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This "Twenty Years Ago " business can be a bit unsettling . . . Homecoming day, August 3, 2000

Approximately 2 years later...

This was way back when the crusty gas station would make you a sandwich way before commercialization had set in to Deals Gap, circa spring 1996-ish. Some old 80’s Kawasaki 1000, a Hawk GT I must of rode 7 times thru the Gap that day. My dad was riding a 96 Harley Sportster 1200.

I thought it might be helpful to post this reference image of the bolt in question as it looks from the right side of the bike, looking forward, to the inside of the Frame Side Plate . . .

Some of us do not have that many years left to wait for the bikes to become flawless....

The angry parrot face of the Multistrada is just lost on me. What ever happened to Ducati = Drop-dead Gorgeous? . . . .

This was on a Road Atlanta trip Spring of 05-ish. I had just sold my 01 V11 Sport to KaleV11, and was riding the blue 04 EV. Those were good times, one marriage and 3 kids ago. (In a happy blended family w 5 kids now). Anyways we didn’t get rained on the whole trip, had a blast riding North Georgia thru Dahlonega.

It would be nice to know where that oil came from;iirc in the hoses that normally drain to the ground behind the starter cover,isn't one of those a crank case vent hose,possibly the bike was over filled with oil at some point or the crank case hose has cracked where it's attached to the engine. Along the same thought,if the tranny was over filled and the clutch push rod slave cylinder was loose,could it leak onto the solenoid if the bike was leaning over on it's side stand for a long time. fwiw idk

Fashion, and too many Transformers films.

Your as old as you feel & I feel about 8. Except for the aches. & pains. It appears you subscribe to the "this one broke, I'll fix it one day when I have a bit more time, meanwhile I better get a working one to keep me on the road" school of motorcycle ownership - a man after my own heart. ReplyForward

Many think the same. That he is often getting away because of his notoriety. Note that before him, the same was said about VR46. I think DORNA is stuck between a rock and a hard place; trying to rebuild an interest for MotoGP, they need Marc Marquez. I feel that he is the main act of the GP. Everyone wonders if he is going to be able to throw a spanners in the Ducati works. Therefore, they have to thread carefully with what they do to him; I bet he knows it too.... I respect that after all his injuries, he still has the will to win. He makes 30 million Euros a year, plus bonuses and sponsors. He certainly does not need to continue to race. However, he needs to play by the same rules as everyone else.

I would say DORNA is at fault since they altered the penalty serving judgement from "2LLP at the Argentinean GP" to "2LLP at the next participating GP". They can't rewrite the rules as they go. Independently on how I feel about the penalty, the rules are the rules. They announced them to the pilots prior to the races; they have to stick to their own words and lick their wounds. I personally would have picked a departure from pit lane. Or a back spot on the grid for both starts.

A practical philosophy FORCED ON ME by the hard school of Piaggio Guzzi. Besides, there are only 24 hours in a day and 365 days in any year (more often than not): how is a fellow supposed to cope with such intolerable constraints? On that matter, I think we should consult The French.

We call the Multistrada and GS reindeer in my neighborhood. You just don’t by a bike like that for the look, ugly as shit. But riding, oh yeah. Never put my eyes on it, entering the cave. Cheers Tom.

These guys are in the more affordable range upon consideration of condition and whether maintenance was kept up. The maintenance intervals and costs are pretty high, the buy-in costs are fairly reasonable....916/996/998 My simple '17 supersport by comparison is a close match to far as weight and power. The maintenance interval is perhaps three time more miles. Styling is subjective but my newer bike won't disappoint, comfort wise, another universe.

You say that right as I feel like I'm getting mine sorted . . .

Honda sells 17mil bikes, Ducati ca 60k, KTM, Gas Gas, Husquarna ca 280k. Still the european companys make the Honda look like, yeah. If MM was riding a Duc, probably boring racing. Yeah I like his way of riding curves, he need his elbows fit for fight. Realy enjoyed Miller having fun with the KTM. Sort of pointing a finger to Ducati. Cheers Tom.

Guzzi has no monopoly on that one. Twenty year old almost anything can have it.

If it is going to make you feel better, the first time I hand maneuvered my Le Mans from the little ramp on my garage, I left the side stand extended as I thought it would be a safety stop. I planned it as if I lost my balance, I will push the bike and it will safe land on its stand. I did not have enough strength to flip the bike, so it felled on me. I was lucky that none of my limbs got pinned under anything protruding. So much for taking precautions. Now I don't try to push it by myself.

Cool. I retrieved the starter from Gene the Starter Guy. He cleaned the commutator and solenoid, there was a great deal of oil residue and build up of gunk that was getting into the solenoid can intermittently stopping the current from offering full trust to the flywheel. If I understand him correctly... No unglued magnets. I do not see oil from either the engine rear main or trans front seal looking into the starter opening on the engine however, the gunk-up solenoid was the issue. Twenty-on year old Guzzi... I have cycled the starter thirty (30) times and it does not fail to start... I shut the engine off by both the ignition switch and the kill switch, and turned the bars left to right repeatedly looking for wire strain in the switch, it always started. Thanks much for the assistance here. You guys are the best. Rob

You're awake? Excellent. Now don't be troubling the young people hereabouts.

Oh no not him again...

I think that anything is better than dry assembly if the bike ever gets wet. Jointing compound, anti-seize, or grease, are all good.

Yeah, I recall there is "some disassembly required" to get to the magnets . . . At which point the inspection will be telling. This starter was locked:

There used to be a saying in Australia, related to this race meeting in the '60s and '70s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathurst_1000 "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" Race success always helps, even if the street model doesn't really have much to do with the race version.

I did some maintenance on my 2001 V11 sport today. I pulled the rear drive off to inspect bearings for the most part and found the (outboard?) needle bearing was in need of attention. It was full of rock hard, dried up grease. It’s grease seal was also in bad shape. I don’t believe it has worked as a roller bearing for years. I disassembled it and cleaned it, repacked it with grease, and put it back into service but I’ll be ordering a new bearing for later. I replaced the wheel bearings as well. Easy task once you have the wheel off ! The front wheel bearings failed years ago so I suspected the rears needed replacement by now, 49,000 miles. Otherwise the rear drive felt nice, looked nice. On a lighter note, If anyone is need of a wheel bearing while traveling through Kentucky, I’ve got your back. I have extras 😜

My fondest memories of @belfastguzzi: Oh, yer shift spring breaks on the way out for a pint? Pitch her against the Armco and see to it, lad !