Guzzirider

I guess the wheelies won't have helped! Hope its something simple! Guy

The one I saw was at North Leicester Motorcycles- who are not an official Guzzi dealer but import a lot of bikes from Italy. I saw the bike while I was there on Saturday and it looks good and they are asking £14999. NLM

Yes you can buy an MGS01 straight away- I know where there is a new one for sale in the UK at about £1000 less than list price. But it won't be road legal unless you convert and register it yourself. Guy

I understand that some French bikers are challenging their own government in court over the legality of the 100bhp limit, seeing as there is no limit elsewhere in Europe. Not a problem for Guzzis!

I have a feeling in my bones that it will be Casey today- if he stays on the bike and his tyres last. Guy

When I went up to Scotland last week, one of the girls that was with us had a brand new 1200 Sport- looked nice in the flesh. Beginning to grow on me too! Unfortunately I don't think we will ever see a 125bhp 8V Le Mans. Guy

More photos and the story in Italian here. I think it looks simple and classy without the bling of many Guzzi "specials". Guy

Sounds like fun! I don't mind winter camping either- if you expect it to be cold then at least you are prepared. My first camping weekend on the bike this year was in February in Dent, Cumbria where it was minus 5 degrees C overnight but it was fine as I had all my gear and was wearing a very thick beer jacket.

I think its just as popular in Italy as it is in the Netherlands!

Sounds scary- glad you are still in one piece!! Guy

Macguzzi- website link at the start of this thread says their is camping- may be worth phoning first and seeing if you need to book. Nogbad- I would buy a £10 Argos inflatable mattress, a £29 Vango tent (I have one and its waterproof), cheap sleeping bag (if you dont have one already) and bungee it all to the backseat- don't need luggage racks for just a couple of nights- especially as all facilities will be available from the hotel so you wont need stove etc. Guy

Seriously it will be great- May is Scotland's driest month, it's too early and too far east for serious midge problems and you can piss wherever you like! Guy

You could camp!

I ain't gonna bore you with any technical mumbo jumbo bollocks- I've tried both lidless airbox with a K & N filter element, and also the large K & N pods. I prefer the pods- glorious intake noise plus you can junk that big plastic airbox. I can't tell a massive difference between the 2 set ups in terms of power curve- if anything the bike seems nicer to ride with the pods with a slightly better pick up. My friend Mal has also tried both set ups on his V11 and also prefers the pods. I know some respected tuners back up Paul's comments about the lidless airbox arrangement being better. Guy

We warmed up for the V11 rally by riding up to Ken Bridge in New Galloway this weekend. Lovely setting for the campsite by a river, brilliant empty twisty roads, warm sunshine- what a great weekend! I am hoping for more of the same next month! Guy

You know what they say- more cushin' for the pushin'!

Nice bike Richard- I always used to lust after big Kwacks. I used to have a nice black GPZ1000RX when I was a youngster- fast as **** in a straight line but it was a handful around the bends. A mate of mine has just bought the latest version of the ZX10 in green with twin Akrapovics- I'm not normally a big fan of the plasticky sports bikes but I must admit it looks awesome in the flesh- much cleaner lines than a GSXR1000. Guy

You could cut a section out of each silencer and then get the end fitted back on- I know a few Ducati Monster riders do this to shorten their pipes, especially after chopping off the rear tea tray. Maybe you could lose a couple of inches each side. Guy

We will be leaving late on Thursday after work so we will be overnighting in the Annandale Arms Hotel in Moffat- very pleasant it is too. On the way back we will be riding back in one hit so will be leaving crack of dawn on the Sunday- last year I narrowly missed a deer at 6am near Fort William so I will have my eyes peeled for deers / polar bears / yetis etc.

Remember they can't extradite you from Brazil to face justice back home if you father a child to a Brazilian mother! It worked for Ronnie Biggs! Enjoy your stay! Guy

I've never owned one myself- but my father in law had 4 Velos- and let me take one out occasionally- could never start the bugger- a black art I reckon 'cos he could do it in one kick. Guy

She has a cute arse

I used to be a real doubter but changed my mind when following someone through the Dublin backstreets when we were late for the ferry- we would never have made it if we had to keep stopping to read maps. I only use mine when I need to- generally in foreign cities where I just want to get through asap, or if I need to find a specific address. I dont bother with earphones and can happily concentrate on my riding and the surroundings, because it flashes before I need to turn, and it becomes just another instrument that you subconsciously read without staring at it like your speedo or tacho. There is a funny story though about a German guy who crashed his bike on the infamous Nurburgring. When questioned by the police in hospital, it turns out he actually intended to go to Nurnberg on the other side of Germany but programmed the wrong place in on his GPS! Guy

Good spot GJ- maybe we ought to start a library in the FAQ section of useful alternative suppliers for stuff like this, headlamp components and valeo starters etc etc

Eerrmmmm.. I quite like kick starts- warm you up on a freezing winters night- especially when you have tried kicking your Velocette over for 10 mins with no luck!