Le Mans Ergo's

[Chuck in Indiana]

but now they've reached a point of perfection
where the only improvements to be had is by replacing
the most fallible input, the rider's input, with those of
computer driven aids to save the rider from himself
and for me that would be cutting the the feel and joy
of that meld in half. 

You get it all right. 
Now, the least expensive Guzzi you can buy is the most expensive Guzzi you can find. Someone else has already put the money and sweat equity in it. They won't get any of their labor back, and very little of their upgrade money when they sell it. That's the one to buy.
Just the same, there is a *lot* of gratification from bringing one back from an early grave. You'll know exactly what you have, and will have had your hands on every part of it. It will still be relatively inexpensive if you do all the work.

[RANDM]

Then I haven't gone mad and there's no need to shoot me?
At least not straight away? 

[RANDM]

BM's back together, test ridden and all seems to be fine, so
I rang Sydney.
It seems there are two that are possibly for sale.
One fellow needs room in his shed and is trying to decide
wether to sell the Laverda Jota, or the 1985 Mark IV Goose,
that's a hard choice to make!
He's had the Goose for years, 2nd owner and knows the first,
has the complete history of the bike. He says the bike is in
very good nick, about 70% concours, motor was completely
rebuilt from top to bottom 6,000 klms ago, says it's the sort
of bike he could jump on ride to Melb. without checking it first.
He's not in a hurry only thinking of selling, doesn't know what
he wants for it or what they're going for. Guess I should have
said - then jump on it, ride to Melb. and sell it to me for
$2,000 but something held my smartarse back. 

The 2nd is a Mark V who's owner has a bum leg and is finding
it hard to keep riding. He'll contact him and see what the go is,
I'll call him back in a couple of weeks when we've all had a
chance to think about it, and we'll see where we stand.
I'll start a tidy up of the BM and put it on the market,
we'll see how we go.

Cheers Maurie.