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Showing content with the highest reputation on 12/13/2024 in all areas

  1. @docc if you listen carefully, you will hear something about a "red stiletto."
    2 points
  2. Keep in mind that motorcycle riding in Europe is very different than what it is on this side of the world. There are some stringent rules in term of what you have to wear, and also, in some European countries, they have radars flashing you and sending the bill automatically. I have a neighbor who received a ticket from France after going too fast on a highway in his rental car. Check what the requirements are in Italy; for example in France, your helmet has to have reflective stickers. In some of the European countries, you have to wear a reflectiive "yellow jacket" above your riding gear too. If you commit an offence and you get stopped by the police, if you are non European, you need to pay the fine on the spot. There are now a lot of restricted traffic zones in major cities all over Europe. Again, if you are at the wrong place, they get your license plate photographed, and you get the bill later. The reason why I am telling you this, I looked into renting a bike while in Paris in November, and there are lot of new rules that I was not aware that changed. Plus, you have to pay parking for motorcycles too, while it was free before.
    2 points
  3. This movie stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler & Tom Hardy. I have not yet had time to watch it, but it is supposedly loosely depicting how some rebel motorcycle riders evolved into forming modern day clubs such as the notorious Hell's Angels and the like, with chapters all over the world for some. I watched the Son's of Anarchy show which was based on what those motorcyclist gangs are. To me, it ressembled the Mafia rules that I experienced in first person while I was managing one of my companie's branch in Sicily. The biggest difference, is you need to have a Harley Davidson for transport, and ride it most of the time. The rest of the activities are pretty similar in making money the illicit way, dealing with foes ruthlessly, buying authorities and politicians. The territory respect is also similar to that of the Mafia enforced frontiers. In Italy, the regional Mafia have local names, and they are divided into Cosche, Cosche working under a Capo. As far as I understand, motorcycle gangs such as the Hell's Angels operates in a similar way, with different chapters, and each chapters having a president, some enforcers in a very similar hierarchy. When I was in Gela Sicily, the location we rented belonged to the local Capo Mafioso, Salvatore Iocolano, Capo della Coscha dei Pastori. This is where I got all my knowledge and experience about how the Mafia works. I found this post on Facebook, in Italian, that gives a good recap of what happened when I was there: https://www.facebook.com/GelaStories/posts/468794899888563/ They started a war, and bodies started to pile all over Gela. I should probably write a story about this. This was very educational for me. I got to meet the Capo Mafioso, had to accept his invitation for lunch, went there in his armoured car, body guard included. It was a business lunch, where he explained to me how things were going to work for our operations while in his premises. He had kept an office in the building. This should make for something very entertaining... you have no idea... lol... I left Sicily in January 1991. I thought I would post the translation of the small write-up on Facebook: In 1987 in Gela and in the neighboring municipalities a violent conflict began between the mafia and stidda that lasted 5 years. In just five years, it is estimated that over 300 murders have been committed between Gela, Vittoria, Niscemi, Mazzarino, Palma di Montechiaro and Porto Empedocle. Among the victims there were also many innocent people and countless injured. The war was fought by the stiddari (originally clans of shepherds from Gela and Niscemi), led by the former breeder Salvatore Iocolano, and by the mafia groups commanded by the fugitive boss Giuseppe "Piddu" Madonia (in the photo), mafia representative of the province of Caltanissetta. Piddu Madonia, a fugitive since 1983, was finally arrested on 6 September 1992 in Longare (Vicenza). Again the collaborator Leonardo Messina declared that "before Niscemi and Gela were a single family because there were few men of honor. [...] In Gela [Piddu Madonia] had affiliated Salvatore Polara to Cosa Nostra [...]. The mafia war began with the killing of the stiddari Salvatore Lauretta and Orazio Coccomini, men of Iocolano, and later the stiddari and mafia clans also hired minors as killers. In the first three years alone, between 1987 and 1990, more than one hundred murders took place in Gela, culminating in the so-called "Gela massacre" (November 27, 1990), in which three simultaneous ambushes caused eight deaths and eleven injuries. What was really incredible, is that a lot of the killings were perpetuated by boys and girls below legal age. There is actually a true story about a minor girl in Gela, who was heading a gang of minors that could be contracted for murders or enforcements of any kind. Say for example that you have an issue with your neighbor, and you want some kind of punishment to be applied; contact her, pay, and they something would happen, such as car burning, or threats... I remember reading she got arrested eventually. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strage_di_Gela
    1 point
  4. If you watch it on a computer, then you can get autotranslate in the settings; if you don't understand Italian.
    1 point
  5. One of Jeff Beck's staple song, "Because we ended as lovers", played here magnificiently by Andy Timmons!
    1 point
  6. This is the first place I found it and I give credit where credit is due . He reminds me of Professor Irwin Corey . I just did not know a pot could be non-linear If you want to straighten out the loose ends, I would be glad to listen .
    1 point
  7. I didn't think there was ever any question with regards to this. Same as Ducati, early non linier and later linier. One has adjustment slots and one doesn't. The earlier PF09 large style are also non linier. Phil
    1 point
  8. guzziz make their own music
    1 point
  9. I need to read this again . There are a lot of my favorite books that require a reread to find out this book has changed or I have ?
    1 point
  10. ^^^^Yeah, I've never understood a TV in the shop, or listening to the radio while riding..
    1 point
  11. Yes, RFVH. I will call them cousins, but don't expect to see my GB in The Smithsonian. Maybe on the road, again, mehopes . . .
    1 point
  12. Two that have left us way too soon. What could have been.
    1 point
  13. I so appreciate where the postings here take me . . .
    1 point
  14. I've run a couple Ca CycleWorks TPS on my Sport. As long as the TPS has the adjustable mounting slots, it fits our V11s. They would be more correct to say, "Fits all V11 Moto Guzzi, only." After all, not all V11 "EV-type" are California. There are Jackals and Stone and Titanium and on and on . . .
    1 point
  15. Probably because SD originally sold genuine OEM TPS's sourced from Guzzi or the OEM as opposed to CA probably sourcing them from China. Now that new OEM sensors are pretty much unobtainium they also probably source from China direct but without passing on the reduced retail price. I don't think there's any issue with Chinese made stuff in general but I still think they grade their components. The best go to the big customers that buy in significant quantities and may even have their own form of quality control or testing and the lesser quality is sold via ebay and such. Just my theory from experience. CA Cycleworks are renowned for selling quality stuff and I think from memory they actually yest their TPS's before selling them. Phil
    1 point
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