Ballacraine

Well, I certainly wouldn't rush into that then! I wouldn't sacrifice things you know you like, just 'cos the grass is greener elsewhere. Not a recipe for contentment. Nige.

Actually I don't think I would ever even buy an F4, much as I like its form. Too many cylinders. Three is as many as I can handle in a motorcycle engine. Anything more than that I find too frenetic. Singles, twins and Triples do it for me. As I have one of each I is an 'appy old git! LOL Nige.

Yes...I think that one might get you! Nothing that a decent custom paint job wouldn't sort out, if it bothered you? Nige.

Well, it looks a different colour to standard... I couldn't see any performance bits added in the kit. I suppose it would be a matter of how much extra thy wanted to charge for it? Nige.

LOL.......Now I would find that most frustrating. TBH I was coming to the conclusion I was going off bikes a couple of years back. Loads of stuff about that was nice, but nothing I wanted to own. Every time I went to a motorcycle dealer the only thing that really made me smile was walking back to my modified Triumph Legend. It seemed they just weren't making bikes I wanted to buy any more! The Scura regained me my Faith! I am sure you could modify the rear of the Speed Triple to your taste? If not most of the time you are with it you won't see it 'cos you will be riding it anyway! Nige.

OK Coloured tyres..... Well, they only look cool if they are clean right? So do you polish the treaded portion of the tyre so it looks clean and smart? Nige.

It may be a mute point, but what colour is it now? The reason I ask is because red is notoroiously difficult to match and a good contrasting colour may well be a better bet? Nige.

Yes, exactly. Are there very few bikes that really grab you then? I find it exceptional for me to really dislike a bike, that is why I mentioned it. Nige.

Yes, I have to admit I did. I was trying to grasp the enormity of what they had perpetrated, and find out where it had all gone wrong. ( Looking for the differences and similarites between that and the stunning F4 ) Nige.

I appreciate and agree with the sentiment, but at least find a headlight that gels with the rest of the bike. If the first car in the scrapyard had been old Austin Allegro with a rectangular headlamp it couldn't have been worse. It joins the CX500 in my surprisingly short 'Hate That' list, I'm afraid. Nige.

Yes, but I would have expected it to gel rather than jar, if not flow like the F4. I like almost all the other power cruisers, but that one jeez! Nige.

Would the budget run to that? Nige.

This will probably bring howls of protest, but...... How in hades can a company / designer produce a product so exquisitely jewel like and visually spot-on as the F4.... ....and then trot out the heinously ugly Brutale.... It just looks like they tore off the fairing and got the first headlight they could find from the scrapyard. I think it maybe just me Nige.

Actually...I do Nige.

Hmmmm..... You can never be sure can you! As regards the can...... That is better.... Still a bit goofy, but a marked improvement this time. We have progress........Progress ain't necessarily in a forward direction though. Still would like to see something more svelte,...not sure that is the right word for the Griso..... I think something stubby, more underneath with a nice open mega on the end of it. That would work better for me. Nige.

Seat of pants experience.... No dyno access as yet but.... Standard set up ran fine from the dealer (bought second hand at a couple of years old). Felt restricted though. Very muted. First mod was round alloy Mistrals. Released a fair bit of boom and maybe 2 or 3 more horses. Quite nice. Clicked lucky with an ebay auction and got one of three exhausts made by Skorpion for the 2002 TT entry. Fitted them instead. Instant gain in pick up much more of everything. Including mellow note...Changes to staccato roar at about 5000rpm. Feels like it is breathing a lot better. Still standard on intake side. HP gain still don't know really, but certainly a marked improvement from standard. Most of this I would attribute to the free flowing crossover. It is much more lively. I am sure there is more to come too I have a power commander III but haven't fitted it yet. Ongoing project! Nige.

Ah yes indeed. I loved my old 750-S3. A bloke with a ratty MV Agusta once said... 'Ah yes..... nice practice bike.' Nemesis was very swift that day..... Myself and two mates had to push start him! Nige.

I would say that was aesthetically a 65% improvement. Not bad for a first stab! Nige.

I had the pleasure of meeting the man, when he was over for the first of his tilts at the TT. By chance, I got to do some video work for them in the paddock and pits on Senior Race Day....Just right place at the right time, really. It was a very memorable experience. Nige.

The Guzzi works Skorpion Titaniums that I have have a rubber liner on them going all around the can. Seems to work very well. Nige.

Other than the Scura, I have: 1998 Triumph Legend. Had it from new, but it is modified somewhat! 1996 MuZ Skorpion Tour. So I have a single, a twin or a triple, to suit the mood.

That is what I have always liked about the LM2 set-up. Doesn't cover too much but gives enough for weather protection for the rider. ( They must be about half the weight of the original lowers by now, with all the Dremel work I have done. ) Another thing was, those small aerofoil wedges the lowers have....They work a treat in sidewinds if the speeds are kept high enough. My old S3 was always scary in sidewinds until I got the LM2 fairing on. V11 doesn't seem too bad but I think it will help with this too. Nige.

Who said anything about covering it? Nige.

That really depends where you are coming from Nige.

Aye will do. Some little way off yet, but getting there.. As previousy requested I am taking a few WIP shots too. Nige.