Author Topic: What a bike! (Read 4873 times)

nick949 · « **on:** September 24, 2016, 07:00:06 PM »

As some of you may have gathered, I have developed rather an affection for my Eldorado. Actually, that doesn't begin to describe it. I'm absolutely besotted! It is such a fantastic motorcycle. Others simply can't match up, no matter how fast or shiny. It's the bike I find myself riding for long trips, short trips, rough roads, any roads.

Today, for instance, I rode 327.4 miles.

Some of it was over lovely, freshly paved, swoopy, curvy roads where the bike hummed along sounding magnificent.

Some of it was over ugly, bendy backroads with more tar patches than pavement and huge frost heaves - usually strategically mid-bend. The Eldo just bounded over them, wagged her tail dismissively then carried on. Enter a bend carrying too much speed and have to brake hard with no time for a downshift? Never fear, just open the throttle and tractor through, no matter what gear you're in. She may sound a bit lumpy for a while, but she'll have you back to speed in no time.

About 50 miles of today's ride was on single track, gravel and cobbles logging roads with numerous washouts and football sized rocks. The Eldo didn't care, she bounced over the cobbles and tractored up the washouts chugging along in first gear. The forks bottomed out a time or two, but it never unsettled her equanimity. A couple of the potholes I hit would have crippled lesser bikes. They were enough to throw me right out of the saddle.

Then on to the coffee shop. It's a good job I'm a sociable sort (stop laughing in the back row!) as any male with more than a single silver thread in their beard in drawn to the Eldo like cretins to a TV evangelist. How old? Who makes?... etc. etc. You have to be prepared to talk. In any row of bikes, the dust and mud splattered Eldo, with oil smears on her crankcase and rust on her exhaust rings is the only one people have eyes for.

She can sit all day at 70 mph. on the highway and never complain. Her gas mileage is decent enough. The brakes function well enough. Parts are readily available although nothing fundamental ever seems to break. Good roads, bad roads - it's all the same to her. Two hundred mile day? Five hundred? A thousand? She's up to it if you are.

If I could only have one bike, regardless of age, performance, cost or value, my Eldorado would be it.

Nick

_{except - perhaps - for a Rudge Ulster}

Lannis · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:09:19 PM »

That's a real testimonial, that is.

I've had a lot of bikes, and have a lot of nice, iconic bikes now, but the only one that I've sold that I would like to have another one of is a Loopframe .... It's everything you say it is. Old and classic but perfectly capable of handling any kind of riding you like (well, any kind of riding I like, anyhow).

Lannis

twowings · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:21:38 PM »

What a marvelous testament to a wonderful machine! I always enjoy your posts

rodekyll · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:27:57 PM »

In my travels I think of my Convert more as an agreeable old horse than a machine. I think you're arriving . . .

Aaron D. · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:28:23 PM »

I believe the loops are the best of Guzzi as Guzzi truly was meant to be. I have owned and loved their sport bikes as well, but they are great "for what they are", the loop frame concept is just brilliant full stop.

Cam3512 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:29:20 PM »

I love my Ambo too. Believe it or not, we actually PAVE our roads down here.

I admire your sense of adventure.

leafman60 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:30:33 PM »

Amen, Nick.

drdwb · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:30:41 PM »

Nice story great pics. Thanks.

Lately I've been yearning to start a new project bike. I've been vasalating between finding a sleek and sexy 1100 sport or perhaps a lemans, I see pictures of go fast Red sport machines. Eye candy - motorcycle art. Than occasionally I Look at nicely restored Eldos and Ambos and think they would be more functional and certainally more practical. I hadn't thought of the most important element which your thread speaks so well of ...Fun.

Oh can you tell me about the first picture of your post, the screen shot of your data,what is device is this from?

Thanks Dave

Aaron D. · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:34:37 PM »

Oh, an 1100 Sport and Loop are so far apart, they are both worth owning if only to see just how amazing the original 2 valve twin concept could go and still be streetable.

dl.allen · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:36:33 PM »

Nick what hardware software is that display
Thanks for great pic

Tom · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:37:09 PM »

Sold my 2000 Jackal and 2000 V11 Sport to the same friend in Honolulu. He was surprised that the same engine powered both bikes.

nick949 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:43:09 PM »

Quote from: drdwb on September 24, 2016, 07:30:41 PM

Oh can you tell me about the first picture of your post, the screen shot of your data,what is device is this from?

Thanks Dave

Hi Dave /dl.allen - It's an older Garmin Nuvi 550. Pretty basic, but robust.

Nick

Mark Harpell · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:54:14 PM »

Nice, Nick....thats the coolest looking bike.......sweet... .

Idontwantapickle · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2016, 08:00:13 PM »

Nick,
Truer words were never written.
I ride almost every evening the weather permits, I've ridden in the rain enough to last me. I usually take my Eldo and putter around town through the neighborhoods. The roads in the older parts of town are quite entertaining and the Eldo seems to love to stroll along them.
I've had that bike for 30 years. Only the Lord knows how much longer I'll have it!
Hunter

oldbike54 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2016, 08:05:40 PM »

We had an old Guzzisti here in Oklahoma , sadly gone now, who was a very large fellow , probably nearing 400 LBS . He rode an Eldo that he put maybe 200,000 miles on , most at a brisk pace . So
yes , they are a tough machine .
Thanks for the report Nick old man , great as usual

Dusty

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 24, 2016, 11:31:03 PM »

On my short list, but I have 4 and 3 cars so SWMBO says no more (for now) lol. But I've always wanted one of these. Great post!

chuck peterson · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2016, 12:05:22 AM »

Love the stripped down non-buffalo fairing, big spots, flat bar, with bar end mirrors look. Must be the cafe version? as always, great color

Lannis · « **Reply #17 on:** September 25, 2016, 07:23:17 AM »

Quote from: nick949 on September 24, 2016, 07:43:09 PM

Hi Dave /dl.allen - It's an older Garmin Nuvi 550. Pretty basic, but robust.

Nick

As mentioned, the bike DOES have a great look, but I don't think I'd do very well at a steady 70 MPH on the highway with no fairing or windshield at all. Of course, my Stelvio and Triumph have full fairings, and my Norton and my (non-stock) SP have small, short aftermarket windshields that throw the wind to my upper chest ....

.... but on my completely unfaired bikes, a steady 70 soon puts the strain on the arms when fighting the wind, especially (as often happens on a round trip) half of the journey is head-on into a 10 or 15 MPH wind.

Everyone's different - maybe the bars give you enough "lean" into the wind to prevent that ... ?

Lannis

nick949 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 25, 2016, 07:32:45 AM »

The low bars do provide some forward lean, but yes Lannis, you're right, up to 70mph is fine, but if there's a head wind it starts to be a bit of a fight. I generally avoid roads where I can ride at those speeds anyway. I'm more of a 55 - 65 kind of guy although on some of the roads I like, 20 is really racing. Fortunately my speedo tells me I'm riding at 100+ mph almost all the time, so I get my speed kick that way.

As it's turned chilly here, I was out in the garage thinking about putting the buffalo fairing back on. Somehow, in the chaos of my garage, I've lost one of the lower braces and will have to make a new one. Darn - it will be a cool ride today. Time for the long underwear, balaclava and snowmobile gloves.

Nick

canuck750 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 25, 2016, 10:36:26 AM »

I agree 100% with you Nick. Other Guzzi's may be prettier, or quicker, or rarer but the Eldorado does everything anyone could ask of it.

At the Oregon Rally myself and a friend on a ST1100 ignored road signs stating the lovely back road we were looking at was closed for chip sealing and headed off onto it, 20 miles latter it was deep loose gravel, for at least twenty miles, some Stelvios caught up, all decked out and one fella couldn't believe the old Loop could navigate the deep loose gravel so easily (40 ~ 50 mph). On the highway the Eldo has no problem keeping pace with modern bikes and it even surprises some riders with its ability to corner fast on tight mountain curves. It gets great mileage, is comfortable all day in the saddle, and its reliable, simple and easy to maintain.

All the others could go but the Eldorado is going to be with me until the end.

Tom · « **Reply #20 on:** September 25, 2016, 01:07:05 PM »

:1: on the Eldo being a good ride. The running one that I have is a tug for the hack. Great ride

Ncdan · « **Reply #21 on:** September 25, 2016, 03:55:44 PM »

Nick I admire your adventurous spirit. I use to have it but old age takes its toll. My rebellious outings are now limited to a couple hundred mile round trip to the mountains and back:(. Keep it up as long as you can!

nick949 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 25, 2016, 04:53:27 PM »

Quote from: Ncdan on September 25, 2016, 03:55:44 PM

Nick I admire your adventurous spirit. I use to have it but old age takes its toll. My rebellious outings are now limited to a couple hundred mile round trip to the mountains and back:(. Keep it up as long as you can!

Many others here do what I do - I just talk, write and post about it more

Nick

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Author Topic: What a bike! (Read 4873 times)

twowings

oldbike54

canuck750