LowRyter

It's not the ticket prices, it's the rip off when you're there. No food or drink allowed, no general seating on practice days, etc. I'm used to Indy and road courses where you bring a picnic and cooler or even camp on the grounds. Sorry but COTA sucks. The track and racing is great and almost worth it. When they take a 5 year old's PBJ when daddy took him from California to get there, well screw 'em. So far as Austin, it's not the same since they closed the Armadillo. I think I already posted that.

My sister bought the Stones' DFW tix, she's inline to go, provided they don't want the paper, 'cause she ain't been vax'd and her daughter got it and her granddaughter got it bad with the delta. So there's that. I've seen the Stones on 3 occasions, the last one in a 10k arena..."Moonlight Mile". You know that COTA got $25M a year from the State for many years? (Enough to cover the F-1 fee, true) I'll admit that some Lockhart BEEF DINO RIBS might get me there but likely on my way to Port A and the beach. I just can't get brave enough to go in crowds. Mentioning bands, I'd like to go to the Dead & Co at DFW and those guys will see your papers. Still not sure I'll make it.

Paul, I think; therefore, I am. No way, I'd front those jackals at COTA a freaking dime. If I decide to go, I'll pay when I get there. Don't tell me you gave those guys your money already- other than your Texas tax dollars.

Best to you and your neighbors. It looks like the storm might cause some flooding.

Makes me wonder if they'll cancel the MotoGP race in Austin? My attendance probability has gone down to fractions. Probably not going to Dusty's campout in Kansas next week. The last campout there was in early May and it seemed so much more safer then.

I guess that settles it.

On Wild there was a lot of histrionics and folks getting the vapors over the pressed cranks on the new Guzzi small blocks. I wasn't aware of the timing layout. Apparently, the crank layout is typical of Aprilia architecture. I always thought built cranks were the exotic stuff of Porsches and Harleys XR. Apparently not. Little do I know.

There's another photo on Wild. It does look like bastard child of a Guzzi and Honda. I hope I'm wrong about that.

Pete, I don't know about rear suspension but my '98 EV works fine in the corners. Maybe it's because of the relative (low) power of the engine, the length or stiffness of the drive shaft, but it handles pretty well.

My Bandit and Sport weigh about the same. The Bandit has about 25 more horsepower but does not handle as sure as the Guzzi. The Guzzi has a shorter power range and tops out 7k vs 10k rpm. And of course 170 vs 180 rear tire. IIRC the Michelin front didn't last that long either (or perhaps I never installed a Michelin front?). Anyway, the Dunlops costs less, handle as good or better and last at least as long. In fact I have a half used Dunlop in my garage taken on because I was traveling and didn't want to get caught out, I still haven't put it on as the replacement Dunlop is still going. I put the same tires on my Ducati because I was tired of replacing Pirellis$$$ and they seem the handle as well too.

The photo doesn't seem to match the beauty of any of the spineframe bikes. Hopefully, we'll be pleasantly surprised when the bike is revealed. For me it's late to the party since I purchased my Ducati. But I hope to get a test ride.

My point is that my Sport ate up Michelins nearly twice as fast as my Bandit. That really seems odd but the Guzzi has 170 rear vs 180 but it's still hard to explain. Given that, I see no reason to pay a fortune for Michelins when I can pay 2/3 a fortune for Dunlops. I think the Dunlop might handle a little better and are quicker to warm up. They grip well enough that I put them on my Ducati was well.

Reading this thread, it looks like the V11 just eats up tires.

As I said, my Greenie just ate up Pilot Roads. No way I'll spend that much again. The Dunlops cost much less, last longer and handle better IMO.

regarding Charlie Watts

I have '17 SS 939, it came with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III. The original tires lasted about 1000 miles more than the non-Ducati branded Rosso III. They handled very nicely but the replacements didn't last as long (4500 vs 3500 miles rear). Getting the Ducati branded tires are only a few dollars more but need to be special ordered. I finally went to Dunlop RS III/IV which handle as well and are much cheaper. I have been running RS's on my V11 for several years prior. BTW- the Owner's Manual calls for 36/36 lb air pressure. This is the only bike that I know that carried the same pressure front and rear. I guess we're on two boards, this and the 939SS board.

I prefer the 170 Dunlop Roadsmarts. They cost less than Pirellis, last longer and grip equally well. I even run them on my Ducati 939 Supersport. My V11 Sport just ate up a 170 size Michelin Pilot Road. After that, no way I'll spend for a Pirelli or Michelin. My Ducati had Diablo Rosso III, they were great but didn't last. Dunlops are great, last longer and cheaper <Guzzi content>.

I've never heard anything good about RTV or gasket sealer regarding Guzzi pan gaskets. The lore is to only use grease to paste the gasket in place. jus' sayin'

I'm constantly missing a washer or two, sometimes they're missing when I take them off, other times I can't find on when I'm putting it back on. It seems that the corners are most prone to leak.

BTDT. You might check if you're missing a washer, not that it would usually matter. But it might.

Given the Delta variant and the spread of the disease in Texas, I wouldn't be surprised to see the MotoGP race cancelled. It's up to the teams and Dorna whether it's worth the risks and costs.

for sure. The Okla State Fairgrounds built a great 1/2 mile track and grandstand in the '50s. It was featured in the movie "State Fair" where Pat Boone built his own race car -a JAG D Type !!!!- to race on the dirt. Anyway, the city fathers learned about the image of a "dirt" track in the middle of the City after 60 years. So as usual, they let the place go to pot where it was "economically non-viable" to get it up to code, despite the fact that several race sponsors were building contractors and offered to do it for free. So no dirt track or grandstand, just a vacant lot in the Fairgrounds now. It's quiet on Friday nights. The track was effectively replaced by a bought NBA Franchise, The Oklahoma City Thunder. We're pretending to be a growed up big league city now.

You don't live on a dirt road.

Phil, the same thing has been happening at Pike's Peak. Originally the public road was dirt and has been gradually paved. In the old days when the Unser's ruled there, the cars were Champ Dirt cars that were modified to turn left and right (rather than just left). There was talk that entire race might be cancelled once the place was paved. Over the years it's largely been a specialized race with amateurs and big corporations going at it at the same time. The Champ Cars ran there last in '68 (Bobby Unser won). BTW "Uncle Bobby" was a helluva road racer and even raced BRM F1, he also won Indy three time. I saw Rod Millen win there in a wild contraption that had a Toyota carbon fiber "Pick Up" body (the bed was a huge wing/ground effects thing) that was built on a March Indycar chassis converted to 4WD with a 2.0 liter turbo Toyota engine pushing out 1000hp. The race has been a tourist draw and the local town of Manitou Springs gets a lot of support from the competitors, spectators and local Chamber volunteer types. There's no major league sanctioning body but instead a group organized by the competitors, many of them local. So I guess I'm saying the thing has been hanging by a thread since 1968.