belfastguzzi

"There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear!" – please do on

Make your mind up chaps. Either it is is no time, or it is time. I don't think that it can be both, although I'm continuing my researchs...If only I could find some of the stuff. I seem to have misplaced it.

Now you're talking

It's pretty much how John O'Sullivan described his Centauro, something about the poor engine management system. And by the way, you think this is scary? – there's a guy over in Tech Topics whose bike is screaming.

Ryan > "I like sex and candy... my Guzzi qualifies as both!" Lady > "The menace is loose again running loud and fast on the early morning freeway, low in the saddle, nobody smiles, jamming crazy through the traffic and ninety miles an hour down the centre stripe, missing by inches... like Ghengis Khan on an iron horse, a monster steed with a fiery anus, flat out through the eye of a beer can and up your daughter's leg..."

Trois époques distinctes jalonnent cette quête du temps dans laquelle le motocycliste est entrainé.

Ssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh. DON'T mention Baldini's sheep!! I didn't.

Shocked to reach the back of MGCGB's latest issue of Gambalunga and see a book review by one, Belfast Guzzi. The bounder's stolen my name, thought I. A second look showed that in fact it was an extract from this thread: 'Tucker's Advice'. Grr. That young pup Tucker must be selling old Forum tat to unsuspecting magazines. The 'Secrets of a Professional V11 Mechanic Guy' by Belfast Guzzi is followed by Aironeponey's 'Advanced V11 Training'. Ahh. Maybe the Hairy Pony is the secret stringer? I look forward to a future serialisation of the 'What Time is it Thread'.

Looks like you are entertaining with a Highland fling, 3 photos up. Nice.

More revelations!!!!!!!!!!!!

That point number two is a bad job. It's dead boring out there.

What do you use that for? Cleaning your visor? I brought a slim packet of hand-cleaner tissue things, can't remember their name. They were useful when rear drive leaked oil, both for cleaning tyre and hands. Spanner was also needed to top-up drive box oil. I also carry a spare brake lever ( a repaired broken lever) for same reason as Murray, in case of a fall – wouldn't want to be left without use of either brake or clutch. Also carry kit for replacing a broken pawl spring – for old time's sake.

Don't you want it up to full?

Parked on a bridge! That's the sort of obstacle that I was spending my time trying to steer around on the way home too. Martin should have known better. Obviously Baldini led him astray. I suppose they were in the river below the bridge: what do they call that – 'in the drink' is it? Sssshhhhhhhh. You know there's an hour's summary on BBC1 at the moment?

baldini - you checked your email? DB

You may enjoy it, but of course, it's wrong. You're meant to screw the thing in. Manual says so somewhere, I'm sure.

Hey! I said sshhhh! Don't mention that Baldi likes to keep well oiled...

You can see in the picture above how shiney the tyre and rim are from oil. When I stopped for a break in Dublin and wiped the oil off, again, I saw that it really wasn't coming off. The worst of the wet stuff wiped off but a complete band, between a quarter and third of the tyre width, remained slippy soft after 750 miles of soaking. Putting my boot sole against the oily section, it slid straight off, no grip at all. Anyway – got home ok. VERY glad the roads were dry. Running on water would have been unwelcome. Fast right-hand corners, particularly on motorway, and roundabouts were . At least the good roads were mostly predictable. Worst thing was the bad roads because although slower, they threw up the unexpected and sharp engine breaking or use of back break resulted in slides. Bike ran great, such a pleasure to ride. A lot of the motorway sections are elevated and exposed in open countryside – the crosswinds get tiring when your head is already being pulled off. BTW, what way did you go? Via Cork and all main roads? I made the mistake of cutting across country to avoid Cork. The road was atrocious. Narrow continuous bends between hedges and banks so you can't see more than a few yards, every sort of surface imaginable, unexpected direction changes, unexpected things sitting on road appear round corner (including a wooden plank). Sticking to the main road (N22 and then straight onto the N8 at Cork) would definitely have been so much faster. I was surprised that it now seems to be possible to go most of the way between North and South on good (new) roads. Very different to the 'old days', though once you stray off the main roads you're right back to the old days. Part of the attraction of the Republic, of course (if you've got time). 3 hours to Dublin, 1 hr break, then 2 hours to home. Not bad considering the time-wasting back roads mistake and oiled tyre. I'll post a link to pictures when I get time to put them on web.

We heard similar from an MG dealer at Erin Rally. Breva production coming on stream & Griso: pretty much as above. New model of Cali to be produced. MGS also to be produced as talked about elsewhere here. Baldini will probably remember the details better than me.

A bit of road More pics, when there is more time

That's what I was thinking/hoping, so, we'll believe it to be true. Mr Baldini got a try on the 1100 Breva at rally. Apparently it's a great bike. Pity it's as ugly as sin. I think I'd rather look down on a flickering oil pressure light than the Breva's ever-expanding-fueltank/plastic thing and the spacehopper ear handlebars. And what will it be like in 20 year's time, sitting at the Erin rally with your classic old Breva, a multi-meter and a penknife trying to bypass the fizzled-out whizzy electronic start-up diagnostics so that you can get the old crate home? Anyway, back to oil-levels. Baldini likes to keep topped-up. But don't mention it. Shhh..

Before the warning-light incident, I was thinking about the 'windage' plate or whatever it's called, as I was thinking about what the oil was doing during lots of sustained 100mph sections on the way home. I was also thinking how someone, Pete Roper possibly, had said that by the time the warning light comes on it's already too late, the damage is done. Then the warning light came on Deep sump, windage tray, keep topping up the oil ??

I've just returned from the Erin Rally this evening. Oil was 'pretty full' to start – it's hard to be accurate with the dipstick. Rode to the bottom of Ireland, round a bit and back up again: 830 miles. On the way home, accelerating hard from standstill, the oil light flashed on. :!: Checked the oil when I got home. Somewhere between half and full – it's hard to be accurate with the dipstick. Same as you. Looks like I better carry oil on trips over a couple of hundred miles and keep it filled up to top. (On subject of oil: also had layer of oil round one side of back tyre for whole trip, as drive box seal – I presume – went at the start of the journey. Gave me something to think about on right hand corners )

These Famsa supersports might work ok with Ti upswept pipes They look a bit tiny though.

and the first reason is??? 'business'? hmmmmm..