What did you do with your GRiSO today?

You guys are depressing me......

Everything is great out here in the land of the free.

Back on topic if I may ...

Spent some time yesterday cursing and wondering why whatever Mandellan decided to put that strange retaining nut on my EV's front wheel.    A non-OEM hex-nut replacement seems to be Unobtanium.  What a PITA to remove.  

Finally successful with that but frustrated, I switched to the more pleasurable setting up the GRiSO for its run up to Erie in a couple of weeks.  Moved it into the pole position (sharing that with the Stornello, my local fire-roads runner).  I had intended to take it to Erie last time, but the weather turned shixxy, so I took the Norge instead.  

[For those who have any interest in that, see
Outbound Leg  & Return Home Leg]

This trip, it's the GRiSO's turn.  Can't wait.

Bill

Great report and pics, Bill, as usual! Why am I always hungry after reading your posts?

Pete

What a magnificent Spring day. Days since last ride...far too many. Pre-flight check complete...


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"Don't speed, and stay upright", says Mrs Beetle as I skip gayly out the door.

GRiSO fires up on the first stab. We hit the road as if we had lusted after it our whole lives. A shit-eating grin hurts my face as Stone Temple Pilots assault my ears, and the magnificent exhaust song compliments the music.

GRiSO is unfazed by the goat tracks the State Gummint claims are roads. Even the native wildlife roadkill I fail to miss doesn't upset the on-rails handling. I love this.

Up into the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, ever cognisant of the the advice Mrs Beetle provided. Don't speed. Dutifully, I kept my speed below what I consider to be too fast.

Stop for a pic and to breathe, breathe in the air.


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Then home again grinning like an idiot, and laughing out loud.

I love this.

Winner.

After 5 days of rain and 50F temps, big yellow ball in the sky today, mid 70's. Got the sweet beast out for a run. Exhilarating as always. Anyone who doesn't use Mark and Pete's recipe for these bikes, knows not what they are missing! Stopped at the marina for a stretch.
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Too friggin' smoky here to even go out, much less ride GRiSO. We are not happy. Fires burning in California, Oregon and Washington are causing much misery.

I took this picture in December 2015...

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...and this one from the same spot on Saturday. Hack, hack!

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I finally finished a video from a camping trip at the end of Winter, beginning of Spring here in South Island New Zealand.
The weather was awesome, the ride was awesome, camping was awesome... there was nothing that was not awesome, apart from returning to work on the Monday

Street wrote:

Too friggin' smoky here to even go out, much less ride GRiSO. We are not happy. Fires burning in California, Oregon and Washington are causing much misery.

I took this picture in December 2015...

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...and this one from the same spot on Saturday. Hack, hack!

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Can’t “like” that.

Our kids in Edmonds and Portland are suffering along with you and so many others.

For those who may not know how bad things are from a “breathing” POV, see [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Bill

We here in Oz understand what you are going through.
I truly hope that the fires go out and the air clears for you all very soon.

It rained today! Woohoo!

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Had a few good rides over the past week. Gave the GRiSO a wash to remove the accumulated bug guts.
In Edmonton, AB we have a considerable amount of smoke from the wild fires on the west coast - we can still breath.

Today was a good day. My riding partner, best friend, and spouse of 46 years was away, so I took the GRiSO out for a meander through the hills along the Ohio River. Oh, this was the first outing with the acclaimed "Beetle Map".

I had high expectations. They were exceeded. I found myself running 1 or 2 gears higher on curvy roads because the bike now runs smoothly down to about 2200 rpm, where before I was usually keeping the revs higher. This may be a contributing factor to the better fuel economy reported with the map. Rolling on the throttle at 2500 is now a joy, rather than feeling like I was abusing the motor.

So, I just got back from a 165 miles of pure bliss. Thank you, Mr. Beetle.

Rode the sweet beast to Erie, Pa., today.  C.300 miles from the top of Virginia.  Weather could not be better than it is just now.  After mostly riding my 7's for past month or so, the GRiSO was a delightful handful.  

More pix when I get back, but this was at launch this morning.


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Bill

I rode GRiSO from Nashville TN up to NE Pennsylvania over the Labor Day weekend, then back down south a week later; 2000 mile R/T ride and my first real distance roll. Adventure!!
Northbound I caught the last tail rain bands of hurricane Laura for a couple days, but GRiSO ran flawlessly, except for the stock Metzeler Z8's which me no likey in the rain.
I charted the local routes - no Highways - on Google maps, which is great.
Don't have to tell you all what a perfect bike GRiSO is for the USA's long miles and twisties.
Blasting through West Virginia at dawn / up on the Interstate was just lovely.

When I got back it was time for the 6500 service, which Josh at Nashville Motorcycle Repair did quite smartly. Kudos!
- Pirelli Angel GT 2's installed
- full schedule list all checked except the forks oil change
- Josh dropped the swing arm to inspect and replace the bearings grease. Happy to report it was sufficiently packed from Mandello.
    GRiSO is a '17, so likely I shan't need bother there again.
- The Corbin seat is quite a revelation. With it's multiple positions to sit, my arse reported no damage!
- The taller Givi windshield made life much easier too.
- all the valves needed adjustment.
- no other issues
- i heartily recommend the JW Speaker Adaptive headlight if you've got the dosh..

Quite a nice bonding experience with GRiSO I must say. Lots of confidence and simpatico.
It's funny how after a long ride like that, one grows to miss the bike when not on it. Was elated to get the old man back after the 6 days at service.
Me Happy GRiSO boy!
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ps; Thanks to BeetleBop for expertise, help, and pointers!

Cheers!  - Brett

Bill Hagan wrote:

Rode the sweet beast to Erie, Pa., today.  C.300 miles from the top of Virginia.  Weather could not be better than it is just now.  After mostly riding my 7's for past month or so, the GRiSO was a delightful handful.  

More pix when I get back, but this was at launch this morning.



Bill

Still in Erie.  Rode over to Dunkirk, N.Y., yesterday to have breakfast with Guzzista Jim M. ["KingOfFleece"].

A fine time with food that would make our wives groan and blanch; bench racing (naturally, I won ); followed by my return on some lovely N.Y. and Pa. back roads.


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At one point, near Brocton, N.Y., the aroma of ripe grapes was so redolent that I stopped to take pix.


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Heading home tomorrow.  I will, of course, subject you to way more photos in due course.  

Bill

Nice shirt, Bill!

Street wrote:

Nice shirt, Bill!

Good noticing!

Bill

Nice!!!!!

Bill Hagan wrote:

Street wrote:

Nice shirt, Bill!

Good noticing!  

Bill

I have several just like it!

By the way, Dave Richardson has just published his two-volume memoir My Life in Bikes and My Life in Bikes - The Rest of the Stories. He's led an interesting life and I enjoyed reading the books. For those of us who know him and have been around his shop for so many years, it's especially fun as we can recognize a lot of the places he's been and the people and events he reports on. Here's a small sample featuring our own Steak Daddy:

Can I bring my friends?
John wanted to fly out from Boston, buy a Guzzi Norge, and ride it home. But, being this far west, he wanted to use the opportunity to ride up to Alaska... with his four friends. Could they all ship their bikes out? Of course, we said yes but how in the peak of our season were we to accomodate all of these bikes? Luckily through social media, John found Steve Daley, a beloved local GRiSO rider. Steve was nice enough to put the crew up at his house, store their bikes, and even help ferry the bikes down to his house. I'll never forget one hot afternoon with thick, slow Seattle traffic, me in my air-conditioned truck with one of the bikes in the back and Steve alongside working the clutch of a big Harley. It was great to make the trip happen but it wouldn't have been possible without Steve.

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Went out for some mountain fresh air.

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Mount Rainier today

I was to go to work for a crisis meeting yesterday arvo - got cancelled yesterday morning - Bastard! It was a good day for a ride and I "needed" to try out my new skid-lid. Next scheduled ride day is Thursday and it's looking a bit iffy with som eof that wet stuff dripping from the sky (reminds me of the song: the sky is crying). piffle and bitch.