Martin Barrett

likewise don't think its amongst mine was nice to see the other though - apt to see a Britton won in Ireland For those who couldn't see it all three races were won by an Irishman by the name of Britton

I had a weekend pass complete with overnight stay for this last weekend. So decided to do the south west. and the south coast as well! Set off 0515 on Saturday. Re did the point at Pewsey above and then on to Bristol. Spent a bit longer there than I had originaly planned for. But did have a nice cooked breakfast. Then on to Exmoor. 270 trouble free miles under my belt and the rain hadn't materialised. The noticed a slight increase in exhaust noise. Quick check of the balance pipe seemed to be its normal loose self. Press on. The rain then started. by the time I'd got to Dartmoor the noise had been joined by a rattle. Let it cool in the rain whilst had a little walk to verify the check point. On inspection I noticed that I'd lost the outer exhaust stud's nut. When I'd replaced the balance pipe gaskets the inner stud had seized in its nut so on undoing the stud had come undone. I'd not wished to over tighten it on refastening leading to sheared stud, stud extractors, sheared stud extractors,drilled and retaped oversize hole. Been there done that before not doing that again. So had to unpack the tent, sleeping bag, tail pack to get to tool kit under the seat. Took the outer stud nut off the right cylinder and put it on the left. Tighten up best I can with open ended spanner, access not good to the inner stud due to fairing. I know you can get it off with 6 bolts, First time miles from home in the rain no thankyou. Get to Redruth, retighten the left cylinders nuts and can move the rights from inner to outer stud as had slackened a bit. Do the first point and now the rain has stopped which is good as the next is a walk out in to some sand dunes. On the way to Dorchester just filled up with fuel and looking at the tubes of instant exhaust gasket whilst the garage attendendant is dispatching the recovery truck. Sinch up the nuts and off we go get to 4 gear and loud noise as one end of baklance pipe pops out. where the headers are held on with just the outer nut has allowed it to splay slightly. slacken off nuts put it back, retighten and off again. A mile later does it again. Repeat the re tighten and give it a good turn on the balance pipe clamp. Make it to Dorchester and it does it again as leaving. redo and kick the pipes closer together and an allmighty tug on the allen key with the screwdriver handle over the end for extra tug power. I was getting a bit peeved as my gloves were sodden and weren't the easiest to get on and off. Made to my mothers little plot of land on the edge of the new forest (remnants of a small holdin that was her grandfathers) where she has a caravan and potters most weekends for 2130 - 620 miles done. Set of at 0815 on Sunday the next point is a mile up the road in the village my paternal granfather lives. didn't vist. Then off along the south coast stop at Shoreham where the local Harley Owner Group are gathering at the airport - thinks of certain Pink Floyd lyrics (pigs on a wing - Hogs at the airport - nevermind made me smile) Their exhausts were louder than mine slightly blowing Saw them again at my next point as they went past. I reconised them due a Honda CBR in Repsol colours that had lost its fairing. Was the only thing that stood out from the norm. Then up to outer London for a couple more points and then to Broadstairs on the eastern edge of Kent. Uneventful, no more exhaust trauma, except for lost my side stand puck out of the map pocket on my tank bag. On some occasions the flow of air over the top causes it to lift and open at the rear, a pain if trying to put a larger map in there, so I normally work of route notes on a piece of A4 paper or a online map print. Point done and then blast home through the Dartford crossing home for 1645 and in time for Sunday roast. 350 miles So a good weekend, a mix of roads, though a lot of dual carraige way. But some others in the mix. The only mechanical problems were of my doing and new nuts are on order, with spare gaskets just in case. 970 miles 13 check points earning 240 points to add to my 105 1 Pewsey - George V coronation Monument 2 Bristol - Plimsol Statue 3 Winsford - Packhorse bridge 4 Moretonhampstead - Village cross 5 Carn Brea - Castle 6 Perranporth - Cross of St Piran 7 Dorchester - Maiden Castle 8 Nomansland - Well of Sacrifice 9 Shoreham - B26 Marauder propreller memorial 10 Friston - Tapsel Gate 11 Merstham - 1805 iron railway rails 12 Westerham - Churchill memorial 13 Broadstairs - Old waterworks and tower

Thats why I rarely wash mine

cheers BFG - ch 943 on sky BBC NI - now have it on

The Seymor Powell designed MZ scorpion. and back on thread - I quite like the BMW R1100S, when they first came out they hung them on the wall at the NEC show and they looked quite odd from that angle so went off them a bit. Come to like the look of them. I'm aware that they must be about to be changed. But I'm monogominis(?) so wouldn't have second simular roadbike anyway.

Not right now but 6 hours ago brought me to work and should be taking me home in 3 more. has done so all week. On Saturday I will be stting out for Cornwall and then back along the south coast to the pointy bit of Kent and then home. I plan to overnight near Southampton. I will be taking in 13 points on the Round Britain Rally and should be covering 900 to 1000 miiles.

WOW I allways thought it was because the odometer took the inside line on the bends and therefore traveled less distance compared to the trip meter

Sorry about that - pick up on a bit , take it slightly out of context, and reply to that. Back on topic - Sorry to hear about your misfortune - at least it seems to be getting sorted- at least he didn't take you out at the same time.

That was more your tent - Are you going tobe doing Erin in a carrier bag?

I do this in the car I think its the same for the bike (autominisum) - years of police driver training - not spinning the lay shafts so less mechanical effort required from the starter- (also prevents those embarasing lurch moments if not got it in neutral - never happen because of that training ) - the next thing you want to do is move off any way - I always startup and ride off (maintance tasks excepted)

BIKE were quite nice about it to. They seemed to get the idea it wasn't a sports bike but more like a BMW R1150R. But that didn't stop them taking the photos whilst looking like a knob in some sort of racing crouch. Why they can't just sit on the bloody thing I don't know!

My pipes were plently loud enough when the balance pipe gasket was blown. With the bonus of a good lound bang to clear the traffic on the overrun. I sure was glad when I fixed it and was back to normal. I don't want to attract any more attention to me than nessecary. I do leave my headlight on dip. But I like to depend on me being in the right gear, speed and position as opposed to depend on someone else. You only normaly hear a bike as it slides past.

If you are using true soft luggage - throwovers or tail packs- Please make sure that they are SECURE use extra bungee cords to lash them down tight. There have been fatalities caused where they have sliped and been caught into the wheel. My line manager, last year lost his tail pack into the rear wheel of his Yamaha 600 Fazer, wrote the bike off and he got away as walking (limping) wounded. In the good old days of twin shocks this was unlikely and the worse you got was burnt bottoms as they stretched down on to the exhaust These two reasons are why I like my Teknos but don't think they are available anymore. I use a Baglax tank bag. The Omega gives me a choice of two size bags and coupled together is just about useable though cuts the view of the lower half of the instruments. I suplement that with the Teknos and then an Oxford tailpack No danger of it slipping lashed to the Teknos and with the tent, mat and sleeping bag lashed along side as well. I like the Ventura and would go that way if I didn't have the tail pack and Teknos or needed more capacity. It seems a bit pricey especialy as I picked up the Tailpack for £15 at last years BMF Show

The old guys going off on a tangent, reminising about their youth. I can't complain, this week on the telly they did a rerun of "100 best albums" this prompted me to dig out a old tape (tapes untouched since 85 when went to CD - luckily the kitchen radio has a tape player) of Mike Oldfield Discovery/Platinum which I used to listen to whilst driving back to RAF Cranwell after weekends leave in late 1984. The week before it was Springsteen live 75-85 3 CD box set esp The River, Racing in the Streets etc - meloncoly moments Oh - its just dawning I'm an old guy to (40)

Spent all Summer in the workshop- ready in time for your Autum. Are your Winters mild so won't effect your enjoyment? Sorry can't help with the fairing question

Welcome - don't forget to answer the What V11 do you ride? poll General election turn out rates 213 out of 1700 members

I think we can cope with that, it's the idea of a "Troll" that grates

Each took two hours on my down load, being inherantly lazy , I just wiggled the mouse every 15 mins or so

Sorry wasn't trying to imply any flakeyness - Some people change there vehicles often some keep them till they fall apart. I'm the latter and even then I still don't get rid It would seem that Guzzis polarise their owners in to either one of the two camps keep it forever/stay with the marque - or - done that not doing it again. A lot of us here have matured in to guzzi ownership , foresaken the year on year changes of the japanese sports bikes. setling for real world performance and character. And there of thiose who still try to wring more performance out of the old bus. We are all different except for our intrest in the V11. One problem with the internet is that you don't meet people face to face ( untill you go to a rally or some other event) It is easy to cause unintentional offence if a comment ment in good humor is misconstrued. Another is that people can pretend to be things they're not. Your pictures may have set of some alarm bells in some people. I will take you at your word , because thats the way I like to be treated. So, sorry for any offence caused and welcome to the board.

Could be the tortured inner soul, unable to find peace, hence the repetative changes. Once the magic of Guzzi is found and embraced it could all change. or When it has one of it's character moments and is waiting weeks for a part it will be good by.

FIRST LIGHT by Geoffrey Wellum. I'll give it a look. Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis, probably very simular to First Light, but in the Great War. Read it first whilst at school.

e be right a sports beetle

Thanks Paul

"very black" - "simply a black Le Mans" Its a subtle blend of black and grey panels - GRIGO TITANIUM (grey & titanium?) The subtle elagance of mine is lost because of the Baglux tank harness, blistered engine paint and the layer of dirt. The Nero has the gaudy Gold Ohlins, Red Valve covers, Red "nero corsa" on tail, Tank emblem within Red oval and the overlaid Grey checkered flag on fairing nose (? carbon fiber front mudguard?) How's your Yellow bike coming on AL Guess who's sulking as he's not allowed out on his tomorrow as the builders start our extension next week. I'm surprised no one has picked up on this discription from the Rosso Corsa, so we can revisit engine layout discriptions again