belfastguzzi

I would recommend; forget the reading & look what's in front of you: Whilst the Big Bore (watercooled) motor is shown fitted in some of the build photos, it's not used in the bike in the track video. That has a stock-looking MG 8V air cooled motor. If you look at the video, the Alba circulates with (what appears to be) a Griso for a while, which looks pretty well matched for performance, think someone suggested it's a Griso cup bike. As for the plastics - I have nothing particular against fairings generally - though I'd like to see the Guzzi motor - it's just imo the side panels on this bike are real ugly & their lines at odds with the rest of the bike. KB Yes the Alba seems to be using the standard 8v motor as stock, certainly in those pics. I think there maybe was an early version with the big bore 1400 watercooled, but that doesn't seem to be the intent. The MGS runs a completely different (older) motor again.

Well, the pics are coming out now, just before it's officially revealed (tomorrow?). Seems there are two versions A standard version and an uprated Diavel Carbon, with carbon fibre bodywork, traction control, ABS and ride mode selector, lighter Marchesini forged wheels, an engine derived from the new Multistrada 1200 and a claimed 162bhp. It will tip the scales at 210kg dry. Wheelbase is 62.6 inches with Ducati promising 41-degree lean angles. Rear tyre is 240/45 profile. Ducati General Manager Claudio Domenicali: “We are here at EICMA this week with a series of important innovations that are totally in line with our strategic industrial plan and the Diavel is, without doubt, the most exciting innovation in our 2011 line-up because it represents a new concept of motorcycle. It is a naked because it is essential, light and agile; a cruiser because it is imposing and also comfortable with a passenger; and a sports bike because it has a powerful heart, muscles, and levels of performance that take your breath away.” “Until now, no segment has ever captured these characteristics in just one bike. We are extremely satisfied with the Diavel, it represents the very concept of ‘sport’ and celebrates all that Ducati has achieved in recent years. If the Multistrada 1200 represents the perfect synthesis between functionality and performance, the Diavel creates a new interpretation of performance, this time combined with technology and design."

JRT! JRT! But he's.... American. I see that Pete has posted pretty much what I was going to respond with. I.e. I never took a loan until I was near enough 50. I bought a CZ 125 brand new once (when I was about 20?) but apart from that, I haven't had a brand new vehicle until recent years. The MG V11 Scura. I did take out finance to buy a second hand bike just before that, having deliberately avoided such a purchasing route all my life. But then I haven't been pursuing a career or a profession and have brought up a family in circumstances that most people would not choose. Strangely, having got past 50 and with the huge expenses of putting children through universities in various places, I seem to have decided that it's now time to take out finance and spend some money on myself, buying a new bike, er, two new bikes. I somehow have to find time to keep the family's various cars on the road and I don't have time to be working on older bikes. Hence the decision to spend the money and buy new to give a trouble-free ownership experience: oh, cough, choke...ahem. Hence decision to buy a 2nd new bike after buying new Griso. Anyway, this is all personal stuff that we do for our own reasons. Of course I do wonder: what if I had taken a different approach, taken out big loans to fund a more comfortable/normal lifestyle, bought into a pension to retire on, etc, etc..? Being past 50, with a chronic illness/disease lurking in the background and my younger brother in Sydney being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the regular thought that when he was at the age that I am, my dad was at death's door, completely crippled with asbestosis I have taken the view that a little bit of short term finance on a motorbike makes a sort of sense. I wouldn't take out a loan on a new kitchen though! Weird thread. I suppose I'm just writing to say, there's more than one way to do things and personally I like to see other people saying that we shouldn't be living on loans as if it's the only and the necessary way to live. Usually, in the past anyway, it's generally assumed that we should be living beyond our means and living other people's dreams. Cheers to those of you who think otherwise and live otherwise. JR! What time is it?

Ducati says: "the Diavel will take the man-motorcycle relationship to the next level in absolute comfort." A comment on MCN says: "Well done Ducati! Almost wish I had saved my deposit on the V7 Racer for this beast." I guess he must mean the Guzzi Racer. Gosh.

Or as reported here: £1 – that's one GBP. I mean one, which is two less then even three. Or, in Euros – around about 1

Most other factories do have money for that. ... at least to sell enough of them to make enough money to serve the debts. hubert A bit off to the side of the topic: Italian factories - better out of Italy? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11624064

Have you tried the wiring mod, Antonio?

That's known as The Terblanche Concept, right?

That's good Iain. I don't think that I had seen that particular thread. This is one on Wildguzzi: http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=36793.msg553740#msg553740 Is this now the definitive solution? Have others found the change in wiring/additional cable to be an effective long-term fix?

Most other factories sell sports bikes and manage to keep them up to date too, i.e. develop new versions. Why is it more cost effective to produce a Stelvio or a Griso?

I was hoping dear Greg might have rung in by now. Maybe he moved to Europe. Hmmm Bavaria maybe?

The one and threequarters page spread appears this week. Guzzi V7 Racer is the new King of Cool headline all 49bhp (claimed) Fotunately it is 'achingly cool'. You need a generous helping of rear brake as well as front to slow you down. It brings rose-tinted, romantic visions of riding through Italian villages and mountain passes on an Italian V-twin Guzzi to life and it's small enough for shorter riders to be able to place both feet flat on the floor (to push it along perhaps?).

In fact, if you lean backwards it slows down.

On track http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1iah3Ac-rM

Yessiree and why doesn't the MG factory give the people what they want? Prototype http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhKrF8zZbKc Alba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvZ41pKA73s Prototype http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM9kbCjriY

Fresh bang up to date on the occasion of having yet another hole drilled in my head. I know you can't believe it's true, but it is. Stranger things happen to Greg Field. (Gotta keep on topic.)

Some would say so. I'd say, 'nice earings'. Do you like my eyepatch? I can't really see, so don't hold me responsible for what I type.

2 SEs! Are ther a lot of them about? What do you think of them? You've said before that the motor/camming/ECU(?) is improved, or at least modified. What about those wire wheels – nice touch... or just heavier? Anything else of note? Re Centauro - V11 - Griso motors I haven't been reading other Forums much, but when I looked the other day, there are a few threads on the go (including a quite horrendous one on the GB Club Forum) roughly on the subject of 'why aren't new bikes any faster than the old ones?'. Interesting. I suppose that as a generalisation, handling has improved and strangulation has tightened.

Genus Cucurbita? and not wanting to deviate – Greg's Field?

Hey Hubert never mind about JR's fellow countryfolk and relations: define European, please. Or should we ask Antonnio?

–> HERE!

3) Define toss Or to put it another way, Do Europe ans do a pump kin to ss? On the other hand, one has to wonder: Do Europeans do pumpkin toast? 1) Define European 2) Define pumpkin

Nice photos. I don't care for this Honda Anus, though. Reminds me of someone....... sorry, changed the photo/link, so

I don't believe it's possible to put a baseball team in a tomato. OR Are we talking an American tomato... ...and possibly, not wanting to deviate from the Topic title, one grown in Greg's Field?

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