So long and thanks for all the fish......

Just to let you know I'm retiring. Yeah, really this time.

In February I'll be 67, my health is deteriorating quite fast and, quite simply I don't have enough energy and commitment to learn another complete generation of motorbikes.

Motomoda will still be open for business, it's just Michael will now be the boss. I'll be around to move bikes around and test ride for a while longer and I'd encourage customers to assist Michael in keeping things swimming along.

As you probably know for the last fifteen years we've specialised in bikes from this millennium, most particularly the V11 and CARC series. That will continue I expect but hopefully Michael will also move on to the current series as well. Any bloke who can swap out the gearbox on a 1400 Cali without assistance from a wheelchair is unlikely to meet any physical challenges in a V100 he can't cope with!

I'd like to thank all my friends and customers here for their work and support over the years. I'll still be hanging around the Ghetto and the other boards I lurk on and will offer advice if I can but all good things come to an end.

I can't remember exactly when I set up Motomoda? Some time in the early '90's I think? It's been an interesting and sometimes challenging journey but there is a time for all things and I think my time for this is now. Hopefully I'll have enough time for a few more big rides and will be able to continue my nearly 20 year love affair with GRiSO. As I've said before, if Guzzi had designed a bike just for me, it would have been a GRiSO!

Who is as lucky, or has lived better than me? Truly, I think no one!

Pete, you will enjoy retirement, well earned, I suspect. THanks for your patience (and the patients) and assistance over the years. May Michael continue his esteemed services...

Yep happy retirement,And thanks for your generosity for all your help and advice its truly appreciated,best wishes

.

Wow, Pete.

As always, I was asleep long before the turn of the New Year, but your announcement sure woke me up before I had my first jolt of java just now.

I got my "Ten Year Pin" as a retiree in 2023, so I have a head start in your new vocation, tho I retired at about your same age now.  

Moreover, I have found -- as I predict you will, too -- that I am very good at retirement.  The great challenge is to recognize early on that Jude will likely not view this quite as you do.  

Instead of seeing this as an opportunity to relax and enjoy our remaining "golden" years, wives seem to see this as more time we can spend on their endless "Do Lists!"  

Based on Kathi's latest project announcements, complete with budget and completion milestones, I have become convinced of late that wives have their own special "Dark Web" on the internet where they exchange ideas and techniques to control their newly retired and naive husbands.  

So, go warily into this new era lest you find yourself a villein instead of your rightful self we know, Pete, Lord Roper.  

Seriously, best to you, Jude, and Michael.  Don't be a stranger on this site ... or at the top of Virginia!

Bill

Thanks for being you Pete! I have read many of your posts and you are quite something, enjoy retirement, I'll be there in 12 more years!

Hey Pete,

You got all the fish!!!! I been retired, now a hasbeen, phone never rings for work, only free advice.
I'm on my way off the forums, gave them over 20yrs. Sick of dealing w/the experts and all the DICKs on them. Not everyone is gracious as Bill Hagan.
My shit runs, turn the key. If yours don't you better get a better wrench. New Chrome Don't get you home.
You're rel lucky to have Michael, carry on w/your customers.
Stay busy, keep riding even if just local. Ride Safe, Steve
Hey, a big THANK YOU for all your help & comradery!

Best Wishes Pete. YOU make decisions or LIFE makes them for you. I am finally recognizing that and no one beats out the Time clock, certainly not with our health issues. I retired nearly 20 years ago and I honestly not sure how I got anything done as I am quite busy RETIRED and loving everyday that I alone own to with what I want. Thank you for all your helpful advice.

Good luck to you !

I'm 73 in a few weeks time. Fortunately still fit enough to get on with my own stuff and the occasional ride.

What I love about being on the pension is I can do what I want and know that I can still pay the rent, food bills etc.

Currently rebuilding a cnc router to do precision machining and 3D carving.

Some of the stuff I did last year to keep myself amused

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                                            A Good New Year to all.  Evans

Pete, all I can add is a big thank you for helping us all to understand the nuances of our steeds. These things take a different level of care than the average bikes most of us grew up riding. But, that care returns a higher level of satisfaction as well.

I'm a few years older than you, and "retired" 6 years now. I still have plenty to do, but at my own pace. Most days, I start out slow, and then taper off......

Congratulations Pete.
Hopefully this means that you can put some more hours riding your beloved GRiSO(s).
No doubt I'll still bump into you about the place, and Michael/Motomoda will continue to get my business, and anyone else's that I can herd there.

Enjoy your new life!

Good on you Peter
First post I ever read from you was on the old AIGOR e-mail forum in around 2000.
Met you once with my Carc recall.
All the best

Harry

Pete, I wish you to enjoy your newfound freedom to the fullest!
Your contribution to the Guzzi community is legendary and I hope we will still be reading you for years to come, here or any of the other forums you choose to grace with your presence.
Cheers!

Pete
Welcome to retirement.

Thank you for your expertise and challenges

Remember to retire 110% so you can enjoy it preoperly

Wishing you an enjoyable transition from work to retirement, and as always thank you for all of the help over the years on the forum, via mail and via Mike at MPH (related to my Scura)...you've shared more freely over the years than you can imagine.
Maybe we'll see you in Cedar Vale one of these days!

Pete,

Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for all you've done for all of us. Your expertise, generosity, friendship and humor have been a huge contribution to the Ghetto and to Guzzidom. Best of luck to Michael as he carries on your legacy and maybe now you can start planning a trip to John Day.

Cheers!

Pete

Congrats Pete,
I've been lurking in the shadows of the ghetto for years and have always enjoyed your posts. My 2007 has 16,000 miles on the clock and never needed anything but oil changes, a couple of batteries(the lithium one didn't cut it), and one re-tune from Todd Eagan for a pipe change(He nailed it, runs great). I've always been amazed when free advice is offered and the other end wants to argue, you have wonderful patience. Safe travels and long rides.

Congrats on on making the decision to retire;wishing both you & Michael much success in your new roles.

Pete; Sincere gratitude for all of the knowledge,wisdom & guidance you've shared so generously over the years;

For a ham fisted,shaved ape like myself;it's empowering & confidence inspiring,tackling jobs on my guzzis,guided by your instructions & recommendations.

Old age may have softened the scalpel bite of your Ozzie tongue a wee bit;but I'm sure publicists are sitting on the edge of their seats,hoping in your retirement you'll author a collection of your most infamous Roperisms

Ride safely & often

Gratefully yours
Kelly

Happy retirement, Pete! And thank you for your (mostly patient) insights into the dos and donts around our Guzzis. As much as I like to wrench myself I can perfectly understand that you don´t want to drop dead with a tool in your hand and a mistreated Italian bike in front of you ...

As others have said better & more eloquently than me; Congratulations on moving into retirement.
Over the years you have been generous with your advice on Guzzi’s & the mechanics behind them that have piece by piece added to my education. Thank you.
I also understand that you are transferring the business over to Michael, another generous act.
Perhaps now you can consider publishing a collection of your posts on how to keep the V11’s & CARC bikes running. And of course a book of Roper-ism’s
Enjoy the new found freedom

Congratulations on your retirement and thanks for your help. I am close to retirement myself and it’s freaking me out, but my body is telling me I can’t do my job for much longer(quite physical at times). Are you going to keep riding? Because I think that might be the only thing to keep me sane!

Congratulations Pete! you've reached a milestone we all try to get to sooner rather than later

as others have said, your knowledge and contributions have been invaluable and have played a huge role in many of us non- Guzzi  mechanics keeping our GRiSO's alive and on the road.

Cheers!

the answer is 42

good on yer Pete and thanks for all the advice, humour and benevolent belligerence

Thanks you Pete.
Though short in the communty, alway´s waited for Pete´s arguments.

Pete, congratualtions, if for nothing else, making what I'm sure is a difficult call. Hoping this transition goes smoothly. I only wish I was privaleged to be near Bundendore to benefit from a shop with such capabiltiy and integrity!

As it is, I trust you'll still share your knowledge here and elsewhere and I pledge to continue to digest every morsel. From where I sit now, this is the bike I hope to keep going indefinately.

Cheers!

Pete you'll be bored I thought I retired 3x and keep going back to something or just travel the world you can always visit Florida and get the .50 cent tour