Pierre

You're right, Hack. Mea culpa, all. FWIW - the Mike Rich numbers I cited were also in inches.

I'm amazed two such disparate sets of numbers have been posted, and no one has tried to resolve the differences. The difference between two thousandths and one-hundred thousandths would seem to me significant. In the workshop manual for the sport i (page 7) recommended settings (cold) are: i = .10 e = .15 Those same numbers are repeated on page 58, with an added dimension listed on that page for "USA version." That setting (USA version) is listed as: i = .05 e = .05 Mike Rich has given me different settings, but they are for use with titanium push rods - presumably stiffer The settings Mike gave me for use with his titanium push rods were: i = .002 e = .004 to .006 So you have a newbie on here who asks for settings and has gotten two substantially different sets of numbers in response. Meanwhile y'all have gone off to discuss the color / coating / composition of the rocker arms. Anyone know how to reconcile the two sets of numbers - except based upon the relatively greater stiffness of the after market push rod? It sure looks like the i = .10 and e = .15 are factory recommended settings going back at least as far as the sport i version.

Way cool! BTW, I still think aluminum wedges (swiss cheesed if you like) with narrow and soft urethane edges might be a better way to control and soften shock loading without building in excessive cushion / movement. Three sets in the wheel oughta' do it, and would pretty much eliminate fear of catastrophic failure. Hope you guys decide to whip something up. I'll bet there's been some studies somewhere on the nature of drive line shock loading, and the kind of (rate, duration) cushioning that is optimum for reducing its destructive force. Thanks for diving in, chain h8er. Amazing what resources are available right here in SoCal.

Yea, the trick will be extracting BMW type performance (122 HP) at BMW prices ($14.5 K for the RS). After all, a 122 HP, 400 LB MGS 01 is available right now. It can be made street legal, several on here have done it. Problem IMHO is price of admission, $23 K plus cost of street mods. I have my fingers crossed for a fire breathin' version of the new motor. But if they bring it in at "only" 100 HP - then I say put it in a spine frame V-11 successor that - as Skeeve put it - has classic beauty with no "race bike" pretensions, and can be sold for V-11 prices. JMHO.

Paul, I agree this may be the motor that keeps Moto Guzzi in the air cooled game for awhile. That's why I'd like to see them put it into something beautiful and sporty - but not something (read MGS 01) expensive and styled to look like a Ducati 1098 hunter, which it can never be with an air cooled motor. An updated sport i with the new air cooled 4 valve would suit me just fine. Guzzi'll need to go to the Aprila liquid cooled V twin if they want the MGS 01 to be more than a niche ride. But if they go liquid cooled, how do they justify the transverse layout? Increasingly I'm seeing the air cooled MGS 01 as an answer to a question very few are asking. I know you managed to roll your own (American colloquial term) and It's beautiful. I'd kill to own one. But as a viable mass produced air cooled member of the line up, I don't think it's ever going to happen.

Stick that motor into the bike in the foreground ... re-release it ... and voila! The most beautiful Guzzi ever with a 90 RWHP motor. Do an MGS 01 if ya' want, but that 4 valve in a re-released "spot" or "sport i" would be a worthy "step up" successor to the V-11.

Wouldn't that be more properly termed slush?

You'll want to stay focused. Here's a project that went horribly wrong - and not for lack of money thrown at it.

MotoGP : Toseland Signs with Yamaha Tech 3 http://tinyurl.com/34k2ho I wonder who's leaving? Guintoli? Tamada? I see they're also dumping Dunlop.

http://tinyurl.com/33ve6d

Looks like this thing has legs. Organization - NASA http://socal.drivenasa.com/index.php?categoryid=9 - that I race with sent out this email today: Dear NASA Fan, You are receiving this email because your email address is in NASA’s national database. We very rarely email everyone in the database on a national level, but there is some very important news. A new all-racing network channel is about to launch in 2008. It will feature many forms of racing. NASA will have at least 10 hours of 1st-run programming (plus reruns) during 2008. This means that you and/ or your race could be shown on this network (even HPDE will be featured!). However, new networks such as this need help to show that the service provider would gain subscribers. Please take 30 seconds to clink on the link found on this page http://www.theracingnetwork.com, and enter your email address. There is no obligation; this is merely help to get this network on the air. Your email address will not be sold or given out. I hope you can help; and thank you for the understanding regarding this rare emailing. This will not be a regular thing. Sincerely, Jerry Kunzman Executive Director blomi@cox.net, you are receiving this message because you are a NASA Member.

http://www.theracingnetwork.com/

BFG, I think a "tougue in cheek" emoticon after one of your twisted posts would be redundant to all here, save one.

Lorenzo officialized with Yamaha (800 cc) We are currently in talks with Valentino (Rossi) and Colin (Edwards). Three official bikes or for with bikes with two in an official squad and two in a sattelite squad, all options are possible. We will release as soon as possible our plans for next MotoGP season http://tinyurl.com/3d4d5k So what will that team look like next year? Is Colin out? Is Rossi's contract up - can he move without contract hassles?

Custom Cast Urethane! David, if you're up for the task, this looks like the "go to" place. They claim they'll let you design your own and specify hardness. Rancho Cucamonga. Give 'em a call - they claim "custom work" and "no job too small."http://tinyurl.com/2rvhve

No shit.

Thanks Greg. I was pretty sure you'd understand my dilemma. FWIW I'm having a passel of titanium wedges fabbed as we speak. Having "mad Luigi" do some extras in case anyone else is interested. Just let me know if you want 'em regular or "swiss cheesed."

Hack, my post wasn't "aimed" at Greg. He knows that. Thanks for dropping in, though - right on cue.

Greg, don't you find this enhanced "rubbery" action you're recommending interferes with the "feel" needed to "back er' in" and throttle steer through corners? A tough performance vs longevity call IMHO. I'd personally hate to give up impressing the neighbors as I throttle steer into my drive way, just to save a few splines. Whadaya' think?

Looks like the tires. Yamaha team (including Rossi) with some pretty pointed remarks.http://tinyurl.com/347kea

Congratulations to both Stoner and Vermeulen. Boy were they fast! I wasn't at the track and I've heard nothing regarding Rossi's (relatively) lackluster showing. However, he did have a nasty off on Saturday and it cost him one free practice session. Maybe bike, or Rossi himself, was not up to snuff. I'm wondering how the Hopkins / Hayden incident will be viewed. John clearly had room as Nicky went wide into the double apex second corner. Reports are that as Nicky came back on line his bike hit John's brake lever - a lot more common than one might imagine, and of course instant wash out. Hopkins was interviewed and just said "Nicky went wide, I went up the inside, and I guess Nicky didn't see me. That's racing." Apparently he wasn't kicking anything during the interview. Sheesh. As for Capirossi, reports are he's already signed with Suzuki. Vermeulen signed an extension with Suzuki today. They look set.

A truly embarrassing display. He got the big money from Kawasaki. He's still only got one lousy podium. Time to perform. I know his mother, or more accurately knew her back when John was still an 11 year old local phenom. I'm thinkin' she's twisting his ear pretty good right now. His late father would have been mortified. John's a better person that that. Hope he gets his head on straight soon. Nice to see Nicky on the front row.. Vermeulen sure loves Laguna Seca. Thought he had pole there for awhile. They showed qualifying on US TV - delayed about 4 hours. Very exciting to watch. Hope they do more of that. Looking forward to a great race.

Yup. What he said.

So that's why "leathers size" was on his resume! Smart kid. Hell of an opportunity. Silly season, and Laguna Seca gonna' be the silliest part of it. FWIW, much as I like Duhamel, he looks slow. Hope he picks it up a bit. As I too am an old timer still entertaining visions of glory on the track (club level, no comparison intended), Miguel is my hero. Plus he's still one of the best interviews in racing.