Kentucky rally , now with pics and a new Rep .

[kidsmoke]

That was cool of Sloan's to do that.  Who came with the bikes?

Sloan's is a new one to me. They carry a pretty full line. Piaggio, including Aprilia, Vespa, and Moto Guzzi, since 2008.

Matt Sloan and their service manager...ashamed to say I can't recall his name, came up Thursday, tented for two nights. Brought 4 machines, a V7III, A V85TT in Yellow trim, a V85TT in Red Trim with the touring package (crash bars, larger screen, LED's and cases) and a Vespa. All were available for us to have at it, and I did, on both the V7 and the Red V85TT. They also brought along T shirts for sale and gave away a 500.00 gift certificate.

Hats off to them for truly engaging the event. This was a new sort of thing for them, they were pretty taken with the crowd, the bikes, the enthusiasm.

[Groover]

Nice lineup! Thanks for sharing.

[blu guzz]

Todd:  Nice pics.  Congrats on becoming the state rep.  I know the group will be in good hands.  I will try to do better getting down to Georgetown.  So the next one is the 12th?

Best regards,

Tom Collins

[kballowe]

Enzo Miller from Cadre Cycle rode in on a V7 III Milano Saturday afternoon.

Here's John Henry and Enzo..... (photo courtesy of @vintagehoarder)




is a salvage title more expensive to insure

[TFinch1990]

Yes the next breakfast is the 12th

[vintagehoarder]

Here is mine may have some video to follow

https://curtedwards.smugmug.com/2018-Kentucky-Moto-Guzzi-Rally/

[vintagehoarder]

Congratulations on the State Rep, you will kill it and thanks to Jerry for all his years of support!

[OldMojo]

Here is mine may have some video to follow

https://curtedwards.smugmug.com/2018-Kentucky-Moto-Guzzi-Rally/

That's last year Curt

[kidsmoke]

Congratulations Todd. You're contagious enthusiasm and street cred....a 20 something wrench rocking a Carb'd Spot...will serve the community well! I'll be there for the 20th for sure. You make a fine ride leader as well!

Took less photos than ever, but here's a few. That crimson gathering at Heaven Hill was drawing lots of 'photographers', many folks just walking through the lot were stopping and pulling their phones. We even had a Corvette Sag Wagon in the appropriate hue.

Here's a few of mine.

5 of us rode together from Indy, turning a 170 mile ride into a 250 mile ride. Perfect Weather. Here we are, waiting on a GRiSO.



Friday morning tour to Heaven Hill...



same...Rick Houses full of barreled aging bourbon in the background... the 'angels share' blackening the walls as it departs...







a man who needs no introduction...



fittingly set for us, in a playground. Two of the 4 machines which were provided for unrestricted running by Sloan's of Murfreesboro TN.



the test route (I personally ran it 4 times on 2 different machines)



other sights...





and I'll leave you with....a silver rider and Guzzi's newest machine



Saturdays breakfast run





Sadly for you the reader...the most profound part of these weekends are the roads. It's unspeakably beautiful in this part of the country, and our hosts know the way. I'm not a go-pro guy so I can't share that. Maybe we get Nick to come down from Canada and properly document a Kentucky Rally! It should be on your list, folks.

Interesting observation (or not):

The 1400 debuted in 2013, I spotted 4 all weekend. Ballowes red Eldo, a brief visit from a Fortress, and two white tourings.

The V9 series, late 2016? I saw 1

The venerable V7 - 2007 - I saw 2 (not counting the demo)

The V85TT - 4 months now? There were 4 present for sure, maybe more, each owned by prior Guzzi owners (Plus the two demos = 6). Sloan says they've already sold 8 or 9. Cadre? a dozen. That's 20 new machines within a 4 hour radius of the campground we were sitting in. Seems like a hit.

[oldbike54]

 Merged the two threads with a heading change to make things more simple .

 Thanks for the pictures and reports 

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

I can't add much to Kip's report/pix. It's *always* a good time at the Kentucky rally, though. I don't normally care for group rides, but the ride to Heaven Hill with Todd leading was awesome.  Group rides normally have to be dumbed down to the slowest rider.. and there weren't any.  Sitting at a stop with Todd's Spot, George's 5/4 scale Lario  the Aero Lario, and the Kid and Nora's red spot was a memorable sound. 
I spent quite a bit of time just shooting the breeze with Matt and Charlie from Sloan's. They are enthusiastic supporters of the marque, and at least sold enough T shirts (Guzzi content)  to pay for their gas coming up. They *don't* know the history of the machines very well.. after all, they've not been in business that long.. but seemed surprised at the knowledge and devotion to the breed shown at the rally. Matt said he'd like to make the Ohio rally next year, too.
Since it was there, I caned the tits off of a V7III stone.  It was wearing Sport Demons, so I managed to get rid of the chicken strips for them on 898. First thoughts? I liked it. The drive train was very nice, very little slop between the throttle and the road, Front brake was very good, the rear was wooden. When I first pulled out on 127, the instrument panel started flashing a red light at me. Thought, "WTF" then realized it was telling me to shift.  I'm really familiar with the feel of a small block, and decided that was about 4500 rpm, and cheerfully ignored it the rest of the ride. Naturally, it was blinking constantly in the twisties. Riding position is not too good for sporting riding, though, but *probably* that could be fixed. I would look at it seriously if I were in the market.
Enzo came by when we were working on Pat's LeMans. We talked a bit, then he probably decided we had it under control, didn't need parts, etc. (melted connector from the AC out of the alternator) Pat texted me last night, btw, and said he made it home without issue. 
Another *great* Kentucky rally is in the books. Thanks to all that made it happen.

[twowheeladdict]

Sloan's is a new one to me. They carry a pretty full line. Piaggio, including Aprilia, Vespa, and Moto Guzzi, since 2008.

Matt Sloan and their service manager...ashamed to say I can't recall his name, came up Thursday, tented for two nights. Brought 4 machines, a V7III, A V85TT in Yellow trim, a V85TT in Red Trim with the touring package (crash bars, larger screen, LED's and cases) and a Vespa. All were available for us to have at it, and I did, on both the V7 and the Red V85TT. They also brought along T shirts for sale and gave away a 500.00 gift certificate.

Hats off to them for truly engaging the event. This was a new sort of thing for them, they were pretty taken with the crowd, the bikes, the enthusiasm.

I thought that was Matt in one of the photos.   

That was pretty awesome of them.  They carry something like 13 different brands of motorcycles at their dealership.  It is a pretty impressive place and they provide test rides on all the bikes I have asked about. 

[Zoom Zoom]

Congratulations Todd.


John Henry

[fotopat]

[oldbike54]

 

 Oh , and why is John Henry such an , er , well , ham ?

 Dusty

[fotopat]

Steel Branch Road - from Kentucky River Campground to Route 127, north of Frankfort, KY
approx. 2 minutes long

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQbkLtztJuo&t=15s

[Chuck in Indiana]

Yeah, Steel Branch was freshly paved.  Certainly a fun way to come in to camp after a day on the road.  I see you got a picture of the birthday celebration.  John was sober as a judge, thanking everyone for the good wishes from his Guzzi Family during his bout of shingles. He literally had a tear or two. Then, said Karla had just passed a milestone, the 21st anniversary of her 39th birthday. Because there was a burn ban, he thought he should get professional help, and the fireman came in with the cake, and started lighting the candles. I though, crap.. I don't have my phone with me to get a picture. Thanks! 
Edit:
Oh, forgot. Kevin made it from Missouri on the Eldo From Hell. :) He has more faith than I do in modern electronics *and* the dealer that installed the "throttle thing."

[kballowe]

Oh, forgot. Kevin made it from Missouri on the Eldo From Hell. :) He has more faith than I do in modern electronics *and* the dealer that installed the "throttle thing."

Hey Chuck -

Day 7......  and counting.

Place your bets !
 

[dguzzi]

No handlebars sticking out of that river?  It must have been a great rally!!

[Chuck in Indiana]

Hey Chuck -

Day 7......  and counting.

Place your bets !
 

I'll take the under on 6 months. 

[kballowe]

So, that was my 1st time at the Kentucky rally.

What a great place to have a camp - and some nice riding around the area - and many sights to see.