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I remember sitting in a cafe once when a chap pulled up at the lights, and stalled, his old Gold Star…. Gave me a chance to drink in the beautiful bike but also gave me backache just watching him trying to kick the bugger to life again!

Euro 5 is the word. With F.I., DOHC/4 valves and probably a catalyst, it's doable. More HP is almost certainly in the engine. Norton. Again. Someone, again, "claims" - yet again - that Norton is/will be back again. No Wankel, no 270º twin and no retro. 1200cc V4 they say. 360º crank and 8 or so gears if one indulges their dreamy website's audio. Two mockup...er...uh...models. One less idiosyncratic than the other - or maybe just wearing more bodywork. Said website is pure chocolate frosting, heavily laced with testosterone, but very little actual cake. Again. If I buy a Norton calendar, at least I can tick off the days, weeks, months.

I think you can still order them through a dealer. If you go to Harper's Moto Guzzi website, they have a parts fiche available online and the decals are listed. Also, MG Cycle has some decals available. Both are located in the US. Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

I have a friend who has his old BSA Gold Star that he used to race at the Isle of Man, and after coming back from his usual once a month ride around the block was shaking his head. He got off saying, it doesn't go, it doesn't handle and it certainly doesn't stop. And that's a true and accurate account from someone who loves the bike. It would seem that the love for old designs is compatible, it 'was' good compared to what was available at the time. This is what BSA, Royal Enfield and perhaps Triumph twins are up against, when compared to what is available at 'this' time can they be classed as good? I sincerely hope to there is a point of seperation with retro singles, long stroke and heavy flywheels might be enough to put them in a class of their own but simply relying on nostalgia ain't going to work. Chris.

That swing arm is a piece of work..

And now Dot is back(?). "Devoid of Trouble" caries a Kawi 650 single, so that bit is well done. What's next? Francis-Barnett? Pointer? A.J. Stevens?

I wonder if a standard triple-clamp doesn't have props in the casting-mold already to support drilling holes for the mounting of standard risers. In that case you could buy the risers from LSL. https://www.lsl-online.nl/nl/detail/2071085/superbike-kit-moto-guzi-moto-guzzi-v11-sport-zilver.htm And you could check at Stein Dinze. It says the product is NML (nicht mehr lieferbar), but it will also be shipped in 1-3 days. https://www.stein-dinse.biz/product_info.php?language=sc&products_id=55680#prettyPhoto

I made a ring-nut socket from a 50mm hex socket. But first, channeling my Father "if it isn't broken, don't fix it". I think you should only remove the pinion if you must change a leaky seal on the pinion shaft. Anyway, you would need to remove the #13 nut, as the seal is behind it. I used a hot air gun and heated the housing around the pinion bearing to 100°C. Nut #18 undoes easily then, and a gentle biff with a slide hammer and the pinion assembly will pull out. 100°C is safe for the seals and O-rings, but don't get much above 120ish°C. If you don't have a IR heat sensor, then a temp where you can touch the housing but can't hold your hand on it for a second is about right. Nut #13 is staked into a slot, and is tight. I drilled and split the old nut, but then of course I needed a new nut... and a shaped wood set of vice jaws to grip the pinion gear to tighten it back up. Lots of swarf spiraled off the outer end of the nut as I tightened it, so good cleaning is needed.

As Phil wrote..."drift and a hammer". From the factory the book says says torque to 90 Nm. If you are going to try and cut something up it needs to be a 60mm socket. Seems I do not have the tool for that ring nut.

Maybe a $50,000 modern Vincent Black Shadow. I bet those would sell. Somebody tried to bring back Henderson a while back and failed. Indian failed at first, now the reboot is working. And as for my earlier comment about getting a Royal Enfield over a BSA - my reasoning is based on brand familiarity and admiring what RE have been doing for a while. Also, Phil seems happy with his and I trust his opinion.

guzziart.... why do you want to pull the pinion assembly out? Is it leaking from there? I will check in the morn ...I think I have what you need to remove this. I would not use heat because of the 0-ring and seal that are just behind it

This BSA totally nails it, IMO. The GoldStar, especially. What an icon.

Heat may also help free up that nut.

Even with knowing about the extra 274 miles to make a true and proper 200.000 km, it was cool to see this on the odometer today.