docc

Is he still posting over on Wildguzzi? I miss his input, and learned a lot while he was posting here. Good guy.

I tried applying the infra-red calorometer to the posts above, but didn't find any 'measurable' difference in the 'heat' so I guess we're all still getting along. I hope we get more Spine Frames and V11s at this year's Spine Raid. Last year we were outnumbered by Tontis and CARCs. They're nice bikes and I enjoyed all the folks who came. Still, I sure enjoy comparing the spine frame variants. It's amazing how many things, large and small, changed over their model course. As for brakes, I think, yeah, they're good to have. I use 'em.

Are those pads or a caliper system?

Lots of folks on the tech forum never look elsewhere, but: check this out: come ride, hobnob, and otherwise hang out! Just three months away: the Fif' South'n Spine Raid Have your rotor temps probed, explore the nuances of grappa, meander into the climbs and descents of the Appalachians. It ain't the Long Way Down, but I guarantee there will be no AK47s at the border crossings into Virginia and Kentucky.

Bill and I have decided to ride a little further on Friday to get into some new territory and try to make the meet more accessible for for more riders. We'll gather at the Comfort Inn in Newport, Tennessee, about 40 miles east of Knoxville on I40. This is petty close to where I40 meets I75 and I81 as well as I26. Not that we're riding any interstate, just that it may make it easier for a rider to pop in if even just for the evening. Mention "Moto Guzzi" when you call for your reservations for the 'group rate.' I don't know if that means they're putting us all in the same room. Riders will be arriving in small groups, solo and two-up on Friday May 15 during the late afternoon and evening. Saturday many o us will head out into the countryside, probably north into Virginia, for the non-route/un-ride since this is not a rallye, isn't a sanctioned event of anyone or any known entity. Whew, there, riding with lawyers is challenging. I'll be teching some rotor temperatures on the Saturday ride just to see who hasn't been cleaning their pistons lately.

Funny! I thought about this as I warmed my (left) hand on the valve cover: If I was riding a VFR or Concours or such, there would be no way to 'lay hands' on the motor. And at every stop, I rested my gloves on the heads as I fueled and such. The ride ended 280 miles with temps in the 40's. With the wind chill at 60-70 mph, it was, well yes: COLD. Arriving home I discovered all the plated parts were terribly corroded, either from the deep crushed limestone gravel of "Hawkins Hill" or the salt on the descent from the plateau, or the careless application of S100 cycle cleaner. It has been a long afternoon applying various solvents and Scotch to clean up the Sport. The dense air and clear roads gave the Sport some sense of flight as it devoured the way home like a Supermarine Spitfire eager to recross the channel.

I love that look. I thought that shot came out of Sweden or Norway. The V11 will always be hampered by its short suspension and rear set footrests as a big trailie. And it may be heavy, but it's lighter than a Quota!

"Fly casually, Chewy . . ."

Thanks for the link! Our weather here hardly compares. Yet, I don't want to be taken by surprise in a frosty corner. I typically run the rear pressure up to 40 psi for hot weather (90 F), with high speeds and loaded panniers. I suppose I'll back that down to the factory spec; which is probably moot since I'm running a 160. Here in the States we have something called Ground Hog Day which happens to fall on the halfway point through winter: February second. I always try to celebrate with a ride knowing we're halfway to spring, shadow or no shadow.

Urf! I was expecting more disociated encouragement than all that bald faced truth! The hook looks like 55 degrees F going over and no chance of ever making it home. But, what were all those pictures from the UK with snow on the tents and frost on the Guzzis?

Planning on traveling this weekend around 150 miles and up to around 1700 feet in elevation (the Cumberland Plateau of Middle Tennessee). The temperatures are projected in the black ice range (freezing to just above). Is it effective to lower tire pressures a bit to maintain traction? Other techniques? Stay home? Take the Jeep?

From the gearbox back ( and the gearbox forward) I've had no driveline issues whatsoever. I had an early 6speed which I kept telling Guzzi, "It doesn't shift right" and 'It's getting worse' and so on until they replaced my gearbox (80 emails and bless my dealer: Ben Curlin of Jackson, TN). The Great Gearbox Recall of the early V11 followed. I try to keep the shaft lubed, but I'm pretty sure I've only ever got the grease gun on the front zerk once. I say this because the force to remove the grease gun took enough flesh off my hand I can still feel it. I've done two or three wheel bearings and tried to keep the outer needle cage greased up every other tire change. (My rear tires go maybe 4000 miles; hard on women and downrange targets as well). I keep looking at other bikes. Especially the Adventure-Tour variety. The new Stelvio in TT trim looks enticing, but heavy. Triumph has much to offer these days. Yet the Sport continues to carry me ever onward. And (to paraphrase another member), like my Italian wife, she stabs me now and then for no reason at all . . .

There's a topic?? Oh, yes, I voted for Guzzi Final Drive Oil with the moly mixed in for the first many miles. When it became less available, I tried to source it from the supplier, but no good (I forget now who was makig it for gUZZI). I did mix my own, like a bomb in the basement, from left over gear oils of all sorts and Cal-gard moly additive. It was a scary looking mess, but I always reassured myself that it's lubricity was at least equal to Aussie Yak FAt. I'm a RLSP Heavy devotee now. Still using lightweight in the gearbox (cause I like the color). 100,000 Km on the old girl now and running better than ever! Ride well, docc

This is easy, really: Unbolt the license plate and back a J**P Cherokee up to it . . . At least here in the States there is a raucous rivalry between the well-healed Rover owners (JEEP recovery vehicles) and the Jeepsters who pride themselves on maintaining their vehicles with parts scrounged from nearby ditches and streams. I do love my Cherokee; it is reliable, simple and as luxurious as a galvanized bucket. It even has *pushrods*, making it a strange bedfellow for the Guzzi Sport. Curious, though, that Guzzis are largely exempt from bike rivalries. Many of the true HD bikers know them from back in the day, and their handling and specification endears them to the sportbike crowd. I've had mine called a "work of art" and enjoyed its rarity and honest lineage. It has been a bit awkward, at times, to explain that, "No, it really isn't a 'crotch rocket'."

Joe, I'm having trouble feeling sorry for you having to go to Key West and all. In fact, I'm thinking, "Hey, Key West is, like 'south' - we could do the Raid there . . ." No, really, the $1000 and drinking allowances (food is optional) should work out pretty well and your wife's gonna love us. No. really . . . Trouble is, Joe's Ballabio represents 33.3% of the spine frames at last year's (non) event. I know they're becoming collector's items and all, but come on - some of you guys could have your garage queens trailered in. You know, with umbrella girls and all. Ping me in advance - I'll bring the umbrellas. As Bill said, I'm concerned the Tapoco is a bit constrained and even a little remote for our purposes. From the beginning, I wanted this to be something a guy could decide at the last minute to pop in, get a room and have some good times looking over the Guzzis in the parking lot. I'm looking at some places along the I75 corridor in Tennessee and may return us to some prior venue. I don't think we should go back to the Super8 in Athens as the warrants may still be outstanding . . . Ride well, change your oil and charge you battery, docc

My Sport ran about four feet on the tank of diesel I offered it. A friend was nice enough to provide me with a nice, big orange "GASOLINE ONLY" sticker. I keep it on my forehead.

F=MA Force (which does the damage) = mass (which remains constant) multiplied by acceleration (the change in velocity). So. it is not the velocity of itself which multiplies the force, but the rate of change. Sharp downshifts, especially without matching throttle speed, or even abrupt chopped throttle increase force in higher magnitudes because the change of acceleration (deceleration is a negative change in velocity) in the driveline is greater than that change when engine torque is applied to propel the motorcycle forward. Remember, we're not talking changes in the speed of the motorcycle itself, but change in the rotational velocity of the driveline. The difference in force is analogous to pulling a nail from a board (even briskly) and striking with a hammer to drive it in. The greater force occurs when the hammer head changes velocity so abruptly upon impact. Physics is a wonderful, yet arguable, body of thinking. Yet, certain facts remain inarguable: 1)the Guzzi is parked today, 2) it's the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

That's good to know. In that case, you should plan on riding the Sport down to Columbia Thursday night and accompany us on a spirited ride east. It looks to be about 230 miles to the lodge, then we'll do a loop around the Appalachians Saturday.

The banjos always show up somewhere on the way to the squealing pigs. B.Y.O.P, I ain't roomin' wit choo . . .

As a shameless cross post from the "Meetings, Clubs & Events" forum, I propose to check rotor temperatures in the same sloppy, unscientific manner we checked rear drive temperatures last year. The infrared device seems accurate enough; it's just all the other variables that are impossible to sort (pads, fluid, maintenance, braking habits . . .). The venue is the Fif' South'n Spine Raid In Newport, Tennessee, near the VA/NC borders. Dust off those Spine Frame "collector's items" and bring them out for the celebration!

It should be okay. We'll pair up and room together, share tools and otherwise cohort. No one from North Carolina ever comes anyway. And if they do, we'll stay at their house! EDIT: I booked a room, but would consider taking over the "Economy Rooms" on the top floor of the lodge. Apparently all the cabins are spoken for already by 'another group.' I didn't ask if they could be Triumph riders or other surly sorts. The top floor is four rooms with seven beds and two shared baths. Judging by our past venues, I'm not sure anyone but the Hagans take a bath, and they have their own room outside of the steerage class.

I would call four years old a really old tire for sport riding. Of course, I'm terribly hard on tires and replace every six or eight months. Fresh tires, bleed the brakes and give the pistons and calipers a good cleaning. I'm betting the "world will, once again, be spinning on greased grooves." Beyond that, check the headset for tightness and set up the forks and rear sag for your weight while changing the fork oil to something light and fast acting (generally 5wt, but search the major threads for that. Great info from Peter Verdone Designs). She may just want you to take her out in the garage and pay lots of attention. Who was it that was fond of saying, "Italian women will sometimes stab you for no reason at all." Now that you have our attention, you'll have to report on your 'restoration' and the resulting changes to the ride.

Good advice from GSTALLONS on checking brake temps. Bleeding the brakes and freshening the pads is good maintenance as well. The tire date code is preceded by the letters "DOT" followed by four numbers. They are the week (first two) and year (last two) of manufacture. How old and what kind of tire was it?

Arff . . . no call here either. Perhaps our rep precedes us and we should go back to the Super8 in Athens. Er, I'm pretty sure all 'significant others' will be more, er, "comfortable" elsewhere. No, really, "blue lights and sirens" aren't always part of the party. OK, usually, but not "always."

For info on the 2009 ride click on Fifth South'n Spine Raid