Guzzirider

Hi Don I find the seat fine but we are all different! Rather than splashing out on a Corbin, maybe worth getting your existing seat modified- Tony Archer in Huddersfield does excellent work is is reasonably priced- he'll also sew in a nice Italian flag on your seat cover if you want some bling. May also be worth looking at your rear shock settings. Cheers Guy

Just picked this up off the Wildguzzi site. Does not sound good. illuminati Guzzisti

St Patrick

Good news!! Hope you get it sorted now!

So, dealer problem aside, what did the guy at Piaggio propose to do to resolve your problem? Are they expecting you to wait for the dealer to change hands, or have they taken ownership and made an alternative proposal? Guy

Good luck Pete. I think the previous guy was an Aussie called Peter. I like Agostinis- friendly, efficient and they love the bikes- what more could you want? I reckon living and working there, anyone would pick up the lingo soon enough.

Hi David My suggestion is to contact Colin or Shirley Patterson at Promark who take care of Guzzi PR in the UK. Mention your problem, and give them the opportunity to resolve it before you take the whole story of the 8V recall and your dealer's lack of service to MCN. That will hopefully spur them into some action. If your dealer has lost interest, maybe Promark could arrange transportation of your bike at their expense to Dublin or England for the recall work. Jason at Moto Strada would do the warranty work I am sure. Promark Guy

Well you have bought a new bike with a warranty so obviously Guzzi should sort it out at their expense. I'd use the breakdown service to take the bike to your dealer and tell 'em either to sort it out as per the recall, or if they are unwilling to do that your money back under Sale Of Goods Act. Should not cost you a penny. Kick some arse! Guy

Just sounded normal- which is a bit clattery. I understand that if your bike goes, it is bloody loud, as the valve clearances get huge.

Work all done- no evidence of any wear on the old parts. Guy

I love Guinness, and yes it does taste better in Ireland than the stuff brewed over here. Does give me terrible wind after a few pints though- more farter than garter. I'm proud to say I cleared a pub in Inchigeelagh at the MGCGB Erin Rally a few years back with the most toxic Guninness fuelled fart you could ever imagine. Everyone except Gerry Duffett ran out of the pub choking and coughing, even the barman had to run out of the back door. If you have ever had NBC training, and been shoved in a chamber full of CS gas with no mask you will have an idea what it was like! Be very afraid when I come to Ulster in May. Guy

If anyone in England dares celebrate St Geroge's Day they are obviously a racist!

No I will be dropping her off in the morning, borrowing a loan bike then collecting her in the evening. I'll let you know how it goes. Cheers Guy

When I was touring Europe on my Stelvio last summer, I visited Hohenfels, a small town in Bavaria where my grandfather was kept as a POW for 4 years in Stalag 383, which now a NATO base. After reading an account of life in Stalag 383 ( a book called "Barbed Wire") it seems a million miles away from The Great Escape. Near starvation, fed on potato peelings, Siberian temperatures with crappy boilers in the huts that are so weak they have icicles on them! Some guys made hats out of old socks. The huts were nearly falling down- not through being weakened by tunnel construction- they stripped them and burned every bit of wood they could get away with. Plenty of typical British / Anzac humour though in the face of adversity. I always enjoy watching the Great Escape- especially Steve McQueen's ride on the bike.

Hmmmm St Patrick's Day- think I'll be avoiding all the Plastic Paddies in town wearing silly green hats and pretending to be Oirish. I don't need any excuse to drink Guinness and act like a fool.

Great clip! The Vagueliar speedo was showing 240kph!

You can modify an MGS01 to be road legal for about £1000- the original looks much prettier than this mock up.

My Stelvio is being done on Friday. My dealer said they had about 40 bikes to do and after ordering the bits, parcels started arriving from Mandello full of oil filters and ancillaries but not the actual parts needing replacing. They have everything in stock now but it sounds as though the factory is having its work cut out to deal with the high demand for parts.

Here is a privately owned one for sale- not sure if Robin has found a buyer yet: MGS01 ad If you want fast, Bruce is selling the Raceco Daytona- it you want a fast Guzzi this is the one to get- I remember being passed on the straight at Cadwell by this monster and the sound and presence is awesome: Raceco ad If you want a new MGS01, last time I was in Moto Strada they had two, and were converting one to road use: Moto Strada Unit 3, The Sidings Thackley Old Road Shipley BD18 1BN Opening Times 9AM - 5:30PM (Monday - Saturday) Tel: 01274 592500 Email: enquiries@motostrada.co.uk I think there are a few others sitting in UK showrooms across the country- not much appetite for a race only bike costing £17k at the moment so you could make an offer and get yourself a good deal. I'm sticking to slow Guzzis they keep me out of trouble

Easily available- 2 for sale in my local dealer and the factory still make them in small batches when they get a few orders. I believe the service intervals are written as if you were using the machine as a race bike so road use should be fine.

Why not buy an MGS01 and make her road legal? I know at least 3 guys have done this in the UK. You already get the Ohlins and over 120 bhp.

That RSV4 looks very nice- short and compact- great showing in its very first race. Road version is the third the price of a Desmosedici- or twice the price of an R6 depending upon how you want to look at it!

I was appalled to see the BMWs ridden in such an aggressive way. No lifesaving observations, no use of indicators and the riders were actually wearing leathers- no Belstaffs with a reflective belt. To cap it all, the BMW riders were not even wearing beards- its a disgrace. They have obviously not read the 932 page riding manual of the BMW Club.

It's started! impressive result from Aprilia in qualifying: Superpole results