What did you do with your GRiSO today?

beetle wrote:

Pull that side stand off. It's a race bike. .

Will do, I thought it was a bump in the track making it buck around ....
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Ron called in to the Budgie on his way back home - seeing he was in the area[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

A motorcycle dealer down the road sells KTMs and had a demo-ride organised.  Just for fun I signed up for 45min ride on a '1290 Super Bike'.  And well: it was Super Torquey, Super Smooth, probably Super Fast, but especially Super Easy to ride.  It is only 70 pounds lighter than the GRiSO but it felt like it weighted half.  When riding back home afterwards I realised how much work the GRiSO demands from its rider: you actually have to work to get the beast to obey. But I think I like that.

By the way, the Super Bike is also Super Ugly. It is really the ugliest motorbike I know. To start I really dislike the orange colour. But more importantly, from where do they get this fashion of bulldog-style flat-noses, as if the bike hit a wall?
And I am sure the KTM designers would have preferred to use square wheels if they could have got away with it: I failed to find a single curvy part on this motorbike.  

The way home was nice and comfortable, and I felt proud to leave the dealership on a GRiSO.

bioman wrote:

****

By the way, the Super Bike is also Super Ugly. It is really the ugliest motorbike I know. To start I really dislike the orange colour. But more importantly, from where do they get this fashion of bulldog-style flat-noses, as if the bike hit a wall?
And I am sure the KTM designers would have preferred to use square wheels if they could have got away with it: I failed to find a single curvy part on this motorbike.  

****

Whatever artistic talent the Austrians had they lost in 1918 when the Sudtirol became the Alto Adige.  

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Two GRiSO items of interest today … well, OK, at least to me.

First, rode 50 or so miles to the Maryland-D.C. Guzzisti breakfast gathering at Ingram’s Diner, in Jefferson, Md.  Lordy, it was cold.  45F when I left home, with dark gray low clouds and wind gusts that made it seem colder. Felt like a wuss, tho, when I saw I was only one who wore electrics.

In addition to the usual suspects — RIP Madeleine LeBeau! — muzhik arrived on his new Speed Triple, tho he did park it next to Matt's Tenni.


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Scott ate some omelet concoction with salsa that made the air around him near flammable!  


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I ate real 'Merican food.  


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I then rode back home and put the GRiSO on a trailer to take it to Atlanta tomorrow.  Doing "eldercare duty" for my (95+) Mom, then will ride it from Atlanta with some buds to Kentucky for beer, bourbon, and mutton.  War is heck.  


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Bill

Enjoy your mutton. I'll stick to my salsa on breakfast food abomination

bioman wrote:

A motorcycle dealer down the road sells KTM's and had a demo-ride organised. It is only 70 pounds lighter than the GRiSO but it felt like it weighed half. When riding back home afterwards I realised how much work the GRiSO demands from its rider: you actually have to work to get the beast to obey. But I think I like that.

Bioman, it doesn't have to be hard work. Most Guzzi's are under sprung if you weigh more than 80kg in battle dress. Add to that the woeful damping control of the Sachs shock and you get a shit ride.
Typically the rear suspension will sag way too much while cornering, not only losing ground clearance but causing the bike to run wide. You wait all day for the bike to turn before you can get back on the throttle.

Proper suspension will hold the rear high (shorter rake & trail), turn quicker and easier and generally feel lighter and more responsive in your hands.

And I'll bet my left nut to an old black billy the KTM weighs a lot more than its advertised 189kg dry weight.

ghezzi wrote:

Proper suspension will hold the rear high (shorter rake & trail), turn quicker and easier and generally feel lighter and more responsive in your hands.

Yes, I am sure you are very right.  I have to find an able suspension guru, and then convince my wife that it makes sense to spend money on a new shock absorber, and get the suspension set up properly.  On my list for a while now, but somehow other silly reasons (child education, health care, etc) to spend money keep popping up...

Decided to go for a run into the country north west of Sydney today to make the most of the late Autumn sunshine, blue skies and 28 degrees Celsius. Left Sydney and followed the motor way up to Freemans water hole, stopped to meet the rest of the group and fill up (coffee and fuel).

5 of us (GRiSO, two BMWs and two Suzuki) set off on a round trip through the wine region out to Denman way out on the upper Hunter valley, lunch at the Denman pub, great burger, cool drink then headed back to Sydney via the Putty (nice surface these days).

Spent too long playing on the open roads in the Hunter valley and came back on the Putty in the dark with a dark visor. Challenging end to a fantastic day, around 550 km and not a sore muscle to speak about. This bike is built for me, only gripe was perhaps the lower foot pegs might be an option oh and that bloody right hand cylinder is leaking again.

Pete I should have taken up your offer to keep the extra o rings after the tappet change, oh well going to get some and give changing them myself a go.

Have I mentioned I love GRiSO!

Except for those damn O rings!

Which O-rings? Do you mean the rocker cover tampons? If so I can send you some for nix. I have billions of them! I think they breed in my workshop!

Pete

I am guessing Pete it is the plug tube o rings as the leak is up high. i might have to use it as an excuse to come over and visit.

Left Cross Junction at 6:15 a.m. (& 36F, brrrrrr) yesterday and launched for Atlanta, 600+ miles southwest.



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After a few essential stops for fuel of all sorts and bladder maintenance, etc. …



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…. and slumming with the big boys ...


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I arrived in Atlanta, setting a new Slowest Drive record of 14+ hours (Kathi routinely does it “in the nines,” tho I suspect she wears NASA diapers!

Then, after the main event left the garage this morning …



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I pulled the GRiSO in to dry off from the night’s T-storms.



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Meant to include in the above for those of you who do not already know from experience (or common sense!) that spousal units are not necessarily the best assistants for loading motorcycles on trailers, etc.

OTOH, at destination, in the dark, a good buddy who had hernia surgery a few days ago is not a great choice, either.

Bill

WooHoo, Bill is in town. Just in time for the rain.

Has a spin up to my local dam (Clywedog) before the rain set in.
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New boots for GRiSO finally arrived.  Round and Firm.

Looking fwd to tomorrow.

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Wow, Neat tread pattern. What are they ?

The new Dunlop Roadsmart 3's.

They really have some meat on them. Reports are good.

Decided to go out for run this arvo ......
Got onto the highway slip road, got up and going, and guess what I was up the side/rear of, a f..king cattle truck, stop laughing, shit all over me and my clean bike, bastards ......
Keep smilin

"It happens" ...... Forest gump

Tee hee!

Hey Bill, Atlanta Lotus
my son is hankering for a new lotus. Of all the cars to pick from, he'd rather one without all the electronic bullshit, and still having manual shift etc, sounds like a Guzzi owner   ( Currently owns a 350Z Track edition ) I think dad should inherit that one

Scrubbed the new rubber in, black top was kind to me.

Gravel not so much!!  Bugger!!

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Ouch! You've caught my disease.

...hmmm. New side plate.





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