Subject: Loop acquisition & age
Author: Jay Williams
Date: Dec 12, 2003, 9:11 AM
Post ID: 1715483933
Don't know if this counts, since I don't currently own a Loop, but...
In 1995, I purchased a Chang Jiang 750 sidecar rig. (Chinese copy of 1938
BMW R71). This was my first street bike, although I'd previously ridden
off-road. The CJ was, and is, great fun, but not really suited to highway
travel or long distances. Started looking for a solo bike to fill those
needs.
Figured it'd be an older BMW, since I admired the the opposed twin design,
simple rugged construction and shaft drive of the CJ. Knew of Moto Guzzi,
vaguely, at that point, but wasn't in the market for one. Several months of
looking at vintage BMWs yielded nothing but machines that were beyond my
budget or in need of extensive repairs and restoration.
A riding buddy (and BMW owner, ironically) spotted a newspaper ad for a '71
Moto Guzzi in a small town a couple of hours away, and suggested I check it
out. I was skeptical, knowing nothing about Guzzis, but assuming that, being
Italian, it would be delicate, fussy, and hard to work on. Nonetheless, out
of curiosity as much as anything, since I couldn't even picture in my mind
what a '71 Moto Guzzi might look like (and this was long before I was on the
web and could simply do a search and pull up some pictures) I went to check
it out.
First inspection revealed there was nothing "delicate" about it. Everything
appeared to be simple, robust and straightforward. Scratch "fussy" off the
list. Everything I could think of that might need service seemed readily
accessible, so it didn't appear hard to work on.
Looks wise, it had blue metallic bodywork, a polished front fender, Wixom
bags speedo-only dash and, what really sold me on the bike, shiny chrome
panels on the tank.
The bike obviously hadn't been ridden much in a long while. Had old and
rock-hard Dunlop tires with narrow white-wall tires and an overall patina of
dust and grime. Tag was current, but the inspection sticker was several
years out of date. The front brake did virtually nothing to retard forward
progress, the headlight and turn signals didn't work, but it was otherwise
rideable. Fortunately, it didn't have any issues with peeling cylinder
chrome, since I didn't know enough to check for that.
Seller was into custom Harleys, and had gotten the Guzzi from "a guy that
owed him money." He didn't know any more about it than I did. Apparently,
his ad hadn't generated a lot of interest because he accepted what I
considered a low-ball offer, and I became a Guzzi owner.
It took a god six months of steady tinkering to make it truly road worthy
(there were no major mechanical issues, but a LOT of little ones.)
Fortunately, after a thorough cleaning, the cosmetics of the bike were
pretty good. Took it on many out-of-state trips over the next few years, and
while I had my share of vintage-bike related problems, it always made it
home under its own power.
In early 2001, I acquired a used 2000 Jackal. Unfortunately, my garage space
was already at full capacity and something had to give. Reluctantly, I had
to find the Ambo a new home. (The wife likes the sidecar, but doesn't much
care for riding pillion, so the CJs place is secure.)
Still have fond memories of the 'ol Ambo, and the other Loop riders I met
both in-person and electronically. Love the Jackal, but I'm sure there will
be another Loop in my life when circumstances permit. In the meantime, I
have to get my Loop fix vicariously. So thanks for letting me hang out on
this forum and soak up the ambiance, even if I don't contribute much these
days.
FWIW, I just turned 40. No kids. Never did like sharing my toys.
Jay Williams
'00 Jackal
'57? CJ750
'69 Cougar Eliminator
'89 5.0 LX Mustang
'93 F150 Lightning
and a few vintage
machine guns.
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