Mike Stewart

I had a Falco also, really fun bike but it just sat in the garage. It had many upgrades (OZ wheels, carbon front fender, Ohlins shock, factory carbon pipes, factory chip and much, much more). I just like the soul of the Guzzi better And, I never had a problem with the Guzzi wiping out my dash settings if the battery went low from sitting two weeks Got to love the Guzzi Mike

Double , now that is bad Bill Well, at least all the repairs you have done did need it. I have to admit that noises coming from a bike are hard to track down while riding. A couple of thoughts come to mind, have the throttle bodies been balanced at the Garage Mahalo lately? I would check the balance at the rpm you are having problems at. I am pretty sure you and Wayne have the bike running as smooth as it could be. Another question is it a vibration or rattle from the flyscreen? It could be as simple as the windscreen rattling against the fairing which foam tape could be the solution. If it is a vibration and the windscreen is tight, I would check all the mounts of the flyscreen mounting brackets (think you already covered it) and even the engine mounts/bolts. Hopefully it will be something simple, Mike

Well, I just checked the wiring diagram and the guzzi uses a 10 terminal connector and the Aprilia uses a 9 terminal connector, so it will not be a plug and play deal. The terminals are different as well, the Guzzi is a spade design and the Aprilia is more of a bullet design. Mike

I am pretty sure the connectors are different. I have the US version from my Aprilia days that I am going to use on my Jackal project and I will have to change the terminals and connector. It also has the switch for the lap timer which won't be used on the Guzzi. Humm, perhaps you could install the Aprilia speedo cluster too Mike

We played ditch the Aprilia Well, it is better to be early than late Where do you want to meet next Saturday? (the 22nd) Mike

Jason, Glad to hear that you and your family made it through it safely! We woke up to the news on the radio this morning and you guys were on our minds. Is it time to move back to earthquake country yet? Take care, Mike

Tim and Hal, I am up for having breakfast before going to Hollister. I don't know San Jose very well, if you know of a place that is easy to get to, that would be great. Is everyone from Northern California just doing a day trip? Some of the guys from Southern Cali and staying over night in Paso Robles. Let me know, Mike

The trick is keeping one bike on the lift Mike

Yep, I use my mirrors, if someone is on my tail, I wave them by. I like to ride fast, but I am not the fastest (only in my dreams ). And yes, I see the whole picture. Just ride safe and have fun, Mike

Agreed, the tire/wheel clamp is OK, but don't rely on it. They give you holes on the side of the lift to add tie down straps. I was almost thinking of just using a sport chock with the lift. I am still doing research. http://www.baxleycompanies.com/Chocks.html The only problem would be that the chock is made for the 120/70 17 front tire. Another option would be the tire Grab: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock/ Less money and it fits different sizes of tires. As for having a distributor in Canada, the dealer I worked with orders straight from the maker in China. He recieved his first batch a few months ago and he had them make the lift longer and had larger wheels added (which is the one I purchased). I don't know if he ships out of the US, but you can email him to see. Or just go with the one Jim has, could be the same thing. Mike

One thing to also check when having the spring brakeage problem is the adjustment of the shift fork throw. The acorn nut adjuster on the side cover. A friend of mine broke two or three springs within a few miles of replacement. When it happened the first time, the dealer replaced the trans sidecover and spring (boss the larger size). 100 miles later, it was broken again. The dealer replaced the spring again and then within a few hundred miles, the spring broke again. This time the dealer looked farther into the problem and found that they had not adjusted the shifter throw properly. From what I have gathered, the throw was too long causing the spring to fail. No problems after the shifter throw was adjusted correctly. How they did the proper adjustment, I have no clue. Mike

It is the 90 degree V twin sound. The only V twin bike's that comes close are the Ducati's and the Honda RC51 (both 90 degree Vtwins). Aprilia with the V60, sounds way different, Harley with their weird Y design rod setup and 45 degree V= the kadump, kadump sound. No music to my ears. The right mufflers seem to bring out the deep bass which is a plus in my book. Mike

Any advantage of using a hardwood spicies? Nah..... Mike

Call or email Mike Moore on his site: http://www.broadwaylifts.com/index.html Patrick Hayes sent me his web site a few months back and I decided to check them out. Carries Handy lifts as well as a few imports. The scissor lift I purchased is not up on his site yet, email him and he will send you pictures and specs on the lifts. He also lowered the prices of the imports to be more competive against Harbor Freight. Also, his imported lifts all come with an extra ram seal kit and a Handy style front wheel clamp that is way nicer than what you would get on a Harbor Freight unit (yes, I did my research). Really nice guy, low pricing on shipping (and I don't make anything on the sales ) Mike

I have been in the market for a motorcycle lift for the last few months. Went to the San Francisco (Bay Area) motorcycle show and NONE of the lift manufactures showed up or there was a booth and No one to talk to. This kind of killed my interest for a while on finding one. I just happen to see a few on Craigslist (used for $600.), emailed, no replies. Did some more looking around and came across a place that sells the Handy lifts as well as some imported ones (Hah, imported now means from China). So, I went down to the warehouse to check out the different lifts and I purchased a scissor style lift that is only air powered, raises to 30 inches, 2 feet wide, 85 inches long, has a removeable plate under the rear wheel and it only cost $475. and it comes with the front wheel vise, an extra ram seal kit and a small two wheel dolly to move the rack around. I will add a post in the classified section, he can ship these racks from the Bay Area to Southern California for $50.00 and across the US for aprox. $100. This is not a home delivery service but a freight company dock to dock (keeps the shipping cost down). Mike

Does anyone have a picture of the front frame mounted pumps. I need to figure out where to put my fuel pump on my Jackal project . Does the frame mounted pump look Butt Ugly? Thanks, Mike

When I first purchased the Rosso Corsa, I thought it turned in like an over stuffed pig. Changed out the Bridgestone 020's to the Pirelli Diablo Corsa's and it was like day and night. Love the way it feels. Turn in is now enjoyable and I use the 180 rear. And yes, I like to push my bike in and out of the turns. A more pointed tire may even work better on the 02 and newer bikes with the longer wheelbase, but the early V11 Sports with the nervous steering would even be more nervous with a more pointed tire. A 170 tire is too wide for the 4.5 inch. rim which came on early sports and the 160 tire did calm the steering down somewhat. Mike

I am not taking sides and I pass only on the outside when riding on the street. And I have never riden with geno929. But there are a few points that I can hopefully clear up. A Guzzi won't out accelerate any Jap bike down a straight. 2nd, it appears that the some of the other riders were riding like point and aim, meaning once the bike is out of the corner and stood up, full acceleration was applied. I used to ride like this 23 years ago . I can see where these guys will let off on the throttle way early and hit the brakes hard because of their high speeds when coming up to a turn, I believe geno929 would actully pass them at the end of the straight before any of the bikes even started their turn in. But again, I was not there. Mike

You know my vote, Corsa's Metzeler just came out with a new tire that replaces the Sportec M1 called the M3, it even has newer technology and as you may know, the Pirelli's and Metzeler's are made at the same plant. http://sportecm3.metzelermoto.com/versione_EN/default.html Perhaps another good choice Mike

Come On Guys, you know wood is pound for pound stronger than steel. I would of used pressure treated fir though to keep it termite free. Mike

Call me crazy, but is sounds like the clutch switch wiring problem we had at the connectors under the fuel tank. Being a 2003, I don't believe they had relay problems unless it is a late 2002 being sold as an 03. Next time it acts up, while the clutch lever is pulled in, push in on the starter button while rotating the bars lock to lock to see if the engine cranks (and while tapping your heels together saying "theres no place like home"). If it does start to crank, pull the fuel tank and trace the clutch switch wire harness to under the tank and you will find the connectors. Mine were pushed up against the coil (shourtd ). I bypassed the switch (spliced the two wires together) and I have not had a problem since. I think there have been a few starter switch failures also. Mike

I found the limit of the coefficient of friction of the Bridgestone 014 tire which I have found to give no warning signs of when it has reached it's maximum grip. Learning lesson fully understood now. Moral of the story, use better rubber at the track. Mike

Riding at your comfort level is were it is at. Every rider has a comfort level which is a speed for a given road. What may be comfortable for me, may not be comfortable for another rider. I too have been riding with really smooth fast riders and know that their comfort level (70 %) is higher than mine. Riding at 70 % to me, means that I have 30% of error left to help me out if something should arise. This could be cresting a hill and not know if there is a sharp turn right after it, or there could be a fast decending radius turn that you have aproached too hot. However, you can't forget that we are on two wheels and gravity will sometimes win. Heck, you could even find the pavement at 10% if the conditions are right (ice, gravel, oi, new tires etc.). Mike

There is a 4 bike on/off road shoot out in this months Cycleworld. The BMW, KTM, Honda 650, Huskey 610. Humm. Mike

Tom, Man, I am really sorry you are selling your Ducati. I was worried about the low riding position also. Kind of weird having all the fractures and then when they were healed other problems occur. It started with my right elbow and wrist, I couldn't do anything with out pain. I could barely pick up a glass with my right arm. Then to make things worst, a golf ball size lump appeared on my left elbow by my road rash scar. Two months later, the lump disappeared as fast as it came. Now my right arm feels pretty good and I can now even do push ups with out pain. The pelvis thing is different, I can walk for miles, but standing stationary kills me. Just got to keep moving. Mike