mike wilson

So _in bright daylight_ what would the problem be? The curious want to know. m

You wouldn't say that to Mrs Belfast's face.

I think that is three points, for Manufacturer, country (I guessed Italy myself but could not find a reference) and date. I had model (Meteora), number made and capacity. Would be good to know what the engine is for sure. mike

I have to. 45BHP* + spada fairing/panniers + 20stone rider = It needs all the help it can get. If I can lose some weight from dirt removal and make it a bit slipperier, I am happy. I am not happy most of the time..... * BHP = best hope of power

I've even heard it run. The seller (assuming it's the person I met in the shop) is a nice guy with a seemingly genuine interest in the machine. It is clean, unrattly, unleaky and sounds unlike any Guzzi I've heard before. Much crisper. If you are interested, I may be willing to act as intermediary although I accept no responsibility for the deal going sour. I could go take some specific pictures if you need them. mike

Ugly, maybe. Easier to clean than a Guzzi - without a doubt. 8-)

OK, I know nothing about this machine except for its name and capacity. Points for anything about it other than the above, ie: manufacturer, country, date, etc, etc. We will need a link to a reasonable source. (Removed comment about possible rotary valve)

As I suspected, a jar of worms. No doubt bike tyres have improved dramatically in the last 50 years. Anyone here ridden over wet cobbles on low-hysteresis rubber? Not an experience one would want to do twice, yet it was standard fare for UK riders up until the mid 60s. That's the bit that interests me. The only tyres that are suitable for him are those available for high level sports machines, yet they are less than half the cost of bike tyres. The only one I can find that would be suitable for my bike is not properly speed rated. 8-( It's not a common tyre, yet costs a fraction of what I pay now 8-(((( Define "best". 8-) It would be interesting to test how the radial construction of less radical car tyres than Valkyrie guy uses allow the tread to remain on the road. Looking at the broad, flattish profile of many sport bike tyres, I can see little difference to a car tyre. But it's the little things that count........ mike

Looking at further pictures, it looks like the light _units_ are circular and probably therefore easily obtainable. It's just that some plastic gubbins has been put in front of them for the sake of appearance. That will help a lot when it is nicely scratched up after a winter on our roads. Fuel consumption is a worry. 300miles would be nice but, realistically, that will probably not be possible for me unless there is some adjustability in the riding position. 200 would be a reasonable compromise. I really want to see one of these in the flesh. I wish MG had made a "Spada Vintage" and a modern Cali. m

For me, the point is not the point 8-) I am intensely curious about motorcycle history. I am not arguing with you, just want to know. Another unanswered question....... Thanks for the quiz, though. It's good to exercise my researching skills. mike

FWIW, I agree with this guy's sentiments regarding the life, development and pricing of bike tyres. He rides a behemoth of a touring bike, so the paradigm possibly doesn't apply here. But................... http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html

Thanks but all the pictures I could find were of 1948 models and they didn't look like that. So I started at the other end of the production run. Where did the picture come from? m

Bob the Buellder Fixit. Cartoon cacophany.

Hard luck 8-) Ryan got there first. I was actually looking for vertical sidevalve twin as engine configuration (bet that got through valves quickly) but Ryan got the gist of it. Well done, all. Very entertaining. Now for a difficult one........ 8-)))) mike

I think not. Some of the stuff is quite good - uprated alternator, full fairing (although with expensive, non-generic lights and other unnecessary crap) and built in GPS. But the position of those panniers! They could be at least six inches lower and a few inches further forward. Hardly any more fuel capacity than the Breva. Probably the same non-existant rear mudguarding. Anyone want to bet on whether it has adjustable bars and footrests? If I bought one of these it would be to ride, not to clean. I don't want to be stuck somewhere because I can't go into any shop and buy a generic head/tail/sidelamp replacement. Although I have no doubt that this machine will handle and in some other ways perform better than previous designs in the mould, it falls terribly short in basics that were sorted out over 20 years ago. And which would cost virtually nothing to implement. It's yet another triumph of form over function. Pity. mike

That's date, not location.

1951

Only likely to be a possible problem in the USA. That's not so significant a market for Guzzi at the moment. The machine has, unfortunately, more problems than a name to deal with. mike

Buy a small block. The ubiquitous drive box leak ensures maximum pad life........... m

The journey was between Livingstone's and Scott's. And it was much, much shorter.

Gambalunghino.......

Gamablunghino. 1952. 250cc.

My best effort was a Triumph Herald gearbox on the rear rack of an MZ250. I was King of Wobbles that day............ m

OK, a clue. The famous person made an international journey. If you don't get it now, I should get the point. 8-)

That took a lot of looking. IZh-1 1928 V twin 1200cc 24HP Russian. Possibly the IZh-2, identical except for sidecar wheel drive. Only one of each built. Probably both gone forever. The drawing is taken from the photograph I've found (http://www.autogallery.org.ru/k/i/izh1f.jpg) and there are a few things not clear still. What is the conical thing above the tank? Why does the engine look like a four? I've learned a lot today about Soviet era machinery. Thanks, Carl. mike