Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: mtiberio on December 07, 2021, 12:28:43 PM
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About 7 weeks ago I got the diagnosis nobody wants to hear. Stage 4 Metastatic Lung Cancer. I'm sure this will generate a lot of side discussion. I'd prefer it didn't , but since I broached the subject I can hardly complain. I'm here to sell a bike.
I'm offering the finest of my Convert transplant creations, the EldoVert. Based on a picture I saw of the test mule that the factory built in 1972, but never sold to the public. It gave me a chance to have one bike serve the purpose of 2. I was able to get the uncompromised good looks of a loop frame together with the magic carpet ride of an automatic. How do I claim the moniker "worlds fastest". Well, I stripped the bike of bags, windshields and touring bars, and took it to El Mirage, where the SCTA timed me over 1.3 miles at darn near 116 MPH. A plaque on the bike shows this. Beat that with your Guzzi Automatic, show me the timing slip from El Mirage or Bonneville and you can have the title. The bike started life as a 1974 Eldorado Civilian LAPD. I got it from Paul Linn (he called it Elvira, ugh). Seriously if you are an originalist, leave the room now. Of that original bike, only the frame, engine block, rear fender (now chopped), floorboards, rear brake lever and headlight remain. Don't ask about the old take off parts. There are plenty (but not all) I'll throw in that are not shown (front and rear crash bars come to mind). The number of features and modifications necessary to make this bike what is it is, are staggering. I have been building and rebuilding this for over 15 years. A smattering:
Full Convert Drivetrain
Full 949cc Convert style Nikasil kit (crankcase modified, not cylinder spigots)
Frame and Crankcase original matching numbers (this was what little originalist in me spent a ton on)
Crankcase modified for in sump oil filter
30mm VHB carbs
Tab welded on frame for rear master cylinder (yes it has disc rear brake with 6 hole Lemans style rotor)
SS brake lines
Special 3rd generation (first 2 designs broke) front engine hanger brackets to allow use of Tonti style timing cover
Pancake Alternator
Convert style front fender
Rear fender is chopped original (don't cry it was one that had the wagging crack and was welded before I ever got the bike)
Lightened rear axle (drilled hollow)
Lightened "Heavy" Convert Flywheel (don't ask how much that cost)
Custom Electrical system, no idiot lights
Ebay chinese Valeo starter wired to front ignition switch like a car
One piece regulator/rectifier
Brand new lead acid battery
New rear 120/90 tire
New front Avon
Custom Works Performance shocks
Custom billet hold down for PC680 or other similar sized batteries
EPCO Stainless Steel big outlet mufflers
Stucci Stainless Steel headers
Police side stand without crash bars mounted (complete crash bars with polce stand mount included)
Rear crash bars included but not mounted
Rear passenger peg hangers and pegs
Stock police bag mounts
Custom saddle bags (home made by someone with way too much time)
Harpers rear rack
Harpers rear passenger seat
Harpers oil dip stick
Chinese knockoff Harley Solo Saddle (pn: 52004-25) w/gel foam, in light brown/tan (best $105 I ever spend on ebay)
Non-police tank with acceptable chrome (only regret ditching the screw on cap tank, it had bad chrome)
Ambassador instrument cluster (because I like the way they look)
Joan Claybrook 80 MPH speedo (because it is dead accurate and precise)
H4 headlight bulb/reflector
4 Piston Brembo front caliper, guzzi tech hanger bracket
EBC 300mm gold line floating front rotor
Various Titanium bolts holding calipers, etc on
SS handlebar clamp bolts from Moe, most everything else is SS including rear axle nut, front motor mount bolt, etc
No tool boxes or side covers (because I like the way it looks)
Much more no doubt
Every nut and bolt on this bike including the engine and transmission has been assembled by me (ok maybe the rear drive was done by Charlie). The frame has 200,000 miles I figure. If I add up all the mileage the previoud speedos had it was about 130K, and the current speedo has ~70K on it. The Nikasil kit and valve guides/valve job and the motor have no more than 25K on them. Heads were done by Moe at Cycle Garden. As is standard for me when I set up a Guzzi Automatic, I ditch the parking brake (too much weight). I ditch the shifter, and leave just the short arm coming out of the transmission. I put on that shift arm the rubber covered nub from the foot brake. That way in a pinch, you can shift (using your heel) if you need low range (stump pulling?). I remove the clutch lever and perch at the handle bar, the clutch cable and lever at the rear of the transmission, and the throwout bearing and pull rod. Why? Because I can. Lighter, simpler, and I never have to explain why my automatic has a clutch lever. Need to back up, either develop the leg strength or shut the motor off. The bars are flanders I believe, and they have an incredibly neutral wrist bend that works for me. On the bars are the re-purposed starter button (now part of the ignition switch) as a horn button, the throttle and front brake. The headlight is controlled by a SPDT switch mounted on the underside of the headlight shell into an existing hole. It allows Low (left) off or High. The speedo light and tail light are wired to come on with the ignition. It uses the stock Convert oil tank in more or less the stock position (only the lines to the cooler had to be fabbed (non-oem). Uses the ATF cooler mounted where the horn would normally go, the horn is mounted to the top left crashbar mount. On the right is an adjustable SCTA legal steering damper (generic Japanese "Shindy" brand). I'm dashing this off and including a bunch of photos that I have on flickr. Some of the pix show the bike in alternate (older) configurations. Right now it has touring bars, a police windshield, KTM dirt bike hand guards, hard saddle bags and police floorboards. I'll take some current pix soon, and flesh out the ad copy with more stuff as I think of it. Probably a walk around video will show up on youtube as well. $6500. Offered here first before Facebook and Ebay.
My most recent picture. Yes, I'm wearing an eye patch because a tumor behind my eye made me crosseyed and half blind.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731454461_e8aefa1894_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPke7D)IMG_5386C (https://flic.kr/p/2mPke7D) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
In touring trim, but not current
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51732108839_1b26f27d09_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPozD2)YFYZ6547 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPozD2) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
low bars, not current (note the mini boards instead of police floorboards)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51732346255_348f764686_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPpNdp)VGGJ1313 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPpNdp) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731454641_ed63a1cd25_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPkeaK)LVHV5699 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPkeaK) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
As desert sled with rear brake plumbed to left hand.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51732108729_11530837b1_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPozB8)IMG_4302 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPozB8) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51730643842_032f7fce11_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPg59s)IMG_4204 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPg59s) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51732108774_b5a7523b9c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPozBU)IMG_0578 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPozBU) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
Lightened flywheel
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49501011201_3df7b20e42_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iqeC3n)IMG_2241 (https://flic.kr/p/2iqeC3n) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
First gen front motor mounts (what made me think these wouldn't crack at that stress riser?!? DOH!)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8677/28307175820_f2d27e61f6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K8pFaw)393295171_69c5b872cc_o (https://flic.kr/p/K8pFaw) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
Police sidestand w/o crashbar
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8691/16797551359_a5769fa0b2_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rAkQNt)sidestand (https://flic.kr/p/rAkQNt) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
What started it all
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8681/16652081902_648ae50c42_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rnugNo)n_a (https://flic.kr/p/rnugNo) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
Low bar days
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7324/8735991152_2f396e136f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/eiYeP7)PRE_2013-05-12-071425 (https://flic.kr/p/eiYeP7) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7292/8734872479_875394b708_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/eiSvgD)PRE_2013-05-12-071343 (https://flic.kr/p/eiSvgD) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
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Damn, if only my house would sell. That's one hell of a bike for that price.
Good luck with the sale, and everything else.
-AJ
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The stainless front fender looks sharp on her!
Best of luck to you Mike.
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Various videos taken over the years:
walk around
https://youtu.be/i0BVOTC38nc
flywheel ringing
https://youtu.be/I--NdcXOGkQ
first test rotorless single point ignition
https://youtu.be/TTky_O6f3yY
warming rear drive oil on a cold desert morning
https://youtu.be/jXnduNAPzcM
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Jeez Mike. Wishing you all the best.
What a wrench having to sell such an amazing and unique bike.
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Sad news Mike. All my best.
Brian
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Sorry to hear your bad news, Mike. Always enjoyed reading Mike's Bike in the MGNOC News.
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Mike, Good luck with the sale.
Sorry to read of your medical issues, best of luck.
Tom
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Sorry, Mike. Dammit. I knew you were having issues, but this is looking serious. You have been and will continue to be an inspiration to me. That's all I can say..
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Best to you. Heck of a bike.
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I can’t recall the the moment, maybe at a rally tech session but the discussion was about the weight of the front wheel of a LeMans III and you chimed in with ( lead-butter) which meant too heavy and not strong enough! Perfect!
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Sorry to hear about your problems, Mike. That bike is the epitome of cool and a bargain at your asking price. Best of luck!
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I am very sorry to hear of your diagnosis. For those of us who don't know you personally, could you tell us where the bike is located?
Thanks.
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…dammit…
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I am very sorry to hear of your diagnosis. For those of us who don't know you personally, could you tell us where the bike is located?
Thanks.
Not sure if Mike will chime back in here, so FYI it would be the NOVA/DC area
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Not sure if Mike will chime back in here, so FYI it would be the NOVA/DC area
Oh no, I'm here to answer questions. You are correct however, the bike is in Arlington, Virginia.
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Made it to El Mirage to race this bike in 2018 and again in 2020. By the time I went back, I chopped the rear fender, went with bigger carbs and chopped the head pipes.
2018, with rear mounted pegs and Chinese 28x30 PWK carbs!!! I went about 114
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7838/47106558011_d4320fb6de_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eLDqwF)EldoVert (https://flic.kr/p/2eLDqwF) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
2020, for all the mods, chopped rear fender, mini-boards, 30mm VHBs, I picked up 2 mph to 116
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731704978_0f482933c5_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPmvzU)WGDI1475 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPmvzU) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731454686_f35aa45edf_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPkebw)KTYA9109 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPkebw) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51731454696_cfd68631e0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mPkebG)IMG_4388 (https://flic.kr/p/2mPkebG) by mtiberio (https://www.flickr.com/photos/63194576@N00/), on Flickr
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Good luck with the bike and everything else.
That's one very cool motorbike! :cool:
-Stretch
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What a one speed automatic feels like while land speed racing on DIRT.
One thing is for sure, not any other race vehicle there had a sound (one speed, no shifting) like this:
2018 first run with EldoVert also first run with Chinese carbs
https://youtu.be/dTSi0gUiIr4
https://youtu.be/_MRb7YONHTo
https://youtu.be/hdkfEKhUhfY
2020
https://youtu.be/VRLvI2jiFps?t=71
from start line
Interesting to hear the announcer say I'm trying for the record at 141.693, which I hold from my 5 speed Guzzi:
https://youtu.be/dMUnpU_FiDY
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pm sent
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That's an extremely unique bike, that has obviously had the kinks worked out of it.
I wish the bike and price were Canadian.
Good luck and caring thoughts on the sale and your challenges.
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Awesome videos, Mike! I enjoyed them all. Take care. I wish you inner peace,and most of all comfort. Good luck with the sale.
Rick.
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Real sorry to hear that Mike..
That flywheel is a piece of Art!
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Fight the fight Mike.
Cam
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Amazing videos. I've been thinking about it since you posted.
I can't imagine how you kept the handle bar straight at 140mph.
Best wishes.
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My heart goes out to you Mike...l know how it feels.
Harry
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That might be the coolest most authentic motorcycle I’ve ever seen. It’s fine art, great tech, two world wars and no bs all rolled into something original, beautiful and useful. Thanks for sharing it with us Mike. Please post if it sells.
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Amazing history on an amazing machine. Just wow.
All the best to you Mike.
Rob
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That might be the coolest most authentic motorcycle I’ve ever seen. It’s fine art, great tech, two world wars and no bs all rolled into something original, beautiful and useful. Thanks for sharing it with us Mike. Please post if it sells.
got a deposit already
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Well dammit again that didn’t take long..didn’t even find a hammer for my piggy bank..
I’ve got to go listen to those videos now…
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Amazing videos. I've been thinking about it since you posted.
I can't imagine how you kept the handle bar straight at 140mph.
Best wishes.
First run I ever made was back in 2017 on my old pro twins bike with a 5 speed. I was heading down the track looking at these black marks which were at a low angle to my direction and I said to myself, I'm going to drop my front wheel in a groove, get a tank slapper and die. Well I survived that first run and then I walked the track that evening. Seems the cars lay rubber on the dry mud. What looks like black grooves are actually simply black rubber marks on the dry mud. There are no grooves for the front tire to slip into.
That first run was even more interesting. I tried to get my "rookie" weekend waived and get a full license based on my years as AMA pro roadracer, etc. To this end, tech inspection put a sticker on my bike that forced the race director to follow me on my run and critique it. He was less than pleased, and found some nit to deny. Why try for this? Because rookies can't set records, and I thought I could (as it is I got within 1 MPH of setting the record that weekend, and did it next event.)
What was even weirder was as I was making the run, I was riding a bike I hadn't ridden in anger in over 24 years. In that time I broke my left ankle. Well, I missed the shift into 5th. I then took my whole leg and giving it a strong upward jerk missed the shift into 5th a second time. All this flappage, then started to induce a weave into the clipons. This going on while I was still ignorant about the black marks had me convinced, this is it. So I left the bike in 4th and ran 115 that first run. When the race director came over to me when I stopped to tell me I was too slow turning out, no waive of rookie rules. I was literally stammering, "hamma hamma hamma", scared sh*tless. At that point I could care less about the license. And all this was for 115. By the time the 2017 season was over, 140 felt like nothing.
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First run I ever made was back in 2017 on my old pro twins bike with a 5 speed. I was heading down the track looking at these black marks which were at a low angle to my direction and I said to myself, I'm going to drop my front wheel in a groove, get a tank slapper and die. Well I survived that first run and then I walked the track that evening. Seems the cars lay rubber on the dry mud. What looks like black grooves are actually simply black rubber marks on the dry mud. There are no grooves for the front tire to slip into.
:bow: You brave soul. I would have panicked and fallen off.
It's hard to trust they are all skid marks. I guess don't look down.