belfastguzzi

Orson out and about and fabulous pictures as ever. An inspiring trip. In the next year or two I may have reason to be at Bordeaux, Rennes, Redon and thereabouts. If so, I must take the bike and make sure there is time to get to some of those visually stunning places. Mention of Bologna in the first post reminds me, Jihem, that when I saw you this morning, I meant to ask you about the Ducati museum and factory – I think you have been there? I'll be in Bologna in a few weeks time, with not much free time. Is it worth trying to squeeze in a visit? I suppose the answer has to be yes. But I forget to mention it.

The review in the current MCN is glowingly positive. Rates the Classic highly and way better than Triumph Bonneville.

It's worth posting these two newspaper pieces from last week, because of the sympathetic, understanding perspective. A family grieves, while legions honour a hero It is at once the most optimistic and the most useless word in the language. If Robert Dunlop had quit after his horrendous crash on the Isle of Man in 1994. Or if he had kept his promise to retire in 2003, rather than return to the road the year after. If his engine had not seized at 160mph on Thursday night and if Darren Burns had not been so hot on his heels that he had no time to avoid him as he lay on the road. If. If all these things had happened, yesterday would have been a perfect day for Robert Dunlop. He would have awakened with Louise in their Ballymoney home and pulled back the curtains to reveal the endless blue sky and puffy white clouds of a glorious May day. And then they would have driven the few miles down the road to the little Presbyterian church at Garryduff, then gone out for Sunday lunch to celebrate with his son a double victory in the North West 200 on Saturday: Michael's first and Robert's 16th. But none of those ifs happened and instead of standing with his son in the warm sun, Robert went to Garryduff instead to lie with his brother in the cold earth. Yesterday afternoon the grass around Joey's grave whispered in the warm breeze as they came in their thousands to pay their respects, until the Ballymoney-to-Dunloy road was thick with people as far as the eye could see. In the fields, on all sides, the chrome of motorcycles and the roofs of parked cars glittered for miles. Just before 4pm, a pair of dark cars arrived and disgorged First Minister Ian Paisley, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley Jnr, a keen biker himself and one of the last people to speak to Robert before he died. The funeral was due to start on the hour, but the crowds lining the road were so dense that it was 45 minutes later that the cortege finally hove into view. A week ago, Louise Dunlop would have come to this church as Robert's wife. Yesterday she stepped out of a car as his widow, her face etched with pain as, barely able to stand with grief, she walked between the serried ranks of Ballymoney's councillors in all their finery, honouring the man who had been a freeman of the borough. Behind her came May, the mother of Joey and Robert, her expression one of disbelief that she had now lost two of her three sons. At last the simple church was full and ready to receive the body of Robert Dunlop, carried by his sisters Margaret and Helen and his sons William, Michael and Daniel, to the sound of the pipes of Billy Wade. Behind them walked Robert's other sisters, Linda and Virginia, and Jim, now the last of the three Dunlop brothers and the only one who had retired from road racing while he still could. The first to speak, Barry Symmons of Honda, said: "Robert couldn't be doing with all this sombre stuff. He'd prefer a few jokes and although I don't have any jokes today, I do have a story about how he arrived late for a meeting once, as usual, and someone said: 'Robert, in true Dunlop fashion, you'll be late for your own funeral'. And he was. “Motorcyclists are individual, free-thinking men and Robert was one of that family, so many of whom have turned up here today to honour their hero. “And he was a hero. Not like the people who think being in Hello is important, or ignorant, overpaid footballers whose only example is starting fights, spitting and swearing. “No, I’m talking about heroes like Robert’s son Michael, who raced to victory yesterday, less than two days after his dad died.” Liam Beckett, Robert’s mechanic, produced that rarest of sounds at a funeral – laughter – with tales of he and Robert searching frantically for a suit in Macau after Robert won the road race there. “He was more thrilled at having to get a medium jacket than he was at winning the race. ‘I’m a big man in Macau, LB’, he said. “Another time he was in hospital in Italy after crashing in Monza, but he was desperate to get home so I started throwing clothes from his wardrobe into a duffel bag. “The fella in the next bed, who was in an even worse state than Robert, started having a fit until it turned out what he was saying was that it was his clothes I was taking.” He sat down and soloist Anne Smith took his place to sing Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird. I listened outside on the grass, standing beside a headstone to Martha Anderson of Garryduff, who had died in 1882, aged 65; her husband John, who had gone in 1905 at 90; their son-in-law William James, in 1931 at 76, and his daughter-in-law Isobel, in 1985, at 79. At least, I thought, they had been spared to die peacefully in their beds of old age. Others, like Joey and Robert, had gone from life in the twinkling of an eye, in the time it takes for a tyre to lose its footing on a west Estonian road, or an engine to seize on the way to Mather’s Cross. That is the knife edge that road racers live on, the risk of instant death that makes life all the sweeter. And its loss all the more poignant for the many thousands of men and women who stood with their heads bowed outside Garryduff church yesterday and then, as the shadows lengthened towards evening, put on their helmets and rode home. Glad to be alive and only sorry that they were leaving behind two of their kind, brothers who had once shone in the sun and now lay together in the cold, dark earth. Funeral There couldn't have been a more fitting tribute to Ulster racing legend Robert Dunlop than the feast exhilarating action served up at an emotional north coast on Saturday, topped by fairytale victory by son Michael in the 250 race. In the wake of Robert's tragic death on Thursday night, the organisers called on riders, fans and officials to pull together to ensure the 2008 event was remembered as a fitting tribute to most successful rider ever to grace the high-speed Triangle circuit - and they didn't disappoint. The road racing fraternity is often referred to as 'one big family' and never was this more apparent than on Saturday morning when news of the courageous decision taken by William Dunlop and his brother Michael left the watching masses in awe of the determination of Robert's two sons to give their hero father the perfect send off. As the two-strokes machines left the starting grid on the warm-up lap and fans around the course spotted the two young Ballymoney riders out on the circuit, the tears began to well up. Unfortunately for William, his machine expired and he was unable to start the four-lap race - but Michael rose to the occasion to claim a heart-wrenching maiden victory on the very circuit that was so often the theatre in which Robert performed his greatest feats. Fighting back the tears, the 20-year-old said he hoped his dad "was proud of me." He revealed that he only decided to race on Saturday as a gesture of support to William, who had committed himself to taking part in the 250 event the previous day. "I couldn't let William go out there and race on his own," Michael said. "It's great for a Dunlop to win. I wanted to do it for my dad and I did it. "I found myself at the front and on the last lap I thought 'there's no point in stopping now.' I had my spot picked out and it worked," he added. "I'm so proud and I want to thank everyone for their support. My dad was the best around here," he said. The Ballymoney rider beat last year's winner, Christian Elkin, to the chequered flag, but the Macclesfield man was gracious in defeat and paid a glowing tribute to his rival. "He was riding with his heart and you have t give it to him for riding out there after what happened to his father. We were both riding hard, but he got the better of me and fair play to him." Isle of Man TT master, John McGuinness, finished third and he too acknowledged the bravery of the young Dunlop. "My bike was good and the race could have gone either way. All three of us were riding hard but it was fantastic for Michael Dunlop to get the win and he thoroughly deserved it. "Seeing all those fans waving their programmes all the way around the circuit is something that will stay in my mind forever." Thousands attended Robert's funeral in Ballymoney yesterday afternoon.

Right, maybe that's what mz means: the brake is operating ok, but it doesn't slow the bike. Could be that the pads got contaminated too. I thought he meant that there was no piston operation. There could be air in there too, so everything is marginal. A good thorough clean-up of caliper, pitons/pads (check thickness, they're slim to start with), brake rotor, lever and rod; flush new fluid through; reassemble clean. Won't take long and should sort it or it will show the problem.

Is everything ok and in place at the brake lever / rod / fluid cylinder end of the line? If it is then you'll just have to work through it section by section. It's a simple system so you should be able to see where the problem is. Did you clean or look at the condition of the rear caliper / pads / pistons when you had it off? It gets bunged-up with dirt. You should take the opportunity to clean it.

Highlights of the races are on plain ordinary Great British tv on Sunday (25th May) BBC2 12 noon

Technology is no barrier to us. We have very good powers of imagination. Never mind about the computer leads: here are your pictures, transferred by telepathy: Mr. Guzzirider Mr.Gearjammer

Good. So here it is with different bars

It's one of the beautiful bikes from the firestartergarage.it €25,000

Oh, I like the look of those Monster bars, 'cos I was thinking of the old style Ace bars. They're similar, though a bit more ugly because of the sharp angles. I'm sure you've seen the pics of this lovely machine?

You're just saying that. I don't think you'll do it.

Good article. I agree with all** he said, including the lightish front end at speed, which I'm hoping a better seating position with different bars will help address. **For me though, I like the lower seat height. I'm not tall like him. Thanks for the link. That's very helpful. Fat bars and riser:

Cheers, Tom. I don't know what's available. The last time that I bought bars, they were Norton Straights and it must have been 30 years ago. (Along with Goldtop boots – and that shop is gone, long ago.) I'll measure accurately tonight, but yes, they look like 28mm.

and you're offering? Bertie and Soren... well, that was obvious. But we didn't suspect that you had your eye on Gearjammer! Hang on!! Are you Mrs Gearjammer?????

I can't see it being stopped. If anything, it will be one or two of the smaller, dangerous road races that will be abandoned, or have further road/safety work done. There have been other meetings lost in recent years because they're just too dangerous. The Tandragee 100 is a likely contender for abandonment now. As far as the North West is concerned, the thing is that Robert Dunlop's tragic accident could have happened anywhere, on any short circuit. The date for the 2009 NW 200 will not be decided until October of this year.

I have a theory, based on The Guzzirider Hypothesis. ~~ D.Laing and Ratchet are actually a Mr and Mrs.~~ Makes sense. But which one is the Mr and which the Mrs? Is Ratchet actually Mrs D.Laing or is D.L actually Mrs Ratchethack? Some experimentation is called for.

Thanks, Greg. I'd like to try something similar to the one on the Scura – so that looks equivalent. Guzzi's own flyscreen looks very small. Any experience of it? On the bars: any experience of bars that give a lower and more forward riding position?

Crikey, how do we know that?!

Only in the bar, so there's significant room for doubt. Could be the doubling effect of alcohol-enhanced vision.

Dear panelists Concerning the recent appearance of Mrs Guzzirider hereabouts: how do we know that it's not just MasterGuy, accessing his computer in his laydee dress? Yours Mrs Belfast (Bob, to my friends)

Yes H, the bank holiday does make sense as it would be fantastic to have the extra day. I discounted it because I thought that it could clash with other family breaks etc. However it makes the effort of going somewhere more worthwhile, as there would be two 'ride-out' tour days to see around the place and enjoy the company. Other opinions? I'm guessing that the NW will be the weekend previous to that.

The trip to Scotland provided an interesting test with the Griso. It turned the 1,000 miles mark and had fresh oil, so I was happy to wind it on more, though I'm still not running it at or over the redline. There's no doubt that this is a revy motor. It wants to be at the top end. The thing is that MG haven't got the right bike package for it yet. The Griso is a bit of a bizarre bike. Having discounted the 1100, I took a look at it again when the 1200 8V came out: because it was publicised as being a sportier model, with a sportier riding position. I really think that's more hype than anything sunstantial. It's still an odd mix of butch cruiser with sporting inclinations. Despite what the publicity intimated, the footpegs seem to me to be in exactly the same position as the 1100 and the bars, while narrower, are still very much sit up, sit back, arms out wide, head up. What's it all about? The bike wants to run, but the seating position means that the rider is constantly pushed back and sliding back. For a start, some sort of fairing / screen should be a big improvement. Why, with a motor like this, didn't they give it one as standard? Even so, the seat could do with a re-shape and, for me, I want to do something different with the bars. I don't know what yet, because although it's relatively easy to put on straights or clip ons, I'm pretty much stuck with the foot peg / lever position. And it's a heavy, bulky lump. Three of us, the G and 2 V.11s, went for a fast run over fairly empty and very twisty Scottish hill roads. To be honest, I found it hard work (very enjoyable work, mind) not because of the engine, nor because of the frame / running gear – they're all great – but because of the wind-blasted, upright and rearwards seating position. The Stelvio review talks about maintaining speeds of 100mph: "sit-bolt-upright 100-mph nirvana ". The stock Griso won't let you do that for any amount of time. It's a shame. Just what are these new models meant to be? Of course I very much like the bike – and its potential. Enough to buy one. I'm just commenting on an unfortunate core deficiency in the design concept(?), which if addressed, would have made for a bike that was more coherent, made much more sense.

Nice bit of tree there Joe. But this time, the Britisher gone done it better. Mal's MG Le Mans Tree, with 'grow your own' sidestand:

Yoooou dirty rat, Barrett. The public isn't ready for pics like those yet!

:lol: