motorcycle education – Chasing Motorcycles

Timing the Magneto on your Matchless G12CSR

I read the manual on re-timing the ignition on the big twins (non-Norton). Here is my mild re-write with some extra thoughts.

To re-time the ignition – Twins (Magneto Models). Before proceeding to time the ignition, check the breaker point gap, which should be from .012” to .015”. Ensure that this is done first, as it will affect the advance point if you do it after.

Loosen the nut from the magneto driving gear, and release the gear from the tapered end of the magneto shaft with the correct extractor (part number 015374 – also used for the small crankshaft gear if that ever needs to be pulled).

Remove the inlet rocker cover and spark plug from the off-side cylinder (that’s the right-side of the bike). Insert a rod into the spark plug hole, or if you have it, a dial indicator gauge (if you’re really cool), or a spark plug timing tool as is available on eBay or other outlets (see pic).

Turn the engine in its normal direction until you have found top dead centre after the inlet valve has closed.

Hold the rod in the plug hole, and mark the rod where you can see it register, or mark your dial indicator, adjust the tool, etc… Take out the rod if you’re using it, and mark it higher up 3/8in (9.5mm) for the 500/600cc twins, or 11/32in (8.7mm) for the 650cc models. Put the rod back in (you DID keep it at TDC, right?) and rotate the engine backwards until the higher mark is at your registration point.

Put the ignition control lever on the handlebars in the fully advanced position.

DO NOT Disturb or move the engine. Turn the magneto in a clockwise direction (looking at the contact breaker side, not the shaft side. Keep turning until the contact breaker points are just about to separate as the fibre block moves against the cam.

You can use a piece of cigarette paper or similar super-thin paper between the points to do this, or a test lamp. When it separates, you’re at the exact right position. Press the magneto driving gear back in and lightly tighten the securing nut.

Recheck the timing by repositioning the piston and then tighten everything down. You can check with a degree wheel if you have the engine far enough apart.

3/8” = 39º 11/32” = 35º

And Bob’s your Uncle.

Dave Richardson — My Life in Bikes

I’ve never been a big fan of advertising on these pages, but this is something different. If you know Dave Richardson, you’ll know that he is a true Guzzisti. He has written and updated Guzziology for more than a decade.

He was THE dealer in Seattle for a generation, and knows more about these bikes than any ten people I know (except for a few that are awesome and like him, too, small club) So as many of you know, Dave closed his dealership recently, after, as most dealers will tell you, banging his head against the wall trying to get Guzzi to “get” the American rider, and cultivate the market that would BEG for these bikes if they really knew what they were all about.

So here it is. The back story. The “Ball Four” of Motorcycle Dealers. A Two-wheeled “All Creatures Great and Small”. I’ve got my copies coming. Enjoy

“My Life in Bikes” and

“My Life in Bikes – The Rest of the Stories”

Both Available on Amazon. Makes me miss my 72 Eldorado. So. Much.

Michigan Moto Guzzi Rally Live with the V7 Classic

3:31– packing up, getting ready to leave soon. Too many delays trying to get out of town. I haven’t chosen a route yet. Guess I’ll just wing it, take 94 to the 31, head north and see if I meet up with some other folks. 4:19. On the road. Goodbye pic 6:30- Sawyer, Michigan, for … Continue reading “Michigan Moto Guzzi Rally Live with the V7 Classic”

4:19. On the road. Goodbye pic

6:30- Sawyer, Michigan, for water at a T/A truckstop

8:30-Holland. Got gas-42mpg. Pretty steady 80 mph cruise. Saw a little faster. Decided to take the “easy” way up through Grand Rapids. Checked the mileage to Interlochen, looks like I was about 100 off of my estimate for distance. Don’t know if I’ll make the rally tonight, the Sun’s down.

9:50-Checked into the Holiday Inn in Big Rapids. Temperature had dropped into the 50’s. Saw a couple of ex-deer on the roadside as well. Time change makes it actually an hour later. Beer and burger. I’ll hit the sack and get an early start for tomorrow morning. Continue reading “Michigan Moto Guzzi Rally Live with the V7 Classic”

Moto Guzzi V7 Classic — Second Week and 800 Miles on the Clock

This is the second review of my ongoing ownership of a 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic. For the first part of the review, click here. My second week of ownership of my V7 started with a rain day on a Saturday. It rained so hard that I decided that I wasn’t going to ride until … Continue reading “Moto Guzzi V7 Classic — Second Week and 800 Miles on the Clock”

This is the second review of my ongoing ownership of a 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic. For the first part of the review, click here.

My second week of ownership of my V7 started with a rain day on a Saturday. It rained so hard that I decided that I wasn’t going to ride until Sunday, where I would make a nice loop going to the Full Moon Cafe on Highway 41, then riding up to the Sly Fox Inn in Wheaton, Wisconsin before taking a bunch of back roads to my home in Oak Park.

It’s a nice loop to make. The route involved a ride up the 294 towards Milwaukee and then dropping off at Deerfield road for the rest of the ride North on Highway 41. After hanging out with the other 50-60 riders that show up there on Sundays, I planned a trip up to the Sly Fox where Vintage riders meet for Brunch and tire kicking. Then the ride home involves skirting the lakes along the Wisconsin/Illinois border and then dropping down into Arlington for a jaunt down the 355/290 and home. I think it’s about 200 miles or so.

I’ve ridden the bike just close to 800 miles now. Continue reading “Moto Guzzi V7 Classic — Second Week and 800 Miles on the Clock”

Moto Guzzi V7 Classic Owner’s Review — The First Week and Before

And so it was, upon the demise of my 1200 Sport and State Farm Insurance completely taking care of me, I took a hard look at what and how I would be riding over the next couple of years. The 1200 was a great bike and I fully expected to replace it. I purchased it … Continue reading “Moto Guzzi V7 Classic Owner’s Review — The First Week and Before”

And so it was, upon the demise of my 1200 Sport and State Farm Insurance completely taking care of me, I took a hard look at what and how I would be riding over the next couple of years. The 1200 was a great bike and I fully expected to replace it. I purchased it because I wanted it for the long distance tours I had planned to get to this year and the next few.

I realized that my new job and just-outside-the-city lifestyle really meant that for the next couple of years, 99+ percent of my riding would be within a 150mi radius, with many, many days of riding through the streets of Chicago at 30-ish miles per hour. This is not the venue, mission or best possible circumstances with which to operate a 1200 Sport. This mustang needs road. I need a bike that is a better choice for these distances, light on its feet and able to make me grin while I tackle the third-world roads of Chicago and surrounding cities.

You already figured that I’m getting a Guzzi? Well I looked hard at the Ducati 1000GT, the Triumph Bonneville and even considered a maxi-scoot. I hit the forums and asked more and more about the V7C. The more I heard from the people that actually owned it, the more I started warming up to the idea. Finally, I read a Wall Street Journal Comparison of the Bonneville, Sportster and V7 Classic.

So I now own one Continue reading “Moto Guzzi V7 Classic Owner’s Review — The First Week and Before”

My Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport is no More…

July 19, 2009 It was a typical Wednesday as I left work just after 6 at WMS. My Birthday was coming up and I was wondering what Sheila had arranged for it, as we make a big deal out of birthdays in our house. I was traveling one of my usual routes home. I have … Continue reading “My Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport is no More…”

July 19, 2009

It was a typical Wednesday as I left work just after 6 at WMS. My Birthday was coming up and I was wondering what Sheila had arranged for it, as we make a big deal out of birthdays in our house. I was traveling one of my usual routes home. I have about 6 routes that I take on a random basis. I think it’s safer to ride this way because you don’t get complacent at intersections and other traffic hazards.

I was about a mile away from my office in heavy traffic; I had just turned southbound on Kedzie, just above the Belmont intersection. Traffic in the northbound lane was bumper-to-bumper. A silver car was peeking its nose out, trying to turn out from School Street and into my lane. I chopped the throttle and covered my brake. Just like that it darted out in front of me. I hit the brakes but it was too late. There was no place to go, so I added more rear brake and went sideways, laying the bike down and separating from it cleanly. Continue reading “My Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport is no More…”

Scoot vs Guzzi as a First Bike?

I’m a fan of your blog, from north of the border in cheesehead country. We’re about the same age, though I obviously started the family a little earlier, as my daughters are now 17 and 20. And, given that, I’m now thinking about getting a 2-wheel vehicle for which I’m not the motor. I’ve be … Continue reading “Scoot vs Guzzi as a First Bike?”

I’m a fan of your blog, from north of the border in cheesehead country. We’re about the same age, though I obviously started the family a little earlier, as my daughters are now 17 and 20.

And, given that, I’m now thinking about getting a 2-wheel vehicle for which I’m not the motor. I’ve be riding bicycles thousands of miles a year for 30 years. I’ve had the itch to get a motorcycle since I was, oh, 12 or so, when my brother had a Yamaha 60. Put it on hold while I either didn’t have the money or had young kids to think of. Now that I have money and pretty-much-grown kids, the motorized 2-wheeler itch is like a bad case of poison ivy.

My tastes run very classical – air cooled twins, round headlights. I’m very small – 5’6, 120 pounds. My riding will mostly be my 10-mile commute to downtown Milwaukee from the north shore, along Lake Drive, but I also plan to get out into the Wisconsin countryside to explore a little farther than I can typically get in a morning of cycling. Ever been to Holy Hill? The roads around it are to die for. I also have in mind riding out to Minnesota, where my older daughter is at college, once in a while.

So, I’m thinking the Vespa gts 250 (or new 300) would be great for commuting, the Breva 750 ideal for fun rides and travel, and maybe the Piaggio BV250 is the compromise.

The x-factor here is that my wife is adamantly opposed to the whole notion. She has a pretty deep, emotional, irrational association with motorcycles, and has stated flat-out she’ll never go near one. On our honeymoon we had a very good time ripping around Nice, France, on a scooter, so I’m not quite sure what happened over the last 23 years. Anyway, it’s possible that a scooter will be less traumatic, and on the motorcycle side, a V7 Classic will prompt less of a visceral response from its classic styling.

I’ve ridden the V7 Classic, Breva 750, and GTS250, and like them all. I like the Breva a little better than the V7, but obviously there’s little to distinguish between them. It’s obvious the scooter is the better commuter. But there’s also the image factor of pulling into the garage at work. The motorcycle has a huge advantage there, I won’t lie.

So, I’m looking for your thoughts on whether you think I’m on the right track, or am I missing something crucial?

Well Ted! Let’s look at the factors involved:

You live in Wisconsin and will store the bike in winter.
You haven’t really ridden a motorcycle before. Fooled around, but haven’t gotten a license, etc.
You like the classic, retro look.
You’re not a huge guy
You have a 10 mile commute.
You want to ride in the country, possibly make a Minnesota trip, etc.
Your wife is not really into the whole thing whatsoever.
You’ve ridden Guzzis and Vespas
Your friends are gonna put a mark on you whether you ride a scoot or a bike.

I actually have some suggestions that will help you discover which one you might want to go with. I’ve got my favorites here, but I’m going to go “pro-con” and let you decide. Continue reading “Scoot vs Guzzi as a First Bike?”

Buy Your Moto Guzzi Locally

Dealer sets up bikes right before he sells them so problems are reduced. If there are problems, dealer deals with them promptly. Customer gets bike that runs great and he is happy, so happy that he tells all his friends how great his bike is. People that ride with him see how many trouble free … Continue reading “Buy Your Moto Guzzi Locally”

Dealer sets up bikes right before he sells them so problems are reduced. If there are problems, dealer deals with them promptly. Customer gets bike that runs great and he is happy, so happy that he tells all his friends how great his bike is. People that ride with him see how many trouble free miles he puts on his bike and how well it goes in the real world. Very easy to imagine that over all these years of a dealer doing business that way, there would be a lot of Guzzi’s in the area.

— an excellent quote from the Wild Goose Chase Moto Guzzi forum about Moto International Moto Guzzi

And that’s why you should buy locally if you have the dealer that is of this quality — and Moto International does have some peers across the country. If you get a good deal on your Guzzi from someone out of town that’s set up quick and dirty, what do you expect the local dealer to tell you when you bring it in? Are you telling your friends to buy from him? Are you buying from him? If you come in with an emergency and he’s got 3 bikes on his lifts from local customers, what can you rightfully expect?
Don’t go cheap up front. I know very dedicated dealers in Thousand Oaks, Woodstock IL and Phoenix AZ. I have talked on the phone to dozens of others, notably Mr Field in helping me diagnose some Eldorado problems. Spend some time doing your research and talk to your local dealer about his services and policies. Chances are you live in a city, so you might have a choice of vendors. Take your time, build some trust.

I probably paid more for my 1200 Sport than I would have if I had purchased one from the internet, but I solidified a friendship with a guy that “deserved” to sell me the bike. It has already paid dividends in the ongoing service and the absolutely flawless set-up of the bike. I’d rather give my friends money — I know its staying in the community, educating their kids and making my life incrementally richer.

A Trip to Rose Farm Classics

Just a few weeks after my arrival in Chicago, I received an email invitation from Jim Barron, owner of Rose Farm Classics, one of the Moto Guzzi Dealers in the Chicago area. Man, I needed some conversation. Being away from “home”, and my family two time zones away there is practically nothing really to break … Continue reading “A Trip to Rose Farm Classics”

Just a few weeks after my arrival in Chicago, I received an email invitation from Jim Barron, owner of Rose Farm Classics, one of the Moto Guzzi Dealers in the Chicago area.

Man, I needed some conversation. Being away from “home”, and my family two time zones away there is practically nothing really to break the monotony when I’m not working. Any activity that didn’t involve watching TV, eating, drinking or dealing with real estate agents was more than welcome. Dudes with Moto Guzzis, wrenches, compressors and associated “man-bling” and the accompanying manspeak is definitely needed.

I decided that as soon I got a break in the action and needed a Guzzi fix, I’d make the trek out to Woodstock, and see what his operation was all about. After surfing his website, I got the true Guzzisti vibe– a real show room with a wide selection of new bikes, a full service department and a real clean operation. Now, I just knew I was going to like him.

Continue reading “A Trip to Rose Farm Classics”

Back to Motorcycling Part 4 — 25,000 miles in 9 months

This is the final installment of the series of getting back into motorcycling. For Part 3 can be found here. Part 2 can be found here, and Part 1 is here. I’ve never done anything half-way. When I started riding I really wanted to get proficient, safe and comfortable with it as soon as … Continue reading “Back to Motorcycling Part 4 — 25,000 miles in 9 months”

This is the final installment of the series of getting back into motorcycling. For Part 3 can be found here. Part 2 can be found here, and Part 1 is here.

I’ve never done anything half-way. When I started riding I really wanted to get proficient, safe and comfortable with it as soon as possible. As I began racking up miles under my bikes I found that it gave me pleasures and satisfaction that I had never received in any car. The complete isolation from the outside world while being immediately in it presented a contrast that I never had driving a cage, where the radio was blaring, the air conditioning was on, the phone would ring, or my passengers would be talking to me.

The bike gives me the sensations without insulation. Riding through farmlands I can smell the onions ready for harvest. The smell of brakes alert me to big trucks ahead on downhill grades. The vibration of the engine and the road feedback tells me what my machine is doing at any given time. Where a car is insulated, the forces of cornering, braking, etc., more violent, everything on the motorcycle is there, and movement is smooth and flows with the physics of your motions and body. Continue reading “Back to Motorcycling Part 4 — 25,000 miles in 9 months”