91
« Last post by JC85 on April 22, 2024, 08:30:28 AM »
I'm planning to pick up a 1400 California in the next year, so I'm putting together ideas for the build. The main thing that I'll want to put on it is a trunk. I know that I can still get the Hepco Becker luggage rack, but I'll probably have to go with an aftermarket trunk, since the Guzzi ones are no longer available. The issue is that I'll need to make sure that the top loading side cases have clearance to open all the way, without the trunk interfering by overhanging too far. I haven't been able to find any information on the width of the Guzzi trunks or the dimension between the side cases. Can someone provide me with some insight? Thanks!
92
« Last post by Tkelly on April 22, 2024, 08:24:43 AM »
I bet some members would volunteer to help you get to 900 miles while you ride your other bikes.
93
« Last post by LowRyter on April 22, 2024, 08:08:55 AM »
50 years ago the key to more power was more cylinders. 40 years ago they added turbos.
But the real key to power from 30 years has been the water pump.
94
« Last post by cliffrod on April 22, 2024, 07:52:50 AM »
A nice old Moto Guzzi video to start the week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS3uuNvG36Q
95
« Last post by SIR REAL ED on April 22, 2024, 07:44:21 AM »
My wife had a 454LTD back in the day, that used the same mill detuned for cruzer work. While the bike was strange, MAN that motor was nice. It had WAYYY more usefull power then you would expect for a sub 500cc mill. Great engine
Yep. I was so impressed that a couple years later I bought a Ninja 500. IMO, due to cost and performance, an excellent choice for a beginner. The Ninja 500 & the 454LTD are excellent example of how engine design and tune makes the the number of cylinders irrelevant to performance. My Aprilia RXV550 V-Twin seemed like an inline four about 5,000 rpm. Two or three very minor design changes and better quality control, and that could have been one of the all time great motorcycle engines and powered everything from enduro bikes to light weight touring bikes.
96
« Last post by SIR REAL ED on April 22, 2024, 07:36:55 AM »
1,000,000% AGREED!
Don't use it to marinate hot dogs or sausage either...... 
97
« Last post by SIR REAL ED on April 22, 2024, 07:34:54 AM »
It depends on you area if I would even entertain a mesh jacket. Last year riding in Colorado and Utah where it is hot and dry a mesh jacket will dehydrate you like beef jerky. I have a non-mesh textile jacket and in those conditions you can soak you undershirt put on a jacket with a couple vents open and 15 minutes later your shirt is bone dry.
In the hot humid eastern USA a mesh jacket is more feasible. I have had them in the past but when its 100 degrees with 90% humidity riding around in the nude would not offer any relief from the oppressive humidity. Its hard to get any evaporative cooling when the air is saturated with moisture so a mesh jacket at least for me offers no significant cooling over a jacket with decent venting.
My biggest thing is I hate it when sweating and the jacket liner is sticking to your skin. I have found long sleeve Under Armour type shirts are a riders best friend.
Good points. In what type of marinate sauce would you recommend soaking your shirt, to stay hydrated? Probably good to stick with a local favorite.....  I have a First Gear mesh jacket for a couple decades now. Safety Green. IMO, cooler than even riding in just a t-shirt due to keep the sun off you.
98
« Last post by Dirk_S on April 22, 2024, 07:33:54 AM »
Golden Tyre, or do you mean one of the Golden Boy tires produced by Shinko? I thought most Golden Tyres were pretty aggressive.
I’d be willing to bet that a significant majority of Stornello owners treat their Guzzis like any other V7 and stick to the road. Also—I wouldn’t just ask the Stornello community—after all, aside from a high exhaust, minor map and shock difference, the bike is pretty much the same as all the other V7 IIs, and there are those of us cheaper bastards who probably do more dirt on our Stones than most do on their Stornies. That said, I’m curious about your desire for 60/40s. Is it cosmetic mostly, or do you indeed hit some quasi-junk occasionally? Because that type of knob and compound will wear down fairly quickly. For what it’s worth, I also tend to run 60/40-70/30 usually, and admittedly ride my bike on the road 90% of the time. But then I go out and do an unmaintained road with rocks, ruts, roots, and mud from time to time.
Because I’m cheap, I like the Kenda 761 for more road bias or the 270 if I’m doing a more funky trip like one of the BDRs—I used the 270 for the MABDR and it worked for me. Shinko has comparable tire models— 705 and 244 respectively. I haven’t ridden enough on all of them to say which comparative model I prefer over the other.
For a little less dirt than the 761/705 style, I’ve used the Pirelli MT60. it looks the business and does a fine job on packed dirt until it it reaches 50% of its life, I’ve found. After that, the rear grooves are just too shallow and the rubber too hard, and it begins to slip on dirt fairly easily. That’s at least what I found on my first MABDR attempt. They’d still be good on pavement, though. Also, either the front or rear was an absolute hellion to remove and reinstall once it’s begun to age.
That’s pretty much my experience. I’m building a 21/18 set of wheels to throw onto either my V7 II or III (if I get it titled in time) for parts or all of the NEBDR in June. I’m planning to use the Kenda 270 for the job, since the route description advises at least 50/50.
99
« Last post by SIR REAL ED on April 22, 2024, 07:27:00 AM »
The range of motion of the swingarm on a road bike is small compared to an off road bike.
Also the line joining the two sprocket centres on a road bike passes much closer to the centreline of the swingarm. This all adds up to mean that the slack in a roadbike chain is far more constant as the swingarm moves, than an off road bike.
They are simply not required.
True enough. Chain tensioners exist on trials to increase throttle response precision, but even motocross and enduro these days do not have chain tensioners. I suspect since modern chains have nothing in common with the chains of the 60's & 70's quality wise, the demand & benefit is close to zero. But hey, for those who like to pamper their bikes during oil changes by preheating the motor oil before they refill the engine, or only changing the motor oil with Luciano Pavarotti singing in the background to reduce engine trauma, nothing is too good, right? Years ago, just for giggles, I made a chain tensioner for my Suzuki DR650 (the "Bush Pig" in Straya). I really could not detect any benefit while riding. Although it did reenforce what I already knew. Moly impregnated UHMW wears like iron. It is a great material choice if I need to make a swingarm chain guard or build a low stress bearing. Plus I know my baby feels special when she is wearing a bit of home made "bling!" There's more thane way to define "high maintenance" ya know!
100
« Last post by bad Chad on April 22, 2024, 07:23:07 AM »
Bump.
|
Recent Posts