Category: Motorcycles

Gonna miss Wilfred…

I took the Eldo over to Mark at Moto Guzzi Classics before I moved out of California to get “everything” done to it. It was running crappy, needed new mufflers and I wanted to get a few odds and ends done so I could have a wonderful riding season when it began in Chicago. I didn’t want … Continue reading “Gonna miss Wilfred…”

I took the Eldo over to Mark at Moto Guzzi Classics before I moved out of California to get “everything” done to it. It was running crappy, needed new mufflers and I wanted to get a few odds and ends done so I could have a wonderful riding season when it began in Chicago. I didn’t want to have to deal with fixing the bike here along with the house purchase, move, etc.

Mark fixed everything including some bone-headed errors like loop rockers in T-3 heads (almost ate the pushrods, I SWEAR that I thought they were Tonti rockers!). He rebuilt my rebuilt carbs and took out all the O-rings that I didn’t need, straightened my bars that I didn’t realize were crooked, put on some shiny new Macs, and service the bike completely.

Sean and Mark had a few laughs over the heads that I had purchased — I don’t think that there were 10 decent threads on them, and some were SAE. I spent more on those heads than I would have if I had just manned-up and bought some performance ones straight off  his shelf. 

Live and learn. I’m gonna miss you, Wilfred.

How Old is the Average Guzzi Rider?

  There’s been a lot of activity on the Wild Goose Chase forums about riders and their respective ages.  I thought I’d put a poll out and see what my readers are doing.  I’m going first — 47. The poll is closed, but here are the results of a total pool of 124 participants: here … Continue reading “How Old is the Average Guzzi Rider?”

 

There’s been a lot of activity on the Wild Goose Chase forums about riders and their respective ages.  I thought I’d put a poll out and see what my readers are doing.  I’m going first — 47.

The poll is closed, but here are the results of a total pool of 124 participants:

here

  age group votes %  
41-55 53 42.74%
55+ 42 33.87%
31 – 40 24 19.35%
21 – 30 5 4.03%
< 21 0 0%
  total:  124    

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”

Jim Barron of Rose Farm Classics
Jim Barron of 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”

2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic

[slideshow id=3314649325747656982&w=426&h=320] Pictures of the 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic.  Enjoy. It’s here on the ground in the US. I’ve sat on it and can’t wait to ride it. It looks like a great “return to cycling” bike, a phenomenal city bike and definitely a beautiful retro treatment. My only worry is there are quite … Continue reading “2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic”

[slideshow id=3314649325747656982&w=426&h=320]

Pictures of the 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic.  Enjoy.

It’s here on the ground in the US. I’ve sat on it and can’t wait to ride it. It looks like a great “return to cycling” bike, a phenomenal city bike and definitely a beautiful retro treatment.

My only worry is there are quite a few left-over Brevas — the 750’s in an earlier year will be less expensive but not as cool looking, but the 1100/1200s will only be a few thousand more and you get a whole lotta ponies for only 3-4K more.

Still, I’ve got faith in the V7C. It is such a nice package, competitively priced to the Bonnie and Sportster, and a very nice alternative to the Ducati 1000GT, which will definitely out-perform it on paper, but I’d like to compare it with respect to living with it for some time.

I look forward to some time with a V7C soon!

First Week in Chicago — Looks Like Riding Season is Over

I think that part of my orientation with my new position at WMS is weather-related.  The day that I arrived it was in the 20’s, and the day after was a “balmy” 50 degree day.  Next day was snow, followed by a cold, windy day that showed the thermometer at 6° with a -20 wind … Continue reading “First Week in Chicago — Looks Like Riding Season is Over”

I think that part of my orientation with my new position at WMS is weather-related.  The day that I arrived it was in the 20’s, and the day after was a “balmy” 50 degree day.  Next day was snow, followed by a cold, windy day that showed the thermometer at 6° with a -20 wind chill.  Next day was a good foot of snow, demonstrating how traffic can get insanely snarled up.  It repeats until today, where it’s -5° and the wind is howling so much that I don’t really care what the wind chill factor is.  My moustache froze 15 seconds after I left my front door.

I had a great drive from Los Angeles to Chicago last week.  Took 3 1/2 days and I ended up at a friend’s house overnight, moving into my apartment in Roger’s Park the next day.  Up until that point I was extremely disappointed that I didn’t ride my Ducati ST2 out.  Sure, I would have had less stuff, but I would have taken only what I needed and just lived with a smaller footprint until I went back home for Christmas on the evening of the 23rd.  I could pack a suitcase and bring more stuff out on the return trip, and I would have the bike when the streets were clear. Continue reading “First Week in Chicago — Looks Like Riding Season is Over”

Could the new Moto Guzzi V7 Classic be one of the Best Motorcycle Picks for Women?

I’m going to preface this by saying that my wife, Sheila, believes the old adage stating, “If a man gives advice to a tree in a forest, he’s still an idiot”.  She’s probably right, so I’m basically going to line up my assumptions from a few women that I’ve shown pictures of Moto Guzzi’s new … Continue reading “Could the new Moto Guzzi V7 Classic be one of the Best Motorcycle Picks for Women?”

I’m going to preface this by saying that my wife, Sheila, believes the old adage stating, “If a man gives advice to a tree in a forest, he’s still an idiot”.  She’s probably right, so I’m basically going to line up my assumptions from a few women that I’ve shown pictures of Moto Guzzi’s new V7 Classic to and discussed it’s features with.  I also OWN this bike so it’s the coolest thing on the planet as far as I’m concerned.

2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic
2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic (prototype - they made a few small cosmetic changes...)

The Moto Guzzi V7 Classic

Moto Guzzi introduces the V7 Classic this year to its line-up.  It’s a standard motorcycle in the 750cc class that has tapped into the “retro” look that has become increasingly popular.  It’s also a nice “standard” bike that is, according to Moto Guzzi, “A stunning mixture of modern tech and retro styling, based upon the 1967 original (see my Eldorado).

Although, I’m feeling like it has a lot of the V7 Sport in it, which Continue reading “Could the new Moto Guzzi V7 Classic be one of the Best Motorcycle Picks for Women?”