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Baldini

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Everything posted by Baldini

  1. When the flood displaced refugees hunt beyond the beachfront, searching for dry ground, the view may look a little different from atop the slopes of Smugsville! KB
  2. Ratchethack, The track is not another planet - it's just another road! The difference is that a lot of the unknowns are eliminated (such as big boulders & giant fwd's); you can explore the limits of your bike & your ability in a more predictable environment. Surely any knowledge/experience of behaviour at the extremes benefits ability to deal with situations day to day. Eg - I've seen people go straight into the scenery in corners on the road because they simply didn't feel they could lean anymore, tho they were probably only at 50% of the bike/tyres capability in that circumstance. Tracktime can give you knowledge of lean angles, braking, handling etc which, whilst may be foolish to exploit in normal road riding, may be useful in an unforseen, extreme event on the road. So long as you don't confuse the two environments. So get out there one time, you might find the doing of it more rewarding than the idea of it! As to the RMC - if it gives better brakes/better feel at brakes & you can use that - great! I don't see why you need to, or how you could, easily quantify that. As someone else pointed out, just because something isn't measured doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If you can't use them, you don't need them & as you pointed out, may well be better off without them. If you want it cos it looks nice, then fine! KB
  3. I dunno why, after all previous debate & when Jaap has created a place specially for this stuff, people keep starting non-m/c topics in this or other innapropriate forum sections. I've no objection to discussing politics or anything else, but if it's put in the right place it's easier to avoid if you don't want it. Can the moderator please move this to "special place for banter etc". Thanks. KB
  4. Yup! I'm with you Jason. We make our own societies by the way we behave. Our politicians are only a reflection of us. The fuss & hope about the Obama victory is reminiscent of Blair's first win here - & what did that bring us? If we want a better world, first look to ourselves & the way we live our lives. KB
  5. Docc, they're a bunch of pussies....I used to ride all year round, whatever the conditions - if I could get the bike from the shed to the road it was good to go. Some of the most memorable times I've had on a bike have been in snow & cold conditions. But I've been on my arse more times than I can remember. Like they said - don't matter what you do to your tyre pressures - there's NO grip to be had on ice! If there is ice about, esp at night, it's like roulette, maybe you'll be lucky, maybe you won't. So now, the roads outside here are steep, sheet ice everywhere, the bike's in the shed & staying there, miaoww. If you are going to go out & there's danger it's slippy, try to keep the bike as upright as possible in corners - use your body weight off the side more, & all your inputs slow, steady & smooth. Use wide, smooth lines. Stay off the brakes as much as you can, esp the front - it'll go in an instant. Plan ahead, look way down the road, but also keep an eye out for any changes in appearance on road surface. Keep yourself warm, getting cold & uncomfortable does nothing for concentration. Above all relax your body - with the exception of your buttocks, which at moments of crisis you should clench tightly..... Good luck! KB
  6. Hi Belfast, fraid I remain a maybe. I'd love to be there but am totally incapable of planning anything. There's a lot going on at the moment & we had a lot of time out last year...If I can arrange to get over, I will, but it'll be last minute as always. Well done for sorting all this & I hope it goes well KB
  7. You probably shouldn't, but it'd be nice to see sports option just to see with what you come up with. Makes no sense but then life doesn't. I've never been one for "originality" & hanging on to the imperfections in a bike just so it's resaleable, guess it's down to your resources too. It's overweight esp at back, lacks power, has dubious rigidity & an alf-arsed rear end...but it's still a lovely bike to ride fast (ish), on a smooth road or track. On track, it's pulling hard when others are still looking for gears or worrying about highsiding, & if you keep on line, out of trouble - in traffic, on the brakes & in the bumps - it's very usable amongst average riders on conventional stuff. Could you do like Paul did & lengthen the s/a? I reckon frame needs bracing laterally - between sideplates & headstock or even headstock too. Older Sportis had stronger trans/frame mount too I think. Balanced motor & light clutch, gearbox is good on track. Ground clearance is good. Financially you'd be better off selling (or selling as stock in future) & getting something else - but with the Corsa, you've got the Ohlins & a sorted bike you know from new, some bits that'll fit Helen's bike...& a challenge.... &, if you've got the money...& the time....& the garage space...& an understanding wife...what the hell - it's a Guzzi! It'd be interesting to compare the cafe Tonti (getting closer to completion...) with a cafe V11? Happy Christmas mate KB
  8. I've ridden with Orson, he's a good chap. Get well soon mate! KB
  9. I dunno if the earlier bikes had same, but from new my 02, & a lot of others I think, had failrly slight gbox oil weep somewhere on lower left side (unsure of source). It would pool on exhaust xover box & burn off. Only occasionally a few spots on floor. I changed to Redline Shockproof Heavy gear oil & no more leak. What are symptoms that suggest clutch is knackered? As GuzziMoto suggests, the two issues could be related. KB
  10. Thanks! Maybe I'll go for the SuperTechs next. Like Arai, I like Alpinestars stuff cos it's comfortable, & feels well put together - materials look good quality, but I can only presume quality of protection cos that's their job & reputation. Cheers, KB
  11. This stuff is not v11 or motorcycle specific so should be in "Special Place for Banter etc". CAN SOMEONE MOVE IT PLEASE? Thanks, KB PS: I have no objection to the discussion, just it's in the wrong place. There's a proper area for it so why not there?
  12. Alpinestars SMX waterproof version. Love em - they were really comfortable from day one, for walking too. Squeak a bit though.
  13. I was way for a while & I notice Ratchethack & all mention of him has disappeared from the forum....Like he is erased from history...Did I miss something? Did he ever exist? KB
  14. "24/7 V11" is for bike related stuff? This topic (& any unrelated to bikes) should be in "Special Place for Banter & Silly Remarks", which Jaap created to avoid some of the issues raised here. If we stuck to posting stuff under the right headings we can more easily avoid stuff likely to bother us. KB
  15. "Probably more than anything else, what I like about this site/forum is it's international flavor. We're all drawn to the passionate irrationality of Italian motorcyles, yet must approach them with a calm analytical mind for the debugging they need. If the discussions also include these things, we shoud be fine. I think allowing this sort of chat provides windows into hearts and minds and provides the potential for people in one culture to live in another for a brief moment - if only virtually... ... Mark Twain quote: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness"." OldButNotDead Took that quote from recent closed thread. I thought it deserved not to be buried there. Sure this is a motorcycle forum, but it's the insights into different ways of seeing the world that makes V11LeMans more interesting to me than some others. I wouldn't like to see that side of this board lost. Internet is a very unforgiving way to communicate thoughts, & a lot of subtlety & inflection that may be present face to face is lost. This is especially true when people are coming at something from several different cultures & histories. From what I understand, Jaap is happy for us to talk about any subject - but only to do it with good humor & without personal insults & attacks. I guess it's not easy to distinguish sometimes. KB Edit: ....& to illustrate my point - I just noticed I spelt the title of this thread wrong.... perhaps a passing moderator might be able to lose one of the 'L' s from oorsels? cos it's now untouchable to me I think....
  16. The clutch bit's connected to the flywheel bit & they all come in a box called a clutch kit. I checked the flywheel visually & it showed marking at exactly the points the other ones have been fracturing, tho wether they are cracks I can't tell. I still mean to get a dye penetrant test done but haven't got round to it. It's interesting to hear eas1rider's flywheel shows cracks. Mine is 20k with no symptoms but I changed it cos of concern that it might go bang. It's not just internet scares - I know one of the bikes that broke, & it's the same place every time. I did consider using some of the original Scura clutch parts when I was struggling to get the RAM to fit - the spring/centre button assemby & the friction plate. But I stuck with the kit parts, apart from replacing the centre button. KB
  17. eas1rider, I replaced my Scura clutch with a RAM unit, purchased from Agostinis. Had it off them about 18 months ago. There were a couple of issues with fitting. The clutch centre thrust button (the piece the pushrod acts on) was too deep & when fitted, pushrod would not reach it to disengage clutch. I replaced it with stock Scura centre button. Also, RAM normally supply kit fully assembled, with a set of socket cap bolts to allow fitment without disassembly. Mine didn't have bolts - I didn't know it was supposed to - so cos I was using stock hex head bolts I had to pull it apart to mount. It is a bit of a fag getting it centred up again, so make sure you have socket caps with kit. I was in touch with Agostinis re problems but didn't get much help. Mine also came with carbon fibre friction plate which I learned later from Agostinis is prone to overheating. Stick with stock RAM friction material - I was surprised how well the stock Scura plate was wearing when I took it out. They wouldn't supply socket cap bolts after the event either. Others have fitted RAM straight from box without problems, although there was one person here I think had same issue with centre button. I've had a RAM unit in my Tonti for several years. Has a very light action & works well. KB
  18. something like this dodgy retouch + flyscreen & old style headers?
  19. Not without risking half an hour answering questions in the back of a Range Rover.... I hope I will be able to come to the party. I have a puncture at the moment, but hope to have it fixed by then...come to think of it, that happened in England too... KB
  20. Best of luck Ouiji! Let us know how you get on. Will miss your writings here, I like your style. Always thought you'd be a good chap to ride with. Take it easy! KB
  21. Looks lovely How's it ride? Look forward to seeing your bike too, Guy - got the Tankshop stuff yet? KB
  22. Sounds like pre-ignition (detonation/pinking). If it just started maybe it's tank of poor petrol (gas). Use better quality or higher octane if pos. Pos heat related - been hot recently? I'd guess you'd get more of this in sunny SCal.. than we over here. Could be fueling or ignition need adjustment. Try search - think others in your area have had same. Meanwhile: it hurts, don't do it! - it can cause damage - don't apply heavy throttle at low revs. Get engine spinning through gears = less load. If you hear pinking, change down (if you want to continue loading engine) or back off throttle. KB EDIT: See topic "detonation" in this forum.
  23. Get well soon Gyles. KB
  24. We all ride differently. There's huge variations in the demands put on tyres. Tyre wear could be doubled from one rider to another just by use, everything else being the same. It's same as comparing individual fuel consumption...same bike, same set up, 2 riders = 2 different mpg...or try comparing miles travelled by 2 different riders completing same journey....brake wear....etc... KB
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