dlaing

If you are refering to crop circles, only relativist earthlings endeavor in such artistic shenanigans(note correct spelling ) ETs endeavor in more meaningful messages such as the following:

The idea of all that metal to metal contact of progressive springs kind of worries me. But I have never heard a study that complained about metal build up in the oil from using progressives, so who knows Besides, if you blow out your Marzocchis by using progressives and not changing the oil, you can always upgrade to something better.

The Griso has more potential for hot rodding, the twin plugging has already been taken care of, and I suspect it is less prone to pinging, so there may be more room for higher compression. A hotter cam will give all you ricky racers what you are jonesing for. Still, I think Guzzi has to introduce a model with just less than 100HP at the crank, wait a couple years give it 100HP at the crank, wait a couple more years and give it true 100HP rear wheel in classic bean counter strategy. Once the bike has 100RWHP they can keep it that way for the next hundred years, evolving towards lighter, greener, more reliable, etc.

this swingarm looks interesting. Do you plan on making it out of aluminum?

Why don'tcha just shove a microphone up yer exhaust and amplify it to a pair of twelve inch woofers mounted on the handle bars? ONLY BIGGER Can you you hear me now?

Congratulations! I hope you still have time to post and ride. Don't forget to pin your earthly location so we know where to find you http://www.frappr.com/motoguzziv11

I speculate that 1.05 would be better suited for touring, and 1.15 would be better suited for sport. But it may be splitting hairs, and as Ratchet said, with stock springs, "you already know what HARSH is", and going to just about any stiffer spring from 0.90 to 1.20 will actually make your ride smoother on bumpy roads.

FWIW if I could trade for Jean Marc's clip-ons, I would. They won't come up as high, but they adjust very well to different angles. Nice design.

I can't speak for the Verlicchi, but the Convertiibars are very well built. The bars are stainless and the clamps clamp beautifully...loosen one screw to move the bar. very well designed. Convertibar also has a selection of different angled bars availablle. The only thing that I did not like is that it seems to vibrate a little more than the stock clip-ons...but that is the nature of bar extenders. the further out you go, the more the vibration. Also Convertibar offer brake lines, clutch lines and throttle cables to extend the bars further. And they sell bar-end weights to tame the vibration. But I am happy with Napoleon mirrors and a cable limited height. If I just replace the front brake lines, I could go up another inch. The clutch and throttle cables can wait, for me, but Your Mileage May Vary.

So just to be clear, this statement, below, is false to assert that the command would be given differently today than in 1912, right? (note, the assertion is vauge, but implied) "The reason for an order to turn to starboard instead of port is because in 1912 directions were still given in relation to rudder direction- rudders are pushed in the opposite direction to the way they want the ship to go, so directions were given in REVERSE." Thanks, in advance. I appreciate the nautical expertise. Most of my expertise is from AMF Sunfish, where I understood the tiller helm, but was unsure of a wheel helm commands.

Is it kept in a heated garage?

Does it feel like the starter is engaging with the engine, but not turning it? When it finally does start does it feel like it is barely turning? If so, I would look at the battery, battery and starter connections, and oil weight(should be 5Wmultigrade), if those are OK then you may need to overhaul the starter. Perhaps putting the bike into a higher gear and giving it a little push with the key off, just to free up the engine, may help. However if the engine turns but does not start, it would be something else.

thanks for the reply. If I ever get around to hooking up WBO2 sensor, the airbox lid will have to be one of the tests.

I remember seeing the movie Titanic and thinking how they may have made a titanic blunder by scripting the command, 'hard to starboard' when the iceberg was centered to starboard side of the collision course. The helmsman made what appeared to be the correct move of turning the wheel counter-clockwise. As it turns out, it is all good and 'hard to starboard' means turn the ship to the left. At sometime in history, I understand the command meant to the left and later it meant to the right. Confusing. More on how I was enlightened, here: http://www.nitpickers.com/movies/nitpick.cgi?np=298 Another confusing thing is stage left vs. audience right. Do Directors give orders in stage or audience terminology? I seem to recall they avoid the issue IMHO when posting an image taken from the front of a land vehicle, it is prudent to carefully describe right and left and not assume that everyone understands universal conventions. (sorry, did not mean to start another relativist vs. absolutist thread)

I do like this closed loop approach. For the equivalent of TuneBoy, a pair of cats. But put a muzzle on the dogs or you could be going through cats pretty quickly.

Did you test it with an O2 probe? Was this just the rubber snorkles removed and the plastic snorkles still in place? Or was this lidless or just the plastic snorkles trimmed?

I love it! They just need to upgrade to a decent pair of shocks. If I was sensible, I'd get a bike like that!

Good point. There may also be other advantages to the FBF X-over like, lighter weight, more corrosion resistant, more powerful, etc. Just because they look alike, does not mean they are alike.

BFG as Hagrid the BigFriendlyGiant?!? Great idea Bob!

I have never hydroplaned and have ridden conditions where my car would be. I am more fearful of oil and water or water coated metal. Does the same apply for slick surfaces? Why would I not just go with 50PSI or whatever the maximum is? I thought the idea was for the tire to hug the road's irregular surface rather than just ride over the high points. I feel like I get better traction in the rain at lower tire pressures. Perhaps I have misled myself.

I asked a Pirelli rep years ago, and I understood him to indicate that we should be pursuing a minimal rise in pressure at the lowest possible pressure rather than a 10 percent rise. So the process might go something like this: set to 42psi cold, ride then check. set to 40psi cold, ride then check. set to 38psi cold, ride then check. set to 36psi cold, ride then check. etc. With each check you are looking for a significantly greater rise in pressure. You could graph it and get a nice curve helping you figure out where to set it, or you could just set it to 32-42PSI and ride. Heck, I have three gauges and they are about 4PSI apart from each other. Using the most expensive and lowest reading gauge, I find the tires feel too soft at 32 PSI and too hard at 38PSI, so I run around 34 to 36...works well enough, but tire mileage could be better. I just got 4000 miles out of a Dunlop D208 Sportmax that I was keeping at 36psi. It was replaced when center treads hit the wear indicators...which is when we are supposed to, right? This sport is too expensive

That is when you want a lower tire pressure

But where is the tab to hang the X crossover? Sorry, but I don't buy the you don't need it argument For $349 Stucchi gives you a tab with the crossover

FBF used to post a before and after dyno graph of H-crossover. The current click here for dyno graph is a broken link... The peformance improvement was similar (almost identical) than what we have seen with the Stucchi at http://www.moto-one.com.au/performance/v11sport.html and http://www.visi.com/~moperfserv/more_mg.htm But it seems like common sense to me go with an X over an H, unless the H allowed other benefits like a center stand or low slung battery. Also, I think the X would be stronger than an H. http://www.ferracci.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=22 $239 is not too bad of a price

""When you get that break, you take it right? Right. But when you get that break, and your reach the top, savor it, take it all in. And let 'em suck your @#$$#! while you tell them how wrong they were for not believing you in the first place. Then get out. Quit. Exit. Be sure to leave them wondering" --Ben McGewen Stark Raving Mad