Mike Stewart

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

I only ride at 70% on the street and probably only at 80% at the track, how things change with age. If I am riding on unknown roads, I would be the first to back off if I don't know what is over the rise. I have scared myself way to many times when I was younger by going way too fast into a turn. But that still does not keep me from having any fun Each rider must know their limits and if they do reach them, they should back off a few notches. Humm, I wonder why so many new riders crash. I have been behind other riders and know that they are riding over their heads (crossing over the double yellow when taking turns too fast for them), I will back off because I know either they will get hurt or they will do something stupid and I will end up getting hurt as well. I like to ride and I like to push it when the traffic allows wheather by myself or with other riders. Safety always comes first. Mike

A Motard bike would be alot of fun and it has crossed my mind. It does not have to be a supermotard, any cc would work for me. Heck, 250, 450 Humm.... Mike

Tim, Funny you should ask. I have just started working on the Jackal project once again. Have gone so many directions on this project. I think I will end up with a Cafe Tonti framed bike now. The tank will be from a Lemans 1 and will have no side covers or tool boxes (luv the bare Tonti frame), I just got off the phone with Airtech body works and they are digging out their molds to get me some measurements from a 72 - 75 Ducati 750 sport seat/tail assy. I need to call MG Cycles to put in another order for some small parts, need to order shocks from Mr. Racer X and then figure out where to hide all the electrics and plumb in the fuel system. I sold my wife's old Ducati Monster a few weeks ago, and I have repairing my track bike (putting it back to stock) so I can put it up for sale. Thinking of buying a bike lift since I am not getting any younger. Mike

Tim, If you can keep the front end on the ground, you can come Doesn't matter what kind of bike you are on, all are welcome Now hopefully, it won't rain on that weekend. The 10 day forcast looks grim. Mike

The V11 does pretty well in skilled hands, key is to be smoooth! I had the same thing happen when I first purchased my 03 Rosso Corsa, with 500 miles on the clock, I went out with a small group of Ducati ST riders. My speedo saw 137 mph on the straights and she could do no more. The Ducati's do have a better top end. I was still learning the bike and when we got into the tighter turns, I noticed hey, this bike handles really good. Then the turns got really tight and steep, I throttled out of one turn up this hill and the front end lofted off the ground. I then passed three bikes in one swoop, ST2, ST4, 900SS and then had to wait for them on the top of the mountain. At lunch, I just told them it was push rod technology! Another time I went to a Ducati May Madness rally. I hooked up with my buddy (he was on his ST2) and we did a small group ride up in Weaverville California to the Coast. I was riding two up so they had me lead to set the pace. Little by little I would accelerate harder out of each of the turns as well as going deeper into each turn. It was quite fun watching them disappear in my mirrors. The roads were perfect for the Goose, long and short sweepers, be smooth and you will be well rewarded. Mike

Thanks for the update Graham Looks like it will be a fun bike to ride. How much did the exhaust cost to have made? Thanks, Mike

Tom, This nerve thing has been going around, I feel your pain. So, After reading all the post on the other sites, is this none rally going to be a one day or two day none rally? I am in for it either way, just need to know. Mike

I don't know what the weight of the spoked wheels are. The stock Jackal rims are steel and I would think any aluminum wheel would be lighter. I am guessing at this. My Dymag wheels were quite a bit lighter than the stock wheels on my Rosso Corsa. The main savings of weight was in the bearings and cush drive assy. of the rear wheel. Mike

Gorilla Snot is 3M super whether adhesive that is yellow and hard to apply. It is thick stringy and looks like, well, yellow Gorilla Snot. We also call it the tube of death because many techs use it to glue gaskets into place with it. Once glued it is a Bit*h to get off. I mount my own tires at my work (Chevy dealer) and I have thought about making my Jackal wheels tubeless by going to: http://www.wheel-works.com/ , $59.00 per wheel to turn your tubed wire wheels into tubeless. Less weight, no worries about flat repairs (can plug tubeless tires on the road). Well, after mounting many tubeless tires (can be a pain in the arse) to brake the tubeless tire bead and then dismounting the tubed tires on the Jackal, what I do not trust is that the tire to rim interference is not too great. Meaning that the tubeless tire fits rather loose on the tubed rim. If you do get a flat, I worry about the tire losing all it's air and the tire coming loose from the rim. Humm, rim hits pavement then so does the rider. Just my thoughs after two Martini's, Mike

I have used the Chase Harper bag for thousands and thousands of miles. The only thing I had problems with is making the bag tight enough so it does not slide side to side. Once tight, it works very well. Mike

Let's see you do that with a V11 Mike

Mark, I might be up for this ride. All I need now is a few days of no rain so I can get my Rosso out to see if it needs anything. It's been over 6 months since I rode it last. I will let you know as time gets closer. Mike

Boat anchor? Hey, this should be a quiz question You can bypass the starter solenoid by using a set of battery jumpers and going from the battery to the lower solenoid post and grounding the starter case. If the starter is out of the bike, be careful, if the starter is good there will be a fairly big spark and it will jump from the torque it produces, if the starter is shorted, there will be a even a larger spark (like welding) and the starter will not spin. If nothing happens then your starter is open. Oh, don't make any sparks near the battery :!: Mike

Pierre, I came across this site that can bore your stock throttle bodies to a larger size. http://www.cycle-rama.com/ShopTour.html Humm, now you got me thinking.... Mike

Bob raced a few years up at Reno, I could not find anything recent, but here is a few pics of the planes he flew. http://warbird.com/voodoo.html I think we should use the Reno Air Races as a Guzzi get together. Bikes and airplanes/helicopters go hand and hand. You know, gear heads. Mike

I think the problem lies in the fuel pump location. If you removed the hose from the electric petcock and air was present, this is where the vapor lock issue is. When the bike is hot after just being ridden, the temperture increases a few more degrees since air is not flowing. This allows the fuel to vaporize either in the fuel pump or fuel feed hose. The reason the bike starts up then dies is because there is still fuel pressure from the fuel pump to the injectors. Once this pressure drops, the fuel pump is trying to pump vapor which is not going to work. I also agree that the electric petcock should be replaced just as a precaution. Mike

This is the one I am having issues with http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ducati-750-...1QQcmdZViewItem So Many Bikes, So Little Time Mike

A few years ago, I was up at the Reno Air Races and Bob Hannah now races airplanes. He was flying a P51 Mustang and in the pits there was a display of a Rolls Royce V12 engine with Yamaha painted on the valve covers. I guess he is still backed by Yamaha. Mike

Did you try jiggling the mouse Mike

Now that was fun, and my monitor is very, very clean! Mike

How about Roger Decoster? http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame...opage.asp?id=94 Another long time favorite, heck, all of them were all time favorites (heros)! Mike

That would be BAD BRAD as we called him back then (and even now), local boy does good! Mike

Jeff, I just read about the fork upgrade a few days ago at Guzzitech.com, thought it was pretty cool. Guess when my bike hits the road that will be the next step, the suspension. I know I will be needing the Wilbers shocks to get the 14 inch length. Hopefully the fork upgrade will work well, I would hate to change the whole front end like Racer X. Mike

Mike