First ride at home

[Rick in WNY]

Went for a small ride last night on my new to me Guzzi.

Gassed her up, and do I love our towns new gas station. We can get 91 octane ethanol free, and it's on a dedicated pump, so the only thing in the hose is 91 E0. 

Anywho, went for a 10 mile shakedown cruise. The bad, gotta adjust the clutch a bit, the shift linkage a lot, can't hardly downshift her without repositioning my foot, aka, rolling it way around the peg, and gotta work on the mirrors a touch too.

The good... nice upshifts, comfy seat, suspension is pretty much poifect! And that engine... oh that engine!

Torque comes on at about 1800 RPMs and then she just pulls... and pulls, and pulls some more! So smooth... and when you roll on the throttle, you hear angels! Big, throaty, rumbling angels! I've heard a lot of nice bikes, but this one... she's just wonderful to hear!

So, I'm thinking she and I will have many, many miles and years of happiness ahead of us. 

[Joe A.]

Congrats! What are you riding? I'm in Livonia, let me know if you want to hook up for a ride. there are a few of us in the area.

[Muzz]

  Good to hear.

Guzzis are addictive.

[kingoffleece]

I'm just east of Buffalo.

[SportsterDoc]

We can get 91 octane ethanol free, and it's on a dedicated pump, so the only thing in the hose is 91 E0. 

That is a serious plus, especially if the bike is parked during the winter.

You have more restraint than me, to ride only 10 miles!

[Rick in WNY]

Joe, I'm down near Watkins Glen... mostly I ride around the lakes and such. I've been to Livonia, beautiful scenery over that way!
What I'm riding is the 2004 California Titanium that I brought home last Saturday. Got plates Monday afternoon, rode her Monday night. 

SportsterDoc, well, that 10 mile loop was enough to convince me I needed to get that shift lever adjusted... not being able to downshift properly is an issue with me. And I need to adjust my mirrors more. But other than that, I think she's rearin' to go! I'll likely make the tweaks and go for another ride tonight. Sadly, living in western NY, bikes do get parked for the winter months. Having access to "real" gasoline is a great thing, and not just for bikes. I use nothing else in my lawnmower, chainsaw, snowblower, etc..

Little known fact about ethanol in fuel. Ethanol, if exposed to water and air, breaks down into acetic acid, also known as vinegar. Acetic acid has a great affinity for brass, bronze, zinc, aluminum, and certain plastics. This is what causes the new gas to ruin small engines, old engines, etc. It only gets worse in humid areas. I live between two of the Finger Lakes... so it sucks.

So, ethanol fuel is okay for the newer cages, they're designed to run on it, but for everything else, especially things that don't get run daily, E0 is your friend.

[SportsterDoc]

SportsterDoc, well, that 10 mile loop was enough to convince me I needed to get that shift lever adjusted... not being able to downshift properly is an issue with me.

Good to have a shakedown run.
The shift lever on my V7 II needed adjusting before I left the dealer.

[Kev m]

Come to think of it Jay and I got up that way last year right? When we hit the Curtis Museum.

Nice area, we should go back.

[Zoom Zoom]

Rick, glad to hear you're liking the Guzzi.

Not knowing what your preferences are, I'll mention the upcoming Western New York Rally in Westfield. If you enjoy camping and hanging out around a fire, and laughing a lot, you would like coming to the rally. From Dundee wouldn't be horrible for distance, and it's one of the nicer venues. Not to mention there will be a number of WG members in attendance.

Joe really puts a lot of effort into the rally, and Dennis, the campground owner, takes really good care of us with fire wood and such. We camp in the vineyard just to the West of the main KOA entrance. Easy walk to the showers and restrooms, all very well kept. Joe also has portas in the camp area for those who don't mind using them. (Some of the ladies are, shall we say, discerning about these things. )

John Henry

[Rick in WNY]

Come to think of it Jay and I got up that way last year right? When we hit the Curtis Museum.

Nice area, we should go back.

Mmm, the Glenn Curtiss museum... I pass it most days on my way to work.

Ol Glenn was a bit of a lunatic... or a man well ahead of his time. He built the first V8 powered motorcycle in history, back in the early 1900s...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Curtiss

[Dilliw]

Come to think of it Jay and I got up that way last year right? When we hit the Curtis Museum.

Nice area, we should go back.

Meet you guys there!

The clutch adjustment can be a little tricky as you can adjust it on both ends.  Shifting in general can be "interesting" and may require some extra purpose until you get used to it.  Good news is you don't need to do much of it.

The hydro will pull from 1,800 but you will learn to keep the revs up in the 3k to 4k range during normal riding and above 4k for spirited riding.  She will teach how to ride the way she wants to be ridden!

The TI has the integrated brakes, right?  That's the biggest adjustment IMO as your stopping power is in your foot and not in your hands.

[Kev m]

That was this trip:

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/my-three-simple-rules-for-an-epic-motorcycle-tour

Now Jay where was it we stayed? In Hornell right? and had dinner at Paddy's Irish Pub.

Not bad... I'd make that trip again.

[Zoom Zoom]

Re: the shifting. If you look at the bell crank, the short shift arm from there to the transmission has two possible holes. If you have it on the outside hole, it will shorten up the throw a bit. Most of us prefer that.

ZZ