belfastguzzi

There's this?

Ah! So... Now I know the answer to your question! You are, Moto Guzzi!

Hi M I haven't read all of this, will do so later, but I see that you haven't changed your clutch fluid and the bike has done 20,000 miles! If that is right, then change the clutch fluid. It will be contaminated with dirt, water and probably has air in there too. I found that putting in new fluid and so getting tighter operation makes a noticeable difference. Do this before worrying about springs and whatnot. It may not be the problem or the whole problem, but it will help. D

Who am I to question the wisdom of The Power which brought me here to this small gap in the hedge, to offer distant assistance to our colonial cousin, in his tireless fight from his desert fastness for all those things that we, together hold dear. Have you considered adding a question mark at the end of that sentence?

"Pretty!??? Maybe the V7 Classic is pretty - but in "falsies & make up"? To call this pretty is an abuse of the language. Cafe Racer??? A cafe racer is stripped down to function not tarted up with bling! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quy4HEBBhJ0&feature=related The clueless bufoons at Guzzi HQ have outdone themselves - a pimped up shiney pretender for wannabe yuppie outlaw cafe types to mince about on massaging their egos - & what's so sad is Guzzi are PROUD of it. They should hang their heads in shame, it's an embarassment...." ...a view of the new V7 Racer not widely appreciated by inhabitants of that other place... ...stylistically I take my lead from the Great Antipodean Master of Vituperol who is a constant inspiration. KB Well, you are too modest, as that is only a tiny, teasing vituperation extracted from the full meisterwerk. And indeed, I was thinking, as I laughed heartily, that the Roper has been out-Roperised. Have you considered emigrating to Austrialand?

Is there a story here that we need to be told? KB I believe there is – and it'd very much like to know it. All that I have gathered, from the occasional exclamations of an excited PRoper, is that it happens: Down There. Not having full possession of the facts and photographs, I don't know if it belongs in the Crazy! Advanced! or in the Warning! Retarded! section of the Australiana Superbike School: Cornering Techniques in an Upside Down World, chapter. In some parts of the world (England) gentlemen take their bicycle around a corner with only a hint of simmering rubber as the tyre gentle wears through a coating of outer layer dust. In other places (The Western Canyons of The Far States), chaps in chaps espouse the school of Do It On Your Knees as they sweep The Twisties with plastic and titanium protuberances: sliders, they say. In other places, let's choose France, the Left Bank, it's elbows de rigueur, as leather, suede and sometimes corduroy patches flap and smear the coin de route. The ways of the outback and the kangaroo have produced another distinct vernacular. Giant (can there be any other explanation?) boots are the stabiliser of choice in the Australiana School. Whether they stay hooked on pegs, their gargantuan dimensions extending forwards and outwards to slather the road with crusty leather, hobnails and sock (do the Australianians wear socks?) when the bicycle falls from vertical as it nudges the apex – or whether legs and feet are spread akimbo to provide At Least Three Points Of Contact when faced with A Bend in the road ---- I can't say.

Wow, What got into the Aprilia techies that day? Anyhows, we may be thick when it comes to the mysteries of lever spacing, but at least we know to keep our feet up in the air when going around corners, unlike some. "New boots, Mr Roper sir?" "Yes please, Jeeves. Best get me six pairs while you're at it."

Ha ha... I just read Baldini's views on the Classic tart, as posted in another place. Hilarious: and spot-on, of course.

A few people contacted me after seeing the info on here about the monthly Northern Ireland meets. 1) For next months meet-up on Tuesday 5th October, we have arranged a veiwing of Davy and Joan Crawford's Guzzi and Ducati collection in Lambeg, Lisburn. I think they have over 30 bikes at the house! They ask that each person donates one pound to a charity collection. We will meet at the house at 7.00pm. PM or email for the full address. belfastguzzi@me.com 2) Italian Motor Club run The August run around Lough Neagh with The Italian Motor Club went well. There will be another outing on Sunday 10th October: from Belfast, down the Ards peninsula and across the ferry. I've suggested that we then take a further loop on down the coast: Strangford, Ballyhornan, Ardglass, Minerstown. Could then cut back to Downpatrick, Killyleagh, Comber, Belfast. Or go on to Newcastle and then back. If we get a few bikes out, then even if the cars go back we could go on – if people want.

Mostly, it would be on a computer. Which part wouldn't? The Moto Guzzi Stores Stock Parts List

I hope so – are you thinking of a month already? For me: not September. We talked about having Sibbe on the schedule every year as it's right in the centre of Europe, Paul and Muriëlle are the perfect hosts, we all like Le Chaussee and then having another rally somewhere else, i.e. Scotland, Northern Ireland, Denmark and so forth. September is in general not a good month as it collides with the pilgrimage to Mandello which a lot of V11 forum members will attend. I therefore suggest late August as a possibility. Must emphasize that this hasn't been approved by anyone but myself so I'm all ears for suggestions. In general September weather in Denmark is terrible with lots of rain and what have you, so maybe we should go for Denmark in May and Sibbe in August? Please chime in everyone. BR Søren Thanks Soren maybe it's time for a new thread. I'm wondering about the dates as I will be meeting with some of the Guzzi folk here tomorrow night. I want to talk about is next year's calendar. People here are keen to have another Ulster meet in May, but I'd make it a priority to work around any plans for a Denmark or a different UK meet. A trip to Italy during the summer has also been mentioned here (here being N.I., not V.11.com). If anything more comes of that, I'll post info. While I would love to get to Sibbe to meet people on the Continent, September is always going to be very difficult as it is when things start back after the summer period: but in particular for 2011, my daughter is getting married next September. What are the details for Mandello next September?

I hope so – are you thinking of a month already? For me: not September.

Thanks for the videos Paul. I see that you are experimenting with daringly avant-garde Fotoguzzi Technique in the second movie. Looks like you had dry weather. Did Ferguzzi make it? Jaap, I wanted to send you a message, but when I tried I saw that I had had lost your phone number (and others) when I had synched various address books after getting a new phone. The message went to your email instead.

Got a part number for that Docc? Enquiring minds....

Mostly, it would be on a computer.

There were short spacers. You know how Guzzi likes to produce 'special batches' every now and again, of, er, 'lightened' parts. Particularly around 2002. This is about the only part that I ever got on warranty from Guzzi – except that it took over a year to arrive. I kid you not. Meantime, I made a little shim instead.

I've seen this on Guzzitech (from Wild Guzzi) Service Communication: 2009-001 USA PRE-UPDATE CAMPAIGN NOTICE Technical Update Campaign-Griso 8V and Stelvio 4V 1200 Engine- Camshaft follower/bucket replacement Models affected: 2009 Griso 8V and 2009 Stelvio 4V models within a specified VIN range Griso 8V: ZGULSU0009M111892 to ZGULSU0009M112153 Production Date Range: 05/14/2008 – 09/11/2008 Stelvio 4V: ZGULZC0029M112385 to ZGULZC0009M112689 Production Date Range: 04/29/08 – 10/02/2008 Did you find out when the '09' Stelvio ZGULZC0079M112432 was actually manufactured?

The Story of The Hammer and The Sludge My Griso 8V is nearly 2 and a half years old. It's pretty low mileage as it's been off the road a lot: waiting for repairs; waiting for Piaggio; waiting for parts; getting fixed, eventually; getting fixed again; and other stuff like that. The oil has been changed a number of times, supposedly (I don't know – I just don't believe anything anymore). It would have been changed at the first dealer service; I changed it again; then the Big Nasty happened with disintegrating tappets/cams, followed by The Magic Flush Through with new oil that Makes Everything Alright and then a new clean fill of oil (10-40 semi – the only oil that any bike ever needs according to the dealer, never mind that Guzzi specify 10-60 synth). During that troublesome episode (long story, which some of you know) I insisted that the oil pump be inspected internally in case any of the tappet swarf had found its way there. Supposedly the dealer did open the pump and pronounced it and the whole engine sparkly clean with no debris left anywhere. Jump to today and at 6250 miles it's the distance when the next main oil and filter change would normally be due. I decided to drop the sump, rather than just spin off the filter. I always did it with the V11 to clean out the watery emulsion that remains after an oil drain, but given the Griso history, I definitely wanted to check the state of things. As you can see in the photos, I did find bits of rubbish in the sump: plastic, metallic and other black stuff. I also found that the oil pump intake filter was heavily layered with sticky sludge. I'm tempted to say, heavily obstructed by sludge, including bits of steel debris. Surely not good? So much for official Magic Flush Through With Oil That Makes Everything Alright after your tappets and cams disintegrate. Even if there weren't the metallic bits, the black sludge sticking-up the filter gauze needs cleaning off – so I'd recommend dropping the sump even on these new-fangled 8V motors, every so often. Oh yes,The Hammer? I was talking to some bikers at the weekend and heard that the nickname of the 'official dealer authorised service agent' who 'worked on' my bike and did so much damage, subsequent to the initial cam replacement, is... ...The Hammer. Uh, yeh, that fits. (It's a long story.) Sump & filter pics can be seen at this link here Some of the pics > Some of the bits in the sump >

...an interesting - if not amazing - ...sort of hillbilly/country band... ...of the 1990s. A mix of ...re-formed ...really good songs ...generally ...inspired ...bums. 1960s you say? My eyesight can be troublesome: or is it my hearing? Never thought I'd say this, this side of the Millennium, but I picked up some Frumious Bandersnatch this afternoon. Ah the West Coast where it's perpetual sunny afternoon

Did it... cool them???

I think you'll find that Ike Turner DID require liquid cooling.

Actually it seems to be an interesting - if not amazing - bike, the Dorsoduro. Nevertheless it may be interesting in this context that Wilco started as some sort of hillbilly/country band, at least if I got it right what I found on the net about them. Hubert (that's where all music started.) So really you are saying that if Guzzi used a new water-cooled v twin, then we would have the perfect Wilco analogy?

There is a list of numbers. In the end, they possibly recalled more than the original list... Can you check with a dealer? I've had a look for a list, but the one I have is for the original timing nut recall. Your number is later than that. Have you checked to see if there is a list on Guzzitech? I've a feeling that Guzzi didn't allow the list to be made public.

Griso = Tom Jones V11 = Keef Richards V7 Classic = Cliff Richard Aprilia Dorsoduro =