Steve G.

I agree very much with your views on the Hinckley Triumphs, and their apparent [not] lineage with the Meriden or Coventry Triumphs. We may be in the minority in this matter. I've never been able to call the John Bloor bikes anything but Hinckley Triumphs. I will give a slight nod of approval to the new Thruxton, a vast improvement visually over the frumpy bloated new Bonny, and a slight boost in power. The new V7 is nice looking, and will look much better the minute the new owner gets a bit lower bars on there, and bar end mirrors, and rips off those CAT equipped pipes and hang some Contis off the back. I also think a retro bodywork onto the Breva platform would be easy, and a modern/retro version of a 1000S would be a brilliant seller, without hurting other sales. Steve

Man, that would be a winner I think! I'm over there in Sept, I'll mention it to the boss! Steve

No, No, that was my guess as to the problem, I agree with you. Steve

Yorkshiremen tend to be thrifty, I've got Yorkshire blood. Steve

We shall agree to disagree. 14.6 is too much. But it's your bike not mine. Steve

Steam?? Steve

I don't like the looks of these pictures. And this from normal non-abusive wear?? Steve

My original battery, a "Sparko"!!, lastest about 2 months past warranty. The 545 Odyssey is great. Steve

The leash is shorter. Steve

Who knows. Might make him start up the Global Warming thread again, unless he's run out of quotes to copy/paste! Steve

You should carefully read the instructions on Odyssey batteries. They specify NOT to put on a unit like a battery tender or a trickle charger. I'm on my 4th year with an Odyssey. I've got 2 Battery Tenders, and the only one that doesn't get attached to it is the Guzzi battery. No problems so far. Steve

Don't forget self-promotionalism!! Steve

My set up gets better after chatting with Mr. Single Malt! Steve

The Omron's are the business!! Steve

As long as nobody brings up their problem suspension set up on their fridge. How much preload to do you need to dial in when you push the lettuce & carrots in the back and put a 24 pack of Grolsch up front?? I'm getting a wobbly rear end when 6 Grolsch are pulled out. Very concerned. Steve

If the price is right, I'd just see if it will start. The carbs will need a rebuild, and I'd be concerned about the tank inside, probably ready for a seal product. If the piston rings are not rusted to the cylinders, the engine will run for sure, they really are tough old engines. Start the thing and run it, and any seals that need doing will show themselves in due course, but be prepared to do the fork seals at the very least, and maybe the rear engine seal. Steve

I would agree. While Moto Guzzi can be accused in the past of purchasing ancilleries [guages, switches, etc] down to a price, their engines are quite robust. I was riding with a buddy today, him on his 850 Lemans with 140,000 miles, un-opened engine, and my '01 V11 with a paltry 44,000kms. At that amount of use, the teething should have made itself evident by now. The big ones; You should verify if the free to customer general recall on the gearbox upgrade has been done, an issue with only a couple of bikes prompting a world wide recall on every V11 made from 2001 & earlier. Probably this one issue had a big hand in spelling the demise of Aprilia, the MG owners at the time. This is still a standing national govt. recall, and can be done at any dealer. Other problems are really stupid little things; Aluminium oil cooler brackets cracking, upgrade available from 2002 are now steel. Sub standard Seimens micro relays working "lazy"!! Theft proof ignition switch bolts [2] falling out!! Vibration induced body work rubbing, primarily the rear of the fuel tank, which is not shimmed up enough, which in turn settles down on side covers, causing stress/weight induced cracks around side cover retaining screws. Improperly sealed speedometer angle drive [located at gearbox] will eject it's contents [the all important mini- helical gears] onto the side of the road when riding. Replaced with a 2002 or later item, no problem. Vibration induced cracks on cosmetic starter cover. Vibration/use caused failures of Veglia Speedometer. This is not an absolute, as many are trouble free. Well, I could think of more, but I'd have to look at my service notes. Just to say that these things all made themselves aparent very soon, and there have been no issues at all in 5 yrs/30,000kms. Steve

You need to break this engine in first before fair comparisons can be made. 300km??? Try it at 5000kms, I'm thinking the feel will be closer. Steve

Funny you mention idle speed. I'm in the habit of leaving my fast idle thing on [what some think is a choke] as it reduces the engine braking that is so characteristic with this EFI equipped engine. I actually don't have a problem with 1500 rpm idle, as you say, it reduces mechanical noise. Steve

If you find yourself near a California based Guzzi, you will notice that both the clutch and gearbox chatter are hugely less noisey than the V11, resulting from their much heavier flywheel, eliminating the situation that Ratchethack talks about. Steve

I like riding at night as well, BUT, the deer situation scares the crap out of me. Really an issue around Faulkland Lake where you are!!! BTW, how do you handle the high population of Harley squidlies around where you are? Steve

They are noisey old trucks. The twin plate from my experience is actually noisier than the single plate. The 10W60 will have no effect on the engine being noisier. I've got over 45K on mine, and if anything, the engine/clutch/gearbox seem to be getting quieter. I think ear plug would come in handy! Steve

The straps wrap around the bottom part of the headstock [below those protrusions] and click into the snaps on the opposite side. The extra amount of strap left over I tie and tuck underneath the strap, no wind flapping. I bought a roll of anti skid rubber, found at Marine outlet stores, [steveston Marine] normally used to prevent glasses and plates from sliding around on a ship at sea. This stuff works great for paint protection, as there is a ridge on the tank bag 'main base' on the outside that will cause progressivlly worse paint damage. Also paint damage can occur where the front straps go towards the headstock, the bag base does not fully protect the paint from the straps scuffing the front of the fuel tank. This stuff eliminates it. I cut a section of it traced from the outer shape of the base pad, a bit bigger. When the tank bag comes off, the pad goes in the tank bag for next time, and it can be washed. Steve

Oh, sorry Greg. Have a happy Memmorial Day weekend! Gordy is a great guy. I'll check tommorow, now that I'm getting into this fuel supply bandwagon. BTW, are there any of those aftermarket center-stands left for the early frame bikes? Steve

I don't think it's brass, just that cheezy Italian cadmium plating. Steve