This weekend was Vintage Days up at Mid-Ohio. Ann and I planned to ride up
together - she on her Sportster, me on my '68 Guzzi V700, but Ann has a bad
knee, which is going to require replacement eventually, and she was worried
that she'd end up 180 miles from home and in pain, so she decided to take
the car instead. I took the Guzzi anyway.
We got on the road about 7:00 am. Weather was beautiful; I wore the vented
suit, but put my windproof jersey on. The Guzzi fired up on the first
turn of the key as always, and we headed away.
The Veglia speedos on Guzzis are renowned for their accuracy, so the first
order of business was to check the calibration. I knew it read about 10
MPH fast at 50, so I expected a bigger error at higher speeds. Ann set off
up I-75 at a steady 65 perm my request and to my surprise I found that the
error actually diminished with speed and the meter only reads 5 mph high at
65.
I-75 for one exit up to OH-63, then a few miles through Lebanon OH on to 123
soon saw us on I-71. I settled in at a steady 65-70. A couple of time I
tried to speed it up, but larger throttle openings in 5th resulted in some
pinging from the motor. I could drop into 4th and get rid of the pinging,
but decided to take it easy.
About 60 miles up I-71, I looked down at the engine, and I see oil staining
on the previously immaculate crankcases. Uh-oh. A rest stop comes up in
another 10 miles or so and I pull in. There's an oil leak from where the
distributor bolts to the cases. I get out the toolkit with the intention
of checking bolts for tightness, but there's no way of doing it without
removing the RH carb. The leak is small - onward!
Columbus came and went, and soon we exited at Mt. Gilead to head to the
track. A gas stop showed I had used under two gallons in 120 miles. This
bike has serious range. Unfortunately, 40 years has taken its toll on the
sponge in the seat, however, and my butt doesn't come close to the 250 mile
range the tank would probably go!
When I emerge from the gas station, there's a small crowd around the bike.
I answer questions about the year, and get compliments on the bike. It's a
great feeling.
20 miles on, and we're in the line to get in the track. I think I hear a
strange noise from the motor, but realize it;s not me - it's a very rattly
500 single Yamaha behind me. That bike has some serious issues - there
isn't much that can out-rattle Guzzi valve gear.
Soon, we are inside. The place is PACKED. I follow Ann into the car
parking. For the first couple of hundred yards there are people waving you
through. Then, nobody. We make our way past rows and rows of parked cars,
and eventually find ourselves in the clear. Unfortunately, by this time we
are in the overflow camping area! After a brief chat with a couple from
Michigan (he on a /2 BMW she on a Guzzi Eldorado) we head back out to look
for the car parking again. We find it in a bean-field nearby which is being
brush-wacked as we arrive to make more space.
I throw my helmet and riding gear in the car, and Ann tries and fails to get
on the back of the bike to ride closer to the action. Looks like her
decision to not ride was the right one. We arrange to meet down by the
paddock, and head off - she on foot, me on the bike.
All my 35 years of riding has been on tarmac. I don't normally like riding
on gravel or grass. And ploughed bean-field wasn't an improvement.
However, the V700 turned out to be the easiest bike I have ever ridden in
such conditions; clutch in to below walking pace where needed and bars like
a tiller made it fun. I was soon right down by the track, and knew Ann
would be far behind so took a quick lap of the in-field before returning to
the agreed meeting place. It became obvious that the bike was an
attention-getter - lots of thumbs-ups and questions when the traffic
stopped.
I parked, we ate, we wondered around the infield. The raffle on the '53
Vincent was held. I won.
I wish.
The featured bike was Triumph this year. They were everywhere - everything
from Cubs to Hurricanes. I thought I'd really get excited at seeing so
many, but I really didn't. I guess having grown up with them (first bike
was a '68 Tiger Cub and I owned, and still own, many more) they just seemed,
well, ordinary. Which really, they were.
The Auction tent was the next stop. At one time, the AMA auction would
guarantee some great bikes on sale. Not this year. We decided to do other
things.
Next stop - demo ride area. Harley-Davidson, Triumph, BMW, Buell,
Kawasaki, KTM, Kymco and Moto Guzzi. And also the Can-Am Spyder. Of
course, we're way to late to get a ride, but it really doesn't bother me
any.
As we make our way to the flea-market, we look at the parked bikes. Nothing
really exotic, but it's nice to see these bikes. Not over-restored
trailer-queens - just older bikes being used. And the more I walk around I
realize that what I think of as modern bikes really are no longer such...
the CB400-4 I'm looking at is 32 years old. I cast my mind back to '72,
the year I started riding and realize that if I'd seen a 1940 bike in use it
seemed ancient. I feel old.
But I feel good.
We spend the next couple of hours in the flea market. I don't think I've
ever seen so much junk in my life. Prices were being slashed as the day
went on, but the place was still full of bikes you can find on craigslist
very day - with "firm" prices 2-3 times higher.
At about 4:00 we left for home. The only time I opened my wallet was to
buy food or drink. I enjoyed every minute.
The ride home was uneventful. A brief storm cooled things off (and got the
Guzzi wet for the first time since the rebuild) and with the cooler temps I
found I could run 75 mph with no pinging. That was about the limit
though - at 80 the bike started weaving quite badly, so I backed off.
Round trip was about 350 miles. The oil leak didn't get any worse, the bike
ran great. Time to check the timing, order a distributor gasket, shocks
and a new seat.
Maybe even a set of the rather nice stainless repro mufflers that Epco had
on their stand. There goes another grand.
And one last thing. I was more tired after that trip than I've been in
years. I'm too old for long runs on unfaired bikes. The Guzzi looks great
naked, but the Wixom goes back on next week for sure!
Bob
#37
The Original Redbeard #37 wrote:
> This weekend was Vintage Days up at Mid-Ohio. Ann and I planned to ride up
> together - she on her Sportster, me on my '68 Guzzi V700, but Ann has a bad
> knee, which is going to require replacement eventually, and she was worried
> that she'd end up 180 miles from home and in pain, so she decided to take
> the car instead. I took the Guzzi anyway.
>
> We got on the road about 7:00 am. Weather was beautiful; I wore the vented
> suit, but put my windproof jersey on. The Guzzi fired up on the first
> turn of the key as always, and we headed away.
>
> The Veglia speedos on Guzzis are renowned for their accuracy, so the first
> order of business was to check the calibration. I knew it read about 10
> MPH fast at 50, so I expected a bigger error at higher speeds. Ann set off
> up I-75 at a steady 65 perm my request and to my surprise I found that the
> error actually diminished with speed and the meter only reads 5 mph high at
> 65.
>
> I-75 for one exit up to OH-63, then a few miles through Lebanon OH on to 123
> soon saw us on I-71. I settled in at a steady 65-70. A couple of time I
> tried to speed it up, but larger throttle openings in 5th resulted in some
> pinging from the motor. I could drop into 4th and get rid of the pinging,
> but decided to take it easy.
>
> About 60 miles up I-71, I looked down at the engine, and I see oil staining
> on the previously immaculate crankcases. Uh-oh. A rest stop comes up in
> another 10 miles or so and I pull in. There's an oil leak from where the
> distributor bolts to the cases. I get out the toolkit with the intention
> of checking bolts for tightness, but there's no way of doing it without
> removing the RH carb. The leak is small - onward!
>
> Columbus came and went, and soon we exited at Mt. Gilead to head to the
> track. A gas stop showed I had used under two gallons in 120 miles. This
> bike has serious range. Unfortunately, 40 years has taken its toll on the
> sponge in the seat, however, and my butt doesn't come close to the 250 mile
> range the tank would probably go!
>
> When I emerge from the gas station, there's a small crowd around the bike.
> I answer questions about the year, and get compliments on the bike. It's a
> great feeling.
>
> 20 miles on, and we're in the line to get in the track. I think I hear a
> strange noise from the motor, but realize it;s not me - it's a very rattly
> 500 single Yamaha behind me. That bike has some serious issues - there
> isn't much that can out-rattle Guzzi valve gear.
>
> Soon, we are inside. The place is PACKED. I follow Ann into the car
> parking. For the first couple of hundred yards there are people waving you
> through. Then, nobody. We make our way past rows and rows of parked cars,
> and eventually find ourselves in the clear. Unfortunately, by this time we
> are in the overflow camping area! After a brief chat with a couple from
> Michigan (he on a /2 BMW she on a Guzzi Eldorado) we head back out to look
> for the car parking again. We find it in a bean-field nearby which is being
> brush-wacked as we arrive to make more space.
>
> I throw my helmet and riding gear in the car, and Ann tries and fails to get
> on the back of the bike to ride closer to the action. Looks like her
> decision to not ride was the right one. We arrange to meet down by the
> paddock, and head off - she on foot, me on the bike.
>
> All my 35 years of riding has been on tarmac. I don't normally like riding
> on gravel or grass. And ploughed bean-field wasn't an improvement.
> However, the V700 turned out to be the easiest bike I have ever ridden in
> such conditions; clutch in to below walking pace where needed and bars like
> a tiller made it fun. I was soon right down by the track, and knew Ann
> would be far behind so took a quick lap of the in-field before returning to
> the agreed meeting place. It became obvious that the bike was an
> attention-getter - lots of thumbs-ups and questions when the traffic
> stopped.
>
> I parked, we ate, we wondered around the infield. The raffle on the '53
> Vincent was held. I won.
>
> I wish.
>
> The featured bike was Triumph this year. They were everywhere - everything
> from Cubs to Hurricanes. I thought I'd really get excited at seeing so
> many, but I really didn't. I guess having grown up with them (first bike
> was a '68 Tiger Cub and I owned, and still own, many more) they just seemed,
> well, ordinary. Which really, they were.
>
> The Auction tent was the next stop. At one time, the AMA auction would
> guarantee some great bikes on sale. Not this year. We decided to do other
> things.
>
> Next stop - demo ride area. Harley-Davidson, Triumph, BMW, Buell,
> Kawasaki, KTM, Kymco and Moto Guzzi. And also the Can-Am Spyder. Of
> course, we're way to late to get a ride, but it really doesn't bother me
> any.
>
> As we make our way to the flea-market, we look at the parked bikes. Nothing
> really exotic, but it's nice to see these bikes. Not over-restored
> trailer-queens - just older bikes being used. And the more I walk around I
> realize that what I think of as modern bikes really are no longer such...
> the CB400-4 I'm looking at is 32 years old. I cast my mind back to '72,
> the year I started riding and realize that if I'd seen a 1940 bike in use it
> seemed ancient. I feel old.
>
> But I feel good.
>
> We spend the next couple of hours in the flea market. I don't think I've
> ever seen so much junk in my life. Prices were being slashed as the day
> went on, but the place was still full of bikes you can find on craigslist
> very day - with "firm" prices 2-3 times higher.
>
> At about 4:00 we left for home. The only time I opened my wallet was to
> buy food or drink. I enjoyed every minute.
>
> The ride home was uneventful. A brief storm cooled things off (and got the
> Guzzi wet for the first time since the rebuild) and with the cooler temps I
> found I could run 75 mph with no pinging. That was about the limit
> though - at 80 the bike started weaving quite badly, so I backed off.
>
> Round trip was about 350 miles. The oil leak didn't get any worse, the bike
> ran great. Time to check the timing, order a distributor gasket, shocks
> and a new seat.
> Maybe even a set of the rather nice stainless repro mufflers that Epco had
> on their stand. There goes another grand.
>
> And one last thing. I was more tired after that trip than I've been in
> years. I'm too old for long runs on unfaired bikes. The Guzzi looks great
> naked, but the Wixom goes back on next week for sure!
Nice report. Thanks for the ride-along. I've had a fondness in my
heart for Guzzis, but never owned one. Got it on my list of
SomedayINeedOneOfThose, though.
But about the Wixom fairing, isn't that going to hurt your eyes? (OTOH,
in fairness there may be Wixom fairings that I haven't seen that are
things of beauty and I may be judging yours unfairly. But it'd be a
serious anomaly compared to the Wixoms that I have seen.)
--
spunky hussein MaybeFunctionOverFormHasIt'sOwnBeautyThough tuna
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> together - she on her Sportster, me on my '68 Guzzi V700, but Ann has a bad
> knee, which is going to require replacement eventually, and she was worried
> that she'd end up 180 miles from home and in pain, so she decided to take
> the car instead. I took the Guzzi anyway.
>
> We got on the road about 7:00 am. Weather was beautiful; I wore the vented
> suit, but put my windproof jersey on. The Guzzi fired up on the first
> turn of the key as always, and we headed away.
>
> The Veglia speedos on Guzzis are renowned for their accuracy, so the first
> order of business was to check the calibration. I knew it read about 10
> MPH fast at 50, so I expected a bigger error at higher speeds. Ann set off
> up I-75 at a steady 65 perm my request and to my surprise I found that the
> error actually diminished with speed and the meter only reads 5 mph high at
> 65.
>
> I-75 for one exit up to OH-63, then a few miles through Lebanon OH on to 123
> soon saw us on I-71. I settled in at a steady 65-70. A couple of time I
> tried to speed it up, but larger throttle openings in 5th resulted in some
> pinging from the motor. I could drop into 4th and get rid of the pinging,
> but decided to take it easy.
>
> About 60 miles up I-71, I looked down at the engine, and I see oil staining
> on the previously immaculate crankcases. Uh-oh. A rest stop comes up in
> another 10 miles or so and I pull in. There's an oil leak from where the
> distributor bolts to the cases. I get out the toolkit with the intention
> of checking bolts for tightness, but there's no way of doing it without
> removing the RH carb. The leak is small - onward!
>
> Columbus came and went, and soon we exited at Mt. Gilead to head to the
> track. A gas stop showed I had used under two gallons in 120 miles. This
> bike has serious range. Unfortunately, 40 years has taken its toll on the
> sponge in the seat, however, and my butt doesn't come close to the 250 mile
> range the tank would probably go!
>
> When I emerge from the gas station, there's a small crowd around the bike.
> I answer questions about the year, and get compliments on the bike. It's a
> great feeling.
>
> 20 miles on, and we're in the line to get in the track. I think I hear a
> strange noise from the motor, but realize it;s not me - it's a very rattly
> 500 single Yamaha behind me. That bike has some serious issues - there
> isn't much that can out-rattle Guzzi valve gear.
>
> Soon, we are inside. The place is PACKED. I follow Ann into the car
> parking. For the first couple of hundred yards there are people waving you
> through. Then, nobody. We make our way past rows and rows of parked cars,
> and eventually find ourselves in the clear. Unfortunately, by this time we
> are in the overflow camping area! After a brief chat with a couple from
> Michigan (he on a /2 BMW she on a Guzzi Eldorado) we head back out to look
> for the car parking again. We find it in a bean-field nearby which is being
> brush-wacked as we arrive to make more space.
>
> I throw my helmet and riding gear in the car, and Ann tries and fails to get
> on the back of the bike to ride closer to the action. Looks like her
> decision to not ride was the right one. We arrange to meet down by the
> paddock, and head off - she on foot, me on the bike.
>
> All my 35 years of riding has been on tarmac. I don't normally like riding
> on gravel or grass. And ploughed bean-field wasn't an improvement.
> However, the V700 turned out to be the easiest bike I have ever ridden in
> such conditions; clutch in to below walking pace where needed and bars like
> a tiller made it fun. I was soon right down by the track, and knew Ann
> would be far behind so took a quick lap of the in-field before returning to
> the agreed meeting place. It became obvious that the bike was an
> attention-getter - lots of thumbs-ups and questions when the traffic
> stopped.
>
> I parked, we ate, we wondered around the infield. The raffle on the '53
> Vincent was held. I won.
>
> I wish.
>
> The featured bike was Triumph this year. They were everywhere - everything
> from Cubs to Hurricanes. I thought I'd really get excited at seeing so
> many, but I really didn't. I guess having grown up with them (first bike
> was a '68 Tiger Cub and I owned, and still own, many more) they just seemed,
> well, ordinary. Which really, they were.
>
> The Auction tent was the next stop. At one time, the AMA auction would
> guarantee some great bikes on sale. Not this year. We decided to do other
> things.
>
> Next stop - demo ride area. Harley-Davidson, Triumph, BMW, Buell,
> Kawasaki, KTM, Kymco and Moto Guzzi. And also the Can-Am Spyder. Of
> course, we're way to late to get a ride, but it really doesn't bother me
> any.
>
> As we make our way to the flea-market, we look at the parked bikes. Nothing
> really exotic, but it's nice to see these bikes. Not over-restored
> trailer-queens - just older bikes being used. And the more I walk around I
> realize that what I think of as modern bikes really are no longer such...
> the CB400-4 I'm looking at is 32 years old. I cast my mind back to '72,
> the year I started riding and realize that if I'd seen a 1940 bike in use it
> seemed ancient. I feel old.
>
> But I feel good.
>
> We spend the next couple of hours in the flea market. I don't think I've
> ever seen so much junk in my life. Prices were being slashed as the day
> went on, but the place was still full of bikes you can find on craigslist
> very day - with "firm" prices 2-3 times higher.
>
> At about 4:00 we left for home. The only time I opened my wallet was to
> buy food or drink. I enjoyed every minute.
>
> The ride home was uneventful. A brief storm cooled things off (and got the
> Guzzi wet for the first time since the rebuild) and with the cooler temps I
> found I could run 75 mph with no pinging. That was about the limit
> though - at 80 the bike started weaving quite badly, so I backed off.
>
> Round trip was about 350 miles. The oil leak didn't get any worse, the bike
> ran great. Time to check the timing, order a distributor gasket, shocks
> and a new seat.
> Maybe even a set of the rather nice stainless repro mufflers that Epco had
> on their stand. There goes another grand.
>
> And one last thing. I was more tired after that trip than I've been in
> years. I'm too old for long runs on unfaired bikes. The Guzzi looks great
> naked, but the Wixom goes back on next week for sure!