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Today Ciao

Thanks for the kind thoughts. You're right about the mindset, most everything I have is designed to go fast and that's fine but when I want to just go out for a short ride with my wife to brunch or a quiet coffee I don't need or want that. Riding gear is another area I need to review as well for these times. Race type clothing and protection is what I've always worn but for the urban casual stuff there are now more relaxed yet still protective options. It's about just being able to jump on the bike with a minimum of fuss and go for ride. No hurry, no stress, no worries:) Ciao

Hey Phil congrats on the new bike, very sweet classic lines, I know you've been thinking about it, glad to see you pull the trigger.. When I first got my California Vintage, I was throwing it around back country curves, it was disappointing. Other than change shock settings, the only thing I changed was my mindset and I began riding it for the relaxing and enjoyable bike that it is. It's my favorite old dependable ride in the herd now, like a comfortable pair of slippers. Wishing you many safe miles, on your new relaxing and enjoyable ride

Yes docc, fifty ripping HP and the best shifting motorcycle gearbox ever made. Sounds like a Ducati with the 270 degree crank and is silky smooth with the balance shaft. Ciao

Did your wife get a new motorcycle?

If you look at these beautiful V11 Frame Side Plates, and see "porkchops", order baked beans on the side. Then burp (and *such*) They look decidedly more elegant, and Italian, to my eyes . . . . > stilettos <

I do find it interesting that Texas has more regs and regulations (and fees though $7 is pretty fair) than California! Here the test is a bit tough- for the larger bikes for sure. I did mine on a kawk 750 vulcan, not the largest bike but also not super maneuverable. a cb350 would have been a breeze. First time I failed the circle test, basically two concentric circles and you have to ride between the lines twice one way, out to figure eight and rwide twice around the opposite way. Put your foot down you fail. touch the side lines, you fail. I touched a side line. But the second time I took the test they were pretty nice and saw where I had failed and just had me do that first. after that one.. the rest were a breeze. Weave between cones, brake, r... i couple other ones but nothing difficult. But after that you have the endorsement and its good forever and there are no bike inspections (I think there might be for bikes registering from other states).

It's been 5 years since my Corso passed away. I miss having a dog. I picked her up a couple weeks ago, she's a 2 month old "Blue" Cane Corso. My God, I got a refresher course on what Hell Raiser's little puppy's can be :/

In a manner of speaking. It's our sensible, comfortable, practical bike for trips to the local Cafes, restaurants and wineries. She doesn't ride herself but likes getting on the pillion. Ciao

That looks really relaxing and enjoyable!

The trip is just over 2000km.

You need all the grease off before powdercoating, so you'd need to remove the bearings - and the heat is not good for any rubber seals. I used canned spray paint as well. VHT Engine Case is good paint.

interesting. Its confusing - mine is the red frame: So it looks like that hepco one would work as it says "from 2001" in the description. I read that to mean "2001 and later" but they seem to mean 2001 itself. which would then include 1999,2000. but seems like @footgoose has a nice option! I'll reply over there. nice bike.. very much like mine but yours is a bit cleaner!

Yes the V11 is a sexy beast. Even when they changed to the black frame, they kept wearing the red stilettos.

I still have this one...

If you have Amazom Prime it's free to watch now. Kinda like the Long Way Round but closer to reality. Two Germans, Germany to India, no chase vehicles, just them. Pretty good. Himilaya Calling https://www.amazon.com/Germany-Caspian-Sea/dp/B08KWP26Y6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZI3L27BTL43B&dchild=1&keywords=himalaya+calling&qid=1620359009&s=instant-video&sprefix=himalay%2Cinstant-video%2C176&sr=1-1

These racks and bags come up pretty regularly here in the classified section. Stick around and keep your eyes out! Following what docc says, basically there are pre-2002 red frame V11’s and 2002 and later black frame V11’s.

Hey Bbennett One experience you should absolutely try first... Only fill your existing tank by 10 L consecutively for a minimum of 6 stops for gas. If you find you actually prefer that more than filling up 3 times... well then, you’re good to go so just go ahead and drop the hammer on the Benelli lookalike - seems a reasonable price. I like big tanks simply for the range aspect. Agree a lot of smaller tanks do look pretty good - but I’m yet to see a 21 L capacity tank that is much better looking than the V11’s - even those early versions that seem to have attached some sort of pouch on top for a sanitary pad.

I just ordered a Ventura rack system from NZ, but it may be a long wait since they are made to order.

http://www.accessoryinternational.com/product/hepco-becker-650-529-complete-rack-le-mans-v-11.html

My 1st Corso ate one entire leather work glove. I wondered why she wasn’t eating and being very aggressive. Took her in to the vet and they cut her open and returned to me in a plastic baggy my missing glove. i was wtf? How? Huh? Really? Geeze these dogs can do some wild shit... I’ve had to erect mini barricades around my speakers at home because I would absolutely freak if she started chewing on my cables. I’m not into $10,000 a inch cables... but I do use quality stuff. Stuff I’d rather not have to try and replace at today’s prices... Ohh btw, she discovered what bass feels like hahahaha... was playing some Steely Dan ( Lunch with Gina) and turned it up just a bit. She was in awe! That was hilarious.

Before I went with the carbon, I was talking with evan wilcox. He is the man for all things metal......

I had to look up Yamaha 900 Diversion on the 'net. It's a nice looking 4 cyl air cooled sport tourer. Looks like the old Seca II 600 that they used to sell over here.

My new puppy is 5 mo old now. He's a Griffon.

I did the 23andMe DNA test and it mostly confirmed stuff I knew, because my family had kept good records going back to people who came to the US from England in the 1600s. But the big (and fun) surprise was that my quantity of Neanderthal DNA markers is in the top 2% of all people tested. I am totally using this as an excuse to go to the mountains any time I want. It's in my nature... have to get back to my roots... a cave-man has to build a fire... etc. On the intellectual side. I find it fascinating that my body contains evidence of interbreeding of two human species 40,000 years ago - which is one of the more important scientific findings in recent years (at least in the field of human evolution). Have any of you done a DNA test and did you learn anything surprising?

40.000 yrs ago... the era of air-cooled V-twin pushrod engines

3% Neanderthal here. Always figured that's why very few helmets fit my head.

It seems entirely plausible the Neanderthal gene may be over represented in the Moto Guzzi population . . .

I tried putting some stilettos on the grill, but it "made me highly irregular" to the point that that no amount of dee-ip could assuage . . . [Compliments to Lord Buckley . . . and Jimmy Buffett for turning me on to this performer. ]

I found out way more than I wanted to know with a DNA test..