Lucky Phil

I dont believe the plug and play reg will have the slow draw, its the direct connected one that does that. The P&P runs through the ignition switch as per standard. Ciao

While we're on old addages chuck, how about "nothing is impossible to the man that doesnt have to do it himself". I love a meandering thread. As long as it teaches you something:) Ciao

I'm with the share any additional cost and do it right position, so count me in on that. I mean "should be ok" has its place but when you're trying to overcome a cronic issue its not really where you want to be. Ciao

There was a lot of theory in that piece most of which applies more to the track where the bike transitions are more extreme, although I dont see how you trail brake into a turn with the throttle still somewhat open. Maybe I read it wrong. No matter whether you're on the track or the road you are either on the brakes or on the throttle not both at the same time, with two exceptions. On the track you can sometimes use the rear brake accellerating out of a corner to stop the bike wheelying, saves you getting out of the throttle to control the wheelie and also dragging the back brake in the turn can help the bike hold a tighter line. My view is that trail braking is by and large for the race track, if you're using it to any great extent on the road then like Micky D says you should have your speed established by the turn in point by and large. If you're braking all the way to the apex on the road like a racer does on the track then its only a matter of time before it catches up with you. As for the reference to trail braking reducing fatigue on long rides, well thats la la land for mine. Ciao

Yes, that would be Micky D. Ciao

Excellent scudd, if possible I'll take I dont know maybe around 15 or 20 and people on this side of the pond can contact me and I can forward them on to ease the shipping hassle for you, if you have enough of course. Ciao

Thats why track days are such a valuable thing, you can push the limits in relative safety. I think if your not doing track days then you're not serious about improving and maintaining your riding skills. Its not about setting "lap times" but about improving and learning new techniques and practicing the already known ones without the risk, like really heavy braking and looking through the corner and weighing the pegs. Things that you tend to drift away from riding on the road all the time. Every first session on the track is the re familiarise session of looking through the corner, using footpeg weight esp on the long fast corners, not trying to ride the bike all through the bars and feeling the force of really heavy braking, together with getting your brain ahead of the bikes speed. Ciao

I have a spare wheel that I was going to powder coat, and I'd rather not take the spacer out of the original if I didn't have to. Just hoping someone has a spare from a wrecked wheel. Ken You will need to remove the wheel bearings to powder coat the wheel I believe. The temps involved are a bit high to expect the bearing grease and seals to cope. Ciao

Really? I mean this is a pointless exercise, totally unuseable. It doesnt even break any new design boundaries or ideas, even the totally useless "arty" stuff has been done before plenty of times over the years. Ciao

Yes its critical dont think of assembling it without the spacer. It takes the compressive load when tightening up the axle or axle nut depending on your year model through the inner bearing races. If its not fitted that load will be transmitted through the bearings roller balls to the outer race and the lateral forces will create very high friction and the bearings will fail extremely quickly. Ciao

This video has nothing to do with countersteer, its about the rear brake. Whats triggered this off is jumping on the rear brake in a panic and then the rest is the a consequence of that. You can see the bike step out a fraction from the rear before the supposed wrong countersteer motion at the very beginning in slow mo. After that its all over and the rider is trying to wrestle with the consequences of the initial rear break away, running wide, being on the wrong line to start with panic and a mini tank slapper caused bu the initial action on the back brake and slamming the throttle shut while banked over and the unsettling effect this has caused to the steering. Ciao

I'm with you Chuck, most customised bikes in general prioritise uniqueness and artistic expression over dynamic functionality. Let's face it making it beautiful OR functional is easy, combining both is where the real talent in design and engineering lies. Ciao

You know I think this was an "engineering" topic as much as anything that has now taken on a extra philosophical element which I kind of enjoy:)Some of the best threads end up this way. You learn about the engineering and get the life lessons for free. Ciao

I'd be more concered Chuck with how the nylon would react to transmission fluid over time. Ciao I use them in many applications. Zero issues with oil or transmission fluids. Ok, was just thinking about those guzzi boxes that had plastic bearing cages that didn't tolerate gearbox lube and would fail. People updated them to metal cages from memory. Ciao

Exactly doc:) didn't realise there was a recognised "thing" for it. Ciao

Sorry Phil, but that's the long and short of it. Let me digress. When I was in my early 20s, I would have jumped on this problem, found the answer and been confident that this *was* the answer. I have done that.. But.. Put another almost 50 years of experience into the mix, and I have learned that I *don't* know it all. There is a learning curve in any trade, whether it is being a Guzzi mechanic,doctor, tool and die maker, or candle stick maker. It starts at the bottom and goes up at an exponential rate. At that point you think you are hot sh!t. Then, it drops almost as fast when you realize you are not. My new pup Austin is there right now. He's just realizing he is clueless. He will be good. Know what I mean? The people that end up being bad at what they do never realize there is much more to learn, and how little they know. So. I'm confident that we have the answer, but there is sill that lingering doubt, brought on by experience. I'm hearing Chuck, I'm frustrated by the feeling as you gain more experience you can actually lose a bit of confidence. Mate of mine reckons it's because you become more aware of all the possible problems. I think he's right. Sometime confidence comes from not knowing what you don't know, a bit of ignorance can help sometimes:) Ciao

So Chuck you can't test the new spring until the spring at which point you will spring onto the Guzzi and spring into action and go for an extended ride? Sorry in advance. Ciao

Just trying to educate you guys:) Ciao

You can ship me a batch scud if you like which I'll pay for up front for to ease the shipping hassle and I can distribute from here to Aussies that want them. Ciao

Yep, I'll chip in too if needed Ciao

The cam drive belts are a piece of piss scud, a man of your tallents will find it easy. The covers and stuff come off pretty easy after you get the F$#+_&îng fairing off. Just note the tension on the old belts before you remove the tension pully and set the same with the new belts. There is a special tensioning tool for the old engines and a fancy shmancy acoustic tool for the later bikes ( I kid you not, you tension the belt and give it a pluck and the tool measures the frequency) some use a guitar tuner but I still do it by feel. One way is to slide an allen wrench between the belt and tensioner bearing like a feeler gauge. a 6mm one with a moderate amount of drag for the ST2 from memory. Just line up the dot jackshaft pully with the groove on the clutch housing and then make your own markes on the cam pullies. Very easy. Ciao

No worries Pete, thanks. Ahh the smell of lanolin and rubber gumboots:) Ciao

Thanks 68C but you go ahead, I've managed to source a pair. Ciao

Hey thats the same expression I have when I talk to my ex wife:) Ciao

I'd love to Docc, feel a little like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters, mysteriously drawn to Carlsbad, CA to see the great return spring descend from the sky Ciao