LowRyter

Actually I can't think of any retro styled new bikes that I would actually purchase. I suppose that Kaw cafe racer is sorta neat, the Bonneville and Speed Triple Sport, OK but not my money. Those "classic" styled Ducatis from 20 years ago were cool but they're 20 years old, so aren't they retro-retro bikes? About the same age as my V11 Sport which I'm not afraid to ride everyday. There are lots of nice bikes more than 30 years old that are the genuine article that have been pampered, reliable to ride and won't break the bank <Guzzi content>.

If it was an external pump, I'd spend the $75 and change it out with the filter. I don't know how much the internal ones cost.

I'd change out the filter first.

I wrote NBC yesterday and made the same point and several others. You might write them too.

Duc Factory isn't running the newest tech engine. Did I hear that Bastianini's team is running last years bikes? Talk about mixed up. A complete gaggle of teams and makes in the mix. Last year's champ down in 8th. MM was second rider on his team.

typical stuff encountered by most

Just curious. I wonder what the consensus here is regarding the necessity of the window? The only advantage I can see that the window provides is perhaps over filling the transmission after a fluid change due to residual fluid that didn't drain. Is that a risk warranting the effort? I suppose if there was a constant leak that it would be helpful to keep it topped up but in that case, there is a greater problem. Finally, how accurate is the window considering the bike sets on a side stand?

Tom, there's a good chance I'll go tp COTA. BTW- I used to live in Newport News. Pretty good trek. I've done it myself when I moved there from San Antonio.

back in the '70's that wasn't uncommon women's attire. Reminds me of one of Carly Simon's record covers.

These guy were pretty staid until I loudly congratulated them for their respective podiums at the pervious race. They were smiling and laughing after that.

P6X, If you make it to MotoGP race weekend, take note of the schedule. You might see the riders' group photo, usually at the start line on Friday morning. Sometimes there is a Q & A with the competitors and principals, although I saw that at Indy but not COTA. I usually take my photos on Friday practice when I get a good view of the bikes on the stairways and not get run off by the COTA goons. Unfortunately COTA doesn't allow a picnic or cooler, camping, RV and hotels are ridiculously expensive. The only good thing I can say about going to Austin is that it's day's ride I have a great route there. The beef BBQ is good in the small towns.

MD is a brave rider.

After 160k miles on my 94 Camaro, that LT-1 motor was leaking pretty bad. Also that optispark. My 08 vette LS3 is easier to work on and has a lot of go. Good luck with the Mustangs. I have a buddy in the Mustang club. One fellow shows a black '65 GT fastback with red stripes and interior. It's an absolute knock out.

I'll give it a "C".

He got rhythm, the Guzzi make music.

The last two posts remind me of a couple of things, particularly the photo of the snake in the bottle. My cousin worked for Phillips for most of his career and lived in Mainland China for about 5 years. He used to visit every Christmas and bring gifts. Funny, I would see him more often when he lived half way across the world rather than now where he's three hours up the road. His family brought a Chinese painting one year, they have unique style, lots of color, flat/two dimensional. Anyway, one year he brought me Snake Wine. It was a commemorative gift in an upholstered box. He told me that people did drink it, I declined. I set it out for display for a couple of years but after the novelty wore off, I put it in the pantry. I suppose it's still there. The painting is still hanging on the entry hall. Very cheery. PS6 mentioned trying the various aperitifs in Italy. In fact we did try many. I found many too sweet for my taste, particularly the lemony one. Actually, I was the one out of step for the group preferring the Grappa over the sweet stuff.

Since there was so much traffic about "the Grappa", I thought I might share some of my stories regarding Travel, Guzzis, and Grappa. I first of heard of the drink from Bad Chad (WG) at the National Rally in Iowa a decade ago. A few years later I went to the biggest liquor store in town to procure some for Dusty's Cedar Vale Rally. The closest drink I could find was Grape Brandy, best I could tell it's the same stuff but with some actual grapes in it. Anyway, not many takers at Cedar but at the next rally at the Okla Campout, a few folks (Rudy) got a taste for it and it was gone. Anyway, I'll move forward in time a half dozen years. One thing I can tell you when traveling, if you aren't wearing a nice suit when going to a nice a Italian restaurant, whether in NYC, Rome or Cinque Terre, wear a Moto Guzzi (or Ducati) t-shirt. Someone, usually working on the floor, will appreciate it and get you a nice table or suggest something on the menu (or even show you their motorcycle helmet). I digress, so the story moves to the Rhine Valley where the Mrs and I were taking a tour of Europe. Myself, along with half dozen newly befriended fellow travelers ended up at bar. The local specialty was Riesling wine. I confessed to the group, I had never cared for it since my samplings always had a bad aftertaste. This was confounded that no one of the group liked White wine anyway. As a result of that, the wife and I were presented a challenge of drinking a Flight of Riesling. We were gifted a Flight, while they all drank Red. I must say, the wine was incredibly good and each glass better than the other. This was to the amusement of the group as we raved. I think they were a little jealous. So our traveling group finally made it to Italy. The entire group of 20+ were assembled for a meal in Florence. A couple of things came up there that allowed me to explain to the group about dinner that came from my experiences with the Guzzi crowd. First, our meal of Spaghetti Carbonara was made from bacon and egg sauce. Next, when the aperitifs were offered after the meal, I explained the origins of Grappa. I will say that no one but the Mrs and I had any taste for it. And that turned out to be a good thing, since we both got more than our share of Grappa throughout many subsequent meals. So the moral of the story, going to Guzzi rallies are educational and wearing Guzzi shirts can be social passports. Now, let me share that although Grappa is a Guzzi tradition, we might enhance it. I would guess the national drink of Italy (at least in Venice) is the Aperol Spritz. Aperol is an Orange Liquor that's mixed Prosecco (cheap dry Italian Champagne). So for your next Italian cookout, I'd suggest the Spritz to start with, Carbonara for the meal, followed by Grappa at the end. Not much of a story but I'm snowed in (and the news on the TV makes me sick).

BEiN did great coverage, all the quals and all the races LIVE. I got a cable upgrade to get it. BEiN hasn't carried it for the last three years. After NBC took it over.

The new Honda is supposed to be a rocket and easier to ride. If you have cable in the US, Qatar is on CNBC midday on the raceday Sunday, March 6.

I just found my Chet "Stay Tuned" LP today. Mark's on a couple of cuts. I'm not sure if it's Chet's best, kinda sugary fusion sound to it. It's gotta Geo Benson vibe to it (he's on it too). Are there other records of Chet & Mark?

I've always wonder what these "pork chops" were and what they did. Personally, I prefer "pork steaks". Not quite as dry. I like to grill them with a full hickory smoke box with chips and pellets. Sometimes with BBQ rub but otherwise with garlic powder, onion power, salt & pepper. Juicy but well done. No, I never drill or put holes in my pork steaks.....since pork chops can be dry, perhaps?

now that I have my record player hooked up, I'll have to look for the Atkins-Knopfler record. I know it's somewhere.

I love Moto GP been to maybe 8 or 10 GPs. Anyone interested in COTA in April, I'll likely be there. Gonna miss #46. Saw him get his last 2nd. Lots of photos too. I haven't heard about TV coverage this year.

I think some of you have time on your hands.