Steve G.

Not sure if my input would be helpfull. I've been to the islands maybe 25 times since 1982. My old employer owned property on Oahu, at the Ilikai Hotel, just west of Ft. Derusey, west of Waikiki. They also had property in South Kehei on Maui. I had basically free board there any time. I took advantage of it. I know the isle of Maui better than my home town. I know Oahu fairly well. Kaui and the big isle less so. Honolulu is basically a big city in the tropics. With all it's troubles and crowds, and traffic, and rush hours. That said, you can ride all year, you could get in a bad habit of not wearing AGATT [all the gear all the time], no helmets etc. Problem is, once you've ridden all over the island, after say a month, you've literally ridden every road there is, you end up riding less. I don't think at this stage in my life I could live on an island, I'd go crazy. I live in the second biggest country on earth. I'd have trouble. I guess you could test yourself, by not leaving your current area where you live, stay within a 25 mile circle, for eveything you do. Even riding!! See of you can do it. If you can, you're a good candidate. Ciao, Steve

Thanks very much guys!!!

She studies what? I know what I'd be studying. Ciao, Steve

Hi Greg, I respect that you must keep the date for the TT under wraps. I won't press the issue my friend. You know, the second weekend in Sept, I don't think I'm doing anything, I think I'd like to take a ride to Fauntelroy! Ciao, Steve

So I just about had a cardiac when my local dealer told me what he wanted for a fuel filter [i'm in Canada remember]. And my buddy won't be down to Houston till early winter [MPH], so, tell me, is there another 'automotive' sourse for this Weber filter?? Ciao, Steve

So Greg, interested people need to know. I let my VME membership slide this year, so no newsletter. Ciao, Steve

Hi Ben, How is this bridge collapse going to effect the transportation system around Minneapolis? I'm thinking travel around that city will be a zoo until they can build a new bridge. Ciao, Steve

The 1000S is a verey cool looking bike. A buddy of mine has one here in Vancouver, he mentioned that they are getting up in price. That said, E-bay is not an example of what true pricing is. Auctions build in a feeding frenzy which enhances pricing. Ciao, Steve

Last Tuesday of each month, Sunshine, Italia bikes, beautiful women. Corner of Commercial Drive and 1st Avenue, Vancouver B.C. After 6:30pm. Be there. Ciao, Steve

Totally absolutely agree. I'll stick with the V11, until the 1200 Sport is allowed into North America. This is the true replacement of the V11 in their lineup. The MGS-01 is way cool, but I own a bike somewhat like this, and they are somewhat limited in usage time because of their single use thought design. The Griso, while unique in design, is not a cafe racer like the V11's first mold, but enters the classification of 'power cruiser', one that can go around corners without leaving chunks of metal. Ciao, Steve

Thanks for the great advice Rick. I will be there for sure!! Ciao, Steve

From Aug. 30-Sept. 16th. My 4th trip to the old country. Will spend alot of the time in and around north west Essex, [ Steeple Bumpstead, free accomodation], but will be heading to my families ground zero, in and around St. Ives, Camb., with visits to the family estate and graveyard in Woodhurst, Camb, and visits to the old public house my grandpa and grampa's before him hung out, the Ferry Boat Inn, in the tiny hamlet of Holywell. Stops at Stilton, will also head to another free accomodation somewhere in the outskirts of Birmingham, visiting Tanworth-in-Arden, [Mike Hailwoods resting spot], perhaps Hinkley [done the Triumph tour, but my co-travellers havn't] and Melton Mobray, before heading to paid accomodation in southern Avon [bath], and down to Somerset [Wells, Glastonbury, Cheddar, Batheaston, site of Solisbury Hill, Glastonbury Tor, etc]. I've pressed this run to Somerset because it will be a good time to sample some rough cider, scrumpy, which I sampled with my uncle Peter in Wells many yrs ago. Then we will head back to Steeple, where we will make some train runs into London. I've been to London, seen the sites, and will be happy to follow my buddies anywhere they want to go and see. My favourite place to hang out has to be Oxford street, and just off the drag, Hamley's toy store, unreal place! Also a run out to the Ace Cafe. During the whole time, not one bike shop will go unchecked! Prority 1 is bikes. Ciao, Steve

39,000 kms. I won't bother listing the issues, as they've been small but plentiful. Knock on wood, it's been trouble free since 15,000 kms, and very good and reliable now. Ciao, Steve

I wanted to tell everyone how happy I am with Todd's handlebar kit. It has transfered the ride into one of long term comfort, most especially on the pre 2002 V11's, with their longer "cafe racer" reach. One thing I am interested in is a longer throttle cable. I was looking at a buddies '04 Balabio, and there seems a much longer routing situation. Would anyone out there venture to know weather the cable is longer, and by how much? Actually, I know it's longer just by looking at the later style handlebar set up. I think I need around 3 1/2 - 4 inches longer to have the routing I'd like. Ciao, Steve

That looks like Pierro Laverda on the V6, and his son Giovanni on the 500. Great shots!! Ciao, Steve

I still have the original cross over. The reason I have chosen to keep it is, because of it's robust build, and unlike the FBF crossover, it utilizes the hanger from above it's location. The FBF unit is supported from the header and the muffler/can support, so there is much pressure on the header seal at the head. Cracking at the header in this area is attributed to lack of support from the crossover. Ciao, Steve

I rode a Lemans today with Stucci carbon cans and Stucci crossover. The sound difference from my Staintuned V11 is dramatic, very different. The Staintune have a gutteral boom at all revs except idle, are much louder at revs. The Stucci carbons [and I would think non carbon Stucci as well] have a significant 'report' from each cylinder independently, a muted crackle,. I think this has alot to do with the independent flow through nature of the collector, just as entertaining, but very different. The cosmetic differences are strictly personal in taste, no other is better, just different. Ciao, Steve

I know a number of lads who own KTM's, twins, singles,etc. Mostly the things spend a bunch of time in the repair shop suffering from inadequet engineering. Piles of shite if you ask me. You think Beemers are money pits, whoooaaaa!!! That said, owning a 100 hp enduro bike is kick ass fun, and although I've never ridden an HP2, I recently spent a day offroad on a 1200GSA Beemer. Very much a handfull in the rough stuff with it's street engineered suspension, and 37litre fuel capacity, and incredible workhorse that will dispatch any sport bike in the twisties, with a full payload. Would I get an HP2? No. A very expensive dirt bike, you will cry whenever you scratch it, and I've seen that the grey plastic panels scratch extremely easily. No, you'd be better off with a XRHonda 650R, the water cooled model. Still heavy, but good power. You want street capability? Then find an XL650L, the air cooled one, bulletproof engine, big grunt off idle, a better bike than a DR Suzuki. Of course, no one bike can do all, so the Guzzi remains in the corrall, and the addition will just add versatility to the garage! Ciao, Steve

As much as I love Lagune Seca, having been to all the GP's, and many WSB, it's too small for GP bikes, even 800's. Superbikes can barely stretch their legs. That said, Indy's road race circuit is a joke. There are only 2 tracks in North America that GP bikes can run properly, Road America, and Road Atlanta. As a west coaster, it hurts to say this, but it's true. Ciao, Steve

It's true the Staintunes do not have the look of the factory cans, so they may not be an option. There is no denying the quality of these things though, they fit perfect [better than the factory ones], line up from the back is better than stock, and the sound, well, you even get 2 options there, with or without the slide in baffle. Without is a rich baritone boom, and with the baffle in, is like a baritone boom except at 5 volume instead of 10 My one negative about the Staintunes, is that it makes the factory headers look like shite, obviously a lesser grade of stainless steel. Ciao, Steve

It would be nice if there was even a mention of availability here in Canada, even North America! Ciao, Steve

Hi Van, I couldn't make it this year, had a family thing. The weather was dodgy Sunday, so in North Vancouver it must have been a washout. I was on a memorial ride Saturday to Pemberton, it rained like crazy. We stopped at Howe Sound Brewing in Squamish, where we noticed a fairly large gaggle of Ferrari offspring. I can assume they were to be at Lonsdale Quay on the Sunday. Ciao, Steve

On behalf of Michelin, Transport Canada has issued a national recall on Pilots. Ciao, Steve

I know you are just trying to press 'buttons' as I know you are want to. But, putting motorcycle gods like Rossi and [to a much lesser extent] Edwards in the same miring muck as Hilton, Sharpton and Jackson is a slip up that I could not help pointing out. I do understand where you're going, I think. Ciao, Steve

A yes, a hell of a way to celebrate 1500 entries! Ciao, Steve