Guys,
I really appreciate the nice comments and the nomination for BOTM. I have not had a lot of time to browse the board lately due to the holidays, work and many other things, but Byrdman let me know that we had both been nominated this month. I purchased this bike because I had been looking for an older Guzzi to keep for my every day mule to get me around. These old Guzzis will run forever, are simple to work on, have torque to spare and then there is there sound....
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Just riding a Goose to work in the morning will give me a much needed attitude adjustment and makes things seem a bit better. I found this bike posted on craigslist one weekend afternoon after passing by the computer and on a whim, checking to see what was for sale. It was the fifth listing or so from the top and it had a number. I scrambled to get my phone and called. I got no answer, so left a message. I then sent an email saying I was interested and left my number again. I then called back again for good measure, but still got the machine. I figured it was gone anyway and went on about my day. Several hours later the phone rang and it was the fellow returning my call. After a brief discussion I was on the way to his house with 1500 dollars and my trailer in tow. He is an older teacher who bought the bike from the North East sight unseen over 10 years before. He flew up and rode it home in rain the whole way. He rode it to florida a few times and who knows where else. He decided that it was time to let it go because it spent most of it's time these days sitting under a tarp in the driveway, and last time when he had tried to ride the bike, it would only shift between 2nd and third. He wanted to be sure that I was aware that this bike needed someone who understood how to get it back in shape and it was not ready to be ridden in it's current condition. I assured him that I am familiar with Guzzis to an extent and own another one also that will keep it company in the garage. This is how it looked the next morning:
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_2655.jpg">
I thought about it for a while, to decide what I should do with it, and decided to go ahead build it like I wanted to. Here are some photos showing how it turned out....
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3772.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3790.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3788.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3776.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3787.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3782.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3784.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3774.jpg">
<img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq193/centaurojoe/Cafe/IMG_3780.jpg">
Build Link:
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=7554.0
Since I have completed it I have really enjoyed riding it when I had time to do so. I have mostly used it for transportation to work and on errands, but have had the occasion to flogg it some to see what it would do. I went out with some guys with sport bikes on a spirited ride, and also took it to the drag strip just for fun. I thought it did really well in both cases and was quite respectable. I have managed to nearly shread through the rear tire already, and it is badly in need of a wash job, but other than that it is doing really well. I thought about washing it the other day when it warmed up a bit, but after rolling it outside I went and got my helmet and went for a ride instead.......
8)
8)
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