she let me ride her home...

[DummyLoad]

my new italian girlfriend - she loves to be flogged.  

 

[rafe]

Guzzis are fine machines......

[Bassmanster]

NICE!

[RicharD]

No wonder you ain't been around lately.

[DummyLoad]

No wonder you ain't been around lately.

rode her 30-45mins - no time, working & playing IT support dude for friends. good thing too - come to find out today when attempting to get the title transferred, that in texas your auto policy won't cover you on a new purchase of a motorcycle - automatic coverage only if you buy another car. since i haven't had a motorcycle in almost 5 years, i don't have M/C insurance, so i had no automatic coverage . kind of glad i was (am) busy now - i have (& would have) been riding uninsured.

Guzzis are fine machines......

NICE!

thanks guys, she is a beautiful machine.

--DL 

[bigsbybender]

BELLISSIMA!


I ride Italian too... but mine are Vespas. 

[Ritchie200]

I ride Italian too... but mine are Vespas.  

Are you talking about the Vespa girl from the Casino Royal James Bond movie?  You are a lucky guy!

I rode dirt bikes back in the 70's so this is a total noob question: Is this a shaft drive?  For some reason I am thinking the old ones, way back when, were shaft drives?  It looks like a sweet ride!  Not sure my back would put up with the forward lean tho!  Too cool!
Jim

[DummyLoad]

Is this a shaft drive?

thnx jim, yes it is shaft drive... all the previous sport bikes i've owned were chain drive.

the forward lean tho

you get used to it - the tight knee tuck to reach the foot controls is probably of most concern to people with lower back problems (like me! :( )  - it's not as uncomfortable as you might think since your gut can rest on the tank taking some of the load off your back. if you have upper back or neck problems, you really shouldn't ride. i have to stop every hour or so to strech out a for a bit.

my selection criteria:
sport bike
shaft drive (belt OK) NO CHAIN! unless i found a really sweet deal on a duc or ape.
twin - V or flat. - i like torque coming out of turns in tight twisties and i don't like bashing up and down through gears constantly + i like to engine brake.
approx. 100HP
=< 500Lb.
3 disk braking
prefer euro or american bikes.

chain eliminated triumph, ducati, and aprilia from the running, left BMW, buell, & guzzi. was looking for a buell x12, BMW rockster or guzzi V11 - found the V11 advertised in houston but seller left the bike in storage in austin when he moved. i made him an offer and he bit.

if i were a wealthy man... id buy one of these ...and buy a lot of life insurance.

 

[simonallaway]

if i were a wealthy man... id buy one of these ...and buy a lot of life insurance.

"The Heretic offers an array of options and trim levels (ranging in price from $49,800 to $140,000+), allowing customers to specify a machine with everything they need, and nothing they don’t"

 

Are they really that much better that a Ducati?

[Bassmanster]

http://www.newbonneville.com/html/belt_drive_conversion.html

[Eulipian]

The Guzzi's a beauty.  Actually dreamed I bought one this past week.  Hadn't seen this model, but have to say "Bella belissima!"

Still love the old twins, especially Brits, leaking cases and all.

Here's Norton's latest revival. Not quite my '72, but nice combination of updates whilst preserving the lineage of the vertical twin. 

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bikes/Norton%20Commando%20961SE/

[DummyLoad]

if i were a wealthy man... id buy one of these ...and buy a lot of life insurance.

"The Heretic offers an array of options and trim levels (ranging in price from $49,800 to $140,000+), allowing customers to specify a machine with everything they need, and nothing they don’t"

 

Are they really that much better that a Ducati?

i don't know if they are - but they sure look good.   when you're throwing out that much cash, you probably don't care.

[DummyLoad]

Here's Norton's latest revival. Not quite my '72

that is one beautiful looking ride. "tally ho!" well done, norton.

i'd own it.  however the ~22k USD sticker with that suspension and brake package...ouch!

[Eulipian]

Here's Norton's latest revival. Not quite my '72

that is one beautiful looking ride. "tally ho!" well done, norton.

i'd own it.  however the ~22k USD sticker with that suspension and brake package...ouch!

This is why you don't ever want to get on one and ride it: it's the kind of ride that makes you do things with your money you thought you'd never do.  In '72, I paid about $2,000 for a brand new Commando in London England.  Rode to Athens Greece and back.  Ah, those were the days . . .

Some traditionalists don't like the curves of the new Commando, but I think its a cool update to the traditional vertical twin design that emphasizes handling but does not copy the angularity Ducati or MV.  All of them are beautiful, but I think the curves are unique without being ugly.  If you're into mods and concept bikes here's a very cool link.

http://www.bikeexif.com/

And, there's a whole culture devoted to Honda DOHC and SOHC mods because the engines are so reliable. 

This site has lots of Honda and other mods:  http://www.dotheton.com/

As for me: Give me British or give me walking directions!.

[DummyLoad]

http://www.newbonneville.com/html/belt_drive_conversion.html

 

[rafe]

&feature=related

I have two of these in the harem. But they are in retirement although I'm getting the fever .....
Have been riding Harleys the last decade or so....But I enjoy the sound of an old trident  in good tune
being put through a serious romp over just about any sound I've ever heard.....
 

[DummyLoad]

ah she's already acting up the primma donna eyetalien gal... blew the ECU fuse today on a ride - no spare - swapped the instruments/lights fuse to get back on the road - 7-11 out of stock and randall''s nary stocks a fuse in their "automotve" section. made it home with minutes to spare before sunset. friend tailed me home to keep me from getting a bubbamobile or soccerride driven up my kiester.  i love this bike! loL!

--DL   

[jjasilli]

Well, maybe she's a bit tempermental, but: 

[rafe]

Why did you have to post this   Now I've been stripping down a trident for the last few nights   and there appears to be no end in sight   I've gotten the rockers ,head, and barrel off and removed the primary chain. I know myself It won't stop until it's completely dismantled... .By then I will know if I want to proceed with it's rebuild

Oh yeah and I'll be spending time on the triples forum again ......

[DummyLoad]

good luck with your trident(s) my they live again to ride. that is a sweet machine. hopefully you'll have her ready in time to catch some saddle time before the riding season ends.

--DF

[Platefire]

I use to have 60's Allstate Moped--does that count for anything? 

[Eulipian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-yDO2Cll5g

Here's the guy who owns it now.  Notice: very flat where he lives.

[DummyLoad]

I use to have 60's Allstate Moped--does that count for anything? 

no! ;) a rebel with pedals. 

[Platefire]

Aw Shucks! as Jimi would say 

[rafe]

 :BangHead:In an earlier post i said i removed the barrel I hadn't it just came off in the past few days it was siezed pretty good, however I let it soak and cleaned and painted some parts .....luckily I have a Roadking to ride  

[Ritchie200]

As for me: Give me British or give me walking directions!.

I have a friend with an old Triumph who said your "or" should be "and"!

Jim

[rafe]

  Your friend cracks me up that is funny and probably somewhat true .......I put a LOT of miles on a 73 Trident and it never let me down (that ones next for restoration I'm doing the rough one first) ....however I spent a lot of time doing "Correct" repairs and maintainance....that is the key it was ALWAYS hard to find a great triumph mechanic when you found one it was expensive and good replacement parts were like a lot of imported replacements  in the 70's and 80's .....cheaply made and  very hard to come by...Today high quality parts are available for British machines and upgrades that were unavailable are a reality.....
as far as a mechanic...you should probably be one or have an old relocated neighbor with a cheesy accent who drinks tea and has spanners in his gear-ahg....The new Triumphs are incredible and enjoy a 1st class reputation.....If you like thinking about numbers (change of thought) I have two T150's a lot of guys have 2 or more t150's some hoard them .....from 69-75 they made less than 20 thousand units....
the t-160's are another story 75-76 not many made at the Norton-Villiers plant. There was a great upheavel at Triumph during those years ....The Triumph factory closed I forget the year but My 73and74 were built at the BSA factory in 72 and 73 respectively....These bikes have a mad max type cult following and are  Legendary....At the Triple forum some of the original designers are still at it as are the racers 

[DummyLoad]

the goose is acting up; again. fired her up for a ride and walked back in to get the helmet, when i returned she had a puddle of gas under her. dripping pretty good in less than a minute it was about a foot in diameter. it was early evening so it was difficult to ascertain the origin of the leak but seems to be coming from one of the throttle bodies or the fuel pressure regulator. working on her tomorrow, i had to finish up a pre-amp for customer. drag - i was kind'a jonesin' for a ride to clear the head.

--DL

[PRR]

my new italian girlfriend

Ars Technica just posted a piece on how Ducati is managing under VW control, plus factory tour.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/12/heres-how-ducati-made-its-motorbikes-reliable-under-vw-group/