GuzzBun

As an ex-navy aviator, I always had a crewman with me to make sure I didn't get lost. Unfortunately no-one will crew me on my Guzzi - can't think why. The result is that I've decided - after many 'temporarily uncertain of location' situations - to get a satnav which I can use on the bikes and in the cars. What I'm looking for is a system which can be moved from vehicle to vehicle (bikes and cars), and which has a good, clear display. I've seen a couple in operation that give very good visual directions, but my overriding requirement is portability i.e. fit all the vehicles with the necessary power wiring and mountings, and be able to lift the unit from one bike and drop it onto the mount on another bike (or car) - plug and play! Any experiences and recommendations would be much appreciated

Had the spring go on my Scura 4 times in 23000 miles. Couple of weeks ago the familiar symtoms presented again - only 2000 miles after replacing the spring and spigot! Twiggers in Loughborough diagnosed the problem - not the spring or spigot, but this time the shift linkage 'rose joints' ( I know them as 'ball and socket joints') Apparently they have nylon innards, and they were worn badly, causing the gear pedal linkage to become stiff and fail to return to its proper position after making a gearchange. They replaced the joints and all is well. I expect that it would be entirely OK to replace the balljoints with metal ones as fitted on earlier models, then regular greasing will prevent re-occurrence. Sun shining, leathers sweating and bikes humming - is there anything riding can't do?

Just been on the MG-Griso Forum - there's a meet planned for 1130 on Sunday 9 July at the National Motorcycle Museum MG-Griso Likely to be a good turnout of Grisos and Breva1100s - I'm intending to go - Breva or MGS - Scura is sick again - last week she stuck in 3rd gear - all the symptoms of the old spring/spigot problem, which is doubly irritating because it's the 5th time it's happened from new, despite the last time being fitted with the modified spigot (less than 2K miles ago). Sorry I couldn't make the Erin - NOK needed some urgent decorating doing before she sells her house - time is now freed up so more miles will be eaten.

Disappointing change of plans - despite Martins heroic offer to carry all my kit, I can't make Erin after all - last minute major change to my girlfriends work situation means that we have to spend every available moment preparing her house for sale. Sorry for wasted efforts on your parts - I will get Akira to a meet as soon as possible, meanwhile I'll have to content myself with an occasional vist to the Ace, just to see the puddles of drool. Have fun at Erin folks - sorry again. Robin

Intend to be at the Erin Rally - tent or no tent!!!

Does it run? DOES IT RUN??? You'd better believe he runs!!! Took him to the Ace a couple of weeks ago - parked by the front door, and by the time I'd got my cuppa I couldn't see him for the crowd around him - and that was a Saturday midday. Had to be VERY careful when I left - so many eyes on us that it would have been just too easy to do something stooopid. Instead we just pootled out of the car park, being very mindful of other road users. Once the road was clear Itreated them to the sound of a real V Twin winding up through the gears. I told my ex-wife some years ago that riding was at least 75% posing - for me, that is. The Corsa is the Acme of posing machines, but with the singular difference that it performs even better than it looks. In truth it's waaay beyond my capabilities as a rider. I must content myself with being lucky to own one! Met a few Duke owners at the BMF, and they were drooling over him too - got invited to take part in their Duke Club track day at Cadwell in August, so will be giving him his track baptism then. Does he run! He runs, oh yes... he runs!

Would love to have bean at Spean Bridge, but wasn't aware that it was on - note to self - must keep up with events! When and where is Erin? Two constraints: 1. He can only be on the road in daylight and good vis (daytime MOT) though that shouldn't be a problem this time of year. 2. There's no way I can carry a tent and camping kit on him! So, I'm limited to either B&B or sharing a tent with some other kind soul - any offers? (I do snore, but not very loud!)

Thought I'd blow my Corsa's trumpet - he won first prize in the Modern section of the 'Best In Show' at the BMF this weekend. Certainly made up for the rather soggy weather! Prizes were awarded by the Hairy Cooks, Si & Dave. Their comment was "...and the best Modern goes to the absolutely gorgeous MGS01 Corsa - I'd love to get my leg over that!

Yeah HecolpeterJim - thanks mate - time comes when all you need is a friend to say "Buck up Fella" - you did it - cheers! Life is a one-time experience - no practice runs, no second chances - only way is full throttle

Sorry guys - I know this isn't an Agony Column, but if I don't write this I'll explode! Dumped twice in one month - by the same woman - must be my fault, mustn't it - idiot for going back for more! Got three beautiful bikes in the garage, and I let myself get entangled with a flesh and blood bird. As good as lived together for 15 months, then she says she doesn't want me any more. Spleen vented, heart beating again - Spring coming, and a lot of miles to burn off. Got my MGS01 at the Bristol Classic Bike Show (Bath & West Showground) on 11/12 February - come and see us. Bikes? Women? No contest! In answer to my own topic description - yes, life IS worth it - bikes (and particularly Guzzis) are worth the pain Apologies if this offends anyone - back to the bottles - where the h==l did I leave the corkscrew!?.

Don't force it - use a bigger hammer!

Head!

Perfect mate for a biker too!

ROTFLMFHO

What an excellent idea - and cracking mutts they are too! My fella is an ex-racing greyhound - beautiful tempered dogs, quiet, gentle and need very little exercise - they should be called layhounds, 'cos they spend 23 hours a day sleeping, and the other 60 minutes equally divided between looking for food and eating it. If Carlo had invented a dog, it would have been a greyhound - a true gambalunga, good to look at, understated and yet purposeful - a friend in all situations (but then so are all dogs!) and quick when it needs to be.

So where the heck do the 'chunks' come from then!!!??? Does that statistic say that a standard tyre is 95% more likely than a retread to shed its carcass? I don't buy that at all!

Ultraseal - it can be used on any tyre, new or used, providing it is in good roadworthy condition. Ultraseal is supplied in a graduated polythene bottle with a plastic tube for inserting it in the tyre. A chart is included which lists all tyre sizes and gives the amount of Ultraseaal required for each size tyre. Method is as follows: 1. Take weight off tyre (jack, centre stand or paddock stand). 2. Remove valve core to let all air out. 3. Put plastic pipe on bottle nozzle. 4. Push other end of pipe over tyre valve body. 5. Squeeze bottle to squirt Ultraseal into tyre through valve. 6. Continue squeezing until level in bottle drops to the mark indicated for the tyre size. 5. Remove pipe from valve body and re-insert valve core. 6. Inflate tyre to correct pressure. 7. Ride!!!

I had one of those a few years ago - it certainly made it much easier to put the airline and the pressure gauge on, but I found that when removing it after checking pressure, it allowed some air to escape, sometimes quite a lot, which meant I had to try and judge how much I would lose, and put that much extra in before removing it - seems that only a second of hissing air can drop the pressure by a couple of psi - so I stopped using it. I guess I could have bought one for each wheel, and left them on, but they'd need to be on when balancing the wheels too.

Yes I've seen the tyre pressure indicator valve covers - not heard any reports on their goodness or badness though. We used to have pressure indicators on our helicopter rotor blades - the main spar was filled with nitrogen, and a drop in pressure would supposedly indicate a crack in the spar. More often than not, a change in colour indicated a failed pressure indicator though - very expensive on rotor blades, but kept the indicator makers in business!!! Must say I like to see a pressure figure on a gauge - old fashioned but comforting! Yes to Ultraseal - used it on my California, and will be putting it in the tyres of my V11, MGS and Breva. I've heard mixed reports on it - some say it unbalances the wheels, others say it is messy to insert - but I've heard no-one say that it failed to do it's duty - to keep the tyre inflated in the event of a normal puncture. The worst I've heard is that when an Ultrasealed tyre was changed through wear, it revealed no less than 7 punctures which had been suffered, but the rider remained blissfully ignorant of them all. Make of that what you will, but my experience on the Cali whilst touring Europe was good - it gave peace of mind and worry-free riding. I didn't experience any balance problems, but perhaps that might be significant at higher speeds (though I doubt it). The cost was insignificant - one bottle at £25 did a bike, and left some over. In summary, I've used it with no ill effects, and I shall continue to use it - in all my bikes.

Well, I like the idea of coloured tyres - even more I like the idea of solid coloured tyres - they're made for mountain bikes and are very comfortable, and entirely puncture immune. Unfortunately, I guess a solid motorcycle tyre would weigh far too much to make it a viable proposition - but we can still dream of punture free riding As for retreads - I'm no expert, but what little I know makes me very unhappy with the idea of a retread on a bike - don't care how good the technology is - I've seen too much retread rubber shed on the motorway to want to even try them - I'll stick with plain black new tyres - literally, I'll stick!!!

Agree with that - I've run Battlax 020s since new - done 24000 now. Get about 4000 from a rear at 36/37psi, and up to 6000 front at 33psi. No bad experiences (from the tyres, anyway!) Biggest problem I have is finding a decent pressure guage, that fits onto the valve without letting half the air escape, and which gives an accurate reading - any ideas or recommendations?

Hmm... did that a lot - ended up in hospital 3 times - probably blasting too hard. Memories of the busted pelvis keep flashing back and I guess that takes a few mph off the Blasting Base Level!!!

Fascinating! I've ridden my Scura for 24000 miles, on Battlax 020s from new - never had a problem other than identifying the right inflation figures - handbook says one thing, Bridgestone say another. I ended up with 33psi front, 36 rear - get about 7000 miles from a front tyre and 4000 from a rear - wear is fairly even and the road-holding is impeccable. I do blast her quite a bit, the chicken strip is non-existent (well, almost!!!). Never carry a pillion, and I'm underweight rather than overweight, so never touched any of the Ohlins settings either - it seems as if the bike was designed with me (or my body mass and riding style) in mind. Come to think of it, when I last looked in the mirror after a shower, I saw what looked like an M on one bun, and a G on the other - probably stands for My Goodness - My Guinness!!!

There seems to be a lot of interest in going to Mandello, so why don't we make our own date and go - providing it's not in August I'm sure we could encourage the factory to welcome us - a group of forum-ites who want to visit their Alma Mater! I like Guzzirider's poise of going in two days - a fancy blat through France, Germany, Austria and into Mandello - coupla/three days there and then a similar blast back, by a different route - perhaps Switzerland, southern France and up through France, or maybe down into Spain and back from Bilbao to Portsmouth - a 36 hour mini cruise. Any interest? If so, I'm happy to investigate options and provide some dates, then go ahead and book ferries. A small group (three or four) could lodge 'on the hop', camping/boarding wherever we stop for the night - more might require a bit of pre-booking. Either way, if anyone's interested let me know - more than happy to make the necessaries.