Subject: First Loopframe miles - Whining (me and my transmission)
Author: Darrell Dick
Date: Jun 3, 2002, 8:56 AM
Post ID: 1710365807
After years of wrenching, I finally got my chance to actually put some
miles on a Loopframe. If you guys remember, my brother bought my built
from a basket Ambo/V700 before I even rode it, prompting me to replace it
with another truckload of project Guzzis (OK, 2 truckloads!) a couple of
months ago.
I have gotten the most complete example running and on the road. It is a
'72 Ambo, pretty much all stock, complete w/Wixom bags. I cleaned the
carbs, tuned it up, changed all the fluids, fixed the hacked up wiring
system, replaced some spokes, bolted on a Harley solo seat, rubbed out
the paint and chrome, put in a new garden tractor battery, spooned on a
fresh "chicken skin" on the back. A new set of bars and the cool
spotlights I got from Keith rounded out the package. Voila! Ready for the
road after years of sitting. I'll try to get some pics on the net.
I'll have to admit, for the first 50 miles or so, I was pretty
unimpressed. My '75 850T is a modern sportbike compared to the old
Ambosaur. I own a bunch of bikes, all of them 1975 or older. The Ambo
feels the oldest. After a while, it dawned on me. That's the point! The
Ambo is a comfortable, reliable, enjoyable, anachronism. It is just
oozing character (I'll show you the spots on the floor). I just needed to
drop my performance expectations a couple of notches.
I think the gearbox is the biggest part of the defecit, or one of the
greatest contributors to the "character" depending on how you look at it.
The Guzzi 5 speed is a big improvement in terms of shift quality and
noise. Speaking of noise, this thing whines like an old dump truck in top
gear under acceleration. It is almost embarassing. Do you other guys
running 4 speeds hear the same thing? I've heard that the 4 speeds are
loud and clunky, but pretty much bullet-proof. What do you think? This
bike is only showing 11,000 miles on the odo. I just put in 750ml of nice
fresh BelRay gear lube.
It had a pretty fresh looking Metzler Laser 100/90-18 on the front. I
put on CS Metzler rip-off on the back 120/90-18. It goes down the road
real stable like (no shield) even up to an indicated 150mph (I think my
speedo is reading a little high). For my reference, 4000 rpm ought to
give me what? Maybe 60mph? It seems to handle pretty well in a lumbering
sort of way. In SE Michigan the curves are few and far between. I don't
think I'll be pushing the old Ambo too hard through the twisties, but I
think that would be mostly because of the front brake. It works OK, but
it sure isn't real confidence inspiring.
Anyway, I think we're starting to bond now.
Darrell Dick
Imlay City, MI