Chuck

I realized that my time with the old girl was over at the Kentucky rally this year. I had Dorcia on the back, and my steadily lessening strength was becoming an issue at low speeds. I even dabbed a time or two.. I never do that.. leaving a stop. (sigh) Time continues on, though, and I'm a realist if nothing else. I asked a couple of guys if they wanted to take over, and my first choice did. It's certainly a sad moment for me. I've had 10 years with the old girl, and she taught me to dance. My favorite bike of all time, but as some wise person once said, "A guy's gotta know his limitations." Colt..good guy, enthusiast, and aircraft mechanic, will be the Mighty Scura's new keeper. Give him a warm welcome when he shows up.

^^^^ Guzzi Bob was my riding buddy for years. We have been all over southern and central California on some epic rides. The first thing I'd do when we went out to SoCal is prep the bike, give him a call, and we'd meet up. Going to Redondo Beach just isn't the same any more.. Ride on, brother..

It takes a certain amount of experience to "get it" in my experience. The Kid was a Duck guy (I raised him right) and always said he wasn't old enough for Guzzis. I sent him out on the Centauro many years ago now. I was beginning to worry. I'd just given it a full service. Did I forget to tighten something? Is he laying in the ditch somewhere??? It was entirely too long when I heard him roaring back in. "This thing will outrun my Duck!" He's been a Guzzi Guy ever since.. Yeah, he's a gearhead and he "gets it."

Humph. Sounds like a warranty issue to me..

Now, *thats* a good looking scooter.

Yeah, I saw Lowell, too.

Just give me weed, whites, and wine.. best truckin song ever, and one of my favorites. LF was never the same after George died.

I've done that. I've been everywhere, man. Wrote a song about it..

Yeah, the cutter should have had a radius. Luigi must have been promoted to manufacturing processes.

Nice post, Docc..

Bill, I see you are Indiana. The Indiana Guzzi bunch meets on the first Sunday of the month at some brewpub. If you are interested, Austin will put you on the email list.

I have several, from inch lbs. to 200 ft. lbs. FWIW, Ed the Rocket Scientist (RIP) said NASA did a study and found the most repeatable torque was applied by the hand of a skilled mechanic. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger..

I never gave it a thought.. just used Permatex because that was what I had. Hasn't leaked.

FWIW, the cracks in the finish "may" have been caused by the pork chop taking a hit. If it were mine, I'd NDT it. Hard to tell from a picture, of course.

Those look like cracks to me. I would look at them long and hard before deciding they were sound.

Seems like I used a cotter pin remover.. https://www.amazon.com/Mayhew-13228-Pick-Cotter-Puller/dp/B074KQY27K/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=cotter+pin+removal+tool&qid=1643414281&sr=8-10 Mine happens to say Snap On on it, but this one appears to be similar.

Yeah, it's awesome. I have to ride through the city of the angles to get there, though.. so I don't do it often.

No, that is from Scud. 33 is almost deserted, many sweepers.. but.. some technical stuff too. Believe me, I have *lots* of pix in the Santa Monica mountains. I've been all over the country, and those roads are hard to beat. I can be there in about an hour (of lane splitting) so that is where I normally ride. This is the overlook at the top of The Snake on Mulholland..

Uhh, you only have to live a very long time. Pete admonished me one time that I'd forgotten to age. "People will realize you are a witch one of these days.." I've been working on that..

^^^^

Thanks, Docc. Found it on Amazon.

Ventura..

Story? I was going to the Ohio rally, when I was passed by two Break My Wallets with all kinds of anti detection stuff like I was sitting still. I thought "oh boy, rabbits," and stayed behind them just far enough to barely keep them in sight. We flew across Indiana and well into Ohio at go straight to jail speeds, when I came to a corner and didn't see them. "Uh oh." Got off the throttle and was only doing 70 when I saw the trooper. Naturally, he lit me up, and I was stopping before he even made the highway. It was the most enjoyable traffic stop I'd ever had, though. He was friendly and we literally shot the shit for a half hour. Didn't make me unpack the bike to show proof if insurance. Nice guy that got a grin that he was giving a speeding ticket to an old guy on an Italian motorcycle. I asked him to take the picture. The reason for the shit eating grin?? He didn't get me about 30 seconds before.. I didn't mention that, though.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/10/how-aviation-pioneer-glenn-curtiss-set-a-136-mph-land-speed-record-with-his-v8-powered-motorcycle/ " All I could see was a streak of beach with wild surf on one side, sand hills on the other and a black spot where the crowd was. The machine set up a terrific and inexplicable vibration; it was so great that it did not create wholly comforting thoughts.” One of my heros.. Really good with engines. If the Wright bros. had let them be their engine guy.. oh, well, doesn't matter.

Oh, I agree the old girl would much prefer that, but the Skorpion is a really sweet ride, and much lighter. (sigh) One of the prospective keepers is in Kentucky. That would be a good thing. I remember that day in the Santa Monicas well, although I was pretty under the weather. I almost called it off, but decided to suck it up. I'm glad I did.