Something you don't see every day...

[berniebee]

This afternoon I'm taking the SP1000 head stock off to have a look at the bearings and lube situation. The stem is slightly stubborn to descend so I give it a rap with a mallet and block of wood. I hear a pitter patter as the lower bearings fall out on to the newspaper spread out below. Oh, well. Only it's not the bearings. It's seeds...




A lot of seeds...

[Lannis]

That steering head hasn't been off of there in 13 years to my certain knowledge .... !   

Before that, I don't know .... 

Lannis

[rschrum]

Plant em.

[berniebee]

Maybe I'll get italian tomatoes! 

You know what, I will try to germinate some of them. It's a long shot, especially since as Lannis says, they've been there for at least 13 years. I'm gonna say they are likely 37 years old.

 But how the heck did they get in there? There's no way a little critter snuck them in - the head stock doesn't open to the frame tubes, and not even a small fly could make it's
way through the top or bottom of the head stock.   Maybe it's a factory option.

[fotoguzzi]

Seeds that are 2000 years old have been germinated and grown so give it a try,
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2232464-extinct-date-palms-grown-from-2000-year-old-seeds-found-near-jerusalem/

[Blaufeld66]

Beware what you are planting, 2020 could be the Year of the Triffids...

[SIR REAL ED]

Obviously a poorly thought out drug smuggling operation run by Moto Guzzi assemblers.

Maybe when Luigi read the assembly instructions that said to lubricate the steering head bearings, he thought "Hmmm, olive oil is a good lubricant, it comes from olives, so olive seeds should be a long term lubricant......"

At least they put something in your bearings.  That's more than most Guzzi owners get.

[Steve Scott]

Hmmm... check your airbox? Doesn't the breather vent into there?

[Lannis]

Hmmm... check your airbox? Doesn't the breather vent into there?

Nope.   It's completely sealed off.   No way to get to it, or even create a seed-sized gap, except by removing the steering head.

Lannis

[guzzisteve]

The only way in is the steering lock.

[BrotherJim]

Beware what you are planting, 2020 could be the Year of the Triffids...

click pic for full awesome

[kingoffleece]

"What do you mean the bearing shipment is late?  Here, use these..........".

[Sasquatch Jim]

Triffids ain't really dangerous.  Just hose them with sea water and watch them die.

[bassa99]

Looks like cannabis seeds to me.

[Muzz]

You're right, that is something you don't see every day!

[berniebee]

Beware what you are planting, 2020 could be the Year of the Triffids...

I think I'll toss them into my neighbour's garden, just in case.

[ozarquebus]

That is very mysterious. Some forgotten PO's idea of a practical joke. I think I will pack my next steering head with seeds. Maybe they would function as dessicant.  Pass something on to a future, perhaps yet unborn guzzista, to ponder...maybe a time capsule note?
 They do not look  like Triffid seeds which are are finer than carrot seeds, as everyone knows, but they DO look like hemp seed.  Bird seed used to be mostly sterilized hemp seeds.  I would certainly plant them out of curiosity.

[redrider90]

Looks like cannabis seeds to me.

these are not cannabis seeds. These looks like a bean seed. We eat a marrow bean seed that looks just like that but whiter. This is funny for sure. Gotta think this is a factory job. Luigi had a grin on his face when placing them in there. 

[jrt]

Those are quality organic ball bearings there.

[bigbikerrick]

Amazing what you find in these old bikes. I found a 4" long sewing needle inside the original  skunk seat on my Cal II. It was obvious that it had been there since 1984, laying flat between the seat cover and the foam.  Guido myst have gone on lunch break,and forgot it after a bit too much grappa! I still have the needle!
Rick.

[wavedog]

I found a small screw driver between the rim and tube of a tire off an old motorcycle. No wonder there were a lot of balance weights. Garage archeology.