belfastguzzi

This is what it's about: Registration grants you technical assistance along the entire route, and dispatch cars and motorcycles to escort the Caravans, besides suppers and hotel reservations along with restaurants selected and reserved for the occasion. To all those registered, a personalised kit will be delivered including a Road Map, patch, sticker, and travel notebook. Thousands of kilometres on wonderful roads, in a journey that, beginning Saturday 7 November (depending on the selected departure city), will culminate 10 November at the 67th annual EICMA, the International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition at the Milan's trade exhibition centre. For Guzzi enthusiasts participating in "Where Eagles Fly", admission is included to the first day of the trade fair, normally reserved for industry dealers and for the press.

What's this all about? From MG website: "London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Florence, Naples, ... Six Guzzi caravans across Europe, towards a single appointment! Thousands of kilometres on wonderful roads away from motorway traffic. Guzzi riders of Europe: the emotion of a memorable journey under the sign of the Eagle! Dispatch cars and motorcycles for each Caravan. Assistance on the whole road. Hotels and restaurant selected and reserved. Personalised kit: Road Map, Patch, Sticker, and Travel notebook."

Mr Spam Man must think that Enzo still visits here.

Fastest lap pushed to 133.282 this year

! wow, that's nice to know. Thanks for mentioning.

I blame the Forum geometry

Well mpg certainly hasn't improved with time. I'm prompted to post because I've just opened a copy of Bike and it fell at the end of a road trip report on a ZZR1400 and an R1200 GS. The BM averaged 44mpg with a best of 48. Theoretical range of 195; practical range 160 The Kwak averaged 40 with a best of 45. Theoretical range is 197 miles; practical 180. My Griso 1200 8V has a practical range of 100 miles. Last fill was no different to usual. From a tip-top top-up, the warning light came on after only 93 miles. The computer display tells me that the bike is averaging 23.8mpg! It may be calculating in American gallons (if that's true, what a stupid, stupid, un-necessarily stupid and obtuse way to build a 'useful' computer display feature!) but even so, 24mpg and 100 miles range is rubbish in a bike like this. Could the computer / speedometer / odometer be way out of whack? It's almost certainly over-reporting speed / under-counting distance, but it's not madly out. When I do a journey that I know is around 25 miles it doesn't tell me that I've done 15. What are others getting now with this engine? What the other CARC (modern) motors giving? 1200 Sport? BTW there is a V7 Café Classic article. It easily averaged 50mpg and gave a 200 mile range. That's more reasonable.

He liked his quick bits 1984?

Great bit of film from 1999 UGP Joey and David Jeffries Gary Dynes too – all R.I.P. 1999 UGP

Just for a bit of diversion, if not relief... Many will remember the Pan European problems from a couple of years ago. It's been mentioned here before, I think. Same sort of situation. Main problem was highlighted though the Police bike wobbles. There were crashes, then a Police rider was killed. However civi riders on standard spec machines also complained of same dangerous wobbles, while others proclaimed the machines as rock steady! "After a coroner in the UK stated that the Honda Pan European ST1300 used by the UK Police Officers was unsafe at high speeds, the Association of Chief Police Officers in the UK withdrew the motorcycle. This happened after a Police Officer (David Shreeve) lost control of his motorcycle after developing a violent high-speed wobble resulting his death. There is no problem with standard Honda Pan European motorcycles, just the Police version, due to the heavy equipment transported (communication and emergency materials), and the different suspension used." Owner A > "How much of this is accurate and how much is sensationalism, negative journalism or sour grapes. I am sorry for PC Shreeve and his family but he was doing 110 mph plus on a fully laden Pan on the M58 which has very open and windy sections. The ST 1300 handbook advises no more than 80 mph with panniers.Is the police withdrawal of these bikes backside covering in case another accident happens and the police are left open to compensation claims? I ride my ST 1300 all year every day for work as well as weekend runs. My daily commute takes me close to the accident site so I can confirm it is windy. The only time I have experienced any hint of instability is when the Honda top box is fitted, and I've been riding solo, and possibly a little too fast for the conditions. Even then I would not say it was serious. So, I'm confused - my bike seems perfectly stable under any reasonable conditions, but we hear these reports. Is it really only the police bike which is affected, or am I riding a potential death trap which is going to bite me one day. As stevenrees says, we need an answer from Honda" Owner B > "Guess I was one of the first victims of the high speed wobble (Feb 04)- totalling the bike and putting me in hospital. 50+ year old, riding since 16, I.A.M. Green badge, Police trained, I know how to ride and I know a bad bike when I come accross it. I'll keep campaigning for Honda to be brought to task - for there are few nights I go to bed without thinking of the kids being brought up without a Dad because Dave Hancock and crew at Honda wouldn't take heed of my experience/correspondance then. Funny how the media seem reluctant to persue the issue - no more free bikes/weekends away at stake? Loved my ST100 - the STX1300 is a killer - and despite reports of Police returning hundreds, Honda are still seling them. Police vs Civvie spec - mine was loaded with change of clothes in top box, computer in ns box & recovery kit in rh box, probably up to Police spec weight. Guys are dying on these machines because of 'rider error' - they rode one.RIP" Owner C > "I have had mine for two years and 7900 miles, 2500 in France last year, two up and overloaded in weight with just the passenger and rider, yes the all three boxes were full and the tank bag too. (?240kgs..me and the lad are 200 between us). Pre-loaded to the MAX!! Mine has been rock steady even flat out, It has Bridgestone 020's and at 42 psi. I too am IAM trained and am studying to be paramedic with Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Not that means much but D1 and D2 driver training alters your perdpective on hazzards. I am happy with mine, I waisted 70quid buying a brace off ebay 'cos I was scared of the hype (when I returned). Should have saved my cash. I think I must ride like a nonce but St Tropez to home 1066 miles in 14 hours is not hanging about in anyones book. Try before you buy. I did and it's fabulous. Fit the correct rated tyres and just ride it. Screen up or down fast or slow, ring it,s neck and it will keep comming back. I am acutely aware that the cop bikes are different but civii ones are ok. I might be the only one saying it's ok, but that's all that matters. I had my RF9 for 12 years, 55,000 miles and I suspect the Pan will stay a while too and I also suspect everyone else THINK they ride Hard but actually they don't. The Police on the other hand DO. In all weathers. Brave, and right decision to remove the machine from their fleets. Folk have a bump, and like todays society have to find someone to blame, in this case.... "of course it was the machine ... no,no... not me , I am traind and never make a mistake , me.... welll I am perfect am I not? I have a little piece of paper telling me I am!" It means there are some absolute bargins to be had because people are so afraid of them. Any one shrude enough not to believe the hype can have themselves an masterpiece of Honda engineering. I feel for the PC in the crash and his family. It was a police bike ot a civi. So again.... try before you buy!" Owner D > "I have had mine back to to honda and they said its fine i went back out this weekend one day and it weaved badly again look Honda ive had a lot of bikes and this is a problem you must fix my bike has cover only 700 miles and i now hate to ride it..." etc etc

Michael Dunlop at Stranocum at Cookstown picturing 'between the hedges'

wobbles

No it's different course. It's always referred to as 'fastest' because the UGP has fastest average speed of 130mph+ around the lap while the NW200, with longer straighter roads, reaches highest speed, with the superbikes cracking 200mph+ UGP/Dundrod goes 170 - 180mph

Ulster Grand Prix programme on BBC1NI now. Should be good. Possibly catch it again on iPlayer. John McGuinness has been lap record holder at 131.7 Ryan Farquhar has been on great winning form. 53 wins this year so far. Very close now to Joey Dunlop's record of 119 win: just a few behind. William Dunlop going good too at the Ulster. First race at the mo. Ian Huthinson and Farquhar battling it out. Anstey and Amor behind. Hutchinson has just done it by 3 tenths. Farquhar Superbike lap at over 132mph in earlier Dundrod 150. Topping 170 plus

just now, I'm thinking of going home

It's time to consider the wobbliness of things. I reckon there's too much of it about the place. Same goes for sag. We could all be better off without it. That's not a firm conclusion.

and also, did you note how many jellied eel pies had you eaten before riding those poor bikes? Too many, I'll warrant. Besides, you can't keep a Jackal upright

You're just saying that cos you want him to put handcuffs on you. Have you bought a Tenni?

If you can't find the Griso version, there's always the standard V11 Tenni bodysuit and handbag

Yes. That's what I mean – Guzzi should allow some other competent mechanic, or me as owner, to do the work. I'm just talking about the Moto Guzzi 'system' as this has to be a warranty matter. So far no response at all (as before) from the only dealer/agent left here, nor from the UK importer. Plus, if the damage was done during the recall work (which is how it looks) then it doesn't inspire confidence in even more work (lifting top half off) to put original work right.

Unfortunately Pete, all of this seems to be a moot point, as there isn't anybody in the country who understands any of it. The only solution would seem to be for Guzzi to abandon its dealer-warranty system and instead just let anybody do the work. The end result couldn't be any worse than the present situation and there is every chance that it would be much better. But that's not going to happen. So I'm at a loss...

This seems to be the situation that MG is facing. It was interesting to also see Joe M's comment on the S.G. site. As someone else who has personally invested in promoting the marque and galvanising the enthusiasm of owners, he says that he will never buy a new Moto Guzzi. He adds, "It strikes me that at a time when Guzzi is in danger of disappearing for good, after 80-odd years, they have still not grasped the basic fact that you need two things for a succesful business... [a] you need to find new customers and you need to keep existing customers happy. One doesn't work without the other..." In my small experience, Guzzi isn't doing either of things. Due to the past year's experience, still ongoing, I've previously said that I would never buy another new Guzzi while things are like this. It's diabolical in this day and age when a customer pays a premium price for a premium product and then there is nothing but continuing absence of customer service. So it's not just the models that Guzzi are (not) putting out: in the UK anyway, the other fundamental that they aren't providing is the necessary dealer/importer care and back-up service. I might conceivably buy another old model. I won't buy another new one from Guzzi. "Once a Guzzisti – always an old-time Guzzisti"???

sorry to ask another question that I should probably know the answer to without asking, by thinking about it, or by looking at a parts diagram... when doing the cam replacement recall work, would the head bolts be loosened? Do the nuts that hold the cam 'cages' also hold the head on and so tighten down the head and barrel? Thanks.

Yes, it's a bit of a double-post as I mentioned this in the CARC forum. I'm looking for advice as once again I haven't had a response from either the only Moto Guzzi dealer left in the Province, nor Moto Guzzi UK's agent – even though this must be a warranty issue. What is normal practice with metal gaskets? Can a gasket be re-used or should it be replaced once the joint is loosened? As far as I can see, the Griso's 1200 8V is leaking from the barrel base joint. The heads were off to replace cams at (eventual) recall. Do the bolts run right through the barrels to the main engine block and so when the head is removed the barrel is loosened at the base joint too? It has been said that re-torquing won't help as the metal gasket is incompressible, but even if it won't compress any more, could further tightening simply seal the joint again? Apart from the oily mess, how problematic is a leaking base gasket?

As far as I can see, it is leaking from the barrel base joint. Even if the gaskets are incompressible, could it be that it's just not tight enough to make a complete seal and does need tightened more? What is the normal practice with these steel gaskets? Are they meant to be use-once only and so should they be replaced once a joint is loosened?