Is motorcycling allowed?

[IceCreamMan]

1 hour ago, i24 said:

Is this in ZA or UK? Lots of Guzzi spares are available if you look around. Also new parts can fit on older bikes. But some parts, like pistons for my V50 Mk II, are very difficult to find. (Big blocks pistons and Mk III pistons are no problem, just Mk II).

Also do your homework before you buy an old 4 valve model, some of them have lots of issues and there are very parts left to fix them. I don't think any of these made it to ZA.

 

In za. 
 

Guzzis need parts so good to hear lots are around.  

[Andymann]

On 2/14/2023 at 4:54 PM, IceCreamMan said:

A mate of mine years ago bought a 1000 cc guzzi. Now we laughed at him as he paid 12 grand for it. In our fearless bike gang the ous who have had guzzis all came to grief with em due to break downs and the like. ( allegedly only the pistons are of any good according to the gospel of saint Charley anyway). 
 

now my mate been tinkering on his guzzi who he has affectionately named Benito and it stood in a shop for most of Covid. Anyway , we ragged him silly the whole time. He has had it sprayed in colours very close to this. 
 

end result is, similar ones go for 45 grand or more now. He is laughing now and he has a bona fide classic. 
 

is Miguel still around?   If anyone ever needs guzzi spares ping me, a guy i know is master restorer/mechanic on guzzis these days. 
 

he is doing the DJ, Andy. You must know him too. 

It must be the same Miguel that I know.  Back in 1983 my Dad bought an 850 LM3 from Roma Guzzi.  After a while I sold my 350LC (because back then they were worth nothing) and bought it from him - I imported a lot of spares back then from Italy and a funny story was when I ordered a rev counter cable they sent me three and politely asked that I use the one that fits and please to send the others back!  Anyway I road that bike for 50000kms and Miguel used to service it for me - only AGIP Sint 2000 back then!  I eventually sold it to my brother in Cape Town who used it and then when his son had to go to high school regrettably had to sell it.  Luckily, he kept in touch with the new owner asked him that if he ever wanted to sell it, please to let him know. A few years back he contacted my brother and the Guzzi is now back in the family.

So very interestingly, one day when I was having the Guzzi serviced I saw a bike there which I didn't recognize - it looked a lot like a Ducati 900SS but was a.......Yamaha.  Yes said Miguel - thats a "Yamacati"- or TRX.  And that's where my love of TRX's came from.  I actually pestered Miguel a few times to sell me that bike but he never did!

 

[Andymann]

On 2/15/2023 at 7:18 AM, i24 said:

Is this in ZA or UK? Lots of Guzzi spares are available if you look around. Also new parts can fit on older bikes. But some parts, like pistons for my V50 Mk II, are very difficult to find. (Big blocks pistons and Mk III pistons are no problem, just Mk II).

Also do your homework before you buy an old 4 valve model, some of them have lots of issues and there are very parts left to fix them. I don't think any of these made it to ZA.

 

There's a guy in our Estate who has a 650 Lario in his garage.  I think one of the valves went and he said to me he couldn't be bothered to fix it......

 

 

[i24]

42 minutes ago, Andymann said:

There's a guy in our Estate who has a 650 Lario in his garage.  I think one of the valves went and he said to me he couldn't be bothered to fix it......

 

 

Is that a 4 valve per cylinder model? - Then one did make it to ZA.

Nice bike but the original valve springs were too heavy for rest of the valve train. There are recalls and mods to the springs, cams, rockers ... etc. But if the heads are damaged, you have a big problem. Do some homework before you take on this one.

[IceCreamMan]

1 hour ago, Andymann said:

It must be the same Miguel that I know.  Back in 1983 my Dad bought an 850 LM3 from Roma Guzzi.  After a while I sold my 350LC (because back then they were worth nothing) and bought it from him - I imported a lot of spares back then from Italy and a funny story was when I ordered a rev counter cable they sent me three and politely asked that I use the one that fits and please to send the others back!  Anyway I road that bike for 50000kms and Miguel used to service it for me - only AGIP Sint 2000 back then!  I eventually sold it to my brother in Cape Town who used it and then when his son had to go to high school regrettably had to sell it.  Luckily, he kept in touch with the new owner asked him that if he ever wanted to sell it, please to let him know. A few years back he contacted my brother and the Guzzi is now back in the family.

So very interestingly, one day when I was having the Guzzi serviced I saw a bike there which I didn't recognize - it looked a lot like a Ducati 900SS but was a.......Yamaha.  Yes said Miguel - thats a "Yamacati"- or TRX.  And that's where my love of TRX's came from.  I actually pestered Miguel a few times to sell me that bike but he never did!

 

Ole Roma guzzi. Damn that’s going back long time. Down near end street in jozi. THe big shop windows. Stan was the owner, he had an old mechanic working for him whose name eclipses me right now. I was good mates with Fanie, the other mechanic. Other stan also worked there in the parts before moving to mosskays. In fact, I think he named his son Lario after the model you mention above. Going back a long time now. Those were the days. All the bike shops in downtown jozi. Used to hang out there most Saturday mornings. 
 

golden times of motorcycling 

[RocknRolla]

Talk of the Guzzis takes me back to a school friend of mine, his dad had a guzzi in the garage. no idea what, but the image of the V65 looks familiar (bike shape). It was covered in dust, and I may have only ever seen it run once.

His other project was some kind of 2 seater aircraft that he was working on as well. This somewhere in the late 80's.

Thanks for the memories.

[RocknRolla]

Now that i'm logged in, a chance for a gratuitous bike pic from December.

[IceCreamMan]

4 hours ago, RocknRolla said:

Now that i'm logged in, a chance for a gratuitous bike pic from December.

How many million miles on that motor now?

 

 

[RocknRolla]

47 minutes ago, IceCreamMan said:

How many million miles on that motor now?

 

 

This is my new bike, bought her with 48k km on in the cape and rode her home. Did a RR on WD’s. 
 

I still have my white 8gs with 145k kms on. She’s been in the market but no real interest in a well used bike with a couple of niggles. Served well as a backup bike when my lightie got taken out and his 690 duke got written. 
 

 

 

[Hairy]

So I took my eldest to try his learners again (Chop passed this time ... first time he was to cocky RE his knowledge, and was probably a good life lesson for him too) so while he was sitting the test, I popped into the nearby second hand Ducati Store.

They had 3 x Diavel's on the floor. 

1 x X Diavel = sold

1 x Black one = in for a service

1 x Chroma (Apparently only 4 in the country) = for sale

The black and Chroma are nice, but oh my freaking word did my heart beat faster when I saw the X Diavel!!!!!!!! That bike stirs something inside me.

[Hairy]

Here is the Chromo for sale

 

https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-motorcycles-scooters/montague-gardens/ducati-diavel-cromo/10011795743041012832210809

[RoddieJ]

3 minutes ago, Hairy said:

So I took my eldest to try his learners again (Chop passed this time ... first time he was to cocky RE his knowledge, and was probably a good life lesson for him too) so while he was sitting the test, I popped into the nearby second hand Ducati Store.

They had 3 x Diavel's on the floor. 

1 x X Diavel = sold

1 x Black one = in for a service

1 x Chroma (Apparently only 4 in the country) = for sale

The black and Chroma are nice, but oh my freaking word did my heart beat faster when I saw the X Diavel!!!!!!!! That bike stirs something inside me.

YOLO

[Hairy]

2 minutes ago, RoddieJ said:

YOLO

And my kids only get one chance at an education .... eldest has to go to Uni or Tech next year .... and we are due for a new car this year too (Typically we buy new and keep a car for about 10 years, then get a new one again. Our old one will be going to the chop who just got his learners, though he has no cooking clue he will be getting the car. I stopped at the new car dealer and had the sales guy say he will get me x, y z for the old car when we trade for the new one .. sales guy is also in on the dupe) ,,, so that removes any expendable / play money aside for a little while.

I really do love my Fat Bob ..... for now, and thought to myself on the way back from Stellies yesterday that I really like this bike, and I have dropped a bit of cash into her to have her rolling well, so let me enjoy her for the next few years.

BUT I am certainly going to be looking around and trying to test other bikes till I am ready.

Remember it took me nearly 7 years to get the Fat Bob

[RoddieJ]

2 hours ago, Hairy said:

And my kids only get one chance at an education .... eldest has to go to Uni or Tech next year .... and we are due for a new car this year too (Typically we buy new and keep a car for about 10 years, then get a new one again. Our old one will be going to the chop who just got his learners, though he has no cooking clue he will be getting the car. I stopped at the new car dealer and had the sales guy say he will get me x, y z for the old car when we trade for the new one .. sales guy is also in on the dupe) ,,, so that removes any expendable / play money aside for a little while.

I really do love my Fat Bob ..... for now, and thought to myself on the way back from Stellies yesterday that I really like this bike, and I have dropped a bit of cash into her to have her rolling well, so let me enjoy her for the next few years.

BUT I am certainly going to be looking around and trying to test other bikes till I am ready.

Remember it took me nearly 7 years to get the Fat Bob

Sounds like you could do with a 2nd job…. 😜

[Hairy]

8 hours ago, RoddieJ said:

Sounds like you could do with a 2nd job…. 😜

Funny you should say that.

From 6:30am to start of work, and then from 5pm till late I do work on my second job with a co. that I set up over hard lock down. The second job paid for the Fat Bob, and is going to be paying for the car too

NOW I need a third job to get the XDiavel ...... 😭

[IceCreamMan]

37 grand. 290 made, the black sold out in minutes, the grey a few hours

https://www.brabus.com/en/coops/brabus-1300r.html

wish I had the coin