Scud

Depending on budget and performance: On the high end of both I would get a Triumph Thruxton R In mid range, I'd lean toward a Royal Enfield, but not sure which model. On the super low-end, the Honda Super Cub is available again in the US. I think a Super Cub would be fun, you meet the nicest people on a Honda (or a V11 forum).

I suspect it's going to get more common as these bikes get older. How to Re-Seal a 6-speed Transmission In the case of the transmission I used for that topic, at least one internal bolt was loose, which likely contributed to the leak.

I had a hyperpro shock made once and they offered me both dimensions, the Sachs or the Ohlins (which was longer). The Ohlins manuals are available on this site for download, probably have the specs. Matching the length of the Ohlins is a good idea, even on a short frame bike. I had Ohlins on a Greenie I had for a while, it was a big improvement. And I think one of the main reasons to replace the Sachs unit is their tendency to crack one of the mounts.

Good article in The Atlantic about that.

I'm down for celebrating solstices, equinoxes, and various harvests. Today I harvested a bunch of Mexican Pink Guavas from a tree in my backyard. Thankful for fresh-made guava juice. Gonna see family later today, thankful for them too.

It's good to occasionally stop and be thankful for what we have, but this holiday is a based on a fictionalized version of a non-event. 400 years ago (it's the actual 400 year anniversary this year) the remaining members of a 10,000 year old culture that had already been depleted by 90% due to European illnesses had dinner with people who would be renamed Pilgrims 200 years later. By that time, the Pilgrims and their descendants had murdered or isolated the rest of them. The winners write the history books... I suppose many of us in the USA and Canada can be thankful for our current lifestyles and the privileges that come from descending from the winners, but I am not proud of that heritage. (FWIW - I can trace my family history back to the 1600s when my ancestors left England for what is now New England). So yeah... let's all stop and be thankful today. But let's not perpetuate the bullshit thanksgiving origin story and pretend that European settlers were good in any way for the native people of North America.

Now that I am getting older, I realize the wisdom of all the advice I ignored when younger (and not just hearing protection, you could pick just about any topic...). As for now, It's foam earplugs as much as possible (goal of 100%). I tend toward my Stelvio with extended windscreen on longer rides - because there is such a drop in wind noise. However, I've just seen the latest in hearing aid tech from my brother-in-law who has spent about 40 years as a press-operator for the LA times. Worker's Compensation insurance just got him a $10,000 pair of hearing aids that you can barely see. He's about to have the final calibration done, but he says the pre-calibrated devices have already removed most of the ringing and hissing in his ears. I'll see him later this week and will get some more information. On a related note... does anybody ride with noise-cancelling earbuds or in-helmet speakers? Seems like that would be good tech for inside a helmet.

Agreed... but it takes passion to revive a brand, and the new owners do show respect for the legacy, despite their specious claim. Same story for Triumph and Indian.

If you're really concerned about the alignment, remove the front wheel and loosen everything. That also gives you a chance to raise the forks a bit if you want to. FYI -Most of my experience with misaligned forks is with dirt bikes. Somebody with more experience with setting up street suspension may be along soon.

I'd loosen everything, get it about where it looks good. Then snug-up the top triple. To help put everything in alignment, you can spin the front wheel while the lower triple is loose, then hit the brakes hard. The sudden stop of centrifugal force will snap things into pretty good alignment - better then you can do by eye-balling it. Then you can go around and torque down everything (including the top triple).

Sometimes rare = nobody wanted it. Sometimes limited editions increase demand. Ironically, it seems the series-numbered Scura and Rosso Mandello are among the more common configurations of V11, while the Tenni volume remained low. I've heard about 200 units for the LeMans Nero Corsa... and that the Rosso Corsa was more common. As for the Scura R, yeah, it's rare and I like the paint, but personally, I've never cared for red seats - cuz the red seat never matches the red paint. They get close... but gettgin close is worse than just adding a complementary color. For example, I think it would be cool with a medium brown leather saddle.

Next time I flush the clutch fluid I am going to try installing a hose for remote bleeding as my Stelvio (and I assume other CARC bikes). My Stelvio has a line where that bleeder valve goes. It terminates under the seat with a bleeder valve.

Haha... I remember that exchange well, Phil. I think we both learned something new. We clarified that there were 3 configurations from the factory. Short frame with short tank (pad and external pump) - up to 2001 model year, will not accommodate later tank. Long frame with short tank (all 2002s and many 2003s) - will accommodate later tank. Long frame with long tank. (2003 LeMans, and all 2004 and later.

I suppose if anyone is curious enough, they could get the frame number and input it Moto Guzzi's website. That would tell what year and model the frame started in. But I am not that curious. I scrolled through the pics, and almost every one has evidence of something not right. Even the tach was replaced with something that doesn't quite match.

Another possibility... this was originally a LeMans, but wrecked and rebuilt with a 5-speed tranny. Not only is the front master incorrect, the clutch is cable-actuated, not hydraulic. So maybe the tranny cracked and popping in a 5-speed was the only convenient solution at the time. Other than that, it does look mostly like a 2002 LeMans to me. Or maybe that 6-speed was just to smooth...

On the plus side, the clamps are excellent. It's easy to adjust to different wheel sizes. Those were my two main complaints with HF unit - I had to be ultra careful with the clamps, and the wheel would still spin, so I had to use a strap to hold it in place. And FWIW - I used a bit a solid copper ground rod as the center post on my HF unit. I'll probably start using that on the No Mar now - because I am also disappointed by the flaking paint getting in the hub. No Mar was so close to a great product...

That's a sweet little time capsule. Practically hermetically sealed... original tires, even.

Let me see if I can channel my inner Pete Roper... the No-Mar bar is as useless as a dead dingo's donger. In other words, I'm still using the Mojo lever. And Ru-glyde. Have not tried the No-Mar lube yet. And get those tires nice and warm in the sun - makes life easier.

^ side stand switch is easily by-passable if you are in need. Same with the clutch-in-to-start switch. I carry a side-stand bypass plug (homemade) in my underseat kit. Hacked the connector off an old wiring harness and closed the loop. Honestly, to start this bike... ignition switch, kill switch, clutch switch, side-stand switch, neutral switch, starter button, relay, starter solenoid, battery amperage, starter motor... what could possibly go wrong?

The pallet is bit under 4 x 4 feet. But it's easily removed. The changer itself is maybe 3 1/2 feet tall. And this was a self-assembled thing, that can be knocked down. It came in a pretty small box. And yes, I still have it and am still trying to find it a home. Any home. I don't care if it's a good home (no offense).

^ that just makes me want to hold up lighter and yell FREEBIRD.

I don't know that shock, but was surprised to see that I know one of the people that wrote a positive review on the link you provided. I bought my 89 LeMans from him. When he was on the old LeMans (with upgraded suspension), and I was on my Scura (with stock Ohlins), I had a hard time keeping him in sight. If he says it's good shock, then I think that's reliable.

Leading indicators that you are about to have some great tacos: You just had a brisk 100-mile ride. There are more Spanish than English words on the signs. The picture on the sign is of a pile of raw meat. Carniceria is one of the words. Panaderia is one of the words. You have to walk under an arch to get in. Wrought-iron is featured (in this case a wrought-iron arch, so bonus points). The wood chairs are all painted different colors. An old man wearing farm-work clothes and a straw hat is by himself, reading the newspaper on the patio. There is a dirty, beat-to-hell old Ford truck in the parking lot (this was true when I parked, but sadly replaced by a Hummer by the time I sat down with my tacos.) There are more than three flavors of Jarritos in the fridge. And proof: Two el pastor, one carne asada. Two fresh corn tortillas per taco. With onion, cilantro, pico de gallo, guacamole, hot sauce and lime. The real deal.