More Guzzi Ramblings, 5…

Following on from my failure to make the John Bull Rally in Belgium a couple of weeks back, I have been going through everything on the bike in an effort to reduce the possibility of further breakdowns caused by the bodgery of previous owners. One such area has been the wiring, this to be fair has been an awful mess, I understand that people like to “have a go” but really if you don’t know what you are doing, leave it to people who do.  So I have been cutting out old wires, and running in new wires, this in itself is only a temporary measure, as I am going to replace the wiring this winter with a Gregory Bender replacement harness.

Today I also replaced the ignition switch with a new replacement I picked up at Kempton Jumble, this new one has a much crisper action, and does not hit or miss when you touch the key, this again meant changing and replacing a few more wires, all that leaves for now is to put an inline fuse holder on the main ignition circuit,

Freewheel Shuttle trailer

I managed to win an online auction for a nice Freewheel Shuttle trailer for my Guzzi, I have thought about this for a while now, it will be nice to not have to load everything onto the bike, although I will need to resist the urge to pack more into the trailer just because I have some room.  So I will need to get a tow hitch made for the Eldo, and again sort out some wiring.

Guzzi and trailer

 

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Two Projects…

Over the last year, I have bought two projects from EldoMike over on the ADV forum, which in itself is a huge step considering we live so very far apart!, but Mike has graciously stored the bikes for me until he could get close to a friends house down in Georgia.
Well today Mike managed to find the time to drop them off on what is the first step of them coming to the UK, Thanks Mike, I really do appreciate the help and time you put into this.

So it seems I now have two new projects to not only get on the road, but also get on a boat to the UK!…
So shall I show you what I have, well the first, bought last April, is a nice old 850 Eldo, And this is to become my main touring bike, and I have big plans for this, including a trip to Moto Guzzi in Italy for their centenary celebrations…

Moto Guzzi Eldorado

The other was only posted on ADV last week, it is a 1963 BSA Super Rocket. Mike joked and said I should buy it, so I did. A nice complete old BSA, in what looks like pretty unmolested condition, and rust free. This will go on the back burner for a while, at least until the Eldo is sorted out. so may stay in Georgia for a year or so.

1963 BSA Super Rocket.

 

 

Two Out, Two In….

I have a rule in my small lock-up, if something new comes along, then something already there has to go. I don’t have a lot of room, I don’t have a garden, I live on an old Barge on the river. So space of all kinds is a premium.

So this past month two bikes have had to go, the first out the door was the 72 Commando, a deal was done with this bike where I also got some work done on my ES2 Clubman project, so all good in that respect. And the fuel tank, and oil tank for the Clubman are both in the paint shop as this project once again moves forward.

The second to go was the TriBsa I did what I wanted to do with this bike, which was to get it going, and back on the road. It was time someone else took it over.

So what I hear you cry, did I replace them with? well let me tell you. The first was an old Guzzi LeMans 11, that I saw at the V-twin international rally. It is old, worn, and has high mileage. but it has amazing low down grunt, pulls like a train, and is fantastic fun to ride on a fast A road. I may need to sort out the ergonomics of this bike if it is to stay though, the riding position is all a little cramped for me. It could do with slightly wider bars, and maybe some rear sets. I shall see how I feel about it over the next few months.

Moto Guzzi LeMans 2

In the Lock-up

850 LeMans

The second bike is something I have always coveted, but never wanted to buy! Mainly due to the exotic nature of the beast, and the expense involved if it all went wrong. So when I got offered a running resto project I had to really think hard about it.

But bevel drive Ducati’s don’t come around every day, and as I have friends with the missing parts and lots of advice, I thought I would take a chance, especially as the price was good, and the motor sounds fantastic. So I now own another old Vee-twin, this time a 900SD Darmah. The bike has lots of history in the shape of all its MoT certificates, confirming the shown 18000 mileage as correct.

This bike really looks as though it needs a good winters clean up, and just a few parts. Headlight ring, tail light, indicators, grips, and a speedo. Which I already have thanks to a friend in London.

Ducati Darmah

Ducati Bevel

Ducati 900SD

Thunder in the Forest…

This weekend over here in good old blighty, was one of those National holiday weekends with an extra day off, today in fact. So being a long weekend it would seem rude not to head out on a bike, meet up with some mates and have a good time, despite the vagaries of the ever so English weather.

So this very weekend saw me, Shaun, Bob, Marcus, and Dancing Dave, heading all points south, to Fordingbridge in the old “New Forest” and the home of the 2015 Vee Twin International rally, held by those nice people of the GB Guzzi club.

So on a sunny Friday I dragged out, and loaded up my 75 Shovelhead, and headed out..

75 Harley Shovelhead

And after what seemed like hours later, due to having to filter through stationary traffic for over twenty miles, no fun on a loaded shovel I can tell you. I arrived at rally central, booked in, and found Bob already set up and relaxing out on the rally field. So after pitching the tent, it was time for a quick wander around the field to see what was about.

850 LeMans 11

LeMans 11

LeMans

850 Guzzi LeMans 11