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I’ll be there...2,500 miles away... wouldn’t miss it!!!

First takeoff was in a 1941 Luscombe 8C. Dad bought it in flying condition for $500. Yeah, it was decades ago, but the plane is still registered and flown by a club in Vancouver, WA. Dad was among the post WWII aviators, so I grew up smelling like avgas. Grew up in the Luscombe, a Cessna Bobcat (think: Sky King/Kirby Grant - who I met in Hermiston, OR at a fly-in), a staggerwing Beech, a Bellanca, a Monocoupe, the odd 140/170 Cessna, a Stinson 105, an Ercoupe and IIRC, a 125HP Swift. Forgetting a few, but it was a really tight brotherhood. Bro and I played in the derelict fuselage of a BT13 trainer. Pilots in general aviation seem to gravitate toward the air-cooled, hands-on bikes, and even cars.

Semantics.. but you are right, John.. firing order is 1-2-1-2, but they are *not* equally spaced.

After the short frame bikes they got fat, porky, and ponderous. Real men with big balls ride the "short frame". Old codgers tend to go for the fat lardy long frame version. Ciao

Awesome. That's doing it up right.. We faced the East and a little South.. raised our very best bourbon, and sang "Happy Birthday" in 2 part harmony. (I also told Luigi he sucked.)

I meant to post this yesterday, but let’s just say celebrating got away from me. In fact, I’m glad Kathi’s in Alexandria with some of the grands, as some of the “rest, residue, & remainder” are still painfully with me this afternoon. Anyway, here’s a tailored version of how I spent most of yesterday in an Moto Guzzi centenary celebration … by improving the Moto Grappa. For years, I have wanted to have a concrete pad at the front. I often made fun of visiting Guzzisti who fretted about the gravel approach. But, if the truth must be known from time to time, I, too, screamed in my helmet on short final into the bay when the too-plush gravel made touchdown a bit squirrelly. So, I eventually found a local contractor willing to a small job, tho it sure isn't $mall to me! Anyway, he came today and got it all done. What a grand way to mark Moto Guzzi's 100th. Here are a few pix of that process. Before … During ... "After" Naturally, that deserved christening [you begin to see when my present condition started.]. For those who care — a small and somewhat strange lot — I’ll cobble together and post some pix of the whole interesting-to-me-anyway process for a slideshow. Oh, FWIW, while it still appears as if there is plenty of gravel leading up to that concrete apron, the remainder is about one stone thick above hardpan. I then lifted a few-too-many glasses of grappa and bourbon with folks all over the planet. Buon Anniversario! Bill

South'n SpineRaid TechSession? We'll generate a Venn Diagram . . . or a Bell Curve. Or a shrug and another round of brews . . .

I really appreciate that.

Finally got it up on a lift to check the mfg date. It's 2/2000

Next time your in the Valley............... let me know I can show you those V-11 versions in the flesh so to speak. Ciao

Allman Brothers - Mountain Jam (Fillmore East 1971... just the Duane Allman part) - YouTube

It's generally called a "rod end bearing" or spherical rod end bearing. Ciao

The turn buckle connecting rod in the linkage, which adjusts the lever position.

Twin hose from a double banjo bolt on the master cylinder complete with pressure switch for brake light.

@gstallons says that every year. For-like-forever now. I wrote him a note and everything. Oh, wait. I wrote ever-damn-body a note . . . Get There. Bring Tools.

Those are the factory LaFranchoni on the LeMans. Original levers, Vacuum tube still attached to the intakes, front side reflectors intact. Looks good. Right, so, a 2005 original-looking LeMans with 31,000 miles for $5200US? Hmmmm . . . Is there definitely a "5" in the tenth character of the VIN? (2005 models were not many AFAIK.)

Guilty..

If you're looking at the same Scura for sale in Canada that I have recently seen reposted again(Quebec?), I don't think it's as "sorted" as you think. I contacted the vendor last year and asked the usual V11 Scura questions, ie shift return spring, Roper plate, relays and the single plate clutch issue, I got the distinct impression the seller either wasn't that familiar with the known issues of his bike or being deliberately vague, neither were confidence inspiring for me. fwiw good luck and happy shopping

This is the kind of thing that keeps me fueling up my Sport and ripping along the creekways and across the ridges.

Ooh nice thread. Just purchased some TI cans with a couple of small dings. Now to find some PVC pipe and more importantly some IPA. The dents are removed more easily with some throat lubricant I take it!

I would say I have seen the very fewest black RedFrame Sports. Who knows if they are actually the rarest? But they are stunning, IMHO. This one was on the stage at EICMA 1997 . . . photo from a motorcycle magazine that sunk its teeth into me . . .

My Father in law ( RIP) had an antique Art and collectables store in SF for years...When my wife would ask how much something was worth..he would say..its worth whatever its worth to you? How much do you have ? How bad do you want it? I always kind of go by that..How much do I have? and How bad do I want it?..that is really all that matters.

Nice "apron!" Not the first I've seen you celebrate Moto Guzzi with! [Fourth South'n SpineRaid, 2008, Verona, Tennessee]

Hey, JRD!! Yeah, funny thing, when member @Kane posted his avatar, I was struck by the view and pulled the Stucchi off. At about the same time I pulled the Zūmo off and really have enjoyed the simplicity and focus with just the instruments in the airstream. I do put the Stucchi back on for the SpineRaid to protect the Speedhut gauges from the weather. I'd hate to have them short out!

I've been thinking about how to spin this into something constructive . . . My favorite view of a motorcycle is probably prima del monte (before the mount) - the 3/4 view from the left side, just behind the bike looking forward over its waiting form. The last view of the bike before the rider should be looking only at the road and the path of travel . . . When looking at images of a V11 for sale, I look closely at the close side views of the driveline and chassis. These often reveal changes that have been made that I use to judge condition and the previous owners' intentions.

Got booked in yesterday. Good friend Yamaha Bill will be attending again.

Just made our reservations. Same cabin as before. Nice talking to Walt just now, too. And, ah, yes, the memories. Here are few quick grabs from the past: 1921 - 2021! Bill & Kathi

hmmm. .. I'd be interested to know of a specific high quality upgrade.

Scura #600 - new to me today. Just sold my old Scura w/ Coppa paint job couple months ago and the garage just didn’t feel complete anymore. This one was apparently on and off the market a couple times and popped up again yesterday.......brought it home today. Will need a little TLC, but I’m excited nonetheless.

anyone play bass?

Yep. It was impossible to find one in Sweden, so I had to get mine from Germany. I had four to choose from at the time. EDIT: One more popped up for sale in Hamburg this week, but the seller didn't show the number.

Mine was changed put at around 21k. But if I heard correctly the prior owner would take it to the track once in a while and did ride it pretty hard. Im sure if youre not riding it like you stole it these flywheels will last. The way I ride my Scura Im hoping another 60k... ;-)

Here ya go...