Friday, May 30, 2014

Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 8V (Quattro Valvole) Valve Adjustment

Valve adjustment on the Guzzi...I'm done!


Compared to the Ducati, where I had to all but remove the engine from the bike to have enough room to check and adjust the valves, the Guzzi is a piece of cake. Even compared to the '96 Valkyrie, which also had screw-nut adjusters, the Guzzi was simplier because the valves are up high for easy access and there are 8 versus 12.  A couple of Allen wrenches, feeler gauge, 8mm wrench, and less than an hour was all that I needed--I think it took longer to change the oil!

I probably should have taken photos, but I didn't think about it until after I was done. If you need help, check out this great step-by-step tutorial along with excellent photos, click here: Moto Guzzi 8V Valve Adjustment

I'll keep track of how often I have to adjust the valves. The manual indicates the adjustment interval is about 6000-miles. On my Valkyrie, I didn't need to adjust the valves after about 40K miles. We'll see if the Guzzi's valves are similar.

I hope this is a good sign of pleasant maintenance to come. :)

Monday, May 26, 2014

Memorial Day weekend ride to Beckley and beyond

Unlike most of our multi-day motorcycle rides, I wasn't able to do any pre-trip planning. Despite this (or maybe because of this :), we had a great ride to the tip of Virginia.

We rode the Back of the Dragon (again), stopped to investigate a rib cage (my guess: a deer), rode through the home town of Joseph Funk, looked at some old tombstones in Pocahontas, VA (because they were there), and had a pleasant ride back home. Unlike most past Memorial Day weekends here, the weather was beautiful.


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Bultaco motorycles return to production - Motorbike Writer



Those of us who rode dirt bikes in the 60s and early 70s remember the "thumbs up" Spanish Bultaco motorcycles. Here it is 2014 and they're making news with a new electric motorcycle. From the looks of the photos, the front fork looks very un-mainstream too.

I'll never forget a quote I read in 1998 attributed to Francisco X. Bulto, the Spaniard who started the company, who died at 86 in August 1998. On his deathbed, knowing that he would die soon, he is quoted as saying, "Bring me my mustache wax and my best Bultaco shirt. For a trip like this, you must be at your best." Indeed!

I hope this storied marquee will do well with these modern bikes.
'via Blog this'

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Two weeks in a row: Saturday morning motorcycle ride

We took advantage of another beautiful Saturday and rode down to Culpeper, VA to have brunch. Despite a weather forecast that predicted possible scattered showers, we continued to ride for most of the day. The temperature hovered between 68o and 72o...perfect.

    GPS Stats:
  • total distance    181.7 miles
  • overall avg       26.5 mph
  • moving avg        42.1 mph
  • max speed         72.8 mph
  • total time        6:51
  • moving time       4:19
  • stopped time      2:32


Getting ready to head out.

Go!

I never noticed the gargoyles in Culpeper before.

Looking out from the Frost Cafe

Stopped to stretch on the way home.


Hmmmm....I wonder if this is why they went out of business?