Bill Hagan

I am hardly in Todd's league as a rider, but everything I heard him say corresponds well with my own impressions. I have over 1700 miles on my Norge. Picked it up last week from MPH in Houston (a shop I cannot say enough good about, btw). Rode it 500 miles or so two-up in the Texas Hill Country, then returned it for first service. Then took two days to ride it backto Atlanta. Went back roads, so a 850 miler became 1150! I did a pic report -- http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=9wgryy...=0&y=vpylx7 -- and have been trying to find time to do a ride report focusing on my impressions. Now, after seeing Todd's vid (albeit in a jarring, not complete way; my dsl must need vitamins), why bother? I have dragged both sides on the centerstand. This happened both two up and solo. The former riding was in the challenging hills and twists, so (epecially given my rather embarrassing swim weight , may not be worrisome. But did same solo in much less spirited riding on the generally straight (darn it) roads on return. As I have a lift, not sure why I need a centerstand, tho I'll not take it off right away. Peter at Agostini's tells me that Euro versions--which, of course, can mean the occasional US one!--that have bags, as all US models do, have a smaller (1/2 inch) centerstand rubber stop than do the unbagged ones (1 in.) cuz the pipes are higher on the latter. Checked mine and it looks as if (darn it again) I have the right size, but did notice that my stop had come loose and thus would not have helped the centerstand-clearance issue. Aside from that, laughed when I heard the "looking for 7th" comment as that what I did the whole way back. Surprised at that, too. I rarely ride interstates, but presume part of Norge market wants to. For me 6th pulled mighty fine but for slab folks may be way too low. Anyway, love the Norge. Have Ballabio on the market (and getting phishing crap from these classifieds) but my heart's not in it. May sell the EV, tho, too, as the Norge is a mighty fine replacement for both and room is a premium in the GarageMahalo.

Uhm ... possibly posted in the wrong thread, docc? You gotta remember there are guys like me who get oil and elec threads confused.

I'll need a valium prescription to stay calm until 2 Jan when Kathi and I drive out to Houston to get it. Plan is to get in the first 600 around central Texas in next day or so, then have MPH do first service before I ride it back to Atlanta. Yee ha! Plus, knock on wooden head, weather is looking to cooperate, but I've bet wrong on 10 day forecasts before. Atlanta: http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/busi...topnav_business Houston: http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/busi...topnav_business 'Course, if it really gets bad, could hug Gulf to Pensacola before heading north to Atlanta, but hoping to do a victory roll in n. Georgia mountains before letting it meet the EV and Ballabio in the GarageMahalo. Come on over and give it a spin ... after 8 Jan! Bill

I certainly thought so, too, Carl, but the piece on it in the latest Rider (I think) made it sound more than that. By now, you should know. Whatever, could do lots worse than a Breva with fairing. I really liked the 1100 I rode in Italy last June. If my Norge is like that with more protection, fine with me. Kathi liked the pillion accomodations, too. I am awaiting 2 January pick-up like a 6-YO waiting for Santa Claus.

Talk's cheap, but there has been some. http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=8798.0

Be curious what diagnostics might show. And, as I think it was excess vibration when new SS shims were tightened that caused stress fractures to my header pipes, wonder what effect, if any, this approach will have on that. Thanks for the idea. Bill

I tried Babelfish and Google language tools, but no help. What did that say?

Hmmmmmm. Funny how I forget about those distances out there. I think the N3, N2N, whatever next year is a GREAT idea. As soon as you want to pick dates, let "us" (whoever that is, a growing group it seems) know so we save the dates. BTW, I sent you an e/m. If you didn't get it, I may have a bad address, as I don't always get undeliverable notices. Regards, Bill

I'd love to see pics, too, and I'll post 'em as soon as I get 'em. The dealer expects it in tomorrow, and will post pics of uncrating, etc. I can't wait, and assure you that I'll post like a proud papa offers baby pics I'll also do a ride report with pics on return. Hoping to have the first US Norge rally with Carl while out there. Bill

Fair question. Here's what I just posted n w/g on same issue: As I think I mentioned, I believe in supporting my local dealer--whether we are talking Guzzis or most anything else. No need to belabor the "why," as I think that's been discussed here at length. So, I went to ATD first. They have, btw, been quite good to me over the past few years, but I don't have time now to list any particulars. When they could not pop a red Norge, however, I had to go elsewhere. Of the dealers I know from here, that meant MPH, Speakers, or Moto-Int'l. Distance made the last a bit problematic, but more from time than actual mileage, at least if one rode back, and how could you not? I have heard nothing but good things about Speakers, particularly from mojohand, who bought both of his Brevas from Jason. And, I regretted missing a visit when up there at the WET Ohio rally over Labor Day. Plus, Jason e/m'ed me on an issue recently, so I appreciated his caring ... especially as this was while he was still in "brand new daddy" status. So, based on my observations and other exchanges, I thought that both M-I and Speakers met the same sort of "test" that Dean mentions and Todd confirmed. The reason I went to MPH, tho, was because, in addition to that, I have had several (rather small) business dealings with MPH in which they had gone the extra mile (something I think both M-I and Speakers would have done, had I ordered from them) and--possibly this is the real reason--I still had some guilt about not buying a Scura back in '03 when I bought the Ballabio. Both Havens "wasted" a bit of time with me, educating me on V11 Sport variants. I really appreciated that, even tho I did not buy the Scura. So, while it took 3 years to germinate, the seed of treating a customer well bore fruit. Oh, another thing, ATD called me this a.m., and asked me not to "do anything rash," as they just had a Ducati ST3s with ABS delivered, and they wanted me to take it home for awhile. Well, I told 'em I'd already decided, but appreciated the offer. They said it still stood. That's pretty good customer relations, too. I will continue to send customers their way ... for Ducatis, MV Agustas, and Triumphs, anyway. Bill

Yup, bought a red Norge. Details at http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic...25387#msg125387 Bill

Here's where I said what I was going to do: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=109077 Here are some (OK, too many) pics of (Wayne Orwig &) me doing it: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=9wgryy...0&y=-37hwye Bill

Today, nothing. Kathi is out of town and I need to clean the house after I have pigged it up in only a few hours. Tomorrow, plan to ride up into n. Georgia mountains to take pics to illustrate a ride report of the same great day trip I put on wildguzzi a few weeks ago: http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=8391.0 & http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=8392.0 Went out to do that same thing last week, and had an unplanned interruption, resulting in a tow: http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=8489.0 OK, back to cleaning ... after I look lustfully at some Norge pics. May have to leap soon. The GarageMahalo is wonderful, but cramped with three motrcycles, as storing a friend's ST 1300 has made very clear. If I do buy a Norge, I'll probably have to sell the EV. Sigh. Not sure I'm emotionally ready for that. Regards from Atlanta, Bill

Presume that removing the fairing on my Ballabio would be of no help, but if no one else steps forward and mine would be of any use, you/he are welcome to it. Bit crisp just now the V11, anyway, but the EV's electrics and big w/s are so fine. Let me know.

Todd, I am very interested. Will put down deposit if necessary to confirm. Am concerned, tho, about fitting non-crossover version to Ballabio. Thanks for all you do for Guzzis and Guzzisiti. Bill

Center doesn't seem such a bad place.

Hmmmmmmmmm. How did I end up here?

Whoa. I'm kinda worried cuz I actually understand that ... in theory. 'Course, I can see an issue with execution, followed by sad-faced pics of a hole in the engine case and "helpful" posts about JB Weld!

Given my skills (and I wasn't given much! ), I would think I'd risk more by having a poorly placed clamp decide to visit the internals than just making sure the filter is snugged down to ... uhm ... hammer-removal specs. Bill

I guess I'd have made a lousy detective. I looked at the bikes and the plates and never made the connection. Vablankingbene! Glad you all had a fine time, tho it sounds as if docc may have been drumming up business. Suspect you all needed an "adjustment" after the long ride and death march. I was very impressed with the vintage races, and need a track day over there "just to say I've done it." My times might be 2+ - min laps, but it'd be fun to see what it's like. I'm headed off to the GarageMahalo to see if I can figure out the elec. prob that has it eating 15A fuses. Regards from Atlanta, Bill

Mitch, your timing is wonderful. I have had my Ballabio on the lift since I got back from my wet trip to Erie in early September, and have been (reduced to) riding my EV since because of fractured header pipes. In addition to the originals still at the welder, got a replacement set in from Paul Minneart. Finally pounded those into approximately where there are supposed to be. Even got to use a tool & die set to clean out one of the header-stud holes where the AutoZone M8 bolt "almost" fit. But, all of that was more of an adventure than I want to remember, especially as I think the adventure continues (thus this post). Anyway, in a moment of exultation late last night, I stepped (stupidly and unsafely) up on the wheeled mechanic's seat and, without falling as I deserved onto the concrete, thumbed the starter to hear the Ballabio sing a quick aria. Blang! Pop! Zockie! Lost a 15A fuse (I think it's below the starter symbol on the fuse cover). Of course, I tried another with the same predictable result. Repeat blow out. Dejected, I went inside and straight to bed. Then Kathi kicked me out to go wash the grease off. Any ideas from the assembled electrical wizards out there?

'Til someone here who knows more (most, btw) responds, look at this thread: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...mp;hl=schematic

Congratulations. There have been quite a number of posts on visiting Mandello on this site and elsewhere, e.g., www.wildguzzi.com, in the last few months. I don't have the time to search for those now, but it will be worth your while to do so. Make sure to see Dan Kalal's pics, too. Kathi and I were in Mandello this past June, and I have been before. Motoguzziland is reached easily by numerous trains from Milan, via Lecco. And, you don't need a car in Mandello, as it's not large, and the factory, Agostini's, lodging, and food are all in easy walking distance from the Mandello train station. If you stay and choose a hotel on the "uphill" side, getting down is easy, but up can be, as you might guess, ardurous. Prior coordination and strange schedules used to be the order of the day at the museum, but that seems to have relaxed a bit. That said, don't count on it, unless you have made some web and other inquiries. Even then, be prepared to stay an extra day in case what you thought you heard (and are pretty certain about it!) turns out to be ... "impossibili." Think of it as an opportunity to savor Italy and its delighfully maddening quirks. Have a fine time; it's hard not to. Bill

Sorry I missed you, docc and Dan, as I did most everyone else it seems, except Dave Edwards (Ind.) and Phil Grundy (Tex.). Anyway, while I suspect you had more than these in mind, maybe these photos will tide you over 'til better ones show up. Posted this at w/g to accompany the pics (url at end): "What a gorgeous day for a ride. Started off cold (well, for Atlanta in October, anyway), but warmed to shortsleeves (and way too warm for leathers) by mid-afternoon. Jay Hines and I rode over with a large group of "Ratlantans," the Atlanta Triumph crowd, tho there were two beemers. Because Jay and I knew back roads to Barber's, they had us lead. Very foggy for most of way there, but cleared to vivid blue sky. We split on arrival and I never saw the T crowd again. Jay and I wandered around, saw LOTS of Guzzis in the parking lots. Ran into Dave Edwards and Phil Grundy, too. Jay stayed for the day (and mebbe today); I went over and remembered what passed for my youth at the vintage Japanese m/c area. Then rode by myself to Atlanta. It is difficult to imagine a more pleasant ride than that one. A warm afternoon sun on my back, twisting and rolling roads, and a Guzzi. Mighty fine. Don't expect Dan Kalal quality, but some pics are here: http://snipurl.com/104ft " Bill

Two questions for Orson. 1. Re "bone stock," thought Tennis came with a brown seat of brushed suede or the like? 2. Where are those pics taken? Nice Guzzi, btw. Bill