JRD

Well so much for that "ratbike patina"! Just joking Scud, amazing difference, good job!

Czakky- Bill, you might also check the part numbers from Aprilia and Ducati to see if their EFI fuel pumps are the same or compatible. That will expand the number of used units possibly available. Good luck and keep us posted. Jerry

czakky- I always said "the days dragged on but the years flew by". Before you know it your little one will be asking for the keys to the car/bike. Have you started shopping yet for a two wheeler with pink trim? Docc- Happy b-day and please tell Nick we said Congrats. Did they ride off into the sunset on his V-11? Grins Jerry

Scud- I see you qualify as a certified Moto Guzzi Technician proudly displaying all you specialized tools, the rubber mallet on the floor to the right of the bike, and the orange persuasion instrument to the left of the photo! Thanks for posting, now back to work. Jerry

First successful (I hope) attempt at photo post. Took this last week on a ride from north east corner of Georgia over to South Carolina via War Woman Road. Met this great group of guys from Columbia, S.C. that come over just to ride on these wonderful roads.

We checked the CO TRIMM on my bike at this past SSR. Discovered it was +10. I have never attempted to adjust it so unless a previous owner tampered with it (doubtful as my bike only had 3,033 miles on it when I purchased it), it came that way from the factory. Since I routinely get 41+MPG and have no fueling issues, at Wayne's suggestion we left it as is. My bike has stock mapping, K&N air filter, Stucchi crossover, and Mistral carbon cans. No popping, sputtering or flat spots. Hope this helps

Inaugural in 2004? Geeze weren't they still using tin plates for the pictures back in those days? :-) Did you guys every think that some day you would be viewed as an "institution"? No I don't mean institutionalized, although...... Cant thank you enough for organizing and continuing to keep this event going all these years.

Marty- I just showed this to my wife and for some reason she didn't see the humor. But I sure love it!

JBB- Being a cheap bastad and not knowing how much or often I would actually use them, I bought the Nelson Rigg equivalent. Your correct that you can pack a bunch of stuff in them. I eventually bought a set of H/B hard bags but recently discovered the tail bag will still fit even with the hard bags installed. Cyborg- I don't think yo will be disappointed with either brand/bag.

HRC- I found that setting my valves at the .006" intake and .008" exhaust cured the hiccup and occasional stumble. Also, have you removed and cleaned the low speed air fuel mixture screws in the throttle bodies. I removed mine during the tune up and found them both to be black and sooty. Cleaned them both and sprayed carb/throttle body cleaner up inside the T/B's. Re-installed and everything has been fine since. "Under heavy load below 4K rpm" - I have found that these bikes although capable, really do not like to be lugged along at low rpm. Mine definitely likes to spin up in a lower gear. High speed wobble- the 2000 and 2001 V-11 Sports had the first generation spine frames. In 2002-2004 Guzzi lengthened the spine and changed the rake/trail. I owned both an '00 and '02 and rode both one immediately after the other on the same road. The '02 felt much more planted and stable than the '00. Depending on your tire wear and steering dampener setting, this may have contributed to the wobble. Hope this helps Jerry

AAAAhhhhh, nothing like the aroma of burning electrical wires.

This was my second SSR and for me it was even better than last years event. Such a diverse group of enthusiasts, rare bikes, great weather and wonderful roads. And truly educational, from ten guys fabricating and replacing one leaky valve cover gasket, to Saturday nights tune ups/tech session, to watching the construction of a loading ramp Evil Kinevil could have used at Caesar's Palace. Truly a perfect weekend. I had such a wonderful weekend, seeing friends from last year and meeting new folks this year. My bike ran great thanks to the folks on this forum willing to share their knowledge to help keep these wonderful bikes running. Already looking forward to next year.

I tried to convince my wonderful wife that she should have thrown herself under the bike in sacrifice but she wasn't buying it. She did however bring the roll of clear shipping tape so I could tape the pieces back together. "Nobody will notice". Uhhhh huh. "Thanks dear, I'll just take the Aprilia". Gotta love 'em.

Oh no Mr Bill!! Glad nobody sustained serious injury. Been there, done that two! The night before I was supposed to leave for last years SSR, all packed, gassed and loaded to go, my LeMans tipped over on top of me in my own garage. And there wasn't a thing I could do to stop it once it started over. I can still recall the horrific feeling watching helplessly as the windscreen leaned against the shelves distorting out of shape then exploding into pieces! Luckily my incident happened in the comfort and privacy of my own home and I was able to upright the bike alone. Hopefully this years trip will be incident free. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday! Jerry

Not sure what style handlebars your looking it, clubman, Renthal, etc., but might I suggest the Norman Hyde "M" bars. I installed them on one of my bikes and recently did a 325 mile day and did not feel any discomfort at all. They are very flat and have more natural angle for your wrists as you reach forward. I was undecided which bars to use and considered the Tarrozzi simply because of the adjustability and various styles available. The M-bars worked out better for me but the Tarrozzi's might also be an option for your bike and it wont be necessary to drill the top clamp. As for moving the battery for weight transfer. I have always been told you want the weight as close to center and low as possible. Have you considered moving the battery to bracket that houses your emissions canister located below and to the rear of the engine? The canister is about the same size as the battery and I know of at least one bracket that isn't being used. Sounds easier to modify an unused bracket and re-route or replace a couple battery cables than rearrange everything under the fuel tank. Hope this helps- Jerry

Come on down!!!! The ride is not brand or model specific. They even let some guy with a H-O-N-D-A ride with the group. Not sure what his affiliation was with the group but he acted like he knew a few of them. :-) Maybe they felt sorry for him because of the bike he had to ride and let him tag along. Just joking. Last year was my first year to attend and EVERYONE made me feel welcome. Really a great group of folks. Even the guy on the HONDA. Jerry PS- My room has a king and a single, probably the couch. Your welcome to the couch if you cant get a room.

Bluebaoarhound- The LeMans is in the garage patiently waiting for us to get back up to our place we bought in Hiawassee, Ga. I hauled it up there in June so it could re-acclimate itself on twisty roads with hills higher than a street overpass. Hopefully there wont be any "pre-transit incidents" which require replacement parts. Be-sides, the Aprilia is staying in Florida. Are you bringing the Red Baron again this year? Docc- for some odd reason Mother Nature has an uncanny ability to form a tropical storm that seems to arrive annually every Labor Day weekend just when people have their end of summer outdoor events planned. Lets keep our fingers crossed for sunshine.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again this year! Hopefully the storm brewing south of the Gulf will have blown thru completely by the time we get to the ride. Is everyone bringing a spare set of keys unless we misplace one....:-) Were the lost keys from last year ever recovered? :-0

Docc- I'm back down here in Clearwater right now, plan on heading back to Hiawassee next Weds. where my bike is patiently awaiting. Hopefully this tropical storm we got brewing with be clear of us all by then. I hate riding in soggy pants! Looking forward to seeing everyone again. Jerry

Kiwi- "without the filter inlet" --can you elaborate? Are you running without a fuel filter?

Docc- Pretty sure the factory moved the fuel pumps from the frames under the tank to the frames above the alternators in '02 due to the heat build up from the cylinders and subsequent "vapor lock" condition. "Lets mount the fuel pump in front of the frame so it gets plenty of air". Sounded like a good idea at the time until, "Now what do we do with the rectifier?" . Oh heck, just stuff it up in there any old place. Eventually they discovered the "in tank fuel pumps" which cleaned up the area above the alternator and eliminated the vapor lock.

Docc-I thought it looked familiar. I saw that bike one afternoon at the Quaker Steak & Lube here in Clearwater. Plexiform- you might try ad contact Ponti thru the "wild guzzi forum". Pretty sure he is still active on that forum.

Reading BBennetts thread about installing a new rectifier, and looking at the accompanying photo reminded me of my '02 LeMans. In addition to the rectifier being located on the front of the bike, the fuel pump is stuffed and jammed up under there also. Personally I think it looks terrible, like everything was added as an after thought. "Ok, now that we have this thing designed and built, where are we going to put everything?". When I restored my '75 Triumph T160 I purchased and installed a new regulator/rectifier and installed it under the battery box which is under the seat and just above the swingarm. Been there for a couple years now with no indication of heat related problems. I am seriously considering relocating the rectifier on the Guzzi to the same general area. Possibly under the battery box frame and above the rear shock and mud guard. If nothing else it would certainly clean up the area above the alternator cover and if I do it right, might make it easier to access in the event I need to replace it. Any thoughts or comments?

You might also try TAB 2 Classics over in merry ole England. I'm pretty certain they have made aluminum tanks for Spine framed Guzzis. I had contacted them when I was thinking of replacing the tank on my T160. Their home page list a tank for a loop frame, hopefully they have the patterns for a spiney from a previous build. Was the bike in the photo owned by a guy in Tampa, Fl.?

Julie-PICTURES, PICTURES AND MORE PICTURES PLEASE!!!!