW Missouri in early May. I took the Ballabio, in part to see how it was for longer trips than my usual day trips to the n. Ga. mountains. As you know, it has less protection than your LeMans -- actually, none, as the flyscreen smooths the air a bit but keeps nothing off of you, especially with the higher seating position. Anyway, riding comfort, and, it seems, especially saddle endurance, is subjective. From my perspective, the Ballabio was, with one, likely irrelevant, exception, as comfortable over that distance (c. 800+/- miles) as my EV would have been. The "irrelevant" point is that have since learned that I have (and had then) a torn meniscus in my left knee, so the leg position made all-day riding a bit problematic. For weighing my credibility, however, I have to add that I am one of the few who thinks the 98 EV stock seat is just fine. Footpeg buzz can be, as noted above, an issue, but that was more a function of cheap & hard-soled Tecnik boots; not an issue with better ones. Anyway, others here with leMans such as yours may have more useful info, but I would do it again (tho I'd carry an extra spring and Belfastguzzi's repair instructions!). The Ballabio was a great joy in the Ozarks, and I would think your LeMans would serve you well. Bill

Clutch.

I've been keeping mine (well, the part Kathi didn't throw away) as a $550 "For want of a nail ... " sort of souvenir, but will send to Bruce for such scientific study as he cares to make.

If it is simply bad metal, why do some bikes/riders break springs again & again, whilst some don't break them at all. It would mean that some original, and all replacement springs were bad but not those being fitted to most recent & current production, unless 03/04 bikes start breaking springs regularly....it just doesn't sound likely to me. The pattern to me suggests that some bikes have a fault that causes repeat failures. Has anyone had spring break, replaced it, & had no further problems? It seems that the bikes breaking springs tend to repeat breakage. Of course it could be down to how the rider uses the box... Has anyone had spring break on an 00/01 bike? The oversize boss causes the spring to bind & impairs function, but clearly if springs are still breaking with correct size boss, there must be some other factor. KB Logic is annoying. You are right, of course. Back to "beats me." I'll be watching here for more info. Bill

Yes re action and, as I understand it, found no apparent anomalies. The dealer thought "cheap spring metal" a possible cause, but remains puzzled. Pete Roper is in town and staying with us. I showed him the sheared spring, and he agrees that is the likely answer, too. My American Express bill came in with the U-Haul rental and gas charges on it. Kathi studied it and made some ... err ... wifely remarks, all of which means, I predict, she will be on a guiltless shopping trip soon.

In an earlier post Sweep says dealer found 15mm boss. I'd like to speak with his dealer about this, I pm'd Sweep but he did not reply. KB Think I already said this in a related post, but, as I am an age where I can't remember where I last put my glasses, I'll risk repetition by saying my Ballabio's boss was 15mm when the spring went out at c.6.5K.

The dealer repaired the Ballabio yesterday. The spring was, as expected, broken, but, to me, the unexpected news was that the boss was 15mm. Given the above and related threads re oversized boss as culprit (or at least that's what I inferred), any thoughts from Belfast or elsewhere? Whatever the cause, I now, however, carry a spare spring and a copy of the repair posts! And, if it breaks tomorrow in the Georgia mountains, at least I'll have Oz & Georgia's Guzzi gurus, Pete Roper and Wayne Orwig, along for the ride. No U-Haul necessary, as those two could strip the entire bike down to bare parts and put it back together again by the side of the road while I chat with the locals, all asking"Who makes that?"

Well, Mike, you decide, but it happened to my 2004 Ballabio, which is really a 2003 sold as an '04 'cuz it was a "new" model. Not.

If you took paypal, I'd send a donation! Seriously, this is a wonderful help. If this had been there a month ago, I'd have saved $550+ in U-Haul and related costs. Many thanks. Bill

What Al said, i.e., choose door 2, Rich Maund. I am a stock seat kinda guy, because my well-larded bottom has never found stock seats a problem. But, I have seen all sorts of customs, and while most after-markets look pretty good, Rich's work seems to me, at least, to be the best in appearance and workmanship. Bill

I, too, work on a military post and commute 90+% of time on one of the Guzzis. Most MP's know me, so ID is no issue. Moreover, when I do drive the pick-up in (usually on rainy or otherwise miserable days, or I'd be on the m/c) I bring in some Krispie Kremes, Dunkin' Donuts, or the like for the MP's as they are out standing in the stuff. So, most look the other way when I "forget" to wear the (@#$%^& stupid) reflective vest/belt. OTOH, twice I have had the more officious among them give me the "take off your helmet so I can ID you." The first time I let it go, as it was a new guy. Same thing a few days later, same guy. That's not an ID or security issue, that's harrassment. I rarely, if ever give MP's a hard time, as "a gate guard has no friends," and it is difficult, important, and even risky business. But I knew he was fornicating with me. So ... I shut down m/c, safely (code for quite slowly) dismounted, removed my helmet, and, again, "safely" reversed process. He did not ask again.

So long as it's Parmigiano Reggiano.

So I've heard. Suppose making spring "hole" wider -- if that is fix -- is a bit easier/cheaper than having smaller bosses, tho either would seem to condemn MG to stocking two springs &/or for eternity:Spring/boss A for V11's that never need one because they have correct boss; spring/boss B for those that break! Mebbe I'm missing something. As evidence of how sick I am, went to dealer yesterday durig "visiting hours" and cleaned the Ballabio, as it was still covered in filth from 500 miles of stormy travel in back of U-Haul trailer. Sure looks good now.

Bill, how's your hearing? Did they say god, or dog? What's a TY? Did you try to send a message and couldn't ? I'll have to investigate. Another week – commiserations. At least you've got a dealer though. I have just come home, dead tired, splitting headache, stopped the bike and I'm sure I kicked my foot out and I thought I put the sidestand down but you've guessed it... I got off the bike and... there was no sidestand and over she went. Now I've got to try glueing all the little bits of indicator back together again, 'cos there's no shop to buy a new one from. I was shocked, too, not dog. TY = Thank you. Yes, did try, but kept being told msg was too long. I do tend to use 5 words when 2 or 3 (or fewer!) might do. Regrets on the brain cramp. I did that with the EV once, at a gas station, with babes around. Even when one is in one's 50's (and mebbe especially then!), it is painful to look the fool with women. Sigh. Can't wait for my garage so I can attempt what so many of you do routinely. Bill

What the others said. If interested in a fliptop, I bought a Nolan N-100 in summer '02, primarily based on the combo of summers in the South (tho I never rode with it "flipped"), a very positive write-up in MCN, and its convenience at stops for a 4-eyes rider as I am. I then visited the pavement with it, SMACKED it on the temple very hard, and threw it away. Pretty impressive performance. Though I have 3 Shoeis (RF 800, 900, & X-11), am about to buy another Nolan for the heat ahead. Have seen the Guzzi one, and it looks fine. Not sure about the Guzzi helmet features or cost, but think it is in "$4's." Selling point on Nolan was metal ratcheting mechanism, unlike plastic/nylon in most others. Also quite inexpensive compared to Lexus-like Schuberth, tho almost as good in features. Only drawback with Nolan was noise, but I wear earplugs for all but down-the-block runs, so a non issue for me. Bill

Have you any idea when it will be looked at, Bill? Definitely get them to measure the diameter of that boss for the spring coil and let us know. Edit: *another thought – can you get them to measure the inside diameter of the coil too? **** Tried to post this at your website as a TY, but got "text too long" msg. Fine. Very, very grateful for the trouble you went to for these pics. I am as green as Irish grass about things mechanical, but am building a garage and hope soon to get my fingernails black and the air blue with curses. :-) BTW, dealer has Ballabio and "thinks" they'll get to it next week. We shall see. I did buy an extra spring for the road! One add-on for the board. At the dealer, I had to endure the staff telling me what a Guzzi god docc is. Puhleeze. Bill Hagan

That looks pretty similar to my Dowco one I use when traveling. When stomped into a compression sack and cinched down well, it is actually quite a small package. Think I paid about that from dealer. As you note, fits well.

Have you any idea when it will be looked at, Bill? Definitely get them to measure the diameter of that boss for the spring coil and let us know. Edit: *another thought – can you get them to measure the inside diameter of the coil too? > Has EVERY year of bike been affected by this spring break problem? *-> Another thought – could there be a variation in the diameter of the spring coils? This would be worth checking as a smaller, tighter coil on 15mm boss will give the same binding problem as 'normal' coil on big boss. There could be more variations, e.g. with boss size: if there was one period of bad production when 16+mm bosses were made, couldn't there have been others? It would be useful to build up data on the size variations of these parts. It may sound obsessive, but this really is a serious problem as it potentailly means that a bike becomes disabled every 600 or 1,200 or 1,500 miles and creates a mood of uncertainty when contemplating traveling away from home. Until we have definitive sizes for these items, I think I'll take the view that the boss is better smaller than bigger and there's no harm in making it smaller, to give some peace of mind. Hey, Michael, et al, at Atlanta Triumph Ducati (& Moto Guzzi!), note, especially, the "please measure" request of boss & inside diameter of coil. Thanks. So ... is it ready yet?

mmm.. can't wait til mine breaks again so that I can try this * * Thanks for the note about the adjuster, Docc. I've been wishing that I had looked closer at it when the cover was off. Going by what you say, I'll leave it alone, as, so far, the thing is changing ok. I just emailed this url to my dealer where my Ballabio sits forlornly awaiting its turn in the queue. Thanks for the info. Bill

You are racking up the miles. But, yes, if I knew then what I know now, I might not have gone out of my AAA 100-mile towing range. Nah, on second thought, I wouldn't trade those Missouri and Arkansas Ozark miles of last week for anything. I sure would have paid $550 (as I did for the U-Haul!) for that ride. I will say, tho, as my previous post or two mentioned, that I think I had warnings, but didn't recognize them. If you get one of those "Rats. Where did 3d gear go" sort of feelings as you upshift, get ready for pain and stay in range. I'm going by dealer tomorrow to see if this is a glacial-epoch wait or a "not to worry; we'll have you on road soon" sort of things. Don't want them to rush if there are unresolved issues about spring, boss size, etc., but I am eager to ride the beast again. They are a good dealership, and I faxed the forum threads to them, which they read and will pursue with MGNA (FWTW!). I'll post here as soon as I hear something meaningful. Bill