Author Topic: My Grand Adventure- The best fly and buy ever (Read 3177 times)

cappisj1 · « **on:** April 06, 2018, 11:54:42 AM »

So, sometimes life happens for a reason. Last year I attended my first rally, in Elkader IA. I was kind of lost at first. I sat with a couple great guys for dinner and headed down to set up my tent. That’s when I met Mike. We sat and talked about bikes and life. I mentioned that I treasured my 96 California but if the right deal came along I would love a Norge. Well, Mike had that deal. He called me in February and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Uh oh, now I need to sell my Cali. I had a couple week “maybe I will buy it” but I finally got a call from someone that really wanted the bike. I had an attachment to the bike as it was the last bike I saw my dad ride over 20 years ago and my kids grew up on the back of it. I really struggled selling the bike but after meeting Ron and getting to ride the bike for 3 hours to deliver half way I was able to say good bye and I know Ron is meant to have that bike now. Ron has posted about his return to ridding.

Ok, let’s get to the good part. I call it my grand adventure. I asked a buddy that I have flown with in the past if he would be interested in flying me from Bloomington IL to Atlanta GA in his Globe Swift. He agreed for $100 to help with gas. I was able to fly most of the way and he let me have elevator and aileron control to land it at the gas stop. I bounced a couple times but not too bad for my first try. The airplane was reusable so it was technically a successful landing.

Then Mike picked me up in this hot rod to get me from the airport to his house and the Norge.

Once at the house Mike showed me around the bike some and I even met Bill Hagan at Mike’s house. Mike said you know traffic is going to be a mess you should get going. I told Mike as I left that I am OK with the traffic, I get to spend even more time with my new pride and joy!

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Even though I took the interstates home I had a wonderful ride thinking of all that fell into place to make it happen and all the cool experiences and genuinely good people I met along the way. I truly owe all these guys another thank you and to let them know that in a small way they all changed my life for the better.

We are so blessed to be motorcycle riders and part of such a great group of Guzzi folks.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2018, 01:25:06 PM »

NICE!

Rich A · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2018, 01:25:49 PM »

A grand adventure, indeed. Congratulations!

Rich A

Lannis · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2018, 01:32:25 PM »

I took a Greyhound bus to Atlanta to pick up a Guzzi once.

It was a little bit different experience!

Always fun to bond with a new bike on the way home!

Lannis

Guzzi Gal · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2018, 01:38:44 PM »

:1: That's how it should be done!

oldbike54 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2018, 02:03:07 PM »

Said this in another thread recently , we are a family , and look out for each other .

Glad this worked out so well

Dusty

Roebling3 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 06, 2018, 03:59:45 PM »

Cripes! All that AND a Globe Swift ride! Good fortune, indeed. Keep safe. Ride far. R3~

Sheepdog · « **Reply #7 on:** April 06, 2018, 04:09:09 PM »

Great way to buy a bike! And what a great bike it is!

wyrtyr2 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2018, 04:38:41 PM »

Does this mean Bill Hagan is alive and well? We have not heard from him in quite awhile

Lannis · « **Reply #9 on:** April 06, 2018, 05:36:58 PM »

Quote from: wyrtyr2 on April 06, 2018, 04:38:41 PM

Does this mean Bill Hagan is alive and well? We have not heard from him in quite awhile

He's using other media than WG these days. He's doing well, doing motorcycle things, as well as family things.

His Mom, Carmen Hagan, passed away last month at age 98. Bill and his family were deeply involved in her care, so it's been a busy time for him.

Lannis

Roebling3 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 06, 2018, 07:21:23 PM »

Where else dare I go and find even less credibility, - - regarding Globe Swift's?
Was there a power plant type change? The narrowed, rounded cowl is curious to me. TIA, R3~

cappisj1 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 06, 2018, 08:30:42 PM »

I am confused about why your attacking my credibility on the airplane? The post was supposed to be a lighthearted thank you. Yeah, the motor was upgraded in about 1980 from 125hp to 180hp. The cowl is mostly original but changed in the front and bottom. Non the less still a Swift. I hope this brings some credibility back to an excitable level and thanks for looking out for me.

RinkRat II · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2018, 09:29:36 PM »

Hey cappis1, Great story! File that under "Obviously meant to be" category. Congrats!

Paul B

Tusayan · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2018, 10:28:29 PM »

Looks like a fun trip, I did a similar fly to buy trip about two months ago. I was in a bit of a hurry so flew 400 miles out and then rode home by nightfall.

Re Swifts, they are probably the most modified planes in existence: many or most have different engines, cowlings, controls, canopies, panels, you name it. Seventy years of mods. The originals were a bit anemic in performance, an O-360 engine like this one is common and makes good sense. Otherwise it looks relatively unmodified. All of them are a bit tricky to land so you did well if you landed it!

Tom · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2018, 02:17:47 AM »

Good story.

rjamesohio · « **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2018, 05:50:47 AM »

Jay, yes that’s quite a delivery story! And you probably already have more miles this season than many will ride all year - lol. Congrats on the Norge; hoping to see that and your old Cali parked together sometime at a rally.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Unkept · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2018, 07:02:11 AM »

That is a fantastic trip! That plane is beautiful. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy the Norge! :D

Zoom Zoom · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2018, 08:36:41 AM »

Great trip. You should take the bike back and re-enact the entire trip, taking extra time with each mode of transportation!

John Henry

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2018, 11:05:26 AM »

Quote from: Roebling3 on April 06, 2018, 07:21:23 PM

Where else dare I go and find even less credibility, - - regarding Globe Swift's?
Was there a power plant type change? The narrowed, rounded cowl is curious to me. TIA, R3~

The original Swift was powered by an 85 Continental (!) not enough power , the 125 Continental, basically a 6 cylinder 85.. not a good engine, and the 0-300 Continental.. a good engine. Many have been converted to the 180hp Lycoming and constant speed prop. That will include the cowling change and many speed mods.
Actually, it's difficult to find an original Swift any more. The Kid has been looking for an unmolested one for some time. There's currently a very low time one for sale in Minnesota, but has the 125.

Mike Craven · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2018, 11:46:14 AM »

Jay! Finally catchin' up on WG. Hope your repairs are going well. Don't forget to straighten the fuel filler port drain tube, and note that the fuel filter was just renewed... Next time stay for more than half an hour.

To others, Jay was headed out of Atlanta on a Friday, rush hour of a holiday weekend. I think that's a traffic triple play.
Don't park under trees, cheers,
Mike

guzzisteve · « **Reply #20 on:** April 15, 2018, 01:58:27 PM »

Great story, nothing like a Swift, my Dad had many. One hangs in the Smithsonian at DC!! I'm sure Mike will miss the Norge but his Cali 2 is a great bike.
There are a lot of Guzzi riders in IL too, years ago we had a breakfast at a truckstop in Bloomington.

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Author Topic: My Grand Adventure- The best fly and buy ever (Read 3177 times)

oldbike54