belfastguzzi

Speaking personally, I'd like to see around the Wash so I would spend a few days around there. Then I would go to the Lake District and spend the rest of the week around the seashore, lakes, forests and mountains: stretching from Morecambe Bay, Grange over Sands, on up north around Coniston, Windermere, Keswick and so on. I haven't used the Youth Hostel Association, but others of the family have. That could be an option for some of your accommodation. See here http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/t...rict/index.aspx If you run out of stuff to do/see and want to come over here early.... let me know. I still say that you should see Donegal.

yes, reasonably funny

Tv coverage of this year's road racing season starts on BBC1 tonight, with the Cookstown 100 10.15pm Monday BBC1NI

Just a reminder – if I miss topics that could be added to this list, post here to let me know. What about V7 stuff? Should it be added in as a new model? Thanks.

Thanks very much folks: great material. I have a much better grasp of it now. I found some other pics and a reference to these books, which you probably know about: "books written by john bradley who takes you from a to z in one off motorcycle construction. these books are facinating, well written, easy to read." ?

Computer says: 20 days

I was going to ask anyway: why did the Mana blot its copy book for the first time?

Sounds good. Is that what Pete was after but couldn't get supplied?

Yes, that's the look I would expect to fit with the description. That's why I have been curious as to what it really means.

That's what I guessed, but then the reverse cone musn't need to be very big? Todd E describes this design (see pic) as 'true reverse megaphone'. It seems like just a big pipe with a small part of a cone on the endcap. I can see it as a megaphone. Surely not much cone to deflect pressure back? But I don't know the science of pressure waves. Due to 'computer problems' it'll take a while for me to recover photos and stuff. I have this pic on the web. It's not great. Ah, here's another:

It was running fine as it was. I started to install a new Operating System last night and it went dead. The main file structure is irrepairably damaged but it only showed up because of the install. The damage could have been there for a long time, caused by a power-cut or something like that, maybe? Thankfully I've been able to get all my stuff of it now, but it still won't do an erase and install. So I'm zeroing the data on the drive, hoping that I can install over that deeper erase. It's a long wait, while it does all that zeroing out on an 800GB drive. It's a good job that I've got work** to while I wait... **work/web waffling, ahem.

That's as big an issue as the damage itself. As I've said, probably here, but also to Piaggio-Guzzi: broken things can be fixed, but the lack of trust that is created by a company, the damage to its reputation because of the way that customers are treated – that is more difficult to fix. It's unacceptable that I haven't been able to get any word from the whole of the Guzzi system for the best part of a quarter of a year, on a newly purchased bike, with a factory fault. It's only now that I'm starting to get little bits of response from Guzzi, but even at that, there is an impression of deep reluctance in the system (not in all individuals, I'm sure). If Macguzzi is right in his observations at the factory, and the reports of lack of sales of the 8V models (in USA) are typical of the wider picture, then potentially Guzzi is in deep trouble with this new engine. In that case, given their defensiveness, I guess they will not, not, not start more investigations on customers' bikes and certainly not, not, not, not, not replace any motor, because they could be opening a flood-gate. That may be the situation. It doesn't mean that Guzzi is morally right and I think it's questionable that such short-termism will ultimately help the company. I think it's more likely to have the opposite effect. So given that I'm not going to get further investigative help from Piaggio Guzzi and there is zero hope of getting a new engine or bike (not without some sort of court battle anyway) here's what I will do. I simply don't have time to open the engine myself. I will try to get time to take the cam 'cage' out, as that will be quick and easy: but even for that wee job I don't know when I can do it in the next 2 weeks. Work is just hectic, as all the pressure of keeping things going here, finding money etc, is on me. I'm at work at the moment and am here every night and also weekends. I'll be away this weekend, but it's for work. What is the significance of the two weeks I mentioned? Well, I've been looking forwards all year to the V.11 UK rally that I'm organising here, in Northern Ireland, starting 21/22 May. I see it as my annual holiday. I didn't get holiday time at Easter there, or St Pat's day, nor will I on May day etc, so for me personally it would be a disaster not to have a bike on the road this month. Maybe I'll get the 850 fixed, but it's the time problem again. So I'm going to ride the Griso. It's not because I'm disregarding the good advice that I've been given. I see it like this: if it's damaged then that will show up more after a few hundred miles and a bit of thrashing. I'll ride it in May and get a look at the cam bearings after that. Then there may be more pronounced evidence to present to 'the powers' or all the bits will look sweet and lovely and we'll be mightily relieved. I want to say that I am tremendously grateful for all the help (information, advice, opinion and moral support) that people have given both on the Forum and off-board. It's also great that people are giving different views, rather than keeping quiet. That is the value of the Forum and the debate. At some point, the whole 8V story will emerge and we'll see what's what. Greg's probably writing the stage-play at the moment. As it happens, I also have a major computer disaster at the moment, so I have no access to photoshop or anything like that. If I had, this book cover would read: Bad Vibes, Moto Guzzi and my part in its downfall. The author's name? Well insert your own choice. Soon be time to think about what sandwiches to pack for that run up the Coast Road.

A very old thread! What time is it? But it gives an opportunity to ask something that I've asked before (not here) and never got answered. What does reverse cone mean? I.e. what does 'reverse' mean in this case?

:lol: To be sure of making it, should I go on a bike or on a horse? In fact I would love to, but June is impossible. Actually, that particular weekend I will be in Italy, in Bologna! Unfortunately I don't have the time to ride there. One of these days....

Don't you think that a Euro was a bit expensive? That's almost a £pound.

Oh, in that case, I'll be coming for you. Prepare for a sound thrashing. No, seriously.

Oh, haven't I mentioned: the Griso doesn't start either. I have to hold the starter button down and then, maybe after 3 seconds or after 5 seconds or after another 5 prods, it decides to send lectrikery to the starter. I'll not mention it again.

ha ha anyone want to join a Crusade?

Hey Mac, I know you've been out of touch with things recently. so psst, do you wanna buy a Griso: just been, er, serviced?

I've put a higher res pic of the cam on Flickr, though I'm not sure if Flickr down-samples it when it is uploaded: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/348008...553f74147_b.jpg This is a smaller version of it

We cannot judge with absolute certainty, by the photos, even though it looks obvious. So, for that reason I have asked to get the cams from the dealer. I am sure that he will not give them though! When I took the photo it was only looking at the lobe and the tappet bowl foot. When I saw my own photo afterwards I kicked myself that I did not study the whole cam properly and also get more photos of it. Stupid. It is a lot easier to start further investigation by looking properly at the cams, which are already out, than by opening the engine. However, from the photos, I think we can agree that the tappet foot isn't quite what it should be!

Including the 'technical updates' I suppose? The recall stuff.

Great: you have mentioned two things that I wanted to ask about last night, but I didn't because I didn't want to keep harping on endlessly. The questions were and still are 1) has anyone got a workshop manual and/or parts manual yet 2) can the pump(s) be removed and inspected from the sump, which is what the dealer and UK agent seem to be saying? I will specifically ask the agent about this, but I would like to be sure – Pete, is the only way to get at the pump, to go through the timing chest? PS not to worry about schisms etc, folks. It's valuable to get different opinions. That's what a forum needs.