Recent Posts

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General Discussion / Re: lightened flywheel on an eldo?

« Last post by Moparnut72 on Today at 12:23:39 PM »

When I raced outboard powered boats one class I ran was Cmod. The motor was a 4 cylinder 2 stroke Mercury. I didn't run a flywheel at all. Acceleration out of the turns was more important than top speed. On the other hand I grew up in Mystic Ct where Lathrop Marine, a marine engine manufacturer produced engines. They were a large single cylinder 4 stroke with a single or paired 3' flywheels. They were used in fishing trawlers. When they were going down the river at a decent speed I could easily count the combustion events. Those engines were legendary for the ability for dragging large nets quite easily while getting exceptional fuel economy.
kk

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General Discussion / Re: 2026 MG Experience - Italian Alps ride

« Last post by moto on Today at 10:42:45 AM »

Fast pace? Hmmm. Lots of speeding cameras in Switzerland and Italy.  A few weeks after I returned from Switzerland tour last year, I found a nice speeding ticket in the mail addressed to me!   

I was thinking the cameras were not in Sicily, but the Internet tells me I'm wrong. The roads we rode during the Sicily tour were typically small and winding. They had to be if we were going to take 10 days to get around the small island. I didn't see any of the signs that are supposed to announce cameras. I think relying on the tour guide to pick the right places to relax  restraint is better than just doing that on your own. Thanks for the advice.

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General Discussion / Re: What's your preferred engine size?

« Last post by bad Chad on Today at 10:27:38 AM »

You have your notions Chad, I have mine.

Are you saying my preference of motorcycles isn’t valid because they don’t align with yours?

Our preferences and our experiences are quite different.

I only hope you enjoy your motorcycles as much as I enjoy mine. Ride what you like and I’ll do the same.

Carry on.

Ride on Brother.

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General Discussion / Re: What's your preferred engine size?

« Last post by Dr. Enzo Toma on Today at 10:04:23 AM »

Since the displacement would only really impact the dyno curves in this hypothetical, I'd go with large displacement on a pushrod engine, small displacement on an overhead cam engine. Between the two engineering marvels, I prefer OHC and a high revving engine.

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General Discussion / Re: What's your preferred engine size?

« Last post by rocker59 on Today at 09:54:02 AM »

My favorite motorcycle was the Guzzi Sport 1100.  Under 500 lbs.  Putting out about 80 bhp at the rear wheel, after some tuning.  Lots of character.  It was great!  Beautiful sound from the full Staintune exhaust.

Runners up are the 1000 LeMans and the V11 Lemans I also owned.  Same reasons.  Nice chassis, moderate weight, good power.  Enjoyable to ride.

Seems to me that 450-500 lbs and 75-80 bhp V-twin is a good sport-touring combination.

The 1990s Ducati SS900 and ST2 were also real enjoyable to ride, for the same reasons.  Moderate weight, good power delivery, enjoyable to ride.

I've not ridden the V100 Mandello, yet, but suspect it's along these lines.

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General Discussion / Re: lightened flywheel on an eldo?

« Last post by guzzisteve on Today at 09:32:58 AM »

I thought I weighed the loop on installation and got 27# but may be 23, I'll do one later, got plenty. Sold a perfect ringear last week for $50 out of loop going in an Ambo.
While on this subject, I used a cindered bronze clutch in the LM3, was supposed to be lighter than stock ones. The splines are now pretty sharp. I have another set but they have 3 plates & 2 center pieces. Just wondering if anyone else has used these?  Made by same Surflex.

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General Discussion / Re: What's your preferred engine size?

« Last post by SIR REAL ED on Today at 09:27:34 AM »

I think the design sweet spot varies by the engine and it’s associated components. Regardless of the engine size.
For instance, my Victory 106” in 6th gear at 80mph is turning about 3000rpm and returning about 40mpg.
That, to me, is that particular configurations sweet spot.

There’s no particular technological limit to materials or design that dictate an engines capacity. Small motors have their sweet spot, same with medium and larger motors.

Many factors contribute to a particular setups sweet spot. A Bergman 650 has one, as does a Guzzi V7, as does a Harley with a 121” setup. It doesn’t seem engine size matters. The overall design of the ‘system’ most certainly does though. People have a preference for an engine size. But that preference doesn’t necessitate a particular engine size. It’s just their preference.

I tend to like big bikes with big motors and big power. Others prefer medium sized bikes with medium sized motors and power etc. that simply personal taste and preference, nothing more.

I don’t have enough miles on the Eldo 1400 to make a claim if it’s sweet spot. I can only go by what others report. Though my particular Eldorado 1400 likely has a different fuel map and exhaust than most. Therefore, I’d ‘guess’ the sweet spot may be somewhat different as well.

Good points.  Better language on my part may have been "marketing sweet spot" or "sales quantity sweet spot."

600cc sport bikes make over 100 HP.  Even a so-called beginner's bike of the late 1990's, like an SV650 will stomp all the mind blowing superbikes of the early 1970's into the ground in any measure of performance.

As I noted before, a friend thought my DR650 (35 HP) was more powerful than his son's GSXR600 (100+HP).

The difference between a DR650 and a KTM Duke 690 is phenomenal!!

Preferred usage and owner desired "sweet spot" probably makes more sense as metrics than any mechanical aspect of the motorcycle.

I suspect, desired mood requirements in the owner, mandates why many people own more than one bike. 

What stimulus buttons do I wan t pushed today, determines which bike leaves the garage, and which routes are selected.

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General Discussion / Re: 2026 MG Experience - Italian Alps ride

« Last post by Motormike on Today at 09:21:34 AM »

The thing I had the hardest time getting used to was the "passing" techniques riders use in the Alps and elsewhere.  They think nothing of overtaking slower traffic by riding right up the centerline on a two-lane road against oncoming traffic!  The oncoming drivers don't even bat an eye and simply give the bikers a bit of room.  You have to see it to believe it. Of course, when I and a friend were stuck in traffic in the Dolomites one very hot August (never go to Italy in August!) rather than suffer heat stroke, we followed their example.  When in Rome....

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General Discussion / Re: 2026 MG Experience - Italian Alps ride

« Last post by Motormike on Today at 09:13:58 AM »

Fast pace? Hmmm. Lots of speeding cameras in Switzerland and Italy.  A few weeks after I returned from Switzerland tour last year, I found a nice speeding ticket in the mail addressed to me!   

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General Discussion / Re: Cal Scientific Adjustable V85TT shield?

« Last post by Moparnut72 on Today at 09:08:56 AM »

After fiddling with numerous shields on several bike with very limited results this one looks like it would be very effective. A lot of disruptive air comes around the sides where this one seems to have addressed quite well.
kk