velofish

Ben: That really sucks. Sorry to hear about the damage. Hope everything turns out OK. I would be heartbroken if some yahoo got my bike that way. Or any way. John

Thanks Alex. I have read great reviews on Oxford products, but did not know that they were available in the states. Designed in England: should be waterproof, anyway. John

Ralph: I totally forgot about RKA. They have a great reputation. If you can post a picture-- great. I will probably look for thier wbsite, too. Carl: You come through, as always. I am going to go take another look at that site. Joe: Those bags in Cycle World look good. They are expandable, too, which I think sounds like a good idea. The "Vespa Girl" is going to take further study. Lots and lots of study. Big J: Looks like I have some shopping to do.

This seems like one of those topics that should have been wel covered, but I did a search and didn't come up with any real solid recomendations. People seem to be using Tekno and Cortech and MG bags. Does anyone have any experience with the Joe Rocket bags? Are the MG bags still available? What are you using? Any real likes/dislikes? Was it a hassle getting them to fit right? Thanks guys. I sold my touring bike- K75RT-- and need to get some bags for the V11 sport. John

Congratulations TX. Good luck on the new job. As for having lots of extra cash-- I have this friend in Nigeria... fish

So far, I am a 110 mph chicken. That seems to be about my limit these days in both car and bike. Now 10 years ago on the Kawi 1000R Ninja was a different story. Same speed but I was younger. Well thats different.

Robin: No apologies necessary. Anything dumb that can be done to a motorcycle, I have done. Probably a few times. I tried turning it both ways with no sucess. I guess I will have to take the speedo apart. Big J. It is seized. I had never really played with it before,but decided to turn it to explore my options. I did not go apeshit on it, the top of the screw broke off before I knew what had happened. I think you are right about the stripdown. That will have to wait for winter, though, too much riding to be done first. Be careful while adjusting, it broke off really easily. Fish

On a ride last week, the 2000 V11 sport came down with two problems. 1) The trip odometer will not reset. It is still recording miles, but the reset stem will turn without affecting the reading at all. As this is how I remember to fill with gas, I would like it to work. Anyone else have this problem? Any fixes? 2) The brass(?) screw that adjusts the compression damping broke off as I was trying to turn it. Any suggestions? Off to try and search now. Thought I would post here first, though. TIA, fish

It stops making power when the rev limiter kicks in Open airbox and Mistral pipes and Stucchi crossover help.

Good luck, TX. I can give you pages and pages of advice on how to look dumb(and pages and...) Not so good at the reverse. Looking for work sucks. Stress yourself out trying to find a place to go to every day that can stress you out. Got my fingers crossed for you. fish

Good luck, and let us know how the Goose compares to the Duck when you get it. fish

One more: "briars" used in Cincinatti, I think, refers to Kentuckians. Steve: I checked the map. Wellsville looks like it is over near Harrisburg. I am a couple hours from there. fish

Pikeys and Chavs? Cool. Maybe I can use that without re-enacting the Ned Beatty role from Deliverance. Hillbillies I have heard before but it still works. Jaap: "farmers" is just sad. I suggest you introduce one of the above terms into your language. Derision is good for the soul. Steve: I know what you mean. I do not hunt myself, but get to experience the joy of hunting season. Driving to work, it's not unusual to see someone in the woods on my left, sighting through my car at a deer on my right. Gulp. BTW. Don't get me wrong. Good people around here, "hoofty" just applies to the extreme cases. Like the folks about 3 miles from me who had the roof cave in on their attic. They took the insurance money and bought a new truck. The hole is still in the roof. That was about 5 years ago. I think they just put a tarp down to catch the rain and snow. They didn't see that on "This Old House."

Bill: I mant to explore the lowered footpeg option, myself. The swan necks are adjustable from clip-ons to about the height of tubulars. so the only problem I still have is a little cramping in the knees after 300 miles or so. I live on the WV border now, but grew up in PGH, too. Aspinwall in the North hills. Go Stillers! fish

The local slang around here for the backward types is "hoofty." Told to me by a local toothless sage with a full weeks menu decipherable by observing the stains on his t-shirt. He was warning me about the REAL country bumpkins. What is the slang in your neck of the woods? fish

Tex: Where do you find that stuff? Anymore, I start laughing even before the pictures load. The word for rednecks around here is "Hoofty". I think your area might even be more hoofty than mine. fish

OK, Rootstown is the 2nd sunday of every month. Shit. Nobody listen to me anymore. I am just going to go over here in the corner by myself

Youre right-- fourth sunday of every month. (I checked the newsletter) Good thing you said something, or I would have been standing in the snow in Lisbon feeling like Charlie Brown at Halloween-- "I got a rock". Thanks, fish

Joe: Glad you are making it up for the rally. Saw you at the Winchester open house, but you were pulling out. Hard to miss that jacket! Have a guy coming in from MA on a Beemer-- he is hooked on Guzzis now and wants to hit the rally to explore his options. That reminds me, I have to cut down a tree for wood for the fire-pit. The joys of country living. BTW, I semi-raced a hard-tail chopper on the way back from Winchester. Well, I let him cactch up on the straights then passed him in the curvies a couple times before he called it a day. Kind of cruel of me really.

Ben: THere is currently a helmet thread on Wildguzzi.com about helmets, you might want to check it out. I met a fellow with a Jarrow (SP?) over the weekend and he liked it,but he liked his old cheap Zeus better. I didn't know that the Roof had no vents. Are they even available in the US? Anyway, the consensus seems to be that the Schuberth is the best of the lot. fish

Whart: Welcome aboard. Not sure how experienced you are, but I have found that more comfort= more speed and more safety. My 2000 came with a dealer installed tubular bar. I recently change this out to Verlichhi swan-necks because the tubular had me too upright at speeds above 80. The Verlichis get me more forward and down. Mistral carbon cans on mine and a Stuchi crossover (why can't I spell tonight?). I have a PCIII but haven't had it programmed yet. Bridgestones on mine, but have been getting a little squirrelly in the rear end (now that is a set up for some smartass). These seem like some standard mods. Also added heated grips and an accessory plug for a heated vest. Remember, after the break-in, these things like to be revved. I never use 6th gear, and have been much happier since my tach died. Now, I just rev it until it smooths out, and use the rev limiter as a shift indicator in hard riding situations. Enjoy yourself. fish

Correction. I just learned that Chiodo's is closed. Not sure where the Pittsburgh dinner will be held now. fish

Richard100T: There is a monthly breakfast in Lisbon Ohio. Third sunday of every month at 9:00 am. There is also one on the 1st sunday in a different town, but I forget where. Maybe somone else can help? Also last wednesday of every month is a dinner at Chiodo's tavern in Homestead (near Pittsburgh.) 6:oo pm. I am going to try to make the breakfast in Lisbon this Sunday. The National should be worthwhile: test rides and lots of Goooses. No sheep, though. drats fish

How the hell did you get that picture of my "special friend"? That was private! fish

Folks: I live about 80 miles southeast of the National site on the WV/PA border. Anyone traveling to or from the rally is welcome to camp here. I live in the country, complete with a beautiful view of the valley-- moocows, hummingbirds, coyotes, deer, and circling turkey buzzards. Easily room for 6 non-crowded tents in different parts of the yard, or 15 or so more crowded. Outdoor grill, indoor shower, plenty of cold beer around the fire pit. No mansion here, I live in a crappy old trailer (no sissy modular or double-wide, either!) but the garage is secure. My priorities are straight. In fact the Guzzisti are welcome to stay anytime-- I rode rte. 50 in WV yesterday and it was fantastic. Many twisties and swithchbacks up and down our mountains and no cops all day. Just PM me, and I will send you my phone #. Ride safe, but fast, John Fischerkeller