Rocker59's Spine Frame Chronicles...

[rocker59]

Another rally/campout season is drawing to a close.  The ME880s on the Nero Corsa are just about done.  Oklahoma will be thier last roadtrip.  10,000 miles two-up and pulling a trailer ain't bad!  And the performance penalty really isn't that bad for real-world sport-TOURING type riding.  The front could go longer, but I think I'll replace them as a set...

The old Nero Corsa has clocked 40,000 miles of fun, mostly trouble-free riding.  I sure do like this bike for the way we use it, and Marcia sure likes travelling on it.  

It'll get cleaned up when it gets new tires this fall.  The season here in The Hills goes (almost) year-round...



(photo courtesy Paul Valentine)

[Lightguy]

Bump.
Just so I can find it again.

[rocker59]

Thanks! 

I'll try to take some time and post some updates soon.  I work evenings right now, and for some reason I can't get onto WG from the work computer... 

Haven't really been riding much this winter.  Been devoting a lot of time to the horses.  Rally season will be kicking off in March.

Hopefully, I'll get some riding in before then!

I added a Tonti LeMans to the stable a few weeks ago, so maybe I'll be able to post up some comparisons in the coming months.

[rocker59]

I just pulled the trigger on a new set of tires for the Nero Corsa.  I'm going to try something different.  Over the past three years, I've been running the ME880.  At first, just on the rear with a Z6 on the front.  Then, I moved to an ME880 set.  For the 2-up trailering/touring that we've been doing over the past few years, they've really fit the bill.  10,000 mile tire life has been nice with the ME880.

I stretched the ME880s life through the winter, but the Fools on a Hill campout was the last ride for them.  Cord is finally getting ready to peek out in the center of the tire.  They held up good.  No real complaints.  They steer a bit slower than I prefer, but overall they've been very good tires.

For the same replacement price (about $300 for the pair), I've decided to give the brand new Michelin Pilot Road 3 a try.  The tire has been getting rave reviews, and I'm planning on transferring some of the touring duties to Miss Bassa this year, so a slight reduction in tread life won't kill me.  People say they really last, but I'm hoping I get a slight increase in turn-in and cornering performance in the exchange.  American Moto Tire should ship them out in a day, or two.  I'll have them installed for the ride down to The Louisiana Campout in Homer.


On another note, Marcia and I rode the trusty Sport 1100 on a 130 mile lunch ride this afternoon.  We enjoyed a great lunch in Catalpa at the general store, then explored the locally famous "swingin' bridge" over The Mulberry River, and enjoyed some toe-scraping fun on AR-215, AR-23, and AR-16, with stops at Turner Bend Store and Mulberry Mountain.  The old Sport 1100 is really balanced with its OEM WP shock and OEM Marzocchi M1 forks with WP springs and 10wt oil, and was running great on its $4.03/gal Shell Premium fuel...

Google Map Link

[Lannis]

I just pulled the trigger on a new set of tires for the Nero Corsa.  I'm going to try something different.  Over the past three years, I've been running the ME880.  At first, just on the rear with a Z6 on the front.  Then, I moved to an ME880 set.  For the 2-up trailering/touring that we've been doing over the past few years, they've really fit the bill.  10,000 mile tire life has been nice with the ME880.

I stretched the ME880s life through the winter, but the Fools on a Hill campout was the last ride for them.  Cord is finally getting ready to peek out in the center of the tire.  They held up good.  No real complaints.  They steer a bit slower than I prefer, but overall they've been very good tires.

For the same replacement price (about $300 for the pair), I've decided to give the brand new Michelin Pilot Road 3 a try.  .....

I've had several sets of ME880s and two sets of Pilot 3s, albeit on different bikes.    I predict slightly better handling and about 2/3 of the tire mileage from the Pilot 3s than from the 880s ......

Lannis

[rocker59]

I've had several sets of ME880s and two sets of Pilot 3s, albeit on different bikes.    I predict slightly better handling and about 2/3 of the tire mileage from the Pilot 3s than from the 880s ......

Lannis

6500 miles on the rear would kind of suck, but it'll probably last me a year since I have other bikes to spread the miles out.

I hope there is some handling benefit with the mileage penalty.  If not, you'll see me back on the ME880s!

[rocker59]

Tires:

Well, for the past three years, I've been running the ME880 radials on the Nero Corsa.  For the mission, they've been great: touring-oriented sport-touring.  I was not real happy with tread life on the Z6 Roadtec, with 4k to 6k out of a rear.  Next was the Dunlop RoadSmart, with 5k to 7k out of a rear.  I did try a Z6 front / ME880 rear combo for awhile in 2009.  It worked pretty good, handled great, though the initial turn-in did feel odd for the first thousand miles.  After that, though, the combo was fine. 

Eventually I went to a set of ME880s, and have been really really happy with the combo.  I had heard some horror stories of these tires in the wet and other miscellaneous negative comments.  Those comments mainly came from people riding bikes with horsepowers of 50+ more than my Nero Corsa has.  In my experience, which has mainly been high-speed, all-weather, 2-up touring, the ME880 has more than performed.  The great thing being the 10k mile rear tread life. 

My most recent set finally got down to the steel coming home from Fools on a Hill, so it was time again to order a new set of tires.  People have been ranting about the new Michelin Pilot Road 3, so I thought I'd give it a try.  The hope being that the tire performs a little better in the twisties than the ME880, but with close to the same tread life.  I guess we shall soon see. 

I removed the wheels/tires today, and tomorrow will take them to a friend at a local Honda shop for mounting.  Here are a few pix for comparison.  One thing that concerns me is the rear load rating for the PR3 is much lower than the load rating for my ME880 REINFTL.  I fear that will mean 6k to 7k rear treadlife for the way Redridinghood and I ride the Nero Corsa.  I'll report back...

Pit Bull stands come in handy:


The fronts.  The ME880 has some life left in it, but I like replacing in pairs:






The rears.  The ME880 has a load rating of 78.  The PR3 is 72. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Hey, Mike, would you mind taking a closer picture of the way you have the front on that stand? TIA I have a stand like that, I think. Always have used it on the rear.

[Tom]

I use the engine hoist for dropping front and rear wheels.  Blocking the engine and trans. mounts while I play with the wheel/tires.  You don't want the bike to be a pinata while hanging there.  ;D

[rocker59]

Tires:

 

 

My buddy, Jesse, at the local Honda shop mounted up the new PR3 tires this morning, and I took time at lunch to get them on the bike...

I think I'll ride it to work today and sample these new skins...

 :bike

[rocker59]

Hey, Mike, would you mind taking a closer picture of the way you have the front on that stand? TIA I have a stand like that, I think. Always have used it on the rear.

It's a Pit Bull front stand.  I think it's too narrow for use as a rear, except maybe on a little bike...

Oh, be sure you have the rear wheel on a stand, or hung from a lift before using the front stand.  The bike will not stay on the front stand by itself... 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Thanks, Mike. I have a Pit Bull rear and a font stand that fits the triple tree. Only problem is, with Rosie, I have to pull the fairing to be safe when using it. Maybe I can mod my rear to use on the front like yours. I've already made a stand that lifts the rear by the pork chops.
Thanks for the pix!

[AH Fan]

Holy crap Tom............... you wouldnt happen to have a low milage unmolested Nero or Corsa in that herd some where would you???????
Im looking!!

 :pop :bow

[Tom]

Nero Corsa not for sale.  Part of the LeMans collection.  Daytona models not for sale.

Here's what's for sale:

'01 V11 Sport Rosso Mandello.
'00 V11 Sport Black w/red frame.
'95 Sport 1100 Black carbs.
'95 Sport 1100 Red carbs.
'97 Sport 1100i Yellow.
'91 1000S Green-currently spoken for.
'80 SP1000 NT.
'80 Convert-currently spoken for.

All low mileage.  PM if interested.  I haven't advertised yet.  I'm looking to narrow the herd down to the LeMans models.  Will include crating.  Easiest way is to ship to San Diego for fly-n-ride.  I don't have pix on all of them but can take.  Might be able to do the phone pix thing.  Not really sure on how to do that.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'm looking to narrow the herd down to the LeMans models.

;D ;-T

[Tom]

Yeah...what can I say?  ;D  It started out as a LeMans collection then expanded to the sport models.  Then it was what ever else was interesting.  Along the way I ended up a bunch of non-Guzzi stuff.  I have to do an inventory every once in awhile.  ;D

[mychaelruiz]

Mike where did you buy the PR3s? I am looking to get tires for my Cafe Sport and Cycle gear is telling me almost $500 for the set. I was thinking of going with Angels. I can find them for $300 a pair.
Myke

[Unkept]

Mike where did you buy the PR3s? I am looking to get tires for my Cafe Sport and Cycle gear is telling me almost $500 for the set. I was thinking of going with Angels. I can find them for $300 a pair.
Myke

I like Bike Bandit for their AMA discount of %10 off and they usually already have good prices. http://www.bikebandit.com/michelin-pilot-road-3-motorcycle-tire

Oh and I have the Pilot 3 on the front and a Pilot 2 on the back of my V11 Lemans. They seem to be a good set of tires, but I've not experimented with other tires yet to compare.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I took my Angels to Todd Egan to put on. He said, " I wish I could put you on a set of Dunlop Q2s back to back." Motorcycle Superstore has them on sale right now, a little less than the Angels I bought. I'll probably try em next time. Todd knows his stuff.
I *like* the Angels, by the way..

[rocker59]

Mike where did you buy the PR3s? I am looking to get tires for my Cafe Sport and Cycle gear is telling me almost $500 for the set. I was thinking of going with Angels. I can find them for $300 a pair.
Myke

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/

Free Shipping.  I think my set of PR3's was about $295 +/-.

They're pretty good.  I've been ordering tires from them for a few years, now.

[rocker59]

Just a reminder to check the simple things first:

Tuesday Morning, I was riding the trusty Sport 1100 home from work when it cut out a few times.  The closer I got home, the more it would cut out.  Felt like it was running out of fuel.

I checked the odometer and had only been 132 miles.  The first thought that came to mind was that one (or both) of the electric fuel petcocks were failing.  Or, the screens were clogged with junk.

The bike cut out a few more times in the few miles it took me to get off I-540 and into a gas station.  When I topped it off, the tank only held 3.2 gallons of gas.  That had me thinking again that the petcocks were failing, as the tank holds 5 gallons.

On the few remaining blocks home it sputtered again, so I rode up the hill in the back of the neighborhood, riding slow, trying to determine if it was fuel or electric causing the problem.  At the top of the hill, the bike died.  All electric was gone. 

Well, that answered my questions on "fuel or electric".  While coasting the mile down to the house, I was pondering relays and ignition switches and fuses...  I was able to coast the whole way home!  It was great!

I pulled the passenger pillion and before checking fuses and relays, I grabbed one of the negative leads to the batteries and yep!  LOOSE, LOOSE, LOOSE!

A quick snugging of the bolt with a 10mm socket and driver, and I was back in business!

I'm not sure why the negative lead suddenly decided to loosen, but I was glad it was such an easy fix!

The Sport 1100 is sitting outside my office right now, waiting for me to fire it up and head home again at about 07:00.

What a great old bike!  We'll probably be taking it to the McAlester deal on Saturday.  2-up, 300-mile lunch ride.

I'm looking forward to it! 

 ;-T

[nilknarf]

 **C Exactly same thing happened to me with the V7C. See you guys Saturday in Baja, OK.  ::)

 **C SG  ;-T

[cruzziguzzi]

I had the haunted ground cables on my Spot - in fact still do - and after a bunch of bolt securing attempts, I settled on a set of "disc-lock" washers on all four terminals (jeezum-crow! 2 batteries and it's not a diesel!?!) so far, so tight.

Don'tcha just love the effect of loose cables at highway speed and no cushdrive? Feels like mechanageddon back there.

[Chuck in Indiana]

mechanageddon

  ;D

[Lannis]

I had the haunted ground cables on my Spot - in fact still do - and after a bunch of bolt securing attempts, I settled on a set of "disc-lock" washers on all four terminals (jeezum-crow! 2 batteries and it's not a diesel!?!) so far, so tight.

Don'tcha just love the effect of loose cables at highway speed and no cushdrive? Feels like mechanageddon back there.

Must be much like the "camnarok" going on under my Stelvio valve covers ....

[QCGoose]

I hate to admit that I just discovered this thread today, but I just read the whole thing through and it's been a great one.  ;-T

Glad to hear so many positive thoughts on Spine ownership. I've only had mine for just under 2 months, but I'm in love. :bow :)

[rocker59]

I hate to admit that I just discovered this thread today, but I just read the whole thing through and it's been a great one.  ;-T

Glad to hear so many positive thoughts on Spine ownership. I've only had mine for just under 2 months, but I'm in love. :bow :)

Glad to see a younger rider buying a Spiney  ;-T

[QCGoose]

Unkept and I will help keep the Spine-frame flame burning. :D ;-T

[rocker59]

Spent some time this morning prepping the Nero Corsa for the weekend's trip up to Mo-Kan.  I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I've not started or ridden this bike since the Louisiana Campout in April !   :o

On the return trip from Louisiana, the exhaust crossover gaskets gave out.  So, too, the starter.  I had to bump start the bike a few times on the return trip because the started locked up.  Having three other bikes, plus two horses, meant that the Nero Corsa went to the back of the garage for the summer.  I've been commuting on my V7Classic and my LeMans 1000 CI, occasionally breaking out the Sport 1100.

So, today, after months of putting it off, I installed the OEM fibre gaskets I recieved from Todd @ MPH a couple months ago.  That went pretty well, but what a stupid system.  Why not just metal on metal slip-fit like ever other motorcycle?  Well, anyway, the install was pretty easy, with one of the gaskets needing a little trimming to fit.  Now I have a nice, quiet exhaust system!

The interchangeability of Guzzis is one of thier big plusses for me.  To address the starter issue, I double checked all relays and confirmed that the starter was, indeed, the fault.  Then I simply removed the starter from the Nero Corsa, and replaced it with the starter from my Sport 1100. 

Bingo!  The Nero Corsa started on the first try!  Six month old gas, and the OEM battery that hasn't seen the charger since July!  Heck, the tires hadn't even leaked down.  Crazy!  Naturally, I had to take a victory lap around the block, and all went well!   ;-T

Tomorrow, I'll clean it up and hook up the trailer, and begin preparing for the trip to Mo-Kan!

I guess I need a starter.  Anyone have a line on a nice, used starter from a late model Guzzi? 

 :bike

[rocker59]

So, because of rain, we hauled the V7C to MoKan.

The next week I decided to ride the Nero Corsa to work since I'd prepped it for the rally and didn't take it.

On the way up to the office, somewhere on I-540, that telltale exhaust leak sound returned...  When I arrived at work and took a look, I was shocked to see the entire front crossover missing!   :o 

Dang stupid thing!  So now, I either need a replacement crossover, or I need to do the right thing and buy a set of Guzzitech's "crack proof" headers for the poor bike.  Damn!  It was running good, too!  Heck of a fun ride on the nearly new Michelin PR3 tires...

This has been a great motorcycle for me.  I've put about 40,000 on the thing, the most of any bike I've ever owned.   Unfortunately, a list of things to do has accumulated this year:

1)  Left mirror needs replaced, which I broke messing with it in the garage.
2)  Front exhaust crossover needs replaced, or new headers without the crossover sourced.
3)  Needs a new starter.  The OEM unit has locked up on me.  I've been switching starters between the Sport and the Nero, but I just need to buy one.
4)  Clutch is slipping sometimes.  I've been able to get it to slip a time or two at very high load/high rpm.  Maybe it needs some adjusting, or maybe the 2-up trailering and the "stuck in 5th gear ride" have taken thier toll.

So, the Nero Corsa parked for now.  Winter project, I guess.

 :bike