po18guy

Well, my Ballabio is an '04, so it sounds like that may be the first year(?) Now as to concern over proper throttle cable adjustment: I noted that what i did was a "field expedient." The rubber sheath/molding covering the throttle twistgrip end of the cable is rather petrified appearing, having apparently been untouched for 15 years. It is going to need a good soak in ArmorAll before I can hope to remove it in one piece. And, as to push-pull throttles, that is exactly what the Kawi EX500s I own have, so I have been adjusting them for 20 years, as of this year.

Aprilia attorneys must have insisted on two cables as a fail-safe in case of a failed return spring. p.s. stumbled upon the adjustment procedure in the shop manual. Will have to adapt to the particular linguistics in said document.

Sorry guys, I forgot to turn notifications on. That's pretty noob-like. I appreciate any and all wisdom. Probing into the new-to-me bike, the last thing I wanted to do was break something that would require Carlo to be bribed out of retirement in Mandello del Lario to make a replacement part. I see it's a simple setup - much like the dual cable setup on an EX500 I own. However, I came up with a field expedient: I put the dial calipers on the ferrule of the cable at the throttle body end. 4mm. Broke out two 4mm nylon washers from the stash and split one side of each with a utility knife. Slipped them over the cable itself, then pulled the housing free of the bracket and slid the two washers over the ferrule. Popped the ferrule back in place and done. They are captured in place and no fiddling needed. Virtually all slack now gone (good idle from lock to lock) and even if one or both washers come adrift (can't imagine that), it simply defaults to the prior slack. I have noticed a ton of both torque as well as engine braking. First hyd clutch, so some getting used to the whole thing. Have ridden shafties before, so that part is familiar. Very little else about the bike is familiar, accentuating that Guzzi personality, I guess. I much prefer slack-less throttles, as both upshifts and downshifts can be done more smoothly - at least by this klutz. The pic shows the washers in place. This was so easy that I fear what comes next! Actually a Roper plate at oil change is probably next, but that is relatively straightforward. I've already solved several jigsaw puzzles in removing the Hepco &* Becker mounts, swapping the Motobits controls for stock and pulling the fairing and headlight to do an LED swap.

There's a YouTube vid of a fellow in Europe doing a track day with his Corsaro. At one point he almost lost as it was wheelying mid-corner. Not that is some kinda torque.

Reasonably available where? Reason I ask is that I reside in the poor old US. None of the "really good" bikes that we watch from across the pond. Case in point: the revived Moto Morini's 1187cc Corsaro. 87º V-twin. 120HP and Torque. Sigh... .

Being a complete noob, but hating slack in the controls, I am wondering at which end slack is removed from the pull throttle cable. I know that, like carbed bikes, some slack is needed to allow for changes in cable tension when steering. Still, I would like to minimize it for smoother shifting on my part. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for that. So, it seems to have a manually operated reserve supply. Now have to believe and obey the yellow light I guess. I note it is the same mileage as my Civic - but "slightly" more entertaining, and does not sound like a beehive at all.

There is also another request for them. Before I let them go, I'm going to put a few miles on the OEM pegs and shifter. Since I have remained fairly flexible, I think the OEMs will be fine, but I will soon know. Raining today and I shed some blood contorting my hand in and around the hard underbits. Oh well, I'm used to that...

Thank you much. Will have to consider those, as the adjustability is really cool.

So, to avoid that dangerous swerving and sloshing, one could simply pop a wheelie and have the gas flow across? Just kidding. Honestly, I being a fresh owner, I will have to read the manual and poke around some. It's quite a bit heavier to push than my EX500.

Clearly something the designers, decades ago, had no inkling would ever happen. Quite different in the Chevy V8 I built and raced long ago. Rear sump. Rear pump. The "tray" I attached to the extended main bolts was to keep the oil away from all that crank and rods. The oil pan itself had a "trap door" to keep the oil from sloshing away from the pickup. My GPz500s have the same wide sump, but far less accelerative force to affect the oil. Well, at (my) first oil change, in goes the plate. I'm riding it moderately until it has a few more clicks on it.

As to my thread elsewhere, an '04 Ballabio seduced me and I dropped thoughts of the LeMans. Trailered it home and am removing the various mods that suited someone else. The Staintune cans stay. Stock pegs going back on and thoughts now turn to some clipons up front.

Letterboxes are safe! I checked and it's a gennie. Blardy well heavy duty that bit. Would imagine that there is a bit of windage, what with all those gigantic parts flying about.

I have 50 years of poor-to-fair riding, but this bike is the first with real suspension and brakes. I dialed rear compression down and it actually went down. I suspect that the other adjustments will be as good. Just have to get the dirt bike bars and cruiser pegs off of it and it'll have some zoom-zoom. Now that I have the pegs pretty much figured, next comes the top triple and bars. I can either raise the tubes a bit more and use clipons above the clamp, or maybe luck into a LeMans triple and bars. Have had two back surgeries and a knee surgery, but can still do the sporting crouch - it's actually easier on my back.

So I hear. It is SS, extremely well made, and from Oz. Wouldn't be one of yours, would it?

Cool! Thanks for that. Yeah, I'm saving all of the stuff. Sad to say that nearly everything I own is "period cool." Found a parts diagram online and it shows the "shift lever" orientation, so I shall be swapping that back.

After decades of interest, I decided life is short (three cancers so far), so I began looking. Stumbled onto a garage queen '04 Ballabio with 4,500 miles total. De-accessorizing it now and spiffing it up. Can't post pics yet, darn it. On the advice of a member here, got an ImgZeit account. Here it is with the stuff that came with it.

I have made a couple of posts, but it was solely by way of introduction. Admired Guzzis from afar. Still have the '77 850 LeMans brochure. At the time I posted, I was looking at an '02 LeMans, and I wrote "because no one is selling a Ballabio." Well... wouldn't you know it, an '04 Ballabio came up on Craigslist shortly thereafter. Hmmm. Three hour drive but what the heck. The owner was, no surprise, a "mature" fellow. Had 20 bikes. RV. Airplane. Bad knees. Agreed to buy it on the spot. Garage queen with 4500 miles (no sign of replacement speedo cable). All records and the usual Guzzi spares, manuals, etc. Has fresh Pilot Roads, a Laminar Lip, MRA spoiler, Staintune cans, Hepco & Becker bags, a SS Aussie windage tray in a box and a few others. Trailered it home. It is cleaner now then the pics (when I can upload them, that is), as that is the proper thing to do. Pulled the bag mounts and MRA spoiler off. Low-mount pegs have to go. I have never owned a bike with pegs back far enough to suit me. They are "Motobits" forward/lowered style, but may not be that brand. OEM pegs came with it. Will have to find a pic of the OEM foot controls as installed, as it seems a few bits might have been reversed with the modded pegs. Has an LED Duc taillight. I just installed an LED headlight bulb after cleaning the haze from the inside of the headlight lens (assembly workers smoking?). Washed and waxed and rubber bits - not the tires - armoralled. Iridium plugs and now it fires off first press. Now it's raining. EDIT: Pics added. Oh, for any who may not know (not likely here) that little red tab behind the pegs is a centerstand. It needs some re-engineering, as it is only usable when the rear tire is rolled up onto a 2X4. Otherwise, there goes the back. Bike as it was. Bike with stuff. Basso profundo.

Jim here. Old guy (67/retired) who still has a brochure for the '77 LeMans 850 in his toolbox. Life intervened and I never got Guzzied. After three cancers, time is running. Time to buy my last bike. Well, I'm looking at an '02 LeMans, 10K miles,Ti exhaust, Power Commander, ECU re-flash and maybe a few things I'm forgetting. Owner says 'pristine" and pics (of course) look good. A fgw hours drive, so generally wondering what to look for beside the obvious. I am aware that '03-'04 have further improvements and that the paint will fall off the '02 engine. Asking 4.5K but might offer 4K after a close look. Always thought the fairings were hideous, but no one close is selling a Ballabio right now. I also know that Guzzis are not so much a motorcycle as they are a project (adventure?) that involves a motorcycle. Yet, as we see, those who love them LOVE them. Pax et Bonum