belfastguzzi

Of course: that is one way of viewing and one way of engaging. It can be a good & useful approach, but it doesn't mean that other conversations can't be had. Ignoring things is sometimes ok and sometimes not the best thing. I wish that the motorbike dealer who owes me parts wouldn't keep ignoring me or the issue. Sure, he's got the bit he digs (the sale, my money) and he's ignoring the rest. Good for him - but short sighted. That's why Piaggio Guzzi is down the tubes in many places. To me, ignoring the state of things and always slapping on more gloss emulsion isn't gonna hold the wall up. Mostly we enjoy and enthuse. Sometimes it's worth a slight poke to see what's under the paint, don't you think? The hard reality of modern life is that you have to put on a "show".Motorcycles are a luxury and leisure item and you have to appeal to a certain degree to the "lifestyle" and as most buyers will have a partner, them as well. Doesn't matter how good the product this is a necessity or you will be dead in the water with the leisure/luxury market. Once apon a time you could rely on the quality selling the product and generating a certain image,now its the other way around. Not saying I like it this way just that's the way it is. As for the show I would just love to be back in Mandello again an have a look in the factory.The rest would be a bonus. I have principle when it comes to the majority of dealers......Once I leave with the bike they never see it again unless I have a major warranty issue and then I keep them on such a short leash its better for them to treat me well than mess me about. Minor warranty stuff,servicing and tuning I will deal with myself.Generally better to keep things away from the "oil change specialists" that 90% of dealerships claim are technicians. ciao Yeah, you're right about all that.

Of course: that is one way of viewing and one way of engaging. It can be a good & useful approach, but it doesn't mean that other conversations can't be had. Ignoring things is sometimes ok and sometimes not the best thing. I wish that the motorbike dealer who owes me parts wouldn't keep ignoring me or the issue. Sure, he's got the bit he digs (the sale, my money) and he's ignoring the rest. Good for him - but short sighted. That's why Piaggio Guzzi is down the tubes in many places. To me, ignoring the state of things and always slapping on more gloss emulsion isn't gonna hold the wall up. Mostly we enjoy and enthuse. Sometimes it's worth a slight poke to see what's under the paint, don't you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMZPTHxCYFw

Ha ha I think you'll love this one Baldini Have a good day now

Bikes here that do good talking. Including 306, 310 and others A Kind Of Passion EDIT got it on Youtube. I'll repost in new topic

Harley design stance Nice video: sorry, Vimeo again > Same Stance, New Generation You'll also find Benedict Campbell's new Wall Of Death movie on there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJD92H7oADs I wonder what this is saying about motorbikes (and it's a bit hard to spot the bikes in there) and about Guzzi? Only wondering a little bit, mind, not a lot. What does it say to you?

Interesting comment Baldi, as I'm just about to post a video of GMG 2011 and say that it doesn't say anything about, or point to, Guzzi's future. I wouldn't go far as to say that it all looks like fiddling while Rome is burning...

Breathtaking beauty

You might like to look back at this Topic, with Lodola etc > ol' bits n bobs

Convincing? Ed Jacobs, Confederate Hellcat designer "We don't cover anything. That structure is real, it's not wallpaper. You really see the truth of what's going on, not a candy coating." Clicky here> link to Ed Chambers talking cool on Vimeo, sorry it's not embedded "I have a universal design philosophy that I've believed in for years: to listen to what the product wants to be," Jacobs says. "Don't force your aesthetic on it. Allow the intent of the structure to be the aesthetic." That philosophy informs the Hellcat's design, which is built around a solid aluminum engine case with elements of the frame bolted directly onto it. "Usually the frame is a cradle for the engine," Jacobs explains. "Here you bolt the frame to the front and rear of the engine and the whole thing is a working structure." http://confederate.com/development/?p=74

5-7 May? Galloway would be handy. May and June weekends are pretty well impossible for me in 2012, due to work commitments. I definitely have stuff on over the bank holiday weekends, but I'll see if I can manage the Scotland meet somehow. I'd love to go, of course.

and a polka-dot bow tie on the front

Someone who has even more taste than Skeeve and much, much, much, more money (I'm guessing on that one) see here For sale etc

Sound man, that Kev (sometimes) Link to Ash interview

Though I wouldn't put it as strongly as that, it is indeed a somewhat daft and blinkered view from a wealthy ol' boy in that strange country of Amerikay, but it's an interesting slant to tilt the brain cells on for a moment.

What!?!? Did you miss all that George Bush stuff?!

We miss the presence here of our motocompatriot, Martin Barrett, and his most un-zen dirty Le Mans. But in a parallel universe, he is a zen artist extraordinaire, perfecting the sublime art of drawing motorcycles. Pssst, Martin... clue.... there should be 2 wheels http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsI8ciZ6nHQ

Rossopuro Vimeo link Jaap, can you explain again how to embed Vimeo? I couldn't follow the last guidance.

Very nice

An often discussed theme: can we revisit it? See NYT article by American poet FREDERICK SEIDEL> Is the Era of the Motorcycle Over? Thoughts?

Plenty of beauties here >> Bikers Classic meeting in Francorchamps & here's a bruiser