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In I think 2003 a mate and his wife flew down from Sydney and stayed with us and we had stand tickets at Lukey heights. We sat there in miserable cold heavy rain and winds the only people in the stand until the MotoGP warm up was over and I said to them, we can either sit here and get soaked and cold and hope it clears or if we bail out now we can be back at my place for the start of the days racing and watch it on TV. You have come all this way, you decide I'm easy either way. They opted for the bail out. Got home an hour and a half later turned on the TV to watch the races with the island bathed in brilliant sunshine and everyone in shirt sleeves.

Update. G'day folk's, yesterday I had the forks moved up in the triples by another 4mm to make a total of 12mm (this is 12mm of fork plus the 3mm cap by the way as some seem to measure differently) and I have to say that I reckon this is the last piece in the puzzle for me! As I've mentioned earlier it was pretty bloody good at 8mm in the corners but felt the front was still a little vague / light cruising around without positive throttle input. I've only had one ride since, but I did manage to give her a bit of curry and I am chuffed with the handling now. The front is planted in a straight line and even more planted with greater feel and feedback through the bends! Everything I was trying to achieve! Thanks to all who have guided me in this as like many I was clueless about suspension! In summary to all this I reckon it started when I went from a 170/60 to a 160/60 rear tyre which is 6mm smaller than the former which alters the front / rear balance in an already skewed to the rear set-up. Then factor in the flaw in the compression fork leg which I tied to overcome with Progressive springs exacerbating the lack of feel there especially with no damping due to very old fork oil and then gaining an extra 10 kilos of body weight over the period and just to add to it wearing a backpack with about 10 kilos in it.....I rode her like this for some time in some pretty hairy situations and she was still ok if you rode accordingly. But bit by bit I reckon I've got her just so now (for me) and can't wait to get out there and really enjoy the ride! I don't feel like I have to compensate for any handling issues now! Sorry if this has been a bit long winded but just wanted to share how I got my bike sorted. Cheers Guzzler. Ps It's a 2001 Red frame and have the forks up thru triples by 12mm, the Guzzimoto fork fix (blocking the oil blowholes in Comp leg) Linear .95kg springs (I'm 90 ish kilos) The Comp is +4 and Reb at +12 from full soft ( set by adjusting from full hard ) Hyperpro steering damper set at + 4 and a Hyperpro 460 emulsion shock ( standard length 280mm ) which is set at + 28 of 50 clicks of rebound (comp/reb set in a fixed ratio) plus 15mm of preload on it..... And fresh oil ha ha...

Not quite. A Vespa is, and always was, since the first version in 1946, a scooter made by Piaggio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespa

Not probably, in my opinion, definitely. And there is a difference between listening to something on the car's audio system and having earplugs in. Listening to something on earplugs isolates you almost completely from your environment. You're in your own world, and seeing everything "through a window". I don't, and never will, listen to music whilst riding a motorcycle either. I use the earplugs to cut down the wind noise, but that is all. I want to experience what is going on around me.

Here's the flyer from the Texas Ride Magazine: https://www.ridetexas.com/event/flying-g-motorcycle-museum-grand-opening-2/ I am planning to be there using some kind of form of transport which is left undecided as I am typing this; 2 or 4 wheels. Joaquin is very close to Louisiana, with a bit of imagination Arkansas, bit more Oklahoma... Current Texas weather is incredibly good, at least here around the Bayou city. I believe it maybe cooler up in the northeast part, in the woods. If you decided to come there, you will find me in a red vehicle, with either 2 or 4 wheels. I should think, given past experience, than no many have red bikes or cars...

I have been pondering if this would be the case for a week now. Thanks!

And it I make a point of using all of them as often as possible.

The original broadcast of the race on TruTV / TNT Sports ran into an issue. It was on right after a baseball game, which ran way late. They did not delay the coverage of the race but rather just cut to the race when they were finally done with the baseball game. I set my DVR to record it but since they did not delay the coverage of the race all my DVR got was the end of the post race coverage. Luckily I did not see who had won. But TruTV / TNT Sports typically re-airs the MotoGP race on Monday. So we were able to watch the full coverage of the race last night. Sadly, I stayed out of this thread as I did not want to spoil the race, so it is too late for anyone who still hasn't seen it to catch it last night. Hope everyone got to see it. P.S. F' baseball! I would rather watch grass grow. Or paint dry.

I don't think we should be surprised; the guy has some incredible qualities, resilience, combined with experience. At the beginning of the season, it seemed that Pedro Acosta was going to be his natural heir; however, in view of the latest performances, we may need to revised the judgement on this one. Well, without being harsh of course. Pedro is still in his rookie year in MotoGP. Now, let us not forget that Philip Island is a counterclockwise track, immensely favored by MM. New asphalt meant unknown conditions, again a factor where MM shines like nobody else. I think it is a given that he should be at the top of the list of the potential winners for the 2025 title.

Exactly that! In fact, nobody really knew that Piaggio existed, as Vespa was just a product that became a brand name; same as Frigidaire for refrigerators. Hoover for vaccum cleaners in the UK. But today, Vespa is its own brand, and Piaggio makes scooters too.

#metoo

Under a day left for this beauty. Looks pretty in pictures. https://www.ebay.com/itm/135297415232?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=JsG_JT2hQdy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=yxbzt_qctd2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

At least they are not asking people to join "the clan" like Moto Guzzi did a few years back. So this looks like an all-Piaggio dealership. No competing brands. I've heard that Piaggio puts a lot of pressure on current dealers to carry all the Piaggio brands - even if they were a legacy one-brand shop. I guess the emergence of new dealers who will be exclusive to Piaggio was inevitable. I wonder if Pierer Mobility will do something similar now that they have MV Agusta alongside KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas (and Felt bicycles). Their strategy seems to be about vertical integration (making their own suspension - WP, in-house electronics, etc.). The Pierer culture is also strongly influenced by racing, so maybe we will see MV on the track again soon - and battling Aprilia.

Piaggio has owned Vespa for many years. In fact, as a boy I owned a 1978 Piaggio Vespa Ciao moped.

And here is some pre-meditated thread drift on the subject of "and then there was this bloke"... John Paul Jones John Entwistle and some friends of mine from Melbourne before I moved to Germany. The bass player is Leigh Underhill, who now lives in Scotland, as far as I know PS: I nearly forgot John Deacon

That's interesting. As far as I know, earplugs are still ok here. Actually, I'd be happy to see a complete prohibition of using a phone in any way whilst operating any kind of vehicle, including bicycles and electric scooters (not vespas, the ones you kick along with one foot). Using the phone always distracts one from driving a bit. I can't see that kind of prohibition happening, though. Unfortunately. As far as Germans and obeying the law goes, yes they are generally very law abiding. Except if they don't think the law is justified and/or sensible, or if they think they will probably get away with it.

Not any more. They do that here too... @Cabernet it's amazing how many lanes a road can have, isn't it.

The big hex nut on your rear axle is the right size for the "manhole cover" and you have a box wrench in your tool kit. The two work together quite nicely.