Guzzirider

I am fitting new steering head bearings to the cafe racer, and have got stuck on removing the lower bearing from the stem. The outer race containing the bearings came off easily, but the inner race is well and truly stuck. I've tried applying some heat with a chefs torch, and brute force but neither approach has worked. Any top tips before I give it up and take it to a mechanic?! Cheers Guy

Excellent see you there!

Room booked! Will seemed like a friendly guy! Took payment of 50% as deposit. Roll on May- can't wait!!!

Thanks for your hard work sorting this BFG- will call 'em tonight. Cheers Guy

Am I right in saying the NATO versions have a kickstart? Don't know too much about smallblocks- been years since I owned a V65 Lario, but the best advice I can think of is don't pay too much- you can pick up a V50 in England for just a few hundred quid- some people want to ask silly money for them, but there is not a great demand so they can be obtained dirt cheap.

Sure! Its not a waterproof cover is it?! My V11 starter has not had a cover on for ages. Just think- it will be even lighter than having an expensive carbon fibre cover!

Another solution- simply ditch the cover- most Guzzis don't have one.

It's no place for trespassers!

Al Verdes- run by Guzzisti in a stunning location at the top of the town. Great food, lovely people and plenty of old pictures, photos and memorabilia. Reasonably priced too. If you do not have any transport its a long way above the town up a steep hill, but if you have a bike no problem. Lovely walks in the mountains behind it- lots of rivers and waterfalls to explore. Don't let them persuade you to have the 9 course pasta menu- it will kill you. Guy

I don't think Macguzzi is keen on any sassenachs crossing the border!

John, did you know they only bulldozed the Panther factory building a few weeks back in Clecky? I know Scotts were built in Saltaire- do you know if the original building in still standing?

I also pack spare levers (get pattern ones for less than £20), starter solenoid and araldite. If its a long trip, I take a few nuts, bolts, washers and cable ties too- never seem to use 'em myself but I'm always giving them to others who need 'em! I've done a couple of 3000 mile trips around Europe on the V11- had a few breakdowns / problems but always fixable. Have fun Guy

Northern Calypso

In that case there should be lots of Scots on here too!

Helen and I could organise something- would you like this in addition to the Ulster 2009 and Denmark 2010? No time this year for us! Money and time have already been spent in advance. Maybe next Spring? Can think of a few locations where there is the choice of B & B or camping!

Nice pics Orson! And yes DJ did learn his craft on these roads. His Dad owns a BMW dealership in Shipley, and I know a guy who is a very fast rider, who joined in on one of their demonstrator test rides over the Dales several years back. He wondered who the mentally fast fat bloke was on a GS who he could not keep up with- and yes you guessed it, when he removed his lid at the end of the ride it turned out to be DJ.

Nice one John! Speaking as a Soft Southerner (Oi be from 'Ampshire) I do enjoy living in Yorkshire- it has been my home for 8 years, Helen is from Yorkshire and the people and the roads mean I will probably never move away. I'll never speak the lingo, and will never keep any pigeons or ferrets but am very partial to a pint of Timmy Taylors, and a chicken shashlick. I enjoy pie and peas, but can't understand why the chippies up here don't sell pea fritters? Here is a pic I took the other day of a famous Yorkshire location- Ribblehead, on my way for a nice walk up Whernside. We had to give up about 50 meters from the top- needed ice picks and crampons to continue, of which we had neither- plus there were gale force winds on the top. Nice bit of fresh air though!

Bought it from Motomecca £270. Took about a week to arrive after they ordered it.

Looks great- and I bet its going to go great as well when you have finished her. Good luck with the rest of the project- if you need any used parts try Pete @ Reboot spares Reboot Spares link Guy

Stelvio brakes are adequate- they work well enough but don't seem as sharp as the V11 probably because the Stelvio actually weighs 270kgs before you add any luggage and accessories on.

Another option is the Stucchi nose fairing. I have just fitted a carbon one to my Rosso Corsa- and it gives surprisingly good wind protection when you take into account its relatively small size. I think the standard Le Mans fairing is a bit ugly, although it does work well.

Harris Performance in the UK can get them for you. They used to be about £700- not sure what the price is now. Antonio used to be able to source them cheaply-nor sure if he still can. Cheers Guy

Nutter!!!

Rossopuro (see the link above on the site sponsors bar) sell Alpina wheels for the V11. Not sure if they sell them for CARC bikes but they have fitted a pair to their Grios special- expensive though. Guzzi themsleves make spoked wheels for CARC bikes- see the new Griso Tenni.

Whatever is best for you BFG- just tell us what you want amd we will do it!