Introductions thread...Introduce yourself to the group !

[Momo]

intro follow up

First bike was a basket case Harley Hummer purchased while stationed at Eglin AFB 1966-70, put together with guidance from fellow airman, Jim Qualls.  Being waaay too small it was sold and a 1969 Honda CB350 was purchased.  Subsequently a Yamaha DT-1.  I became addicted to dirt bikes, had Sachs, DKW, Ossa, Bultaco, Montesa, MZ, Hondas, etc. 

After discharge I went to a motorcycle mechanic school courtesy of VA bennies and then to work in the industry for 14 or so years.  Riff's Cycle Center, Devon Honda and Montgomeryville Cycle Center- from wrenching to service manager.  For a single guy pay back then pay was excellent.  Then to college and the photo industry, where I taught, managed a photo lab, owned a photo lab/studio.  Digital imaging killed that so I wound up at Home Depot, still working quite a bit at 73.

Got married and all motorcycling stopped   After my wife passed away 13 years ago I got back into bikes.  Must have restored for myself and others at least 50 Japanese bikes during that time.

Presently own:
1965 Honda S90
1991 Suzuki Katana gs1100f
1991 Kawaski Ninja 600
1982 Yamaha Seca 400 dohc twin
1981 Kawasaki KZ1100 LTD
 and the problem child a 2008 Guzzi Breva 750, which I'll introduce forthwith.

[Lannis]

Thanks for the welcome!
What a beast this V Twin is. Love the stance - perfect for my height.

Had a nice 85mi ride home but unfortunately stalled out in stop-and-go traffic and was fussy to restart - I think when the bike is good and hot it idles a bit low; I hope a minor adjustment.

Not sold on the fairings as the front-set sidestand is basically unusable - have to shimmy off and steady the bike and use the center stand so far - not quite an elegant move and given the weight of this sled, a set-up for dropping it.

That said, this was a well-ridden sport tourer (50k mi) that could use some TLC. Looking forward to it as a - project.

The sidestands that come on those are horrible, always have been.   Designed to meet some lawyer-derived design, not safety or practicality.

There are ways to modify the bike to use the big, useful, functional Tonti-frame sidestand, and I had done it on one of mine.   Otherwise, as you say, you have to sort of hop sideways off the bike and put it on the centerstand, and eventually that method will goof at the expense of some plastic ... !

Lannis

[jumpmaster]

Had a nice 85mi ride home but unfortunately stalled out in stop-and-go traffic and was fussy to restart - I think when the bike is good and hot it idles a bit low; I hope a minor adjustment.

That said, this was a well-ridden sport tourer (50k mi) that could use some TLC. Looking forward to it as a - project.

Before jumping into a lot of fiddling around to address the above-noted issues, just try cleaning the sparkplugs and riding it several times for a total of at least a couple of hundred miles.  When I bought my Eldorado, it ran a bit rough and temperamentally, but with regular use it smoothed right out.  I figure it was suffering from lack of use syndrome - sitting around for long periods and, when it was started, only very short periods of being run.

[Existent80]

Before jumping into a lot of fiddling around to address the above-noted issues, just try cleaning the sparkplugs and riding it several times for a total of at least a couple of hundred miles.

A fair point, thanks - I'd always rather touch a plug than dual carbs for sure. I think there are spare spark plugs from original owner so it'll be just as easy to drop those in. It's a weird situation where the PO bought it and didn't really ride it from Fall till now, but the PPO knew it well and rode it and loved it (might have been first owner) - so I just have a big knowledge gap on how the bike actually behaves (or, behaved). I like the idea of "lack of use syndrome" being the culprit here. A few tanks of gas and some decently high revs through it may well sort it out.

[Tom]

Add some carb cleaner additive to the gas too.

[Luckyd]

Lucky d
San Diego
MGX
Coast to coast to coast, cowboy camping my favorite rides.
 

[kevincraig]

Hi all,
 Kevin Craig here.
65 and just retired this year from too much travelling and corporate BS.
From a Cleveland Ohio suburb.
Hobbies/ Interests: Motorcycles ,Drum Circles (Hand drumming), Hiking, Grandkids of course.

Kevin

1974 Honda 500 twin
1969 Bonnieville customized
1979 HD Low Rider
2013 Ural T
2017 Ural M70
2017 Guzzi California Touring- Taking delivery 7/17/20

[agdrache]

Ari G
35
Bicycle mechanic
Greater Boston, MA

Currently riding a Suzuki TU250X and looking into getting something bigger

[ivantheterrible]

Hi all.
just got a 98 ev11 blue Guzzi. I've been told this is the place to go for all things Moto Guzzi so I've been reading through the site as time allows. lots of good info! look forward to the day when I can contribute to the knowledge base.

[jhem68]

 John Hemenway 68 years old ( and adding at an alarming rate!) and retired. I Have been riding motorcycles since 1969.

If you have been at the Wisconsin Rally in the last five or so years I've probably had the pleasure of serving you a meal or two.

I've been lurking here for a year or two as I find very good perspective on issues and opinions about products and projects I've encountered during my guzzi caretaking times. So now I felt it's time to join and see if my experiences with the brand can be of benefit to someone else. Sorry about the Intro being a little delayed but I've had a busy holiday weekend.


Current stable,
2018 Milano
2007 Honda 919
2004 Breva 750 ie
1980 SP 1000
1975 850T
1969 Homemade (BMW/VW)

Long term guest,
1973 Eldorado

[Momo]

John Hemenway 68 years old ( and adding at an alarming rate!) and retired. I Have been riding motorcycles since 1969.

If you have been at the Wisconsin Rally in the last five or so years I've probably had the pleasure of serving you a meal or two.

I've been lurking here for a year or two as I find very good perspective on issues and opinions about products and projects I've encountered during my guzzi caretaking times. So now I felt it's time to join and see if my experiences with the brand can be of benefit to someone else. Sorry about the Intro being a little delayed but I've had a busy holiday weekend.


Current stable,
2018 Milano
2007 Honda 919
2004 Breva 750 ie
1980 SP 1000
1975 850T
1969 Homemade (BMW/VW)

Long term guest,
1973 Eldorado

It'd be interesting to see some photos of your bmw/vw

[Vwtee2]

Irish, 48 year old living in holland last 22 years, building a tonti frame

caferacer and drive a 1973 v7 sport (only frame and engine are original i think)

[SurferDave]

Hello all,
just joined this forum.
Have owned my LM3 since 1985.
She's been under repair for a couple of years, leaking head gasket, got it off then had bad sailing injury and unable to work on her for about a year.
Now, I just took the sump pan off to replace filter and remove lost bits that fell in while the barrel was off, and I had a terrible incident, one of the two 10mm bolts near the rear was frozen in the thread and exploded! Oh no!



servicesource org

[jhem68]

It'd be interesting to see some photos of your bmw/vw

    Maybe some day I'll get up to speed and learn how to post pictues. In the interim google BMW/VW conversion or perhaps VMW. There were I think at least 4 different enterprises doing this in the very late 60's but I believe the honda 4 and the advent of the superbike era became a more practical performance solution.


Versions of these come up for sale every now and then. Last one I saw was two maybe three years ago on CL around Cleveland. There used to be a Yahoo group dedicated to these conversions.


John                                                                                                                                                                                               

[Momo]

    Maybe some day I'll get up to speed and learn how to post pictues. In the interim google BMW/VW conversion or perhaps VMW. There were I think at least 4 different enterprises doing this in the very late 60's but I believe the honda 4 and the advent of the superbike era became a more practical performance solution.


Versions of these come up for sale every now and then. Last one I saw was two maybe three years ago on CL around Cleveland. There used to be a Yahoo group dedicated to these conversions.



John                                                                                                                                                                                               

Thanks John.  I did research images, some of the beemers looked factory with a well done conversion.  Larry

[Snowman]

Hello, Mike in Spencer IA, I am a Brit but moved to the US in 1989.Just purchased my first Guzzi having ridden BMW K bikes and airheads up to this point. I lost faith in the newer BMWs and wanted to go back to air cooled simpler technology. I am an engineer with a Japanese company servicing and repairing commercial printing presses. 57 years of age and was married 30+ years if you add them together! Looking forward to meeting you all at the rallies when they open back up.
Moto Guzzi Norge, 2009, 12K miles.
Cheers
Mike.

[vintagehoarder]

Hello, Mike in Spencer IA, I am a Brit but moved to the US in 1989.Just purchased my first Guzzi having ridden BMW K bikes and airheads up to this point. I lost faith in the newer BMWs and wanted to go back to air cooled simpler technology. I am an engineer with a Japanese company servicing and repairing commercial printing presses. 57 years of age and was married 30+ years if you add them together! Looking forward to meeting you all at the rallies when they open back up.
Moto Guzzi Norge, 2009, 12K miles.
Cheers
Mike.

She's a beauty, welcome!

[Tonyblaze]

Tony from the states, Cleveland Ohio suburb. Husband, Father, Firefighter, 53 years young. Just sold a 2015 Triumph Thunderbird Commander looking to fall in love with a California or Eldorado. I thought I could go bike-less for a period - I can't. I'm actually having withdrawal symptoms.

[Tom]

Go to Cadre Cycles.  I hear there's a used Eldo 1400 for sale there. 

[dcdurst]

David Durst
63
Sales guy
66' v700



gif pictures site

[Lannis]

David Durst
63
Sales guy
66' v700



gif pictures site

That's a golden oldie right there.   Not many Guzzi twins made before that one, I reckon ...

Lannis

[frozengoose]

David Durst
63
Sales guy
66' v700

Hi and more pics please, Guzzi porn is always welcome!

[zcassini]

Hi

I am Zac.  Started riding about 2 years ago.  Started with a 1987 Rebel 450.  Last fall I got my hands on a 2016 Ural and rode it all winter. 
Just gave the Rebel to my father to get him into it.  I bought a 2009 Stelvio kitted up like a NTX ('cept that tank) with a stainless Mistral on it from a forum member here.
I'm in Middletown, Ohio right off 75 between Cincy and Dayton.

Loving the Stelvio but damn she is heavy.  Quite a jump up from the 450.
If anyone has a map they wanted to send my way I'd like to try some. 
 

[pariah]

Richard, 58. From Yorkshire in the UK originally, but lived and worked in the Middle East, the Caribbean and Hong Kong the last 20 years. Married a Fin and live in Helsinki these days. I'm a Chartered Structural Engineer.

Been into bikes since I was a young teen, riding field bikes on the pit hills. Owned around 20 in my time and have a soft spot for Italian bikes of my youth, which were unaffordable back then in my teens (and some still are now in my 50's).

I remember going down to Eddys M/C's on Kirkstall Road as a 15 year old and ogling the red Mk 1 Le Mans they had in the showroom. Made out of Unobtanium back then but started an itch that took thirty odd years to scratch
Past bikes include a Morini 3 1/2, Ducati 900 Final Edition, Aprilia 1000. Owned a a 1980 Guzzi LM Mock 1 for a few years now, a modern R9T Urban GS (fun bike) and just this week added a Guzzi GT 850 to the fleet.

Looks like a very knowledgeable crowd here :)

Here's some pics:

















     

[Wildroamer]

Hey gang,
I'm Todd, and I kind of fell back into riding with the ridiculous deal on my new V7III Milano that I couldn't pass up! Bought it sight unseen, but knew she checked all the boxes in what I'm looking for as I return to riding after about a decade (I'm 53).
She's almost where she's going to be, maybe a tank bag and dry bag for "touring mode" but I think I'll hold off on the windscreen for now.
Here are a few pics with various luggage, or bare-nekkid!

[oldbike54]

 Hello to all of our new members 

 Dusty

[gerryp]

Hey gang,
I'm Todd, and I kind of fell back into riding with the ridiculous deal on my new V7III Milano that I couldn't pass up! Bought it sight unseen, but knew she checked all the boxes in what I'm looking for as I return to riding after about a decade (I'm 53).
She's almost where she's going to be, maybe a tank bag and dry bag for "touring mode" but I think I'll hold off on the windscreen for now.

Congrats on your purchase and Welcome to the forum.

Where in New England are you located.

Gerry

[Wildroamer]

Hey Gerry,

Vermont.

[Ginettaman]

Hello  I've joined as just bought a 2010 9000mile Guzzi V71.
I've had. V50 and always been a petrol head. Have around 7 bikes including a Ducati 748 but not a comfy ride!
Age 54 and live in Yorkshire near York UK. Often meet others at Fimber or Fridaythorpe cafes Friday lunch times
Into classic Ginetta cars and bikes and do all my own spannering.
Had an engine light on already as removed replaced leaking exhaust centre pipe but now fixed. Just fitted some cheap Chinese repackable shorter Cans to see if the bike will run ok and sound better without mapping. Two test rides so far but all seems fine with engine light staying off. My theory is to repack and tune the cans to sound good but they sound pretty good now. Total cost £46 for the two cans in Chrome. Can't afford £800 arrow exhaust?? Not sure how to post a picture just yet?
I've read posts about resetting the tps and ecu but can't find a post on how to do this? To reset my engine light I disconnected the battery overnight which seemed to work?
Never had a new bike and the V7 is 10 years old but modern and new to me as it doesn't need restoration.
Royal Enfield Bullet ASBO tuned-classic not standard.
Yam Virago
CX500 projects to build.
Ducati 748
Norton Cafe racer
Guzzi V7 black and gold
Pit bikes

[Lannis]

Age 54 and live in Yorkshire near York UK. .....

Never had a new bike and the V7 is 10 years old but modern and new to me as it doesn't need restoration.

I've ridden in Yorkshire and Derbyshire ... beautiful country.   Inspired to see it from Kipling's "On Greenhow Hill".   Couldn't believe some of the 1 in 4 and even one 1 in 3 inclines on those back roads.

Like you, if a bike is less than 25 years old and doesn't need work, it's a "New" bike to me!

Lannis