SRL

Docc, Thanks for the heads up, I'll see what I can do to get there. My son actually lives in Brandon and has a Triumph Street Triple so if I can lock down his schedule (military so you never know what he is into) maybe I can stay over there Saturday and both of us meet up with you guys Sunday. I'll keep checking the plan here and let you know.

Now you are talkin"! "SSR - Mandello del Lario"

Thanks Docc! Definitely will be making regular trips to GE and riding with him, he has a Triumph Street Triple R that he is shipping over. Mandello is beautiful, I went there on a Breva 1100 for GMG 2011 and it was incredible, would love to go back!

Well, September has turned out to be a bit busier than originally planned and unfortunately I'm going to have to miss both the SS Raid and the Ducs Fly South gatherings. My son is in the Army in TX and got orders to Wiesbaden (which is awesome!) so he gets a couple weeks off before he leaves, those weeks start 10 Sept. On top of that the neighbor's house went on the market so we bought it for my mother and are closing Sept 8 and moving her up while I have young strong Sgt. arms to help with the furniture. I wish you all a safe and fun filled weekend and hopefully I can join up for the next one.

Dates marked, I hope to get up there and ride with you guys again this year. This time get my Lodge reservation in before the rooms are gone (hopefully no biker weddings that weekend).

IF IF IF you end up going the part out route (or if anyone else reading this has them) I am searching for the fork mount headlight setup (mount and light) and the top clamp gauge mount panel.

Here is a link to 150 hi-def pics of this bike, someone should jump on this one, gonna sell under $7500 with upgrades! http://jq3.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Nero-for-Dale/23651790_dbn98D#!i=1914456070&k=TTPn3w4 Don't make me buy it, I'm waiting on an ABS MV.

Well the speedo failure finally caught up to me on the SSR last week. I have been looking at a Speedhut custom replacement (with Eagle graphic) and it seems like the easiest way to go is the GPS type sensor, why doesn't that seem to appeal to anyone? (It seems like there must be something I don't know about this technology? No reading in a tunnel?) Also the stock gauges appear to be 3-1/2" and the options are 3-3/8" or 4", the 3/8" is closer but everyone on here seems to go with the 4", wondering why? Thanks!

Looks like a nice one on ebay right now.

Had a great time riding with you guys on Saturday, it was nice to get to meet everyone, great group! Bill - sorry to hear of your mishap, have enjoyed so many of your pics and captions in the past I was really looking forward to meeting you, glad you are ok. Hopefully next time I will get into the host hotel and enjoy the after ride festivities (and will get help unloading the Coppa -Doh!)

"It worries me though: you joined V11LeMans.com about a month after me, like ten years ago, and have made 60 posts." (Docc) I listen a lot but don't talk much See you Sat!

Hey Docc, looks like I will finally be up in the area for an SSR. I have tried every year but always had a conflict, this year I still had to wait too long to get a room but at least I got away. I'm picking up a new bike in Dahlonega tomorrow but bringing the Coppa along too and hope to get to meet and ride with all of you on Saturday. I couldn't get into Tellico so staying in Murphy with the US Desmo guys but will plan to be at the Gap around 10:00 Saturday and ride out the day with you guys. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

The one on Ebay is still active. No sale yet. My guess is any sale will take place offline. They should wait till spring. Wait 'til Spring? The riding season is just starting.....oh maybe that is just for us here in Florida!

Did anyone on here grab the one that was on ebay the other day?

Thank you. It was great fun. Talking with docc now off-line about the 2012 dates, as I intend to ride or fly back for it from my year-long "short tour" in Rock Island ... which, gasp, starts next week. Bill After kicking off the New Year it is time to start marking up the ride calendar again and I thought I'd see if you guys had any dates lined up yet? I really want to try to make it this year, in the past it has just been too close to the WSBK event in Uath to have time to get there and back and fly out but this year I am going to try to squeeze it in or skip the races. You guys always seem to have a great time but Bill you have to be there, after enjoying so many of your trip photos and commentary I have long wanted to meet you!

You were also down in Mandello at the GMG this September? You probably won't find many people which would count the Stelvio as one of their favourites. For most it's for sure just something you gotta have under your belt. Yes, decided to celebrate my birthday and Guzzi's at the same time. Rented bikes from Agostini MG (AAA+ experience) and rode all over the region(1000 KM) the week before the GMG and then turned the bikes in and stayed for the event. Had a great time and hope to do it again, maybe catch a race at Mugello and ride the Tuscan region next time. It rained the last day of the event and the Monday after and I felt bad as we were in a taxi to the airport in a driving rain we passed dozens of soaked bikes with France and Belgium plates. Been there before, soaked and a long ride home, hopefully it dried out after they got out of Italy. Riding a Guzzi in Italy and hitting Stelvio on a Guzzi was definitely bucket list stuff for me! Big fan of Germany too, used to go quarterly for work and always took two weeks to complete 3-4 days of business. Been all over and loved it especially Bavaria, beautiful riding areas down South. Have been through your town before and it is beautiful with the castle on the hill. Tschüß

I just did Stelvio in Sept and it is a beautiful area and was great to see it and say I rode it but as said above the pics are really better than the ride. It is basically a series of u-turns (blind on the uphill) with cars, buses, bikes, and motos in your lane at various times. Downhill when the road was clear was really fun as the turns keep coming so you have a chance to correct what you screwed up the turn before but just when you are enoying yourself some a-hole will come around the corner staring you head on. Must do/redo and redo again rides: Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive - 575 miles of scenic sweepers, tunnels, overlooks, flora and fauna (catch it in the spring or fall, I have gone 100 miles without seeing another vehicle on the road) At the bottom of the BRP you can hit the Cherohala Skyway, Deals Gap, out of the Gap 28-28/64 all the way down to Highlands or Cashiers, nice roads and lots of rushing water.

I thought it was a good event and solidly focused on the machines not the lifestyle, living in the heart of so many "biker events" I did not get that feel from it at all. Also nice to see so many old timers riding great condition early example MGs vs. the tons of zero mile new HD bikes being trailered to Daytona to pose for the week.

If you end up with any extra space let me know, I'll buy in! We are already five persons, and I don't know how big the house is, -it's all arranged by the Germans... But I will phone them in a few days, and then I can ask. I will eventually let you know via PM. Could have been interesting. I appreciate it, never know maybe someone will back out as it gets closer. If not maybe meet you guys for a Nastro Azzurro somewhere.

If you end up with any extra space let me know, I'll buy in!

I thought you had a bike rented from Agostinis? Take the train to Mandello, pick up the bike, then take the bike to a hotel across the lake We arrive Saturday the week before the MG party, just going to have the bikes Mon-Fri then back to public transit for the weekend - figuring it is not worth $140 a day to have the bike sit parked at the MG event. Guess we could switch to rental car if needed but had hoped to work it all via trains to save some cash and parking hassles with such a big crowd.

I saw somewhere that there would be free camping in the local parks and areas around Mandello. Looks like I may have to go vagrant for the weekend too as I cannot find a hotel anywhere near Mandello and I will have turned in my rental bike and be relying on public transport for the weekend. Orson - thanks for the help. There are places across the lake available but I think without a bike/car or taking a long swim they will be too far away, guess I will keep researching options. It appears to be better to be further away but close to a train station than closer but no easy way to travel. Anyway the important things were getting over there and getting to ride, everything else will work itself out. Worst case I can pimp myself out to some beautiful 25 year old Italian girl who will give me room and board for services rendered

Thanks for the help! I got over the bike hurdle - Agostini Moto Guzzi in Mandello came through with two bikes (Stelvios), next up hotels and travel other than bike days. Anyone have hotel ideas? What are the transport options if you are staying on the other side of the lake?

Ok, got my tickets and now just trying to find a bike rental place that still has bikes available. Thought that renting the week before the 90th and returning it before the event started would make it easier but getting worried now, not getting any responses from the rental places.