Subject: Re: Three bike rally (some Tonti content)
Author: Chris Mitchell
Date: Jun 30, 2003, 4:12 PM
Post ID: 1713591259
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<P>There was indeed a 4th bike which was not acklowedged (the Suzuki sv650 I rode in on) - as it was a guzzi only rally. The hooligan bike was forced to stay outside. </P>
<P>The ambo-bob is coming along. When you make up the list of things to do, it never seems that long, but the devil is in the details and even small aspects seem to take a while. Tank got POR-15d - 2 tips on that: don't do this in your kitchen - mine now smells like New Jersery (no offense to my neighbors across the hudson) and get yourself the proper tap for the petcock threads (apparently a special size) as they get all gummed up. So she has fuel. She now shifts and has rear brakes - between that huge AAA pedal and the Mark E. brake pads it'll stop a truck - and I've got all the front brake stuff ready to mount (another tip - if you have unidentifiable crud in your master cylinder and you can't get it out without hurting the threads - boil it. After a little brembo soup, whatever was in there came out easy). . Sheet metal is all ready to go. Wiring is the current obstacle (Paul Linn's switch suggestion was dead on - the left hand switch from a honda spree is just like the yamaha switch that the list suggested, except it is made out of metal - just required the handle to be ground off). A small transistor radio was sacraficed trying to get those damn little screws for mounting the fuse boxes in. No dice. </P>
<P>My other derivation from stock - the PHM carbs/apes/cables issue is starting to cause a bit of a headache. Apparently a Tommaseli 2C won't open 40s all the way, so I went with a Barnett's as suggested in Guzziology and custom cables from barnetts as well (actually cheaper than stock cables -now I know why). Between the heavy carb springs, the cables and the throttle - the carb opens all the way in 1/4 turn -said turn requiring some serious forearm- none too practical. It's not supposed to be a 1/4 turn throttle so I need to cut some sheath off the cables. The distance bettween idle and wfo needs to be a little greater. </P>
<P> I would remiss if I didn't throw a big public thank you at Dave and Tom LaNasa. One workday afternoon, in pure NYC landlord fashion, I got a phone call saying I had to be out of my garage/shop of 5 years by the next day (very long story). 2 quick phone calls and I had a place to store and work on the bike (Dave's) and transportation there (Tom accompanied by his bad ass dogs). Not too shabby for a couple of fellas I only met in the past few years on the 'net. I, and my yet unnamed project, are in their debt. Solid gents. The rest of my tools and parts went into my one bedroom apartment. You can call me Fred Sanford. </P>
<P>Since my project is progressing, I may have to start breaking stuff. Bonnie is a great cook and feels the need to feed me whenever I come over. This project may take a little while...</P>
<P>Lates,</P>
<P>Chris </P>
<P>'71 Triumph with a hole-ly piston</P>
<P>'71 ambo-bob creeping toward completion</P>
<P>'01 SV650 (loaner) - won't lie, its a good time<BR><BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>From: David Washburn <GUZZI-@YAHOO.COM>
<DIV></DIV>Reply-To: Loopfram-@topica.com
<DIV></DIV>To: Loopfram-@topica.com
<DIV></DIV>Subject: Three bike rally (some Tonti content)
<DIV></DIV>Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 21:58:08 +0000
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>While everyone was having a great time in VA. Chris Mitchell and I had
<DIV></DIV>a three bike rally in my garage. I put flip chokes on my 36 pumpers and
<DIV></DIV>now the bike will start and idle with chokes alone, no throttle
<DIV></DIV>necessary.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Chris's bike (you know, the Eldo with the ape-hangers and the Mike Rich
<DIV></DIV>mystery motor) got its shifter connected, coils mounted and wired, Dyna
<DIV></DIV>wired, rewired and finally retired pending ID of what that red wire
<DIV></DIV>does, fuel tank threads tapped and exhaust headers mounted. All meals
<DIV></DIV>were included in the rally registration so Bonnie (AKA: She who will be
<DIV></DIV>obeyed) brought us plates of spaghetti bolognese with foccachi to mop up
<DIV></DIV>the spillage.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Work slowed to a crawl after lunch as we discussed future bike plans. I
<DIV></DIV>have a set of Lafranconi slashbacks on order from MG Cycle as a result
<DIV></DIV>of the list discussion and Gordon and Rick's assurance that they are
<DIV></DIV>quiet, or at least quieter than my MACs that will be finding their way
<DIV></DIV>to Ebay.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>The third bike at the rally was my Jackal which has not turned a wheel
<DIV></DIV>in a couple of weeks because I have been riding the Eldo. Joe Jump is
<DIV></DIV>right about the fuelly Californias being potent. Mine has Lafranconi
<DIV></DIV>whizzers, H-pipe and a deleted air box with a power commander to richen
<DIV></DIV>up the mix. They are a great ride but they lack the vintage flair. Here
<DIV></DIV>is what a German shop did to put a little pizzazz into the plain Jane of
<DIV></DIV>the Guzzi line:
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>http://home.foni.net/~biesel/1000s/1100s/images/1100S-1.jpg
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>At the end of the rally I won oldest rider (44) and long distance rider
<DIV></DIV>(10 miles from work to home) Chris won youngest rider (28) and was
<DIV></DIV>disqualified from the distance contest because his bike (rolling frame
<DIV></DIV>w/motor and transmission) came in on the back of Tom LaNasa's pickup
<DIV></DIV>before the rally began.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>See you at the Blue Ridge,
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>David in NYC
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
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