Leaderboard

I've got a '64 Elite in boxes. Cycle parts are all good, I've got an original tank, albeit unchromed, and it's only missing a seat and silencer. Engine seems to have good compression, but I haven't had it apart yet. It's a bit of a retirement project. The last picture shows what I hope the finished project will look like.

SO , that's where you've been !

Probably more trickle down from WSBK to road bikes these days docc. Ducati have lost me now in all honesty. I love the actual product from an engineering perspective, sans stupid wings of course but they are now as much a posers accessary item as anything else. There's no appreciation for the old Ducati faithful that kept the company afloat for years through outright passion for the bikes and an ability to put up with the ropey QC and questionable design choices. Nope we are long forgotten and now they are built for the people that can also stump up for a $3000 Gucci handbag or $7500 set of riding gear without batting an eyelid and zero idea of any aspect of how to maintain or work on their bike. Different world. Our nearest Ducati dealer doubles as a Porsche dealer for gods sake. You can imagine what the showroom staff are like. Phil

Go into a Ducati show room and take a look at a Ducati Streetfighter. Truly a magnificent piece of motorcycle engineering turned into a bit of a joke with 2 wings on each side sticking out about 8 inches each. I mean seriously,4 wings on a sit up high handlebar street bike! Makes the rider look like some pathetic wannabe living in a parallel universe in my opinion. Phil

2003 Moto Guzzi V7 LEMANS Rosa Corsa A beautifully crafted, reliable, sport bike which is simply a joy to ride. The bike is titled as a 2003 which I bought new in 2006. I am the original owner and this bike has been meticulously maintained. The bike has 12,000 miles on it. It is also listed on cycletrader.com This bike is part of a special run which Moto Guzzi manufactured with Ohlins suspension front and rear, clip ons, and a fairing. contact pauljosephrussell@gmail.com

I have just brought home a pair of vises from Dr. John Wittner's estate. R.I.P., our good man. Your legacy is in good hands here. Now, I am trying to figure out what I have, here. And the matter of vises, overall. The larger one (28 pounds!) is called a "utility vise" and has a substantial anvil section and "exposed screw." A Columbian C44, Cleveland, Ohio, that looks like it lived on the back bumper of the Wittner race van. (I wish!) The Craftsman is a more typical "workshop" vise with 3 5/8" jaws and "just" 16 pounds. Yes, the "shipping and handling" of the pieces (49 pounds) from Pennsylvania here to Tennessee was *substantial* !!

Everyone I knew that road a Bevel took the kickstart lever off. He'd pull it back on comp and bump it side saddle swing the leg over position the balls of the feet resplendent in his Lewis leathers back zip black road race boots and roar away in true style. Unlike todays handbag carriers.

Here's a 75 years anniversary Motorcycle racing quiz from Dorna, involving today's big three: BMM; I only had two wrongs. Can you do better? (as usual, you have to click on the URL link since MotoGP does not allow embedding). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn3H0HAoOz4

There are few lovely vintage Ducatis for sale now on https://classicavenue.com/

Ya know, when I think "Ducati", I hearken back to the most delicious . . . Common folk, like me. would like to think matters of "MotoGP" contribute to this sort of "trickle down" . . . Does it, still?

Unless, of course, someone comes along and points out that the BMW K75 and K100 "flying brick" engines had the clutch and flywheel assembly spinning in the opposite direction of the crankshaft. If someone were to mention that, then this thread might stray further off course.

So, barely had time to ride this summer, what with mountaineering in Iceland and scuba diving in Mexico, among other things. So, I was itching to ride and topped the Tenni's tires off and ready to go, but apparently the battery was not topped off and ready to go. So, I decided to take Bubbles-the-parts-bike out. I had limited time and was on a mission: Army Corps of Engineers site to pick up a National Parks annual pass and Mamie's in Martinsburg (about an hour away) for a Reuben. I wasn't keen on taking Bubbles, because she was down for maintenance. But I really wanted to ride a V11, and I didn't want to wait for the Tenni's battery to take a charge. Tangent: Bubbles was in line for two maintenance items: 1) a new exhaust cross over hanger bracket and 2) a rear brake job. As for item (1), I was too cheap to just buy a new $16 bracket because the cost of shipping was equal to the cost of the part. So, instead I bought a $7 bar of stainless steel and fabricated one myself. I was using a torch with canisters of MAPP gas and oxygen to heat the bar so I could make the two 90-degree bends, working on the second bend when the oxygen ran out. Stupidly, instead of stopping and getting a new canister of oxygen (another damn $10), I tried to bend to bar before it was ready and ended up with a big radius, not a tight 90-degree bend. So, I then had to fire up the gas forge and knock the thing into better shape on the anvil (something I had never done before and learned that it actually takes some skill). After finally getting the bar turned into a bracket (and installed), I had used up my allotted maintenance time, so I didn't get to the brakes. Well, I knew that the brakes needed maintenance, but I figured one more ride wouldn't catch me out. It did. So, I have learned a couple things: first, don't be such a cheap-ass; 2) do preventative maintenance before costly repairs; 3) break pads work better when they actually have friction material on them. Unfortunately, I didn't appreciate these lessons until I came to a stop rather more quickly than I intended, 40 minutes from home. Long story short, I need a new disc and pads for Bubbles. Figure I'll put the new disc on the Tenni and move its serviceable disc to Bubbles; new brake pads around. Not so easy to find a rear disc. It seems they are on back order everywhere. In addition to GU03635700, I looked for EBC MD692 and MD692C (the latter is the contour version). I've had good luck with EBC products. Unfortunately, they aren't so easy to find in stock either. I did find one MD692, but would prefer the MD692C. Does anybody know a good place to pick one up without having to wait for an uncertain many weeks? And, preferably not have to pay $40 or $50 for delivery? Anyway, I've missed following the forum this summer. And I'm envious of all yinz that will be at the Spine Raid. Cheers, Frey

I decided to just suck that up. Plus the "buyer's premium" and taxes. I've never done anything like this before. I went out on a limb because of the One-time Dr.John thing. Pretty interesting, now, to learn about "vises" and what I have have bolted to my benches . . .

We could go live with this! SSR XX is just not that far from Marietta, Georgia, @emry ! Y'all come, now! Ya hear?

Very nice! Maybe post a hot link to cycletrader ad. Art

The original SpineFrame sold for $22000 (plus buyer's premium). I am secretly hoping it appears at Barber Motorsports Museum, but if you want to bring it to the South'n SpineRaid, it would be most welcome (whoever you are) . . . https://briggsauction.bidwrangler.com/ui/auctions/122350/16254138 The original LeMans endurance racer (#93) sold for a paltry $11,500. Another bike I would love to see . . . https://briggsauction.bidwrangler.com/ui/auctions/122350/16254164

Forks are sold.