WOOT! Apparently the background check was reviewed, approved and I'm in. Must have been the substitute admin working that day. Picked up a two owner 2002 Scura out of the L.A. area in April and have been busy Googling about for the knowledge ever since. Had eyeballs on a number of Guzzi's over the last few years and came quite close to a California Custom, but decided to quickly scoop this one up when it was posted. Also, my first Italian mistress. Not that I didn't pine, nor have I stopped pining, for many over the years. Save for the KTM woods bike I've always flown the Japanese flag, but hope this new relationship gels quickly, and doesn't end up in rehab when I find out she likes really expensive shoes, demands First Class airfare, and has a rabid coke habit.
Previous owner (maybe had been on this forum?) curiously put stiffer springs in the Ohlins up front which upon delivery proved to ride like a skateboard. I think they're 1.05's and I'll drop it back to .095 (close as I can remember). Odd in that he was far smaller than I am and reported that it was too soft. Heck, I'm easily 225 with gear and the Scura rides tighter than my CBR track bike with built KTech suspension.
Have many questions of which some have already been answered through searches, but look forward to future conversations. So far have picked up some rear sets from Motobits, had the Knight pegs (also the adjustable Monster pegs coming Friday) and will likely keep the Motobits after install and some test rides. Controls are just a different feel than my Hondas, but riding different bikes and adapting to their styles is the joy of it all. Clutch has just a whisker of friction zone (which some say is normal) making rev matching downshifts more challenging to get smoothly completed. The front brake lever position / master cylinder feels a little wooden with a hinky little angle in it (clip on?) that make me tend to reach too far inboard as I roll off throttle and get on the brake. CRG's helped some, but will be looking at a Brembo or Galespeed soon.
Clutch is the original, so there's that boogie man. Have a little head gasket leak from the cylinder on the stand side of the bike, probably from removing and replacing the head crash protection "slider". Replaced the old yellow plug wires with new, red NGK bits and ordered the CF belly pan from Ghezzi Brian. Seat will go in for upholstery in August and likely some Alcantara type suede with a diamond stitch and some red accents.
Have to learn more about maintenance as all the mechanics of this bike are just different than chain drive I4's, but that was part of the decision to buy it. Pure sex and a new project.
Anyway, my name's Gavin and I'm in Portland for anyone that would like to meet up for a coffee. I connected with the local club / shop a few Sunday's ago and will keep in touch there.
