What did you do with your GRiSO today?

Replaced the tail light. Its been bugging me for a while, the bottom 2 screws were broken and the light never sat right. Messed with my OCD.
1hr job in this heat with at least 2 beers along the way

It's been over six months since New Zealand s Brass Monkey, and a video of the trip.

Well, the Green Horror has been in the carport for the last week. Ash and dust have turned it into the Brown Horror, I might even have to wash it when the fires subside! My Fat GRiSO doesn't look much better!

It's been a while coming, but the engine's back in the frame of the black/Jaffa V7. It was cool enough to work on it today.

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Win Mal.

Today, bled the rear Brake and clutch, the brake has been a bit spongy, and plenty of air bubbles flushed out, clutch fluid was dark. Both feel much better with the servi[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
ce.

I took advantage of the cool change to go for a ride.

All seemed right with world, even if only for a short time.

Drank beer with my latin girls

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Nice ride today, no GPS, no map, jus followed my gut, and found a few new places.

Still love the GRiSO, though it wreaks havoc on my left arm and hand. Had to keep my thumb above the grip the last 20-30 miles. Something about the angle and stiffer clutch lever/reach that has my left hand screaming at me. Still, a great ride, and even (accidentally) found some dirt and gravel roads.

Bike is running strong smooth and sweet since recent tuneup.

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All the CARC bikes are good off the bitumen - rider skills is usually the limiting factor. Cred given.

Put the Battery Tender (float charger) back on...

Better Half: "Are you riding tomorrow?"
Says me: "Sure am"
Better Half: "You'll need new tyres soon"
Says me: "Yeah probably in a few weeks I'll look at it"
Better half: "Fair enough"

Today I rode and forgot about the tyres till I got to work - egads! Front has no tread, back has minimal. Where did it all go - I have never worn out a front tyre, ever. Pressures are good, just the last little bit is maybe too soft - these a Michelin Road 5s. I have been riding a bit harder, and probably braking a bit harder too, of late.

When I get home today, the old girl gets parked until some new slippers are organised. Damn!

I have a new Road5 front sitting next to the bike, ready for installation. Only about 4k miles and the left side is toast. Center has at least 2k left in it. First time I wore out a front before the rear, and also first time I wore out the side before the center. But damn, that bike loves to be pushed hard into corners.

My old Cali Stone would wear the sides off the front before the centre of the rear.
All these bikes are arse heavy and may push the front a bit when ridden in, how should we say? "a spirited fashion".

My GRiSO will triangulate the fuck out of the front if the pressure is even a few pounds low. You should be able to pick it as the steering is appreciably heavier especially when the tyres are cold.

My steering has been most excellent of late, with perhaps a slightly higher pressure. I know the slow feel when the tyres are down a tad, and it hasn't been that.

If anything, it's been like the forks are higher in the trees. Then I have been riding like I stole it and perhaps I should settle the f##k down a bit, before the wallopers take an unnatural interest in me. I will get new tyres in the next few days. I looked at the Contis, but they are more exxy than the Road 5 Michelins - a set for $460, sounds good to me.

I've been running Sport attacks and I'm lucky if I get 6K out of them but they are without a doubt the best rubber for behaviour I've had on the GRiSO. I might try a set of Road Attacks next time to see if I can get a bit longer life but I simply buy what works for me. I don't ride in the rain unless I get caught out nowadays and for me fun is king. People with greater mileages covered or tighter budgets will probably need to look elsewhere.

Pete

Posted this earlier today on the ADV V7 thread, but it's really more about the GRiSO, so here goes again.

What an unexpected riding joy January has been. :clap

Last Sunday, I got in a ride on the Stornello and today was even better.

Both days were warm — nigh balmy by top-of-Virginia standards this early in the year — with temps in the low-60’s (F), even higher than forecast.

And, both days followed rains heavy enough to wash the chem and brine nastiness off the roads. Still, one had to be watchful for “exciting” patches of cinders, sand, and gravel right when you least wanted to have those.

I had two such events today, and was grateful to be wearing dark underwear! Seriously, on the GRiSO — I rode it and the V7 III today — I lost traction twice while leaned over like #46 on the last curve at Valencia … OK, possibly less, but it skeered me.  

Naturally, the GRiSO handled it in a more manly manner than I did. I’m just glad that my helmet can’t record my screaming!  

Anyway, started off on the V7 III for about 15 miles, mostly to confirm my previous view that the front-wheel problem was cured. Yes.

Then did about 85 on the GRiSO. What joy, tho I regretted several times not sticking with Miss Mild Manners V7.

Did most of this in clockwise from the top, so I got some sun in my eyes on the outbound SW leg, but on my back, lighting up the lovely countryside and warming me for the NE way home. Yes, a round-the-block by real riding season standards, but mighty fine for mid-January.

For the mappies ...


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Naturally, I got a few pix.  

First, a quick and appropriately Italian lunch before the launch ...


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Ready to saddle up …


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Along Brush Creek on Collinsville Road …


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Ditto


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Now, it’s the GRiSO’s turn to romp …


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Needs fuel first …


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Yup, a 1962 Ranchero.


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The owner, who restored the vehicle from this, is a neighbor who lives only a mile from our place


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Along Lost River, near Wardensville, W.V. …


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Ditto


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Atop Cooper Mountain, near Capon Bridge; home is about 15 miles “right above the front wheel!”


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The grand rides are over; waiting for the barn door to open …


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Both the 7 and GRiSO are back in the (messy) Moto Grappa, bragging to the Norge, EV, and Stornello about their derring-done today.


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As I said, what an unexpected riding joy January has been. The rest of it bodes brrrrrr.

Bill

Great write-up, Bill, as usual.

I removed the round things at each end of "Black Betty" and took them to get new slippers fitted. Pick them up Saturday morning. Started raining today (after a long long time) and the roads will be as slippery as with all the dry buildup, oil and the like on the roads. A few days of tin-top travelling will clean them up ready for next week, when riding will occur again.

Well today I rode down to the coast because the Kings Highway is open again. From Monga at the top of the Clyde Mountain all the way to the coast the entire landscape has been incinerated. The only amazing thing is that more homes and lives weren't lost.

A few pics below. The forest used to have a thick understory of scrub, melaleuca and grass trees. Now it's just bare ash. A lot of the trees have been burnt beyond recovery too. You can imagine what happened to the poor wildlife, Wallabys, Goannas, Echidnas, innumerable smaller marsupials, reptiles and insects, all gone. I think I only got about two insects on my visor in the whole trip?

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Once at Batemans Bay I turned south and went to Mogo. The amazing thing was that so much was saved!

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On the way back up to Bungendore it started pissing with rain. A real 'Frog Strangler'! I've never been so happy to be soaked in my life!

Yesterday Jude and I went off to Nerriga in the car. Nerriga took a real hammering too. This was the town where everyone sheltered in the pub and the owners fed and watered them all for a day and a night at their own expense. We felt it incumbent upon ourselves to have a drink and drop a bit of wonga into the 'Bushfire Recovery Bucket' for the town.

The pics below are of the devastation at the Catholic cemetery on the edge of town. Plastic flower arrangements don't do well in bushfires!

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You can tell how intense the radiant heat was by the remains of this road sign!

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Back home again now and the GRiSO is cooling down in the carport. Since it's been ridden in the rain that means I don't have to wash it for another six months! Hooray!

Thanks for posting pics, Pete. It really helps to see things up close. I'll bet you are all happy to see the rain!

Thanks for your write-up too, Bill, looks like perfect riding weather!

Pete

And just enjoying revisiting great times from old posted YouTube clips

Bill, nice ride report. If you hop on US 50 and head west about 430 miles, you'll be in the middle of our farm, at the Ohio/Indiana line.

Perhaps we need to do a US 50 Coast 2 Coast ride on Grisos. We did it once on CBXs, back in 2005.

rick pope wrote:

Bill, nice ride report. If you hop on US 50 and head west about 430 miles, you'll be in the middle of our farm, at the Ohio/Indiana line.  

Perhaps we need to do a US 50 Coast 2 Coast ride on Grisos.  We did it once on CBXs, back in 2005.  

I have been there -- several times, actually -- tho years ago and obviously oblivious of your place.

As you know, southern Indiana has some mighty fine unsung great roads.

As for coast-to-coast on 50, I'm game if we can ship from your place to vic. Pueblo, Colorado.  From here to you, not bad at all, and there are some stretches in Missouri that are quite fine.  But I've been across Flatistan on four wheels and at 33K enough to think I'd never waste motorcycle tires on it.  OK, color me curmudgeonly.  

I go to western Kentucky every May and September for mutton. Usually overnight in Maysville. Mebbe we can meet somewhere along that route?

Bill