Greg Field

Don't blow my cover like that.

Is there any functional difference between the Stucchi crossover and the FBF equivalent? I have a chance to get the latter used and cheaply, but I will go with the former if it's demonstrably better. Thanks! GF

I work at MI. It is not normal for them to pull to one side. I know it is a bit of a trip to bring it up from Beaverton, but I recommend that you do so. It's a new bike and should function properly. If there is a problem we can likely spot and fix it.

It has already begun . . . We should have a peg relocation kit by then. Plus Centauro-type lower and slightly more forward controls. If Eric wants a Ballab, we have new ones for about $8k. Cafe Sports for $10k. Coppas for $11k.

I need a Sport or Ballab headlight, Sport headlight mounts, speedo and tach, and Sport instrument plate to resurrect a crashed Ballab.

Need V11S or Ballabio headlight, headlight mounts, instruments, and instrument mounts to ressurect a crashed Ballab.

Thanks. I'll see what they have available.

Guzzi selss a carbon fender. I know where there's a new one. The Guzzi exhaust is great, but it's spendy 'cause it comes with its own ECU.

I'll try. On the digital competency scale, I rate "idiot," though. Curious: Compared to the V-strom, how is your cornering speed on the Ballabio? I love the bars, and really would love to have one of the Coppas we have for sale, but I use things hard, and I'd really hate to put that kinda wear on such a beauty as a Coppa. That's why I think this may work for me. I can put an Eldo gas tank and footboards on it without raising too much ire, or so I hope . . .

I'm happy to say I've joined this herd following the purchase of a totaled '04 Ballabio today. I'm hoping to ressurect it and make it better than it was, kinda like Steve Austin, but without the million-dollar expenditure. If anyone knows of ITI V11 Sport (or Ballabio) instruments, headlight mounts, and headlight for sale, please let me know. I'm also lookiing for the carbon-fiber kit or fairing for the same machines. I'm also putting together kits of the Centauro foot controls, so if anyone is interested, let me know. Greg Field

Use a good synthetic oil, and you will have no problems. After startup, wait a minute or so, and then drive off gently. Warm the oil in this way for 10-15 minutes before giving it stick. Until the oil reaches 30 degrees C or so, your oil bypass valve is dumping most of the flow back in the pan. That is why you should never rev it hard until the oil is falrly warm.

What Buell model are those pegs from? Breva 750 pegs should work, if all you want is rubber.

Handylift. I bought mine last year at the cycle show. Free frieght, and no sales tax. We gotta keep them Iowejians in work, ya know?

The Griso is really nice, as is the overall display. I'm also taken with the new Aprilia 450 twin super motard. It's gonna be a two-wheeled velociraptor.

Sorry, can't be of help on helmets. Seattle Cycle Center usually has good deals, though.

Oh, forgot: There should be two Grisos there.

I'm in the VME, too. I'm actually the club librarian (what a geek, huh?), and coordinate the whole holiday awards banquet. Dave will be at the show Friday, Sat., and Sunday. I'll be manning the MI front until closing and then working the Piaggio booth Friday and Saturday. There's at least two 2000 V11 Sports, plus a Ballabio, in Ballard. That's a pretty high per capita ratio of V11s. Perhaps you should claim Ballard as the V11 Sport capital of the world?

Roger that. Looks like we're getting another six Coppas. We've sold four in the last two weeks. There'll be more of them in Seattle than anywhere else in the world. Maybe then someone will lightly crash one (not wishing this on anyone, though) so it's cosmetically totaled, and then I can buy it and do horrible things to it?

Anyone going to see the Breva and Griso? I'll be working the Piaggio booth on Friday after closing MI. Also, we have discount tickets at the shop.

Two-plate clutches will fit the Scuras and RMs and Tennis. Best would be one from another spine-frame model because these clutch/flywheel assemblies are substantially (12-14 lb, depending on who you believe; I believe the scale I weighed mine on, which said 14 lb.) lighter than those used on the Tonti models, plus the Sport clutches have two extra clutch springs. Yes, you will also need the clutch input hub. New, these would be very expensive. Clutches from the late Calis will also be very expensive and are exceedingly scarce because Guzzi needs them all, and more, to replace the single-platers in the '03 Calis, many of which fail in under 1,000 miles 'cause the sintered bronze plate Guzzi used isn't very durable. This may be the makngs of an opportunity for replacing aluminum single-platers, though. You could get a warranty-take-off single-plater from an '03 Cali and use it with an organic plate. This is what I run in my Sport-eating Eldo. This clutch is about 6 lb. lighter than the late Tonti clutch (used from about the Lemans 1000-on). With a little machine work, it could be made as light as the two-plate Sport clutch. Guzzi has not been asking for these take-off single-platers back from dealers, so if you find a cooperative dealer, you can get the complete take-off assembly, including input hub, for little or nothing. Then, an organic-compound plate is about $80. How durable will it be? That is the question. I've had mine in for about 1,000 city miles so far. If it was self-destructing, I suspect I'd've had to adjust the cable slack by now, but I haven't had to. Others I know have raced through two complete seasons, and the plate is still operating perfectly. My GUESS is that it will last, but it is just a guess at this point. I love it so far. the pull is two-finger light, and engagement is the smoothest I've ever felt out of a Guzzi clutch.

Stop in and say, "Hi," at least. I doubt there will be any Atlantics left in January, but you never know. I sold four of them last week, and have maybe six left. If you want a Nuovo Falcone, a friend of mine here has one he is going to sell, to help finance a new Cal Vintage.

All the Coppas we have sold came with the Ti exhaust and and matching ecu.

Just 'cause it was used, doesn't mean it was useful. Dr. John told me the throat of the tunnel is too small to provide really useful data for bikes taller than the GP bikes of the 1950s. As a result, Guzzi shut the tunnel down and began using the larger tunnels at Italian Universities.

It is an inline-crank, transverse-V engine.

Blue covers are left on engines until they are installed in a bike. Recently, we had to order a new warranty motor (PI engine) for a customer, and the motor came with the Ford-blue valve covers.