Greg Field

OK, doubting bastards, I called Redline. To quote their tech guy Dave: "Shockproof Heavy definitely has moly. In fact, that's what makes it Shockproof." It's the pink stuff. It's not strawberries, as I told you. He said it's a synthetic moly compound. If you still doubt, call him. His number's 707-745-6100.

Yes, I was thinking about coating the exhaust black, and the crashbar, too. Likely, though, I'll never get around to it. I got the centerstand off the shelf at the shop at which I work: Moto International. We have more . . .

OK, I'll try to dig up the source of my assertion. I forget where I read it. If I can't find it, I'll concede that it actually is ground up strawberries that makes RLSPH pink. Fair enough, naysayers?

Ever since I first saw a Coppa Italia, I wanted one. I believe that to be the most beautiful paint scheme ever put on a Guzzi. At one time, we had, I think, nine Coppas at Moto Intl. You can't get better "showroom candy" than that. I'd look at them everyday and scheme ways to get one. Unfortunately I couldn't make it work financially and nearly cried when the last one sold. Soon thereafter, a totaled Ballabio came along, and I could afford that, so I bought it and began fixing it up. Along the way, some slightly damaged Coppa parts came my way for free (damaged in shipping), so Billy Bob slowly began looking more Coppa as the months passed. It even began running more like a Coppa after I rebuilt a junked Ohlins shock from a Scura and bolted it on. Finally, a set of the Ohlins forks became available at a price I could afford, courtesy of the redoubtable brothers Haven at MPH Cycle. So yesterday on my lunch break, MI-tech Jason and I installed 10.5 N/mm springs and set the air gap in the forks. This morning I worked through a bout of food poisoning to install those purty yaller forks on my Billy Bob. It would've been a straight bolt-up operation, except that I couldn't get the longer axle spacer used on the Cafe Sport (I was able to get the shorter CS axle, though) because they were on perpetual backorder with Guzzi. So, I made as careful a measurement as i could manage (without disassembling it) of the spacer on the Cafe Sport on the showroom floor. That measurement suggeted that the CS spacer was 1mm longer than the Ballabio spacer. I don't have the equipment to make a new spacer, so i was forced to add on to the one I had. In the junkbox at work was a 25mm washer that fit the axle perfectly but was 2mm thick. I got the bright idea that I could whittle it down to 1mm and have a perfect fit. This was not among my brightest ideas. Being lathe-challenged but with much-practiced file skills from years spent making flintlock longrifles, I took to that hardened washer with files. After an hour of really tedious work, I had whittled of 0.4mm evenly all the way around the washer and had dulled two good files. I decided to bolt it all up and see how much difference the extra 0.6mm would make to the installation. After rushing outside to vomit forth whatever was poisoning my guts, I started swapping Italian forks for Swedish. Swapping out the fork legs themselves could not have been easier. It took maybe 10 minutes. I set the fork height to the settings specified for the Rosso Corsa, which should quicken the steering some. And along the way I discovered a good solution for the spacer problem. The washer under the axle nut is exactly 1mm thick. I fitted it alngside the Ballabio spacer and then used the 1.6mm-thick washer that I had wasted an hour and two files on under the axle nut. So there they are. They're pretty, for sure, and I hope their performance meets their excellent reputation and does as much to improve the front suspension as the Ohlins shock I rebuilt and installed did for the rear. Also on display are the new rotors I bolted up on Monday to replace the horribly warped pieces of junk fitted by the factory. These are also among the gorgeous pieces Aprilia is fitting to the new SXV Supermotards. If you haven't seen one, seek one out to see what that company is capable of. Better yet, ride a 550 and feel the true meaning of power-to-weight ratio. Six months ago, Billy Bob was a humble, totaled 2004 Ballabio that I bought for $1,600. After lots of work and a bit of money, he's starting to really look and perform like something and is a Coppa Italia in all but original pedigree. He's still not as precious to me as my Eldorado, but he's become a very close second. Some will snicker and point out that he's also picked up a few pounds from practical additions like a centerstand and saddlebags crashbars, but in my opinion, a motorcycle without a centerstand and carrying capacity and some measure of crash protection is just a toy. This kid gave up toys long ago. After writing this, I'm starting to feel better. Maybe I got all the bad stuff out after all? I think I'll go to work, and that'll give me a chance for a first impression on the forks.

Redline'll tell you it's a synthetic moly.

If you get an Eldo, get a disc Eldo, 1974 and 1975 models. ANything you'd likely want to do to it, I've done in at least one way, probably two or more, so I can give experienced guidance. It doesn't take much work to make them go, stop, and handle beyond the needs of 90 percent of all riders, all the while still looking like a cool 1970s classic. See the thread on "Anatomy of a Super Eldo" on the WIldguzzi site if you want a glimpse of an Eldo that can hang with the V11s in street riding.

Wick: I'm purty shur I can get an Ohlins damper from outside the Guzzi parts chain that'll bolt up. Email or call if interested. I'll likely be getting one for the Billy Bob to go with the Ohlins forks I just re-sprung today and will fit tomorrow morning.

That pink stuff in the shockproof heavy ain't ground up strawberries; it's moly, boys. Moly is good for guzzi gears.

The grand Quirk is the cylinders sticking up and out and in the way of properly positioning the rider for good weight distribution.

The photo's a bit fuzzy. It could be a LeMans 850 or a V50 Monza.

Seven years out of a hose, and you guys think it's a piece of crap? I don't get seven years out of the hoses on my car.

Thanks!

I'll measure the length later. Meanwhile, here's some pix of them on the Billy Bob: At the rear, mounted to the H&B saddlebag rack. At the front. Mine are mounted to some drop-down plates I had to make in order to mount the stock turn signals and have them clear the Coppa fairing that I moved back to swing with the handlebars. These look like they would clear the fairing without need for the brackets. To use them on a V11 Sport, you'd have to get rid of the spacers for the frone signals. That would be a good thing, anyway. They look pretty good and are flexible so I won't break them in minor mishaps in my very tight garage. I like them for now . . .

Is it a fender eliminator you want, or an LED tail/brake light. If the former, the Ferracci one is pretty good, though the tail light is not very bright. If the latter, there's a few options. Cheapest is a universal one my shop gets through Parts Unlimited that is small and light and under $50. The second is a replacement that includes a whole board of LED and is an exact lookalike replacement for the V11 SPort taillight, with either a clear or a smoked lens. These are even available with integrated circuitry that blinks the left or right half to act as (inadequate, in my opinion) turn signals. Here's a pic of the clear version on my Billy Bob: It's plenty bright and frees up a few watts.

Sorry to hear of this, Pete. If there's anything I can do to help with anything, let me know.

I modified one of Pete's Tonti plates and put it in Enzo's bike about two years ago. I have no recollection of the need for fiddling with any of the sidestand stuff.

I just got Ohlins for Billy Bob (from a Cafe Sport) and was thinking of usng an Aprilia fender. It looks as if the one from the 00-03 Mille R would fit perfectly. Is this correct?

One more thought, David: If your bke is still under warranty, the cable should be covered.

For the Cafe Sport, MG specifies 26mm from the top surface of the top triple clamp to the base of the nut sticking up that is used to adjust preload.

The latest-style cable is a bit tricky to install. Start at the trans end. Position the bend in the lower cable housing away from the centerline of the motorcycle. Then, insert the cable and thread on the retaining collar but do not tighten it all the way. Once the collar is threaded on, start feeding the cable under the throttle body, and then rotate the bend under the throttle body once morst of the cable has been fed through. You want the Type III cable. I can get you the part number when I go to work. Lube it before installation.

There were many (8-10) V11s at the VME tonight. That may be a record. As for K$Ns, they're just butterfly strainers anyway, so nothing evident in that photo will impede their "effectiveness."

Looks good, Pete.

The complete set with levers and linkage is $300. They move the pegs forward 45mm and down 30mm. I trode one 634-mile day with them on my Billy Bob, and had none of the knee pain I used to get.

Check the bulb. If it is installed crossways in the receptacle, it will short out and blow the fuse.

I wasn't being serious. I was just pointing out that it's probably doable.