docc

Notice how imbibing a "Scorpion Pepper Imperial Stout" evades any description.

Well, 2002. (The 2001 Rosso Mandello has a black short frame AFAIK). So, the 2002 Scura has the longer frame but with the earlier tank. (Long frames can be easily identified by the tubular brace coming forward from the bottom-back of the gearbox to the bottom-back of the engine case.) Really interesting that a later (internal pump/no chin pad) 2003-2005 tank might fit the earlier frame. Might fit. Why wouldn't it?

"We few, we lucky few! We band of brothers!"

That's amazing. I've never thought of how important that outside needle bearing/ bushing is in the axial load (side to side) as opposed to the rotation which we have long noted is minimal. One more nomination for Impressive V11LeMans.com Member: gstallons

Damn chilly here tonight in The Deep South (USA). Which translates into freezing, windy, and no riding. Rode 100 miles (160 kM) yesterday (New Year's Day) at 50˚F/10˚C. Happy motor! Like a Labrador Retriever on a trip to the lake. Which makes for a rather odd choice today: an IPA which I would ordinarily enjoy more in the sweaty summer. Good news is it has 6.5%, which is at the high end of legal to buy along with fuel or groceries here: Lagunitas IPA, Petaluma, California It has a fine amber color which would make us proud to add to a crankcase - like a proper SG synthetic. Yet, the mouthfeel is gently satisfying; more like a 5wt BelRay fork oil - ok for compression, but I would want a bone fide stout on the rebound side. The head is substantial (for an IPA), but it did not like warming up (to 51˚F/11˚C) and became too exuberant. Like a LeMans I followed into a corner too hot in the Georgia mountains - "Is that tire I smell burning?" . . . (I'm not naming any names, but his initials are: *motowfo*) Best buzz ever from a glass of grapefruit juice . . .

Looks another perfect application for Delrin . . .

Uugh! That's after the clean-up? There's a good thread going here, that will help with swingarm removal, by Keith Foster: Removing Nero Corsa "pork chops"

How does it look 180˚ around? And after the clean up? No doubt, this one a candidate for replacement!

Yo, Keith, well done, man!

The Duck-Rabbit, Farmville, North Carolina, USA ("The Dark Beer Specialists"): Milk Stout A perfect compliment to a gear oil change. Weighty, with a bold mouth feel. Dark as neglected motor oil with a firm head like your rear drive had got a good dose of rain water. All the clarity of a knock on the head. A delicious, lingering, chocolatey tiramisu finish that begs for a crisp cannoli accompaniment. Oh, for goodness sake. Really? Who has dessert with their gear oil change?

What a treat this has been! Thanks, Jim! Really something I've looked forward to every day. Just finished up a growler of Tennessee Brew Works Sweet Potato Stout. Full bodied, malty, sweet with a good foam head. The sweet potato was only notable nosing the glass after first pouring. Funky, yeah, but there is that "ain't nobody else brewing one like this" factor! Thanks, again, Helio-Jim!

Guilty . . .

You talking about the little puck that sits in the housing between the lever and the switch?

I do not see a crankshaft under your tree! Happy New Year, Konstantine!

Being a cheap old git , I would be inclined to clean it all up and make a close inspection. It bears very little load and the arc of movement is maybe 20˚ or so. If it has suffered a bit, that section can be rotated to the forward position to give some more service as the wear typically occurs at the rear. As Trevini says, a good dose of waterproof grease is necessary. Probably at every tire change. See also the Wheels Off Maintenance Checklist in FAQ Enjoy! (BTW, looking back at your picture, it makes me think this would be a good time to inspect, clean and grease the shock eyes and the swingarm bearings.)

And they can make a pretty nice café, too!

Without disassembly, you might try removing the caliper from the mount and alternate clamping force from a bar clamp and forcing the piston back out with hydraulic pressure while applying blasts of brake cleaner. At first it may only move slightly, but repetition should pay off. Be sure to press the piston in squarely. Carefully block the other pistons from movement with clamps, be careful not to twist and pull at the line connection, and don't breath the brake cleaner fumes. Remove some fluid from the reservoir before pressing the pistons back in so the fluid will not overflow.

From the images, it looks like the triangular body panel (that houses the turn signal on euro versions) would need to come off. As Pete says, the sensor is then in back of the frame rail and behind the header. That makes it sound awful, but you ought to be able to see it clearly even looking up under the body panel. Sorry I don't have a Stelvio sitting here to get real look. I'll ask motowfo . . . He says, "It appears to be a straight shot with a long allen, Top left as Pete said and it doesn't appear that anything needs to be removed to get to it. "

Glad to have books to read and good folks to chat with about bikes. No riding for me this month. Met a couple mates for breakfast and one rode his VFR with heated kit. Brave soul! I was turning up the heat in my ///M roadster.

I waited a long time to buy Colombo's book - big bucks, I thought. It is beautiful. Falloon's book is very nice and Field's book is outstanding for its content. I'm really looking forward to this new book! Should have it next week in time for bad weather and more beer . . .

Not only is the Falloon writing excellent (1999 forward by Umberto Todero!), but Mario Colombo's work is superb. First published in 1977 with a beautiful and amazing preface by Giovanni Klaus Koenig, my 4th English edition is 2007 - wonderful! I am not familiar with the Leek/Zeyen work of 2013, so my library has fallen behind! No Guzzi library is complete without Greg Field's Moto Guzzi Big Twins, 1998, MBI Publishing, with foreword by Dr. John Wittner and interviews with Carcano, Todero, and Wittner. (While many books of Moto Guzzi have good collections of photographs and, perhaps, some unique historical accounts, or preferably: authentic interviews with key Moto Guzzi personnel, it would be telling if any new literature references the misconception that the Carcano V7 motorcycle engine came from the Mulo. This would cast deep aspersions on the author's scholarship. - - - makes me curious what say Leek & Zeyen . . . ) [ordered the Leek & Zeyen book - looking forward to a new Guzzi read! Thanks for the heads-up.]

What do those look like?

What is the fairing on that greenie, it looks good! And look how tight the headers fit! Sweet! The valve covers really fill the space. Excellent!

Putting the beer before the beach?