Griso, not-so fun.

[pete roper]

OK, so today was going to be the PITA day. I had to take my new toy off to get it registered and I thought it was going to be a major drama. I'm not a *Dealer* so I had to take it through the private registration system. But of course it's a new bike AND it's being registered in a business name, not as a private vehicle.

 

I had to fill out reams and reams of forms, and I had to have it inspected as if it was some worn out bit of thirty year old sh!te. That went OK, it got done, (although the blokes at the 'Blue Slip' station Graham and I use are like the bloody walking dead! You can't get a smile or any sort of conversation out of them. I turned up a bit early and was asked "Can I help you?", (I'd booked the bike in yesterday and spoken to both of them!) "Yup, booked in for a 'Blue Slip'." "OK I'll be with you in twenty three minutes." (I kid you not, these blokes are weird!). Long and the short of it was that it went through and then I had to traipse off to the motor registry where I had to produce not only the Government Certification of our business but also letter from Jude and myself as partners in the business to say that I, (One of the partners!) was allowed to register the bike, insurance papers, my driving licence, my shoe size, my great aunt's maiden name, the counrty of origin of my second cousin three times removed....etc, etc, ARRRGH!

 

Anyway eventually, after the government had lightened my wallet by another $700, ('Stamp Duty' don't y'know? ) I was issued with my plate and rego lable. Horray! I'm legal!

 

So I trolled off to Fyshwick to primp and preen in front of Scott, my spray painter/panelbeater mate only to find he was off somewhere else, (What's the point in having a new bike if you can't go and show off? I ask you?) so I decided to head home.

 

Half way back to Bungendore, over one of the big hills comes a sand truck. It's tailgate on the dog trailer had popped a hinge and I ended up riding through a sh!train of rocks the size of a baby's fist. Result? Busted headlight and mirror, gouges in one of the *wings* above the right hand cylinder and extensive chipping to assorted other bits! The bloody bike had only just clocked up 100Km!!!!!!

 

Needless to say I was well pissed off. Back to the workshop, onto the phone and onto CSR who run the truck. The bloke who answered obviously knew that something was up as there was an immediate flick-pass to hs boss who would 'Ring back'. I was off to the pub to find someone to hit!!!! 20 minutes later, no call. So I rang back and was a bit more insistent. "He'll ring you, he's a bit tied up, you aren't the only one." Twenty minutes after this and they were mopping up the blood from the third fight I'd picked and I get a call. "Ah. Mr. Roper.."

 

"Don't call me Mr. Roper. My name's Pete, the only people who call me Mr. Roper are Coppers and my daugther's bastard boyfriends!"

 

"OK, Pete, Look, you aren't the only one. We have seven cases of broken windscreens and a lot of paint damage. Let me put it this way. You send us the bill, we'll pay."

 

Gobsmacked? You bet! I was convinced I'd have to kill someone! Anyway, from that point on the conversation improved and I feel sure that I'll get full restitution. Just in case I'll be telling the local copper tomorrow and it's still a PAIN that my shiny new motorbike, the only classy one I've EVER had, should be trashed at such a low mileage but at least it seems they aren't going to contest it. I f*cking hope not!!!!

 

I haven't dared go into the parts system yet but I don't reckon that there will be much change out of $300 for the headlight alone. A *wing*, (Like they'll be available ). Mirrors? BOLLOCKS. IT MAKES ME WANT TO WEEP!!!!!!!!!!.

 

Good news though. I decided NOT to do anything to the bike before running it apart from making sure it was all there and everything was tight and it had oils etc.. Fuel and battery. Hit the button and it started in a trice. in the 120 odd KM I've done it has run flawlessly. It *carburettes* perfectly, so much so that even an avowwed *anti-low RPM* fanatic like me was horrified to find that I was able to open the throttle from sub-2,500RPM and it just goes! No, obviously I'm not cracking it to full noise but there is none of the surging and hunting I'd expect from a reasonably stock and un-modified V11 for instance. Despite it's very light flywheel it behaves like a sodding traction engine if you ask it to, not that I'm recommending that mind you!!!!

 

The suspension needs to bed in, there is no point in me farting about with it for at least 1,000KM, probably twice that, but certainly my bike seems much nicer than the test bike I rode? Perhaps the blokes who PD's it decided they just *had* to stuff about with something before it went on the floor? I dunno, but mine is really nice and this is NOT some blind infatuation, if it was a piece of sh!t I'd say so and do something about it! It is though far too harshly sprung for now, as I said, time will be needed before that can be sorted.

 

The gearbox needs to be used. Don't try to come to a halt and then swap cogs, it won't like you. Use it as it is meant to be used and once again, my bike seems much superior to the *Demo* I rode. Remember, I'm not saying I set it up well, this is simply how it came out of the crate!

 

Brakes? Hey! I'm used to 08 twin piston Brembos with cast iron rotors a mile thick. What do you think?

 

Final drive? Clean, a bit heavy looking but nothing like the BMW obscenity.

 

Don't ask me about the instruments! The owner's handbook has about an inch deep of instructions telling you how to set the clock, do lap-times, boil an egg, the bloody thing will probably give me a high collonic washout if I press the buttons in the right order! Just call me old fashioned but I don't give a toss! All I want to know is if the engine is going to blow up or if the wallopers are going to take me off to the cells and beat me with telephone books! The rest is common sense! Oh, I'll get round to it eventually, but I expect I will of gone through three sets of tyres by then .

 

Look, I'm impressed, far more so than I expected to be. I'm a realist and I know that Guzzi, even with the weight of Piagio behind them, are a small, struggling company. This bike, or at least mine, is I think a truly great step forward. I hope that many more people take the plunge as I don't think, as long as they consider what they are buying, that they will be disappointed and if, like me, they are hardened cynics, they may be pleasantly surprised. If you want an R6 or a Gixxer buy one, the new Guzzis ain't in that field. Yes, they are expensive compared to other machines if you take into account what you get in the simple *physical* sense, but if you want to lower everything to it's lowest common denominator and are happy with that then we'll all be condemned to living in small brick caves, watching *reality* TV and eating and drinking crap. Me? I like to live a bit!!!!! (Even if I have to share the world with sand trucks!)

 

Pete

[stobie]

Geez, what a heartbreaker. I hope something unexpectedly sensible happens, and you get some repair parts soon.

 

At least you have other bikes you can ride while you wait for parts (I'm assuming you're required to have a working headlight).

[g.forrest]

i'm owning one hopefully sooner than later, havn't rode one yet, but was impressed with my ride on breva. griso sure looks better even with its weird cannister.

[pete roper]

Headlight still works, it's just got a huge farking hole in the lens. Incidentally the light is brilliant, (sic.) even with a busted lens the multi reflector thingy gives a great spread and on high beam the penetration is excellent.

 

Pete

[pete roper]

i'm owning one hopefully sooner than later, havn't rode one yet, but was impressed with my ride on breva. griso sure looks better even with its weird cannister.  

88729[/snapback]

 

Mr F. The reason why my bike is registered as a business vehicle is so I can let daft farts like you ride it and Mr. Costello will pick up some of the tab. If you want to meander down here and take it out for a day? Feel free.

 

Pete

[stogieBill]

Gee, that's tough luck Pete. I'm glad it looks like its going to get taken care of.

 

Did something similar back in '73 with my new Triumph Bonneville. Had a guy stop short with no tail lights and I tried stopping on a moss covered ditch. Went right down with less than 75 miles on the clock.

 

Anyway, happy you're enjoying/appreciating your new ride.

 

[helicopterjim R.I.P.]

Mr F. The reason why my bike is registered as a business vehicle is so I can let daft farts like you ride it and Mr. Costello will pick up some of the tab. If you want to meander down here and take it out for a day? Feel free.

 

Pete

88731[/snapback]

 

I'll be checking flight prices right away!!

[pete roper]

Jim, the offer's solid. Next time you're here drop by, the bike is yours, with the usual 'You bend it, you mend it' caveats. Mouth breathers, oxygen thieves and people who think they are *nice* need not apply

 

Pete

[not_scooter_Scura!]

classic..where would I be without you earthing it down for me.

 

I have to be content with a V50 III at the moment, and you know what... I am ... although it is in my top floor aprtment at the moment

(have to do something about that, makes riding harder than usual)

 

But...I think you REALLY appreciate how special that bike is to you know...and that's a good thing.

 

BTW I see THAT bloke on the Ambassador alot these days, just love those wide handlebars & the way he just rolls it on through town.

 

When the V50 is back on the road , may have to take to the Robertson pie shop & bring you some lunch.

 

[mike wilson]

"OK, Pete, Look, you aren't the only one. We have seven cases of broken windscreens and a lot of paint damage. Let me put it this way. You send us the bill, we'll pay."

88726[/snapback]

 

Does he know that you are the one who will be writing the bill? Those specialist labour charges on exotic foreign machinery (brand, spanking new, to boot) are horrifying. Not such a PITA day after all, methinks.

 

Still, sorry it happened. Can take the gloss right off new ownership.

 

mike

[Dr Gil]

Aw Pete...this is awful! I feel yer pain man.

 

...sounds like I'm going to have to find and try out one of these bad boys.

[Ballacraine]

Well that is a real pisser, Pete!

 

At least the bloke had the decency to agree to make amends, I supppose that counts for something.

 

Hope you get it fettled again quick and start enjoying it properly!

 

Nige.

[guzzista]

[Well, at least you feel positive and inspired by the "new " Guzzis and their potential to be better bikes than in the last few years... I am riding a ( rented ) Breva 1100 in Italy next week, and even as a long time Guzzi fan ,I plan on not getting too attacheched and wanting to get one as my arse is still scalded by the too recent knackered cam and lifter incident on my 800 miles old Coppa...then again as Guzzi fan good news is still encouraging to hear , especially from someone who has been in the trenches with Guzzis for so long...

[tomsp]

"Don't call me Mr. Roper. My name's Pete, the only people who call me Mr. Roper are Coppers and my daugther's bastard boyfriends!"

 

 

 

You're a good man

 

 

I need to test ride one too

[pete roper]

Some crappy pics from when I was unpacking it.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/motomoda/

 

We ain't au-fait with these programmes so you may need to play with the images to get a good look, I would advise *not* enhancing the one with me in, especially if you've just finished eating.

 

Pete