Something doesn't look right here

[lorazepam]

I understand your point Peter, it's just if people are "amazed" by how brilliant the tech is by just doing the basic stuff the bar is going to keep getting lower, and if you've had a modern car serviced lately believe me it's already  down there.
Ciao

The bike was running pretty well, just the occasional miss, and as I was just getting used to the bike,, I considered it might just be the fuel mapping, as I went through surge issues with BMW on the oilheads. I noticed the blue on the pipe, and nothing about the surging/missing.
There are way more horror stories about incompetence in motorcycle shops than stories about great techs. Good that you have nothing but experts where you live.

[Vasco DG]

~ now the fun part: went to every possible parts source in town. No one sells HT plug wire for bikes, I can order in spark plugs by the 10, and the plug cap can be ordered singly for one fifth the OEM price... but is backordered until november.  AND the Canadian dollar is in the toilet so cross-border shopping is 30% more expensive than a couple months ago.

Can't you just order a metre of it on line? As for plug caps? Plugs are CR8EKB's aren't they? And the caps are about a 120* angle aren't they! Confirm that and I'll pick up some lead , plugs and caps for you tomorrow in Canberra and post 'em out. Probably take a week ten days to get from bumf*ck here to bumf*ck there but if you can't find anyone to ship shit to you from the U.S. I can do it from Oz.

Pete

[Yukonica]

Can't you just order a metre of it on line? As for plug caps? Plugs are CR8EKB's aren't they? And the caps are about a 120* angle aren't they! Confirm that and I'll pick up some lead , plugs and caps for you tomorrow in Canberra and post 'em out. Probably take a week ten days to get from bumf*ck here to bumf*ck there but if you can't find anyone to ship shit to you from the U.S. I can do it from Oz.

Pete

Very generous offer, thank you. Hopefully Gord, where I bought the bike, will have something on hand. Over the long term I'm working on Malik's suggestion of stockpiling key components. Have just learned of a couple more pieces.
Yes on the plugs and cap as to model and angle. This is where little knowledge gets dangerous... :) ... Reading through NGK's website I find there are 9 options for lead wire. Three diameter 5, 7, 8mm and three core construction; copper, carbon, and mag core. The V7 appears to have carbon core. I'll measure the diameter this morning before work.
Not to detract from Harpers or AF1 but, man, they are getting hosed by Piaggio on the plug caps. OEM price is $32 each. Napa will order them in for $6 to me as a retail customer. As soon as I know the thread size and resistance rating of the stock piece I'll buy a few. Short term: I'll buy one OEM and live with the pain.
Again, thank you for the offer. You are too cool for words.