Author Topic: 89 Mille in Colorado  (Read 11095 times)

Offline Triple Jim

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #30 on: May 25, 2016, 10:41:41 PM »
Oh yeah Charlie, I forgot about the elevation in CO!  My Mille is quite lean at sea level, but I bet it wouldn't get 50 mpg a mile up.  But wasn't that one already in CO?  Testarossa might want to run a couple tanks through it to find out where he stands before changing anything.
« Last Edit: May 26, 2016, 08:24:31 AM by Triple Jim »
When the Brussels sprout fails to venture from its lair, it is time to roll a beaver up a grassy slope.

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #31 on: May 26, 2016, 03:09:04 AM »
The plugs are are sooty black -- not oil-fouled, but far from clean. The PO reports 42 mpg.  The factory set-up for the U.S. was "lean-burn" but that may have been fixed by a previous sea-level owner. I live at 5000 feet and often ride at 9000+. 

I'll drop a float bowl and inspect the jets.
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

Offline Triple Jim

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #32 on: May 26, 2016, 08:25:59 AM »
Good plan.  Stock US jetting might effectively give you "Euro jetting" at home, and allow you to ride it anywhere in the country without a problem.
When the Brussels sprout fails to venture from its lair, it is time to roll a beaver up a grassy slope.

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #33 on: May 26, 2016, 11:02:05 AM »
Stock setting, per Greg Bender, should be 130 main, 50 pilot, needle at clip slot 3.

My bike is jetted 155 main, 50 pilot. Will look at the needle position after I put in a 130 main jet. And I'll get fresh plugs.
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #33 on: May 26, 2016, 11:02:05 AM »

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #34 on: May 26, 2016, 11:22:08 AM »
Needle is on the correct slot.

However -- I pulled the plugs again and after last night's 70-mph jaunt, the soot is burned off, leaving a healthier-looking light gray. Perhaps the bigger jets were installed when the K&N pods went on. The emulsifier tube is missing, so it seems someone has already been trying to modify the carbs to world standard.

VHB main jets don't fit the PHB carrier anyway, so no swapping jets today. I'll order a set of jets; meanwhile I'll ride the bike and keep an eye on the plugs.
« Last Edit: May 26, 2016, 11:34:50 AM by Testarossa »
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

Offline kfz

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #35 on: May 26, 2016, 12:38:08 PM »
I enjoy riding my Mille. 

They are real bargain basement bike , made out of parts during a bad time at the factory (is there ever a good time?).

Most of the plastic is really really bad, very thin and prone to splitting.  The front guard is so flappy it cracks around the mounts ad the sidepanels arnt much better.  The clocks are terrible. The plastic surround is cheap and nasty and gone so brittle it disintegrated as trundled along. The 30mm carbs are bit weady, Why did they fit them, as they cost the same as 36's???

The seats already been mentioned, some have one of those dodgy in house electronic ignitions (digiplex?) and mine had the narrow spline clutch hub.  The box shimming was one of the worst ive seen, it was way way out.  Saprisa charging works out I suppose.

But a the end of the day its a mid vale tonti so none of these problems are particulary difficult or expensive to sort out. Most probably already are.

Have fun.
Kev

DSCF0532 by Kev Foote, on Flickr
« Last Edit: May 26, 2016, 12:52:17 PM by kfz »

Offline redrider90

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #36 on: May 26, 2016, 01:07:21 PM »
Was that one of the year's with the 'lean burn' carb setups?  Either way, being up in CO you might need to change jets if they were factory.

89-90 were small valve lean burn. Every single stock Mille owner I meet at rallies got 55 MPG routinely. I never saw a mid valve 91-92 in the states.
Red 90 Mille GT

Offline redrider90

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #37 on: May 26, 2016, 01:14:50 PM »
Don't despair, my '89 Mille with 35mm fork tubes and a Tarozzi fork brace does quite well when running over rough roads while leaned over.


 Jim I believe you have progressive springs in your front end. Remember when we "tested" out here at my house? You could not collapse the tubes completely when you pushed on the front end with the brake on? Stock springs would have bottomed when pushing on the bars and the brake on.
Stock Mille springs suck. One other good test is just roll off the throttle at 40-50 MPH and the front end will drop 2"+ if they are stock. Progressives do not drop when the throttle rolls off.
Red 90 Mille GT

Offline Triple Jim

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #38 on: May 26, 2016, 01:35:56 PM »
I'm sure you're right, Harvey.  Luckily springs shouldn't be terribly expensive if needed.  Really though, problems of a wandering or weaving front end are more related to flexing fork tubes (and on some bikes the frame) than springs, in my experience, and a fork brace goes a very long way toward fixing that problem, especially if the stock plastic fender is all the fork bracing the bike has now.  (Another reason I don't hate the beefy metal fender someone before me put on my Mille)
« Last Edit: May 26, 2016, 01:37:16 PM by Triple Jim »
When the Brussels sprout fails to venture from its lair, it is time to roll a beaver up a grassy slope.

Offline redrider90

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #39 on: May 26, 2016, 08:54:46 PM »
I'm sure you're right, Harvey.  Luckily springs shouldn't be terribly expensive if needed.  Really though, problems of a wandering or weaving front end are more related to flexing fork tubes (and on some bikes the frame) than springs, in my experience, and a fork brace goes a very long way toward fixing that problem, especially if the stock plastic fender is all the fork bracing the bike has now.  (Another reason I don't hate the beefy metal fender someone before me put on my Mille)

Yes wandering and weaving is better controlled with a fork brace but you are lucky to not have had the misfortune of riding a Mille with weak springs where the front end would dive  just rolling off the throttle much less braking down hill approaching 20 MPH decreasing radius curve in the mountains of NC. What a difference it was when full loaded with my wife and camping gear (1000#s bike, 2 adults and all gear) it made with the progressives and bitubos on those mountain curves.
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Offline alanp

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #40 on: May 26, 2016, 09:44:59 PM »
Congrats Seth.  Great looking bike. 
Niwot, Colorado
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'16 V7II Stone - Black
Previous Guzzis
'07 Griso, '07 Norge, '03 California SS, '02 California SS, '02 V11 Lemans,  '83 Lemans III, '77 Lemans

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #41 on: May 26, 2016, 10:23:10 PM »
Thanks, Alan!  We need to do another ride soon and introduce your FJR to the mountains.
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

Offline 89MilleGt

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #42 on: May 26, 2016, 10:24:28 PM »
http://postimg.org/image/gtvryr4qr/


I think I got the picture in this time.  Don't know the one in CO but this is my daily rider.

Hey Red Dog, I'm pretty sure I owned that MilleGT of yours a few years ago. I traded it in at a NH dealer. Did you buy it from NH? How's she running? That was my 1st Guzzi. I bought it from another Guzzista in Mass.

Offline alanp

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #43 on: May 27, 2016, 09:37:46 AM »
Thanks, Alan!  We need to do another ride soon and introduce your FJR to the mountains.

Yes we do!  I am heading off to Illinois this weekend and next on the FJR so the tires are going to need some rounding off after that. 
Niwot, Colorado
'08 1200 Sport - Black
'16 V7II Stone - Black
Previous Guzzis
'07 Griso, '07 Norge, '03 California SS, '02 California SS, '02 V11 Lemans,  '83 Lemans III, '77 Lemans

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #44 on: May 27, 2016, 10:45:05 AM »
Alan: Travel safely. Phone when you get back.
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #45 on: June 05, 2016, 12:07:35 PM »
Set up for touring.  The Honeymoon Mille.




We did a 110-mile loop up to 9100 feet today, two-up with the bags on, and everyone is happy.
« Last Edit: June 05, 2016, 05:02:56 PM by Testarossa »
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #46 on: June 16, 2016, 10:19:51 PM »
After 400 miles I'm learning more about the Mille.  She has points, so I'm holding the Dyna III off the T in reserve. I didn't like the Siem headlamp, and the 7" Bosch units now sell for $180, so I ordered a Cibie for $49 and with the Eastern Beaver relays, I'm very happy with the result. Did a little sheet metal work inside the shell to make it fit.
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

Offline jumpmaster

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #47 on: December 17, 2017, 02:47:25 PM »
Set up for touring.  The Honeymoon Mille.





Sorry, I didn't see this thread when it was active, & just stumbled on it today.  What bike is that fairing off of? I've had my Mille for about 4 years now & ride it regularly on short jaunts, but would like to try a small fairing on a longer (i.e. overnight/weekend) ride.

Thanks!
JC
90 Mille GT (sold), 73 Eldorado, 75 Norton Commando, 46 Whizzer, 13 Harley Road Glide

Offline Testarossa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #48 on: December 17, 2017, 03:23:53 PM »
Quote
What bike is that fairing off of?

It's an old Shoei FM-5 fairing that was on my 850T when I bought it in 1983. It will go back on the T when I finish the rebuild. Meanwhile, I've put an SP fairing on the Mille.





I have no idea where to find an FM-5 nowadays. There's FM-2s all over ebay. IMHO the FM-5 is a much better looking fairing, a lot like the LeMans Mk2 fairing.
70 Triumph TR6R, 74 850T, 74 Yamaha TA125, 89 Mille GT, 99 F650, 2013 Yamaha XT250
Gone: 59 Piper Comanche 250, 69 Harley/Aermacchi 350SS, 71 Honda CB500/4, 74 Laverda 750 SF2, 91 Suzuki VX800, 50cc two-stroke scoot, 83 XR350R

Offline jumpmaster

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #49 on: December 17, 2017, 04:35:34 PM »
Thanks for the info on the fairing.  I'll keep an eye out for one...you never know what will pop up.
JC
90 Mille GT (sold), 73 Eldorado, 75 Norton Commando, 46 Whizzer, 13 Harley Road Glide

Offline nc43bsa

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #50 on: December 18, 2017, 01:24:35 AM »
Does anyone know the part number for the Tarozzi fork brace that fits a Mille?
1990 MilleGT

Offline jumpmaster

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #51 on: December 18, 2017, 08:29:37 AM »
 I don't, but if you find out pls post it on this board.  I bought a cheap used one off of ebay a couple of years ago that came off of an SP, I think.  I couldn't find one listed specifically listed for Milles on the Torazzi web site or anywhere else, so I tried to find what other models had the same diameter legs and space between front fork legs.  Because the front fender rides a little high off the tire, I couldn't get the fork brace completely down on the tops of the lower sliders unless I shoved it down completely on the fender (probably scratching the paint) or I drilled holes in the fender "ears" to lower the fender a little - which I wasn't willing to do.  So, the brace doesn't fit perfectly but it seems to be holding in place well enough.  I do notice a small improvement in the front rigidity, but not a tremendous amount.  I'm not a street racer, though, so maybe a more aggressive rider would notice more difference.
JC
90 Mille GT (sold), 73 Eldorado, 75 Norton Commando, 46 Whizzer, 13 Harley Road Glide

Offline Triple Jim

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Re: 89 Mille in Colorado
« Reply #52 on: December 18, 2017, 09:36:51 AM »
I just looked all over mine and I don't see any model number, just "Tarozzi".
When the Brussels sprout fails to venture from its lair, it is time to roll a beaver up a grassy slope.

 

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