Bill Hagan

We are even … you got me with the “up & over hill!” Bill

I think you missed my teasing point: "Did you walk uphill both ways as I always told my kids that I did? " Seriously, I think few young folks in any era really know about, much less appreciate, what their forebears did to make life easier for posterity. Bill

Did you walk uphill both ways as I always told my kids that I did? Seriously, we have MANY miles of gravel roads in Frederick County here at the top of Virginia that school buses have to travel, thus the school closures on days that would, for most urban schools, be ho-hum business as usual. I do see -- in great weather -- all the parents sitting in their cars at the end of a street or driveway to take their kids the few hundred feet to their homes! I think much of that stems from fears of security. It's none of my business -- which never stops me from judging and pontificating -- but it still bothers me. I detest snow, but need to stop whining about the weather and just go down to the Moto Grappa and putz around, pretending that I am doing something useful. Bill

As for first year of the new century and, in this instance, millennium, I pleaded guilty to pedantry. and am awaiting findings and sentencing. WRT to vehicle tags, there's a long thread on the issue here: https://advrider.com/f/threads/why-do-people-cover-their-license-plates.1516730/ Quibblingly yours, Bill

Congrats! I have sold cars and motorcycles, but (almost) always with a pang of regret. We keep most of ours for years and hundreds of thousands of miles. My '98 EV, bought as a new leftover in 2000, has 108K miles, and would have many more if I had not had dalliances and affairs with others along the way ... although several of those are still in my moto-harem down in the snowed-in Moto Grappa. At risk of offering even more evidence of my pedantry, was not the year 2000 the last year of the second millennium, and thus not the first year of the third? Best wishes from the frozen top of Virginia, Bill P.S. I like the way you don't mask your tags. It always interests me when folks do that.

Fascinating. Impressive. I’ll always be in the bleachers cheering on such things, as opposed to actually doing anything of the sort. Still, I’m amazed at the potential. My only direct connection with 3D printing so far is ordering some wind deflectors for the V85 that literally fill the void between the stanchions and tank. That gap has been viewed as the cause of lots of wind turbulence and noise since the V85 appeared. I found the fix pretty useless, but did admire the ides and execution. Then, the Georgia Guzzi Guru, Wayne Orwig, made up a test set of front and rear turn signal stalks for my EV. The OEM ones are infamous for corroding and falling apart. That led to all sorts of MacGyver fixes of the popsicle stick splints, black electrical tape covers, and cable tie supports! I wish I had a "before' pic handy. Wayne's are grand ... Best wishes from the snow-covered alps and steppes at the top of Virginia. Bill

Thanks. Actually, I was feeling guilty because I thought -- and did not particularly wish to look and confirm -- that I had similarly sinned in the past. Bill

Yes. Lived in Atlanta then. The thread said "no words," so I followed the rules. I'll say this now ... December 2006. Near top of Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway in north Georgia, a lovely romp. https://exploregeorgia.org/things-to-do/article/helen-dahlonega-fall-road-trip I do not have to strain to hear that Ballabio's cans roar as I ascended. What joy. This, on nearby Ga 75 and Brasstown Bald ... Those were the days, my friend ... we thought they'd never end ... etc. sigh. Bill

. The mention of “Paradise” is interesting for its timing. Over on ADV Rider forum, there is an entertaining and informative thread called "Pillion Viewpoint (PVP).” https://advrider.com/f/threads/pillion-viewpoint-pvp.1525703/ The “host,” a lady from West Virginia, posts great photos of the things we “pilots” only see, if at all, briefly as we are so darn focused on the literal way ahead without dying. Her narratives are also engaging. Her “groupies” (I am one) have been encouraging her to collect and publish in, e.g., a “coffee table book,” the best of her posts. Great stuff. Her husband, Wally — PVP calls him “Rider” — is a fine fellow. He is often mentioned, and occasionally seen, but don’t think he ever posts in PVP’s thread. Rider is quite a wrench, too, and has many solo and two-up miles on his beemer and his new KTM. Anyway, PVP — a retired lawyer — has an architectural bent, and her pix often include interesting buildings. Her interest in houses of all sorts led recently to this comment, "All this architectural inventiveness, fading away, and replaced by the ticky-tacky," and 60’s or so protest songs, including, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boxes. Go to her thread if you care to see all of the interesting chatter, but I responded to the "ticky-tacky" post, including mention of "Paradise." "I understand the Little Boxes, ticky-tacky houses, and the like, and enthusiastically sang (badly) those along with my friends. That said, and I did not recognize it at the time, there is, IMO, an unmistakable whiff of elitism in that and other "suburban protest ballads." Those little boxes were the literal dreams-come-true of so many whose lives, when young, had been scarred by the Depression and then disrupted -- if they survived -- by WWII. Those folks were now raising families in those ticky-tacky homes we condemned in our songs. As a boomer, vintage '47, I lived a care-free teenage life that made it easy to complain about the wrongs of my parents' generation, most of whom were struggling and still sacrificing for their children. As one of those kids, I lived in a tract home in Daviess County, Kentucky, in the 1960's, and dated a sweet lass from Central City in Muhlenberg County, so my favorite song at the time was, of course ... Recognition of my own frailties as a young person helps me overlook and forgive the teens and young adults of today. Now ... get off my lawn, PVP, and take and post some more pix!” Whatever the socio-economic and political value then and now, it’s a great song. Bill

^^^^^^^ That does not look like central Indiana @Chuck! Our next couple of weeks are frigid, and the cleared roads covered in corrosives, so first ride may be as late as March. Still, hope, the refuge of the doomed, is about all I have that warmer days and cleaner roads will arrive anytime sooner. Bill

Nothing like a bit of Roper in the morning. No need for coffee now. The most disconcerting part is when, as here, I agree with him. A specialist at digression, I am compelled to add this. I am especially crabby just now because we cannot get delivery of a new washer and dryer because of snow. It is now laundromat time as our hamper is full, and once one's clothes reach a certain stage, deodorant has its limits! I used my rotator-cuff injury -- my "souvenir of Sardinia" earned on that Guzzi tour -- to get Kathi to shovel the paved entrance to our driveway yesterday. Polish wives are magnificent. I did reward her cheerfully done hard work with an Old Fashioned ... Anyway, while can get our (Mighty) Fit up and down the gravel drive, the 26-foot box truck would not, especially if an inexperienced driver. Best from snowbound (and smelly clothes) at the top of Virginia ... Bill

Did not intend for you to have to recall that, but as a father and grandfather, I assure you that I know EXACTLY what you mean. Sigh. Bill

In my continuing quest to find something a bit different for my Moto Grappa concert series, I just ran across something that should get me through the looming winter storm. Quite frankly, I had no idea such existed, but have so far withstood the temptation to listen to more than the first few seconds. After all, the best of life is all about delayed gratification. I remain as always, gentlemen, your most humble -- indeed, obsequious -- faithful, obedient servant and unfeigned friend, etc., Bill

Even Kathi thinks my Moto Grappa music is a bit of a brown egg. But, it and the (strange) like are what I listen to much of the time. Played drums "back in the day" in all sorts of bands -- from 18th century rudimental groups, to Big Band, to rock (of the times, i.e., late '60's; if I ever hear "Wipeout" again, I'll hurl. But I just can't enjoy any contemporary popular music, and especially so if blaring at decibel levels that put F16 afterburners at take-off to shame. Now ... get off my lawn! Bill

Ditto. Do my own. I have well-stocked tool and parts cases. OK, OK. My moto-techy friends do the work. My job is to supply the tools and beer. Several bring their own of both. Moto Grappa Tech Days 2024 Seriously -- tho almost all of that was -- I'd last about 30 minutes in a "retail" business of any kind before I, some asshat customer, or both of us wore orange suits. Kudos to those who can do it. Bill

Don't know about that, Pete -- and hope not -- but will say that the "factory door" is -- as @gstallions noted -- a grand enthusiast's touch. I am thinking that the Moto Grappa needs something of that sort. I may even call him and ask who and how they did that. Best, Bill

That is quite possibly the first music of that general genre that I have listened to in 50 years. Quite likely, given my remaining time on the planet, that I won’t hear any of it again. But I do appreciate the sentiment of “whatever you want.” Bill

I felt similarly, Pete, about the V85 line for several years. The Jurassic Park beak and more were first-class "No Fornicating Way" warstoppers for me. I feel very differently now that I own one. It's not that I especially like its looks -- tho I have become fond enough of it to overlook its "defects" of that sort -- but it is, for me, at least, a joy to ride. It does almost nothing (that I have found) better than any other motorcycle, but it does everything in a singularly compliant and pleasant way. Bill

Yes, the blue is great. With some of my stash of various Carabinieri decals on it, it would look even better ... 112! Oh, and @audiomick, there is something fetching about "slightly bored looking" girls ... or, at least for me, that one. Bill

$3530 at today's to $ exchange rate of €3250. Scroll down here for details: https://www.motoguzzi.com/en_EN/experience/corsica-sardinia/ Add airfare -- $1400 in my case, IAD to MPX -- and other trans costs and you are pretty much there. Hard to get that much terror so cheaply. Bill

Later. I am being supervised on a housecleaning mission.

As for cost, do you want the real amount ... or what I told Kathi?

I’ll spare you the “Buon giorno” and similar affectations of many who have just returned from Italy or wherever. 🙄 I got back a few days ago from a motorcycle tour — on Moto Guzzis, of course 😄🇮🇹🏍️ — of France’s Corsica and Italy’s Sardinia. It likely surprises no one who knows me and is reading this to know that I have some pic and vid evidence of that trip. 😄 Actually, all of the “riding” pix and vids were supplied by others, and primarily Retno & Tresno (Indonesian Guzzisti) and Paula, a Brazilian pillion. Thanks to them as, quite frankly, I saw very little scenery as I was just trying to stay alive! 😱 First, a quick word for the TLDR types and anyone else who has interest in but too little time … or simply has the attention span of a gerbil. 😄 Bear in mind that I started with about 1800(!) pix, and culled those to a number you’ll have to open the slideshow to see, but more than 85% fewer! That said, if you have neither time nor inclination to see all the pix, just watch the three brief vids that start very early in the slideshow. They capture so much of the riding experience that was often a tunnel of terror for me at the time. The pix link opens in “collage landscape,” thereby (in theory, at least) permitting you to see all pix at once, and to see all (untruncated) captions by hovering your cursor over individual pix. Open the slideshow to see the larger pix and captions … (tho, maddeningly) Smugmug allows captions to fade after several unless you work at seeing them. Grrrrr. https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Corsica---Sardinia-by-Moto-Guzzi/n-2kjBXg And, here is a link to some vids that I did not include in the slideshow, but you might find interesting. https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Extra-Videos-Corsica-Sardinia-Guzzi-Tour-2024/n-BMsp3R Best, Bill

Just back from that Corsica & Sardinia Guzzi tour. Saw one spine frame, a red beauty. Sadly, no pic. Shame on me. Bill