LowRyter

I'm game. Include Sports as well as Spiney LeMans...........

The first thing is that Tonti California Moto Guzzis are NOT cruisers. They have standard riding positions and are a variation on the sport Tontis. They handle and brake pretty well and If not particularly powerful they still rev. Don't lug the engine and don't shift to 5th gear until an indicated 80 mph. I have a '98 EV (it's photo was actually in an issue of Motorcyclist). The EV has floor boards, linked brakes, passenger backrest and tubeless wheels. Before you decide to take off the boards and delink the brakes (as I intended), ride it, it all works well together. I like up-shifting with my heel. The draw back is an uncomfortable seat due to a big computer under it. Mine has HB Junior bag set up and I have matching rack on the Sport so I can swap the bags among bikes. It's basically the same short block and electronics as the Spineys but a little less finicky. Although the TPS swap is giving me fits now. Every motorcyclist should have a Cali IMO.

I thought I would add a thread. I just signed up last night. http://www.gentlemansride.com/rider/lowryter

the PO has mine running good. It drinks gas (33 mpg) but runs good. It has the airbox and K&N (+ pipes and crossover), don't know about the snorkels. Just ran it 1500 miles (slab and twisties) over Labor Day. Checked the oil when I got back and it looks like you could fry potatoes in it. I have K&N on all 3 of my bikes, they seldom get very dirty and I don't run on dirt roads.

World Guzzi Day The Famous Gary Scott some of the gang the real west

thanks for the heads up. Actually my wife mentioned high oil pressure and I blew it off. It might explain the drips from the breather?

well, I can say those silicon valve cover gaskets didn't do the job for me. First, the right side leaked like a sieve after I adjusted the valves. I reinstalled it after the test ride. On the trip to the Springfield Mile (and back, 1400 miles this weekend) I got a little spray out of the right side. I took the valve cover off when I got home for clean up and three of the ears had rips. So, I just installed another from the pair I was going to put on the EV.

congrats getting the bike. I've never seen one and not even known about the R model until I saw the photo. Gorgeous bike.

I measure mine when it's cold. When it's hot it's possible that the oil is draining down from the top end and getting all over the dipstick and showing the oil level to give a false overfilled reading. On the other hand, the oil is still draining down and if the dipstick isn't in the down flow then the level reads falsely low. He have come to a consensus here that an accurate level can be observed whether the bike is level or on the side stand. I would think it's better to check it when it's cold and the oil has drained to the bottom of the sump.

Stick- I think you're right.

Vintage guys will run on Saturday night on the Springfield Short Track during Labor Day Weekend. See my other thread.

If you haven't checked WG, a few of us are heading to Springfield IL for the Flat Track Mile on 6 Sept. We're staying at the Homestyle Inn & Suites (aka roach motel). Vintage racing on the short track on Saturday and big boys run the mile on Sunday. There's a chance the world superbike champ Troy Bayliss will give it another try after breaking his ankle at the Sacramento Mile. If you're a race fan, you'll want to see The Mile. It's great stuff.

Update: After a couple of drain and fills, I did a filter change, dropped the pan and filled the sump precisely with 3.5 ltre. I noticed when I dumped the oil, there was a lot of oil. I didn't measure but it was a lot. So I filled it by measurement, rode the bike, let it sit and checked for leaks after a couple of hours. I checked the oil level on the side stand. The dipstick showed the fill at the full mark (but not the painted mark from PO). I can only conclude that level is meant to be checked when the bike is on the side stand- not being held upright level. The bike isn't puking oil either. I can conclude that I was over filling the crankcase by trying to compensate for checking the dipstick while on the side stand. The full mark is indeed full when the bike is on the side stand. I did clean quite of bit of oily grime under the tranny and swingarm. Also changed the tranny and rear end (+moly). Valve adjustment and plugs tomorrow.

give my regards to the Chancellor

Just a reminder, if anyone in flyover land wants to come to our campout and celebrate International Guzzi Day

It looks like you guys will be there on International Guzzi Day

I wondered why the harness had two bolt holes.

I bought the H4 LED conversion light kit from Cycle Gear. Unfortunately the kit won't fit in the headlight bucket on the Sport. It's about 1/4 in too long. I kept it to install on my Bandit where I have been using 90/100 wt bulb for the last dozen years, the heat is causing the headlight lens darken.

I wonder if PoleBridge has made any progress on his clutch creep?

we're getting organized this year compared to the first attempt last year.

Agree Docc, those Indian (and Victory) motors just get fun when the rev limiters kick in. Maddening. The cruiser riding position pretty extreme too. I think the Cal 14 just about nails it for big twin tourer. The only negative, I think the riding position should be a little more upright like my EV. They've proven to be pretty reliable bikes so far- other than a few broken crossovers.

I agree with you. A Guzzi motor is a revver not a puller. The sweet spot is over 4k rpms. My EV doesn't go into 5th gear until 80 mph. I think twins have a limited power range compared to my 4 cyl bike. You can give a twin top end power, mid range or bottom end torque but you can only do one. My 4 cyl bike can do all or at least two of three.

or said another way...all things equal, a 2.0 liter engine will give you the same power at 6k rpms that a 4.0 liter engine will give at 3k. One doing it with horsepower and the other with torque.

Torque = 5252 X Horsepower / RPM Horsepower = Torque X RPM / 5252 essentially HP is power measured over 5252 rpm and TQ is power measured below 5252 rpm..... the values are equal at 5252 rpm

Vintage Flat Track at the Fairgrounds? They cancelled the AMA Mile because of the fair but rescheduled Vintage races? WTH?