stormsedge

I replaced mine at about 4K miles too, and now at 9.5K without a problem, although has been running a little rough...hmmmm.

Thanks Todd. k

Ouiji post: "I've screamed @ the television for days....Where are the C-130s dropping pallets of supplies? Food, water, inflatables, medical supplies? Where's the amfibious landing crafts? The U.S. millitary take gun fire everyday to save Bagdad...but can't do the same to save N.O.? What the @#$#!!! " I assume that since your television has not made any indication that it would okay military assistance in this case, that you have directed your indignation and helpful suggestions to our elected leaders who make the choices for us and give direction to the various federal agencies and the military. I gather from your post that you understand that FEMA owns this sort of internal catastrophe and State (foreign policy) owns the external...maybe why you saw ships, landing craft and C-130s responding (whether quicker in that case than this, I don't know) from forces operating near the region during the tsunami...forces that typically have some small amount of supplies for contingency/relief ops already deployed with them. Your military forces when stateside operate and train for largely exterior missions...not that they are incapable of internal missions, but the laws of our country require certain things to happen before they are mobilized internally---this to ensure the control by our civilian leaders and to protect against unnecessary military interference in local affairs. So, in an internal disaster such as this, we must wait for FEMA and our leaders to decide in each case on use of the military (while the state govenors have their national guard contigents)...we render immediate aid in life-threatening situations (this means as observed by eyeball), but largely we are confined to putting our own infrastructure (inside base perimeters) back in working order (if / where possible) until specifically tasked from above. Another point to ponder is the geography of the situation...the amphibious ships and associated gear you speak of are homeported in Norfolk, VA...even if they'd been loaded for this mission and okayed to "go" at the moment Katrina hit, they were a minimum of three days steaming time out (btw, had they been in the Gulf / Caribbean , they would have been forced to run from the storm or be lost)...the military in the local areas that Katrina hit were instructed to evacuate with their families (they have families too, and the bulk reside near our bases and their servicemember)...they now must wait until their chain of command okays their return (dependent on the ability of local infrastructures to support). Interesting to note that many of the survivors now being rescued actually had the means to leave the area when the evacuation order was given, but chose to remain behind...further stressing the rescue effort for those who legitimately were unable to leave without assistance. Gives you pause to reflect on freedom of choice (a good thing), free will (sometimes good, sometimes bad) and personal discipline (we all could stand to work on this). There are many lessons to be learned from this experience...the question will be which lessons we choose to act upon and are willing to pay for either through increased taxes or changes in the manner in which our national budget is currently disbursed/employed. I invite everyone putting money in the pot (taxpayers) to make your ideas / beliefs known to your elected officials...campaign contributions certainly influence our politicians, but I think (*opinion*) that a concerned and vocal voter base is even more influential (*based upon observed successes of special interest groups*). In between letters and emails to your elected officials, I think some contributions towards the assistance of the evacuees (if you cannot go yourself) and some added prayers will certainly bring results. Thanks. k

I gotta tell ya, I didn't read all the previous posts until just now...there is actually a great deal of relief effort and rescue effort taking place, all under extremely precarious and dangerous conditions, largely by volunteers. The conditions are beyond the gravest that any of us can imagine...sort of Road Warrior and Waterwold all in one. It's not all NOLA...Katrina damaged or devastated alot of infrastructure almost all the way north to Jackson, MS and east almost to Mobile. Any of you armchair quarterbacks think this is easy, knock your house down, then try to rebuild it completely furnished with running water and electricityin five minutes---how'd that exercise go?----take that to an expotential number and you still won't have it. If you want to help, help...but don't belittle efforts going on - and don't second guess decisions made by our politicians when you were too lazy to care or be interested. For our allies overseas, how many times have we left you stranded? Not many that I can recall...more comfortable for you now that the Soviets don't appear to be looking over your shoulder everyday? Again, your prayers and assistance directed through the proper agencies will be appreciated and used. You may now take your best shot. k

We have a growing number of Navy personnel from the New Orleans (NOLA) area reporting in at Naval Station Memphis...with their families, pets and the clothes on their back...but ready to go to work! I also met a lady Thursday up with her husband from NOLA area, same conditions, but he was Army and trying to report in to depart for Iraq. These folks have nothing except themselves and the thankfulness to the good Lord that they made it out safely...most I have met are upbeat, and resigned to starting over. They will be very thankful for any and all support anyone has to offer. Please take some quiet time today to offer a prayer for everyone's safety and well-being in connection with Katrina...thousands of folks none of us will ever have personal contact with. k

My crinkle paint looks really rough, but has not affected the way the motor runs...so I try to keep bugs smashed all over it to hide it. Had a kid on a clapped out 'zuki he'd painted drunkenly with a broom ask me why it looked so bad...I told him his mom painted it. k

...a '93 Daytona...a tonti Lemans - 18 inch wheels...an older California with bags...my old '79 SP (buy back)...and a Supertwin. Now you guys have donw it...I have to build another garage!

I was going to write something witty about the Canadian Navy in French, but as I don't write French...well, actually, I can't tell if it is French or not since I am hopelessly constrained to American (see--I didn't say "English)...I'll just ask for the lat/long of this party and port entry instructions. k

Cat 5 at last report. I-55 North into Mississippi looking pretty gridlocked on the news. k ...STORM INFORMATION... AT 100 PM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.6 WEST OR ABOUT 225 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 175 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. HURRICANE KATRINA IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR SIMPSON SCALE. SOME MINOR FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. HOWEVER...KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AT A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE PACKING SUSTAINED 160 MPH WINDS. HURRICANE KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH AND A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY.

Rick, I've have the Rosso-Puro's...frankly don't remember what I paid for them as got them through an acquaintance in Italy...they were one of the first sets. Had an earlier model Guzzi with the bar/flat type protectors, but still incurred cooling fin damage on tipover (just can't control the angle or size of scattered rocks). I've been told the white "bobbins" can be dyed to any color you wish, but have smashed enough bugs with them that they are not so white, now. Rosso-Puro quality very good. If you purchase them, be sure to locktite the slider bolt and check it periodically for tightness. Do not intend to test the elasticity/strength of the M6 bolts...but suspect four of them will take a pretty good whack. k

Have Michelin Pilot Roads...at the 5700 mile point with plenty of life left. k

"...everyone needs 5 (at least I think it's 5) motorcycles; a sport bike, a cruiser, dual-sport, vintage bike and a work-in-progress (or something on that order)..." Has me wondering if my V11S is the sport bike or work in progress...LOL

Back on track...

I'm not relying on it now, since it's lost all memory...LOL. Another couple of weeks required walking in the woods to reset all the points...sigh, could be worse, it could be raining. k

Brandon, I had some similar symptoms that I was convinced were electrical and later found was the heat refelctive sheilding on the bottom of the gas tank getting sucked down onto the open air filter above 5K rpms, effectively cutting off the air...do you have an open airbox? If so, take a look under your tank. k

Welcome, Gary! k

Shawn, agree that retightening the clamps should do the trick...you can spray a little carb cleaner in the area with the motor running to see if you got them secure. If you find that you actually have a cracked rubber btwn TPS and intake horns, the changeout is pretty simple. (It takes about 20-30 minutes). Another cause may be that your valves are set too close. Most here seem to use .004 in Intake / .006 in Exhaust although some cams / engine shops use up to .008 in / .010 in. The bikes are typically delivered (U.S.) with very tight clearances. I'd be careful of that oil light...a couple of strings here about that. Did it show when the bike tried to stall? k

Welcome, Eamon! Alas, my SP has gone the path of "not enough garage"...but someday I'll have another Tonti. k

Don't know all the history on this, but saw it on the TV this AM while getting ready to head out to work. Website at www.memphisitalianfestival.com . Weather in Memphis area doesn't look very promising, but if you are out and about here's a place to add some color to a parking lot and raise interest in MG. If there's a parting of the clouds and I get the grass cut, maybe I'll see you there. k

Man, how'd you do that? My sofa won't pull past 11 mph. Seriously, where did you attach the sensor for the bike speedo on you wheel? k

And make sure the heat reflective material is well stuck on the bottom before you replace the tank...it can really affect the breathing of your engine if you have an open air filter box. k

Wow, that takes the cake...if it shows up here, it will be easy to spot. k

F4H, welcome aboard. 1) have a 2001, removed the culprit and made life better, don't know about yours...2) some use the hex end of the spark plug wrench, some have made a tool with a large nut/bolt and a socket...there is rumored to be a 27mm VW allen tool out there---I'm looking for one of those...3) I let the bug-smash build up...okay, don't have an answer for this one. 4) sorry have the WP 5) the V11 shop manual looks like the one I purchased a couple of years ago...it is a little high level in some areas that I'd have liked more info on...I'm gonna have to ask Paul how to get a password to look at the other. Be ready to answer questions everywhere you park it...Keep the rubber side down. k

Welcome aboard! Miss San Diego--y'all are in a great place to ride. k