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Tell us how you really feel, Pete!

Chalk it up to progress

If the rear brake was anything like the one on my 1098 I'm surprised he was able to notice The standing joke UK Ducati Forum was the rear pads were guaranteed for life

The transferrence of technical competence between ICE and electric vehicles isn't absent- it's just unavailable to the majority of 'mechanics'. If your technical ability allows you to fully service a generator/battery/starter, you have nearly everything you need to know to understand the fundamentals of electric vehicles. Of course the computer controls are their own new thing, but if you had the wits to operate an oscilloscope you can operate a diagnostic program. I'm not taking a swipe at B level mechanics, simply showing that there is not a complete disconnect between ICE and Electric technical levels of ability. And as far as EV replacing ICE, that won't happen "...until the Saudis say it will" - (Dan Pena). EV will evolve alongside ICE until it gains equivalent utility and cost of ownership- which means, they have to make batteries far more energy-dense, fast to charge, and inexpensive to replace than they are now. I expect that there won't be a majority EV surge until Back to the Future comes true, and we get microreactors for engines. Or until the Apophis asteroid hits Canada in 2029, forcing everyone south of the Mason-Dixon line and onto renewable/nuclear electricity because the hydrocarbon infrastructure has been destroyed. Gotta get to writing that book, sooner than later.

Sorry, that sort of sentimental mumbo-jumbo makes me want to puke! And ‘Rush’? Give me strength! Even when they were *Big* they were more ‘Hobble with a Zimmer Frame’! A mob of talentless mouth breathers with the sophistication of a pit toilet! I fart in their general direction!

You know Pete , he's so non-confrontational .....

. The mention of “Paradise” is interesting for its timing. Over on ADV Rider forum, there is an entertaining and informative thread called "Pillion Viewpoint (PVP).” https://advrider.com/f/threads/pillion-viewpoint-pvp.1525703/ The “host,” a lady from West Virginia, posts great photos of the things we “pilots” only see, if at all, briefly as we are so darn focused on the literal way ahead without dying. Her narratives are also engaging. Her “groupies” (I am one) have been encouraging her to collect and publish in, e.g., a “coffee table book,” the best of her posts. Great stuff. Her husband, Wally — PVP calls him “Rider” — is a fine fellow. He is often mentioned, and occasionally seen, but don’t think he ever posts in PVP’s thread. Rider is quite a wrench, too, and has many solo and two-up miles on his beemer and his new KTM. Anyway, PVP — a retired lawyer — has an architectural bent, and her pix often include interesting buildings. Her interest in houses of all sorts led recently to this comment, "All this architectural inventiveness, fading away, and replaced by the ticky-tacky," and 60’s or so protest songs, including, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boxes. Go to her thread if you care to see all of the interesting chatter, but I responded to the "ticky-tacky" post, including mention of "Paradise." "I understand the Little Boxes, ticky-tacky houses, and the like, and enthusiastically sang (badly) those along with my friends. That said, and I did not recognize it at the time, there is, IMO, an unmistakable whiff of elitism in that and other "suburban protest ballads." Those little boxes were the literal dreams-come-true of so many whose lives, when young, had been scarred by the Depression and then disrupted -- if they survived -- by WWII. Those folks were now raising families in those ticky-tacky homes we condemned in our songs. As a boomer, vintage '47, I lived a care-free teenage life that made it easy to complain about the wrongs of my parents' generation, most of whom were struggling and still sacrificing for their children. As one of those kids, I lived in a tract home in Daviess County, Kentucky, in the 1960's, and dated a sweet lass from Central City in Muhlenberg County, so my favorite song at the time was, of course ... Recognition of my own frailties as a young person helps me overlook and forgive the teens and young adults of today. Now ... get off my lawn, PVP, and take and post some more pix!” Whatever the socio-economic and political value then and now, it’s a great song. Bill

A quick note before I head out on the Quota in this blissful winter temperatures which I have longed for. Winter riding brings its own joy in many aspects... A bunch of changes are going to be implemented in Europe starting 2025. Some are welcome, others no so much, but hey, there is nothing we can do about them. If you travel to Europe, and you don't have a Schengen country passport, you will have to apply for an electronic visa. Same as what everyone else does to enter the USA. It will be valid for three years, or until the end of your passport validity, whichever comes first. You will be allowed to have a 90 days stay over a 180 days period. This is to avoid those that reset the clock by exiting to nearby non Schengen countries for one day. The good news is, with your Schengen visa, you will be able to travel to Romania and Bulgaria without any need for more immigration requirements! These two countries are beautiful in their own rights, and have plenty of incredibly beautiful places motorcycle friendly. Part of the good news, Europe is implementing facial recognition machines to replace the long lines we face when we land in Europe. My last entry to Paris, it took me +180 minutes to clear immigration, and I have a EU passport! crazy! In the bad news section, some of the very popular places are introducing a Tourist Tax; I did not really look into this one closely, but since many of us like to travel to Italy, including recently, I am aware that Venice is leading the charge. Remember to stay in Mestre if you want to visit Venice. Since I am at it, UK too is introducing its own Electronic visa system. Let's be honest, all these electronic visas sfuff is one more way to get money out of travellers. In any case, I highly recommend to put Romania and Bulgaria in your bucket list of things to do.

Might be me. I often read things different to others. Then again all that German speaking may have scrambled you brain a little

Guzzi sound like the motorcycle manufacturers version of ADF (Australian Defence Forces). Throw lots of money at stuff that ultimately goes nowhere. Auto transmissions that are problematic, Hydraulic Valve lifters for an engine with the easiest valves in the world to adjust, front/rear linked brakes, and enough superfluous steel wasted in flywheels over the years to build a Battleship. Phil

Well, off the top of my head…….. They used a very tall final drive. Enormously tall. Compensated for by lower internal ratios in the gearbox. The driveshaft and universal joint are a ‘One piece’ unit and they use the 20 tooth spline form used on the V11 and later bikes rather than the ‘Standard’ 10 spline system. It is critical to keep the ignition timing spot on as if the motor ‘Kicks Back’ while starting it has a tendency to round off the hexagonal key that drives the torque converter fluid pump. Drive is then lost as the fluid overheats. They are also very touchy about what type of ATF to use. Early ‘Verts had a lightweight, pressed steel, flywheel that tended to rip its centre out. Later ones have an enormous forged steel item that weighs about as much as a neutron star! As well as the standard ‘Vert, which closely resembled a T3/G5 with cow-horn bars and a weird tail light, the engine and transmission were also used in an automatic version of the California II. All their owners are strange, hump-backed midgets, usually with a withered arm, buck teeth and rickets. They tend not to bathe often and may or may not have communicable diseases so it’s best not to touch them. In fact try and keep them at arm’s length and stand upwind of them if possible. I am, obviously, the exception that proves the rule……….

Same here... but given Ducati's performance in MotoGP, I would expect their software to be very capable. Now, I am happy with my older Guzzi with no sofisticated riding help. At least, I am the only one in control!! As for prices, at the last Toy Drive I rode, all those Harley owners could not believe I paid 2000 Dollars for the Quota. One of them told me his Harley cost him 40k dollars... that's 20 Moto Guzzi Quota or so....

Quite possibly, although one must take into account that the manufacturer will always claim that his invention is better than what one can do oneself. Whatever, I don't expect to have 24 Grand in any currency to give away on a whim, so I'll probably have to continue to rely on my right foot.

I believe the Ducati Riding Software package is able to do it better than you, from what I understood. They have ported the experience gathered from MotoGP as a pilotage driver assist. Therefore, the system uses all the sensor's input to actually dose the brake pressure, and release it at the most efficient time. In the video, he said that the testers have ridden the Panigale S with a lot of the sensors directly from GP bikes to perfect the system. Maybe somebody that will get one could give us an educated opinion?

European lawmakers have written into law that in 2035, no more ICE powered vehicles could be sold new. They have obviously not taken into consideration that many people cannot afford to purchase an EV at today's price, and today's charging infrastructure considering the chargning times. In France, many people live in appartments, have no garage. Unless they have the ability to find a charger at each and every parking spot, there is no easy solution. They are talking about Solid State batteries to replace Lithium Ion ones, that would reduce the charging time. There is another factor that is not discussed; EVs are like computers when general public started to be able to purchase their own. The technology is evolving quickly, making your 2 years old EV already obsolete; still useable. This clearly affect the pre-owned EV market. ICE cars have evolved too, but my 2000 911 is still in perfect running conditions, and spares still plentiful. Will a 25 year old EV even be operational, including swapping the battery if required? I had an issue with a two year old computer; the specialist said the mother board needed to be replaced, because it could not be fixed. But that motherboard is no longer available, and it would cost more than purchasing a new computer....

Yes John I spent a fair amount of time about a year ago or more on this and came to the conclusion that buying a new thermistor and making a new holder was the only viable option. I bought the fuel proof wire and heat shrink and was researching fuel proof potting compounds when I got caught up in other priorities and machined up a simple blanking plug to get the bike put back together and rideable. Phil

^^^^^^^ That does not look like central Indiana @Chuck! Our next couple of weeks are frigid, and the cleared roads covered in corrosives, so first ride may be as late as March. Still, hope, the refuge of the doomed, is about all I have that warmer days and cleaner roads will arrive anytime sooner. Bill

maybe I should make an amendment . Did you listen to your PARENTS ?

Nothing like a bit of Roper in the morning. No need for coffee now. The most disconcerting part is when, as here, I agree with him. A specialist at digression, I am compelled to add this. I am especially crabby just now because we cannot get delivery of a new washer and dryer because of snow. It is now laundromat time as our hamper is full, and once one's clothes reach a certain stage, deodorant has its limits! I used my rotator-cuff injury -- my "souvenir of Sardinia" earned on that Guzzi tour -- to get Kathi to shovel the paved entrance to our driveway yesterday. Polish wives are magnificent. I did reward her cheerfully done hard work with an Old Fashioned ... Anyway, while can get our (Mighty) Fit up and down the gravel drive, the 26-foot box truck would not, especially if an inexperienced driver. Best from snowbound (and smelly clothes) at the top of Virginia ... Bill

The fitting on the tank is an externally threaded 20mm diameter fine thread, the internal diameter of the fitting 10mm smooth bore. EDIT For Info I think the pitch is 1.0mm as best I can measure The sender slides into the tank through the smooth bore and a lip at the its base holds it captive on the base of the nut seen at the bottom. The top hex part of the nut is 20mm and screws onto the external threads of the tank fitting (a bit confusing but it's the best I can do to explain it) The fitting on the Steinse Dinse sender is 16mm so it's too large to install into the tank. Some sort of collar/adapter nut to extend and step the 16mm thread to a 20mm might work, but it would be "Heath Robinson" at best and probably look horrible. It would also lower the height of the sender in the tank, altering the volume of fuel left in the tank and reduce reserve capacity. I reckon it would be easier to purchase a thermistor and purchase parts to make a new thermistor, as Phil did in this thread, although that's not that easy either. https://www.v11lemans.com/forums/topic/30780-fuel-level-sensor/page/2/

Depended who they were. Some of the wisest people I knew when I was a teenager were retired tradesmen who encouraged my interest in things mechanical. Snooty, mealy mouthed busybodies always trying to get into other people’s lives and business, (And there were a lot of them around in the seventies!)? Not so much.

Yup, and, providing the world doesn’t end, IC vehicles will end up being an ‘Enthusiast’ hobby, a bit like steam trains are. Oh, they will, at least for the foreseeable future, remain a lot more popular than steam trains simply because unlike steam locomotives IC vehicles were, and are, ubiquitous and everybody in the western ‘Developed’ world will have memories inextricably woven in to the fabric of their lives that will involve them. Be it memories of family holidays as a kid or that thrill of discovery when you took your first trip *Away* independently on your first motorbike or car? Almost everyone will have those and ‘We’ and the generations up to the present will wish to preserve those memories and the items associated with them. I don’t think IC will need to be legislated out of existence. I think it will just fade into the background. What will replace it? Who knows? Whatever it is will still have the potential to be just as exciting, if society wishes it to be so. As it is more and more people nowadays, and not just young people, seem to be more interested in consumerism and living out a ‘Fantasy’ life vicariously through the lives of others on a small, glowing, screen. Is that wrong? Or bad? It’s not really my place to say. I’m an old man at the end of my (Enormously lucky!) life. The world I am bequeathing to my children is pretty f*cked up! If I were young I wouldn’t listen to a godammed word people like me say!

Well, perhaps I didn't express myself well. Karsten was setting TPS with a multimeter, and synchronising/balancing with one of those "pressure difference" devices, and Beard was looking at the things that Guzzi Diag displays.

What with marching lasses sporting squeeze-boxes and the dismay of modern life, something to assuage the discomforts and align the misaligned . . .

I've been trying to educate my kids to this very concept Bill, "deferred gratification". Sacrifice now for a better tomorrow. So while we sit at the barbeque my son complains about the difficulty of getting a deposit together for his first house and the rank unfairness of it all these days I'm looking at his 20 grand (and counting) worth of tattoos, omega watch and 8 grand guitar. A Private school education doesn't make you smart that's for sure. Sorry, thread drift. You last line struck a chord. Phil

This anecdote comes to mind. I may have first read on this forum: A fellow pulls into his shop with his car barely idling and stalling repeatedly. The mechanic pops the hood for a look and walks back into the shop emmerging with a small screwdriver. Deftly turning one screw the motor smooths out and idles stably. The driver says, "That's amazing! What do I owe you? " The mechanic replies, "$100. " D: "A hundred dollars to turn one screw ?!?" M: "No, just a dollar to turn the screw. The other ninety-nine is for knowing which screw to turn. "

I drilled half of the pucks in my bike back in Mar 2018. Six drilled pucks, with the remaining cavities empty. The difference was barely noticeable, but I liked the idea of lowered shock loads on splines/gears/dogs. I have not felt the need to revert to standard over the last 6 years. https://www.v11lemans.com/forums/topic/30472-rear-wheel-for-tire-change/#findComment-286089