What did you do with your GRiSO today?

Bleeded the clutchimifier.

Warm sunny day today, so brought it out of winter starage for a quick ride. First ride since I installed the wireless phone charging last fall, and worked great. But might need to move it up from the handlebars, as I have to look down pretty far to see it. Also need to put it on a switched power source, as it's to easy to leave on.

Only managed a short 45min ride, but better than no ride. And missed a turn on my intended route because of the pleasure of WOT.

Today, finished a video clip of a ride to a South Island Rally in New Zealand.

Thank you for sharing this video clip

1st break in a long dreich winter.....

Turned key, twisted throttle …. 120 miles …. so good!

Richard wrote:

Thank you for sharing this video clip

Same here! Looks like a fine rally. Wishing the riding video was following the GRiSO...

Last weekend went for a quick zip up the mountains near me, Tamborine Mountain, and on to a place called The Flying Bean cafe. Absolutely magical spot, which overlooks a takeoff point for hang gliders and other forms of meat bombs.
I also have a customised TRX850 which is a fabulous bike and along for the ride was a mate on his TRX850. We've known each other for a while but never ridden together and his TRX is quite well spec'd now with USD forks, brembos, pistons, cams , carbs, pipes, wheels etc etc.. and I was really interested in seeing how my TRX compared to his, so mid way we swapped bikes, he rode my GRiSO and I his TRX. Surprisingly, my TRX handles better, but his has a bit more power, but narrower powerband.
He looked at the GRiSO and had a huge smile...and said "oh, I've got to get one, the sound, the power, its intoxicating and it handles beautifully" . He was really gobsmacked and is seriously looking at selling one his other bikes (has about 6). Seems I've converted him.

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It's my one of my 4 day weekends off work, I have a rotating schedule. A couple storm fronts had pushed through over night and the weather report yesterday was breezy, cloudy and cool with diminishing chance of rain. So I thought I'd better practice some social distancing. With almost everyone sheltering in place the roads were fairly clear.

Nice

Got about 50 miles south and ran right into a storm front. Not so nice. I hadn't brought my rain gear and it was coming down pretty good. Made a quick U-turn and headed for the barn. Little soaked and a little cold, better than no riding. Hung the leathers to dry, hot shower and a cold beer.

All is good.

Finally fired her up after being stored since December. Moved a bunch of crap in the garage so I can get it wheeled out tomorrow. Roads finally seem pretty clear of winter salt.

Took the Diavolo Nero out for a short run. I have a feeling we may be in lock-down soon so wanted to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather and the light traffic. Up to Snoqualmie pass for a piss and a picture then back down the mountain and over to Alki for another with a city backdrop. 120 mile round trip. Torquey torque, torque. Found it a challenge to keep the dollars and cents within the approved price range if you catch my drift. I was surprised at how many people were out and about today too. I thought we were all supposed to be staying home.

Snoqualmie Summit
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Alki boat launch.
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Hmm.


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I like red accents, so there! phlbbt!

We are beginning the infection and changes in living within New Zealand, it's been a great summer season, today I ruled the bike out of the garage for a drink[url=https://servimg.com/view/19677468/9][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Street wrote:

I like red accents, so there! phlbbt!

You misunderstand, grasshopper. It has piqued my curiosity. I may steal this idea.

But orange of course?

beetle wrote:

Street wrote:

I like red accents, so there! phlbbt!

You misunderstand, grasshopper. It has piqued my curiosity. I may steal this idea.

Oh, sorry, I misread your emoji's furrowed brow. Retro-reflective wheel tape is the ticket.

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Of course as noted, yours will need to be orange.

Tape le'orange

sideshowbob wrote:

But orange of course?

Absolutely!

Today I did 217kmh. (Still a few hundred revs to go before redline.)
Anyway. My GRiSO ran beautifully there and back. It may be my imagination, but I think it's running much better since I covered the hack job on the airbox. It was cut open by the P.O, so virtually no top cover left at all and the filter was fully exposed. Anyway, on the suggestion of a GRiSO buddy, I covered it up, so now there is just the hole where the snorkel used to be and i dunno if it is just dumb luck, but one of the baffles blew out and it seems I am left with the perfect airbox, muffler, baffle combo. The bike is flying faster than ever and behaving very civilised at low speeds. Used to be challenging riding at 50 or 60kmh in any gear, it was always stuttering, farting and wanting to go faster. NOW, It's running like a dream at sedate and psychotic speeds! And only the occasional backfire in the lovely v twin rumbly exhaust sound. Woo Hoo!

So, this afternoon after washing the bugs off from the last ride, I rode 400kms there and back on my 8V to view this................... It's for sale at a rasonable (Here in Aus) $6500.

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I have EVIL plans for it. If I buy it...... but I won't let the cat out of the bag yet.

I think the California owner was trying to scam me on a couple of things,..........................  
( The steering head bearings were so tight that the thing could hardly steer. I was too scared to go around any corners on the test ride and nearly lost control on the straight. On the STRAIGHT! Fucking scary!)

He played dumb. "I never noticed it. Had the bike 20 years. I guess I got used to it. Maybe they tightened themselves up over time and I never noticed......?"

Then I say's "You need to get it fixed. It is unrideable and FUCKING DANGEROUS the way it is. It will never pass the roadworthy test like that!"

He say's "I'll do it myself. I always do my own wrenching."
I says, "Mate,.......... if you didn't realise that the steering was fucked in the first place, I don't think you have the skill or experience to fix it yourself. I'd take it to a bike shop."

He says "I'll do it myself. I've been doing my own work since I was 16. Started on AJS's. (He's 60 now.)

I dunno. You can't have it both ways. You can't be a competent home mechanic and at the same time not realise your steering head bearings are so tight they are a deathtrap. Can you? Playing dumb and smart at the same time......  

Apart from that, the bike is pretty damn good. No other issues, shiny chrome and good paint, except on the engine, (Peeling, flaky black bubbly paint.) It is the quietest guzzi motor I have ever heard! Hmmmm maybe too quiet! Could that be a problem? Says he did the tappets 1000kms ago. Now I'm wondering if he left any clearances at all! Is that possible?

A
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It looks to me that the Stone is of the years that would be a hydro motor and that would be why it is so quiet.
If so you would need to check if it had had the recall performed on the valve train.
It would also be susceptible to the single plate clutch issue and the cracked lower triple clamp problem.
Check all those out before you offer.

antmanbee wrote:

It looks to me that the Stone is of the years that would be a hydro motor and that would be why it is so quiet.
If so you would need to check if it had had the recall performed on the valve train.
It would also be susceptible to the single plate clutch issue and the cracked lower triple clamp problem.
Check all those out before you offer.

Exactly what I was thinking. Only way to really tell if it's been done is whip a valve cover off and look at the rockers. If they have no adjusters then it hasn't had the 'Final' recall, if the adjusters are snapped off just above the locknuts then it has. Obviously if it is a Hydro he's lying to you about having adjusted them a while back. Make no mistake, if it hasn't had the 'Final' update it will fail.

If it is an updated hydro and doesn't have a heap of other issues, it would be a good candidate for a sidecar rig.

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Pete (Street)

First Ride since December! Ohhh Yaaaa!! That's what I've been Missing!!!! Guzzi didnt loose a step over the winter!!!

I did this.


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Pray tell? Some sort of rubber mounting of some part? I can't make it out.