68C

How true, I just wanted to see the desert sands and the bears in the woods, then my wife decided to add the boring bits.

Ah just found out there is 13.8% tax on rooms in Las Vega as well. Is that normally in the quote from my travel agent or do I pay that at the hotel? Seems I may also have to pay tax on the resort fee. Bit like buying a motorcycle then paying extra for engine and wheels. I must have lived a sheltered life.

Ah just found out there is 13.8% tax on rooms in Las Vega as well. Is that normally in the quote from my travel agent or do I pay that at the hotel? Seems I may also have to pay tax on the resort fee. Bit like buying a motorcycle then paying extra for engine and wheels. I must have lived a sheltered life.

Many thanks, of course we have a minimum wage, about £11 an hour going up to £12 in April. So of course as it is illegal to pay less the tipping thing is less important here. As an engineer I have never been tipped the same for my son who works for Hollywood Bowl. I assume our travel agent has paid all taxes on the flight and hotel, must check this. Life was so much easier when I was alive.

I am English just booked two week holiday for the family in The United States. Fly London to Las Vegas, Las Vegas to Washington DC and then back to London. See Grand Canyon, Shenandoah National Park, Washington DC and Air Space Museum at Dulles. Family really exited, me still feeling queasy at the bill. Then I find out about Resort Charge. It is adding around 10% to an already dear trip. Travel agent had small print saying some hotels may charge pax. Had to google pax, took a while to sift out 'peace', 'passenger' but finally got there. We had already got our head around shops showing price without state tax and that we should tip for just about everything but that Resort Charge really got me. I have offloaded my annoyance onto the forum now, feel much better for that. Thank-you. Now my question, what other secret fees await me in the US?

I was told a story about a farmer's combine harvester shutting down into limp mode. He could only drive it back to the farmyard, would not engage cutting etc. He then got an email from the manufacturer advising his operator was using the machine wrongly and liable to cause damage. As it was under warranty they shut it down to avoid a claim. I thought it was just a conspiracy thing, maybe it was true and the start of bad things.

Probably not relevant but check the fuel injecter linkage on the left side does not foul the rear suspension remote reservoir. On my second ride I gave it full throttle, then rolled off the throttle it would not shut off, going faster and faster I thought 'CLUTCH no may blow the motor, FRONT BRAKE no will probably lock up and crash... then my scared mind suggested KILL SWITCH! First time I have used one in anger and it saved me. Yes, the white adjuster knob was hung up on the reservoir union. Slid the reservoir back half an inch and all well.

50k in 23 years is hardly high mileage. Will have spent a lot of time parked up. Check fuel tank for ethanol damage, rear drive train especially the universal joint if not well maintained. Age related stuff, the starter motor magnets can come loose if motor corrodes internally. .

She did'nt need to, she had enough Guzzi lovers in her nation.

Farewell our beloved Queen, God save the King.

Yes, second that clearance issue. On my first ride on the new to me V11, I pulled onto the main road and nailed it, great fun. At about seventy I rolled back the throttle....and it just kept on accelerating. My first stupid thought was to brake, probably not a good idea, visions of an exploding engine stopped me pulling in the clutch. Finally my little brain thought of the kill switch, never used one in anger before but it saved the day. To think I used to bypass those on some of my earlier bikes. Yes, the white knob had hooked around the reservoir cap, shame Guzzi never fitted a proper two way pull throttle cable setup.

Those side outlet exhaust pipes do look vulnerable. I see the V Twin layout as a way of having improved balance to control vibrations and give good air cooling. Perhaps modern parallel twins and triples with balance shafts and liquid cooling are the best layout now. All academic soon as the discussion will centre around where to put the battery - will it need to be quickly removable as a 'swop' refill. Motor in the wheel, simple but high unsprung weight. Conventional brakes or some form of electric retarder with regen.

How dreadful? As bad as having more than one Apple product, wearing Levi Jeans despite their markup, buying coffee from a cafe that writes your name on the cardboard cup, joining a one make bike club - do you dump those people if you change your bike? Yeah it can get even more dreadful.

Thanks for all the encouragement, stuck within this body so just have to make the best of it. At least it is wet and cold outside so not missing much I suppose.

I am now at day fifteen after a left knee replacement due to arthritis, once healed expect to get the other one done. I am starting to get dark thoughts about my ability to continue to ride the V11 once fully healed in perhaps a year to eighteen months time. How have others got on with this one, I will admit I was becoming nervous riding the bike in the last few months before surgery due to worry my arthritic knee may collapse at any time as the V11 is a little wide and top heavy. I am 69, reasonably fit and do like to ride.