Denis

Received the Mistral crossover earlier today, now fitted. Looks much neater, much lighter. Still raining and a few too many beers to try it out. Tomorrow looks good. Liking the high level Mistrals end cans, but I'll see how the bike rides in the mid range ( which is my main interest).

I find the speedo working very useful , as the V11 doesn't have a fuel gauge. I just use the trip meter to remind me when I need petrol. The warning light for low fuel is not very strong, If I relied on the light, I'm sure I would run out at some stage. I don't ride much at night, so the warning light in the daylight is poor. I have paid alot more attention to the routing this time, and poured some Redline 80w gearbox oil down the inner cable. Electric drill on the speedo drive shows the clock to run very freely.

The first speedo cable broke after I had ridden the bike for about 150 miles - it was the original cable. The new replacement cable lasted about 90 miles, then broke. Fitted another new one, which seems to be lasting longer - if this is a regular breakage then I'll shift to the electronic versions discussed on this forum.

Hi, I thought I would give an update on my 2004 V11 Ballabio. I have really enjoyed the bike since buying it recently - sold my Ducati Monster 1100S as it just didn't suit me, wanted something a little saner. So, I have Changed the plugs to iridium spark plugs Changed to engine oil 20-50 fully synthetic AGIp Changed the rear drive oil Changed the gearbox oil to the recommended Redline 80w - what a difference that made! Have tried to grease the driveshaft, but can see that this might take another attempt - may leave to the winter now and remove the swinging arm etc. Thanks to Rossi46 for helping me out here - great chap. Fitted a sump baffle plate Checked the brake pads for wear Fitted two new speedo cables .... Cleaned the K&N air filter. Overall its a joy to work on, and a joy to ride. Will be fitting a Mistral crossover soon.

In the interests of comparing peated vs non peated , I bought a bottle of Jura Superstition and Glenlivet 12 year old. I can say that I have enjoyed a sample of both - I actually prefer the less pungent taste of the Glenlivet , which did surprise me. My son is helping me out with this tasting, but he doesn't like the peated whisky.

Hi docc Have a search for a chap you reviews whisky on You Tube Search for Ralfy and Penderyn - he gives a very good description. He also has about 400 on line video reviews of single malts. Will be sampling Jura this weekend.

Hi docc, Penderyn single malt is distilled in Wales, only about 20 miles from where I live. I pass the distillery on my way out to Mid Wales, even had the factory tour etc. My work involves understanding filtration and distillation, I know the people who supply the filters and we have a still in my place of work. Good Welsh whisky ( I believe it is the only Welsh brand).

My son bought me a bottle of Buffalo Trace as a present for picking him up from finishing his 4 year University degree ( 400 mile round trip). Penderyn single malt distillery use the empty Buffalo Trace casks to store their whisky in to mature. So we were both interested in Buffalo Trace. We both liked it, my son more so than me, nice bourbon.

Might have to sample the Jura again..... purely on the basis of repeating the initial sampling work. Wouldn't want to draw any false conclusions.....

Thanks, I'll have another attempt when my thumbs stop tingling from the "quick release" fittings.

Hi, I have managed to get the fuel "quick release" couplings apart after some pushing and shoving..... There are two electrical connectors that need to be undone after that, one of them comes apart very easily, The difficult connector is the larger boxy connector that has , what can best be described as a lever , which can be either pressed or lifted. 30 minutes I have tried , what am I doing wrong? Comments appreciated.

This bottle of Talisker Storm must be faulty, I bought it on Friday evening and it was full. It's Sunday evening now, and there's only half of it left............ The bottle must be leaking, or it is evaporation.......

A good Welsh single malt is Penderyn , I have been at their distillery tour, not too far from where I live. Can't make my mind up better the " ordinary" single malts, or the peated\ smoked malts. Give me. Your favourites please.

Whisky thread. Drinking Talisker Storm on a Friday night. What's your single malt favourite? Regards Denis

Thanks Kiwi roy. I saw your thread on the speedhut gauges, I may go down this route if the cable just keeps breaking. I have some Shimano grease that was formulated for the gear contro cables on the bicycle Sti levers that always worked well on mountain bikes. I will try and grease the inner cable as much as possible to help prevent the passage near the 90 / 60 degree bends. it s more of a silicone type grease that is quite viscose , time will tell..

Thanks guys, Borrowed a reversible drill froma friend. The speedo will move freely up to 40mph - thats the fastest the drill would speed it up to. I think I have just been unlucly with the two cables. I originally took great care with the routing , following the original layout. For the replacement I will pack some grease around the 90 degree bend and 60 degree bend.

I have attached the original speedo cable and connected an electric drill to the cable. The speedo works, but as I don't have a reversible drive it just winds the clock backwards. I was concerned that the speedo may have not been working. The cable always broke at speed , it didn't break unless I was travelling at more than 80 mph ( on closed roads)

Hi, I have used the search function for the notorious speedo cable issues, but I can't find an answer to whats happening with my bike. I bought the bike a week ago, and the speedo was working , including the odometer ( as this is what I use for a fuel gauge). A few days after i had the bike the speedo cable broke at the transmission end. I put this down to Murphy's Law - me just buying the bike , and ordered a new cable from Gutsibits. Cable arrives very promptly, Gutsibits told me it was the correct version and it matches the one I took off. fitted new cable to the bike, test ride round the block - everything working fine. Cable broke again after 50 miles - this time at the speedometer end ( the 90 degree bend area). Gutsibits have been good and asked to return the 50 mile old cable and they will order me a new cable in exchange (thanks guys). The speedo works fine, I have put the original broken cable back up into the speedometer and turned the cable by hand. I even fixed it to a drill and it all works fine. Any advice?

I was in Abergavenny last Sunday - not many there - the only Guzzi was me. Lovely roads from Neath - Ystradgynlais - Sennybridge - Brecon - Abergavenny. Cup of coffee , natter about bikes, repeat in opposite direction. Really gelling with the Ballabio - lovely motor, torque is fun, comfy, relatively economical, the sun even shone........

Managed to find a two hour dry weather window. Wonderful, smoother than I imagined, comfortable, I'm sure I will enjoy the bike , just need my first long ride into Mid Wales. Have a look in the gallery , took some images on its maiden ride.