callison

I can remember a trip to the Ginza in Tokyo in 1971 where a Coke cost 7 dollars and a beer 13!

It's recent. Every time I quit pedaling though, the lights go out...

I've been updating and adding schemtics while waiting for the release of the Breva 1100 (at this rate, I should be able to add a few hundred more schematics before MGNA actually does anything...). ALL of the schematics have been updated, modified, had corrections made (or errors added - who knows?) so if you've downloaded them in the past, chuck 'em out and download again. Currently, the updated website is Sportissimo and I will be getting around to updating the mirror on Greg Benders site (Thanks Greg!) in a day or two. That will be: Sportissimo on This OldTractor.com. 1933 Sport 15 1944 Astore 1945 Galletto 192 1948 Airone 1951 Galleto 1953 Ziggolo 1956 Airone-250ST 1960 Stornello 125-160 1967 V700 1967 V700 Police 1969 Nuovo Falcone 1969 V750 1969 V750 Police 1970 Stornello 5 1971 V7 Sport 1973 V850 Police 1973 V850 USA 1974 850T Euro 1976 V65 1977 V50 1978 G5 1978 LeMans II 1978 V1000 SP 1980 1000 SP NT 1980 T4 1981 California II 1981 LeMans III 1983 SP II 1983 T5 series 1 1983 T5 series 2 1983 V65 Lario Series 1 1986 V65 Florida 1987 California III 1987 NTX350-650 bosche 1987 NTX350-650 saprisa 1988 California 1000 Carb 1989 750 NTX P 1989 750 SP 1990 750 Targa 1990 LM V 1991 Quota 1000 1993 Daytona 1000 1993 sport 1100 1994 California 1100 1994 Nevada 350-750 1994 V35-75 Police 1996 California 1100i 1996 Centauro 1996 Sport 1100i 1998 EV 1999 V11 sport 2000 Bassa 2000 Jackal 2000 Quota 1100 ES 2002 Nevada series 1 2002 Nevada series 2 2002 Stone 2004 750 Breva 2004 EV Catalytic 2004 Nevada IE 2004 V11 Sport Catalytic 2005 Breva 1100 2005 MGS01

Prowl around in here: Guzzi Daytona/Centauro Registry

It's not composite and it's not a 2x4. Unless Joe has changed it since I left the area I know what it is. So... the new quiz for all y'all is: What is the material used for the fender eliminator? (A little hint, zoom the image about 400% and you can just can just make out enough to maybe guess what it is)

It's your proximity to MGNA. They could cross-thread a light bulb. Now they're casting bad voodoo on your bike...

I thought the last fllying Lancaster got pancaked in two years ago and was beyond repair.

We are now tasking you with getting all of those pesky cars off the highways!

The blue Sport 1100s were truly beautiful. From what I can determine, the blue was done for a special shipment (32?) to the UK or Australia and by happenstance, about 16 of them landed in the USA. One of them went to New Zealand and was stolen before it ever got delivered - not often you hear of a brand new Guzzi getting heisted... I only wish MG was more in favor of blue paint schemes. Except for the rather rare 1100 Sports, a year of EV's in a two tone blue and now the Griso in Pearly Blue, MG hasn't addressed this corner of the color spectrum very much in a very long time. Never was a grey Sport 1100i and I don't think there was a grey Sport 1100 either. There was a silver Sport 1100 (kind of overwhelms your eyes with all of the aluminum and silver though) and the "Black" Sport 1100i which had a kind of gold speckle in the finish that makes it look really dusty until you get up close. It's really quite pretty - up close. I was going to buy a black one and opted for the red. By God, if you're going to shell out 12 grand for an Italian bike, it had better be red!

I saw a property sign yesterday you might want to consider. "No Trespassing. Violaters will be shot. Survivors will be shot again". I guess the guy on the other side of the hill from me doens't like people looking at his three million dollar house...

Jingushi has a pretty neat Dr. John style 2 into 1 exhaust system too. If my Dad were still flying for Japan Airlines, I'd have him pick me up a set. Unfortunately, he retired from the airlines decades ago. I don't even have any Navy buddies left stationed over there. It's kind of a bummer that they won't export. Probably leary of sending anything to the Home of the Free, Land of the Brave and Hive of the Litigious Lawyers.

For a few years, I rode 52 miles each way to work which included 11 miles of minor mountain backroads. That was good for a little over 2000 miles month which I did on a Sport 1100i, the V11 Sport and the California and after an accident, a V65C (ugh). The California is okay, it isn't a sport bike but since it's a milder tune and an entirely different frame, it vibrates considerably less than the V11 Sport. Most miles I've ever done in one day on any of these bikes is 715 for the Sport 1100i, 601 for the V11 Sport and 881 for the California. On none of these bikes could I have done that sort of mileage without some seat help. I use an AirHawk cushion for that purpose. I've only ridden about 5000 miles since my accident 25 months ago and I feel guilty that now that I'm retired - I'm riding even less (75 miles in 3 months across 3 bikes - shameful). That's going to change though. The paperwork to get the rebuilt V11 Sport back onto the street is forthcoming, I'm going to dive into the Sport 1100i and resolve that engine problem and the California is going up for sale and I'm going to add a touring mount to the stable. Either a Breva 1100 or a Falcone 1200 GT.

In a word: No.

TLM has a centerstand kit for the V11 Sports and the earlier Sport 1100's/Daytona RS types. The earlier one fits in fairly snug and visually unobtrusive (and heavy). I liked it well enough to order the one for the V11 Sport from Moto International in Seattle. When it arrived, it didn't seem to fit anywhere. A very strange piece of work. Very expensive too at nearly $300. Especially because it didn't seem to fit anywhere. Jimbemotumbo sent me his and lo and behold, mine was missing two pieces! I did put it one the V11 Sport and it didn't lift the bike up enough to lift a wheel. I took it off and then discovered that the WP rear shock I had put on the V11 Sport was a centimeter longer and the bike was jacked up fairly high in back. I've switched back to the Sachs shock and the centerstand would probably be okay if I put it back on. It's not a pretty stand though, it fits OUTSIDE of the porkchop and is in a word - ugly. So I haven't put it back on. Yet. Maybe never.

I must be getting old. I'm still tuning in to Cliff Richards and the Shadows, Nashville Teens and some of those Johnny-Come-Lately bands like the Beatles... Surf music will never die, it just never gets air time. Carl Allison Washburn EA-26 Craig Chaquico signature model Carvin CC275 Craig Chaquico signature model Rickenbacker 370/12RM Roger McGuinn signature model Guild B4CE short neck acoustic bass

What a great loonking banner! Nice work Jaap.

Check that the plug wire hasn't been snagged at the spark plug cap. Also check under the tank at the coil and make sure the spark plug wire hasn't pulled back there as well. Honestly, I've had both happen. Especially after doing some form of maintenance where things might get disturbed. Sometimes its a faulty spark plug where the insulator is cracked or separated from the electrode. These are all cheap and easy things to check, so that's where you start first.

I think you explained it better than anyone.

Pitbull has two kinds of front stands. The one I have (the original), uses a pin that inserts into the bottom of the triple tree/yoke. It has fit every Guzzi I've owned. It has to be used in conjuction with a rear stand. The Dunwell adaptors place the load at the bolt through the bottom of the porkchops (inside of the frame for the V11 Sport - outside for a Sport 1100i) and under the front of the sump. I can lift the entire bike about 14" off of the ground. The adaptor for the California fits under the centerstand mount bolt and puts the load on the centerstand mount bolt and the front of the pan. I should point out that the V11 Sport adaptor is not as firm as you would like since the two vertical support pieces are inserted into the stand after the jack is rolled under the bike (low clearance). If the bike is placed on a paddock stand first, it becomes really easy. The V11 Sport adaptor also does not have the nylon inserts that the California model does and so I've put a "saddle" of duct tape on the resting surfaces to avoid scraping the paint off. The vertical parts of the stand can be placed outside of the frame as well but since they're slightly loose, the bike can actually slip off on one side. Pretty unnerving. Used properly though, there isn't any issue. I think they're overpriced and when I posted these on the WildGuzzi forum a while back, I got blasted pretty bad by guys that know how to weld because they felt they adaptors were overpriced, you should build them yourself, etc, etc, yadda, yadda. I don't weld. These work. 'Nuff said. The Dunwells are useful but not for changing oil as the hydraulic stand is in the way of everything. That's where I use a centerstand or the Pitbulls. Another detail of which I don't have a picture is a hoseclamp around the swingarm on each side with the screw on the bottom. One of these on each side just forward of the rear axle a few inches prevents the paddock stand from sliding up the swingarm. Mine are encased in black heat shrink so the swingarm paint doesn't take a hit. On the V11 Sport if fits underneath the plastic tail cover for the swingarm and is scarcely visible. Really nice to have too. Cheap has its merits as well.

The original Marabese concept drawing for the V11 Sport. Or going all of the way back to some 1992 design studies.

Seriously?. A set of Pitbull stands, swingarm and fork tree lift. Allows for removal of wheels, fork tubes - major portions of your wallet... (this project is in hiatus - don't ask). Dunwell Jacks: Scroll down to Moto Guzzi Brackets. For the V11 Sport, this one will allow you to pull the porkchops without disassembling the bike Another Dunwell, this time for a California.

Okay, how about a Centauro in the Coppa Italia paint scheme.

An MGS02 (whatever) with a Coppa Italia paint scheme.

Yeah, no kidding. I dropped my Sport 1100i and without the protectors, it cost about $3000 to repair (new head etc.). With a protector, about the worst you get for mild mistakes is a broken spark plug and some scratches. Been there, done that (too often) and have no desire to "test" head protectors again but have to admit that they do a fine job.

If they'd put it on BBC America, I could make a QuickTime file out of and send it out as .mov or .mpg. Somehow though, I kind of doubt that that program is going to air here and worse, I don't get a schedule for my satellite tv that would tell me when it show. Drats!!!