LowRyter

So how could we get our bikes over there, book the hotels and plan a week's ride, all for a good price? <Guzzi content> I'm getting my second shot in a two weeks so should be vaccinated.

I think Little Feat was the best band ever. I was reading the bio on those guys ("Willin") and they were pretty volatile. The band was about to throw in the towel before they recorded "Waiting for Columbus", the best Live album of all time. They had the Tower of Power and Mick Taylor. Stories of drug fueled all nighters, playing mad at each other on stage, Richie throwing his drumsticks at Lowell when he was singing. Lowell mixed the record, the band was ready to quit and they listed to the first song, "Playing in the Band" and wow. WOW. So after reading that, here is Mick Taylor + Little Feat. "Apolitical Blues" Lowell's next gig was producing The Dead's "Shakedown Street". After an all night coke binge with Mickey Hart, Lowell said his drum solo was crap and Mickey beat him good. Lowell left, the album was recorded but not quite finished. Great story.

GM- My local wrench that did my Greenie gearbox was the head mechanic at the old Duc store here. I talked to him before I purchased my Duc and he gave me some reasonable labor hours for the desmo service. Of course I did not consider timing belts and computer flash. I have a couple thousand miles to stew on it. Hell, getting a rear sprocket is turning into a European scavenger hunt. Really. Having said that, the bike's been totally reliable, easy to work on and the best ride ever. I'll just have to take 18k mile blue pill and hope that Don treats me right. You guys will know in a few months whether I'm singing or cussing. You know I won't hold back.

I've got a million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to sell you. How much did this guy make on that Guzzi?

My Ducati has one of those fancy LCD dashboards. Time and Temp at the ready, along with coolant temp, odo, miles remaining, hours ridden, lap timers (have no idea), speedo recalibration, etc.. etc.. The owner's book is about 300 pages, 200 are for operation of the dashboard. Things like "chain adjustment" mentioned are take it to the dealer. Seriously. Actually maintenance has been pretty easy, so long as it's routine and I have the right tools, rear stand, unique Ducati tools and the like. No, I won't tackle the 18k desmo check/adjust.

Why does anyone buy a bike (or car) and not ride it?

and why is this special crush washer needed? It just looks like another point of failure.

I gave Kurvgiver half an hour of my life that I'll never get back. I can almost get 90% of my intended route on Beeline in about an thirty minutes time that should take two minutes. 100% is out of the question. All I can say, build the route a step at a time, don't try to identify the final destination and then hope to alter the route to intended preferences.

I think Delorme booke books would be the perfect resource to make a Beeline map. I just wish working those maps on my phone was as simple as a marker on paper.

Just curious Docc, how many of those Delorme maps do you have to purchase? I would hope you could load the info electronically because that looks like a lot to carry. There may not be room for underwear in those saddlebags other than the maps.

Red frames have 170 rears. This keeps the bike agile. Wider tire will slow down the handling. Personally, I wouldn't monkey with it.

My grandma and your grandma Were sittin' by the fire My grandma told your grandma "I'm gonna set your flag on fire" Talkin' 'bout Hey now (Hey now) Hey now (Hey now) Iko, iko, un-day (Oh, oh-oh) Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né Jock-a-mo fee na-né (Note: I've been listening to a lot of Dr John on Pandora. Thinking about Fat Tuesday in '22) (heck maybe '21, I'm getting my shot this week)

Had the tap replaced in an emergency with straight fitting. Haven't replaced it, keep a cork to plug the tube now. Maybe get a plastic tube and drain the gas first. Stupid Guzzi pet cock.

I read his book, "Ghost Rider". It was a melancholy autobiographical story of grief, Canadian winters, drums, GS Beemers and scotch. And lots of nice people and travel. It was a great book. I tried to read his next book but couldn't get into it.

Took the Ducati out on Tuesday, very nice 63 out. Now it's in the 30s and the fireplace is burning (.....but had a cigar and a scotch today).

I never put my bike away. Looking to get up to near 60 early next week and 50s until next weekend's cold spot. I can usually find more comfortable days to ride this time a year than late July-early Aug. Of course, I'd rather be in Colorado then even with the afternoon rain showers there. This has been an unusual winter, the jet stream has angled south and we're getting the winter storms from the southwest which seem weird. This storm came straight from the south with rain/mix from the Mexico border (Rio Grande) all the way to Kansas. From here it's heading NE, snow north and rain south in it's path.

New Year in Okla. Snow and mix from the Rio Grande to Kansas. Only thing to do is stay in and have John's frittata and a Bloody Mary.

We shared the Scotch later in the day. (But as you know from our campouts I do like my scotch in a coffee cup.) The cup was given to me by the same friends that gave me the shirt. It is the "disappearing wives" of Henry VIII. Fill it with hot coffee and the wives fade to white outlines like ghosts. As the cup cools, they reappear. I also thought the image of King Henry holding court with a scotch and cigar seemed to go together.

Docc, I'll tell ya that my V11 makes 77 horses at the wheel. And those guys are Clydesdales. They ain't shetlands. OTOH, I don't know how many horses are in my Ducati but I'm thinking they are Thoroughbreds.

Docc, you look like a serious dude. ( I'm thinking it must be cold.)

The idea is give your wrist a rest when you feel it getting sore. And you only have to take it off for a minute or so, maybe 20 seconds. You don't have the issue with the left wrist since you can take it off the grip when you want to. Go on a long trip, especially on a long straight interstate, then you'll know.

Got my licence at 14. Then I got my car licence at 16 and there was no separate motorcycle endorsement then. Moved to Texas many years later, got my licence and needed an endorsement. Had to take a complete exam and riding test. During the test, the examiner would follow me and I had to turn left on a honk and right on two honks (or vice versa). Anyway turned the wrong way and flunked on the spot. A month or so later, went to another exam station across town, dang if I didn't get the same examiner! During that test, I was driving through a stop light intersection, and I'll be dang if a group folks jay walked right in front me me, then it was dilemma whether to stop or ease through them. I eased through and waited on the examiner. I tried to explain myself but he waved me away while he tallied the score. Somehow I had passed.

I have several throttle locks, the simplest, easiest to use and most reliable is the "clothespin style", one like this: https://www.wleodv.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=69377 It take all of about 30 seconds to install. Slip it over the throttle grip, make sure there is adequate tension, and then when you're riding, just slide it with your thumb on to the brake lever. (Just make sure you don't accidently slip it behind the brake lever.) I have a plastic one similar to this one. I also have an aluminum one from China that I never bothered to install. I have some more expensive ones that are more complex and never seem to work because they are always out of adjustment. These are $10-20 and sacrificial when they lose tension, although I'm using the same one a bought a couple of years ago.

I personally wouldn't ride due to Covid. And I wouldn't ride in Jan regardless. I probably wouldn't do a fly and ride unless I was very certain the bike was going to make it. Instead, I'd rent a bike trailer from UHaul which I've done on several occasions. Hopefully this bike has luggage. Make sure you have lots of layers of clothing and wet weather bike gear. At least a couple of different pairs of gloves. Bring some fuses and relays, some tools and a tire repair kit and compressor. If the tires are old, get them changed out before you travel. I'm not sure if this bike has 170 or 180 rear. If it's a 170 you may need to special order it. I'd also get a throttle lock so you can rest your right wrist for a minute or two before it hurts constantly. I-10 has FL panhandle, Gulf Coast and New Orleans on the way. Normally I would enjoy that if the weather was nice and I wasn't afraid of getting sick. I suppose I haven't hidden my feelings but since the topic was brought up...... So far as distance riding it, I find my 30 inch inseam to get a little cramped. I've ridden my Sport as far as N Carolina hills from OKC, and to Austin for a few trips and Arkansas for maybe more. So all of these were 350-450 mile days. Typically take a Tylenol or Advil before you go. Don't drink more that one cup of coffee. Hydrate properly. Eat light but often. Get off the bike and rest, particularly if your legs, back or wrists get cramped. Fatigue is the enemy, rest or stop.

Docc- check out these AGV for pricing. https://www.championhelmets.com/en/helmets/modular-helmets/agv-modular-helmets/ The Neotec 2 are now under $400 Euros ($480 USD).