Hi Folks,
I posted a while back about an "opportunity" presented by my buddy in California to be given his 2003 Moto Guzzi California EV and ride it back to Virginia (see "Insane or Adventurous"). Most of you said "go for it, be adventurous". Some said "no, that's insane". The latter were right!
I flew to California three weeks ago, and when I got to my buddy's house, we put a new battery in the Guzzi and fired her up. Sounded great!!! Then, hold on, gas was dripping off the rim of the tank. OK, just a fuel line. Pulled the tank, replaced the line, fired her up again, and no problems. Took her for two long test rides, perfect. Until I left early the next morning and was in the Central Valley of California, and the bike felt kinda unsettled. The rear was swaying around, so I pulled over and found that the transmission spewed its oil all over the rear tire. No wonder it felt wobbly. Thankfully I was only 50 miles out. I stopped for some Windex and a roll of paper towels, cleaned off the tire, and made it back to my buddy's who had left on a business trip. I parked it in his garage (I had the code) and texted him. He understood. Even said "I didn't think it would make it".
End of vacation? No way!
On Sacramento Craigslist was a pristine 2010 NT700V, red, with 15,000 miles, recent service and new Michelins. I called, told my tale of woe, and the seller, in true motorcyclist fashion said "I'll come over and pick you up"! He drove 2 hours to Santa Rosa, drove me two hours back, regaling me with tales on his Gold Wing, and there was the NT in his garage with literally not a spec of dust on it. Meticulously maintained. I test rode it, said "excellent, I'll take it", Paypal'd him the asking price, loaded my gear, and headed up the Central Valley, which, at 114 degrees, was having a tough day. But the NT was humming along.
Around Mt. Shasta in northeastern California, I was detoured by this wildfire.
Stayed at Lassen State Park, cool in those mountains, then headed into Oregon. Again, very hot (100+), but the NT was just singing along.
Then into Idaho, and those really lovely roads, some of the best riding of the trip.
Into Wyoming, which around Jackson Hole was like Disneyland. RVs stretching into the distance. I headed south... Yellowstone was packed and unapproachable.
Into the upper right corner of Colorado, again really hot. So hot that the gas in the tank was evaporating and the bike stunk of gasoline. Then into Nebraska, and Kansas.
The weather started to cool off a little by Missouri and Arkansas, "only" in the 90s. Arkansas has some truly amazing riding roads, twisty and challenging. Pure NT joy.
Tennessee and Kentucky were a combination of lovely twisty roads that would turn into four lane highways for a spell, then back into two lane twisties. Lots of fabulous riding in northern Tennessee and southern Kentucky.
Then back into the Old Dominion, Virginia, and home.
Total mileage was 4,410 miles over 16 days. Only one brief period on the interstate highway in Wyoming where there just wasn't any other option (speed limit 80), all the other time on secondary and thirdly roads. Average fuel consumption was 68 mpg.
Now I have two NTs.... I don't know what I'll do, but I love both of them, so for now, there are twins in the garage.
I posted a while back about an "opportunity" presented by my buddy in California to be given his 2003 Moto Guzzi California EV and ride it back to Virginia (see "Insane or Adventurous"). Most of you said "go for it, be adventurous". Some said "no, that's insane". The latter were right!
I flew to California three weeks ago, and when I got to my buddy's house, we put a new battery in the Guzzi and fired her up. Sounded great!!! Then, hold on, gas was dripping off the rim of the tank. OK, just a fuel line. Pulled the tank, replaced the line, fired her up again, and no problems. Took her for two long test rides, perfect. Until I left early the next morning and was in the Central Valley of California, and the bike felt kinda unsettled. The rear was swaying around, so I pulled over and found that the transmission spewed its oil all over the rear tire. No wonder it felt wobbly. Thankfully I was only 50 miles out. I stopped for some Windex and a roll of paper towels, cleaned off the tire, and made it back to my buddy's who had left on a business trip. I parked it in his garage (I had the code) and texted him. He understood. Even said "I didn't think it would make it".
End of vacation? No way!
On Sacramento Craigslist was a pristine 2010 NT700V, red, with 15,000 miles, recent service and new Michelins. I called, told my tale of woe, and the seller, in true motorcyclist fashion said "I'll come over and pick you up"! He drove 2 hours to Santa Rosa, drove me two hours back, regaling me with tales on his Gold Wing, and there was the NT in his garage with literally not a spec of dust on it. Meticulously maintained. I test rode it, said "excellent, I'll take it", Paypal'd him the asking price, loaded my gear, and headed up the Central Valley, which, at 114 degrees, was having a tough day. But the NT was humming along.
Around Mt. Shasta in northeastern California, I was detoured by this wildfire.
Stayed at Lassen State Park, cool in those mountains, then headed into Oregon. Again, very hot (100+), but the NT was just singing along.
Then into Idaho, and those really lovely roads, some of the best riding of the trip.
Into Wyoming, which around Jackson Hole was like Disneyland. RVs stretching into the distance. I headed south... Yellowstone was packed and unapproachable.
Into the upper right corner of Colorado, again really hot. So hot that the gas in the tank was evaporating and the bike stunk of gasoline. Then into Nebraska, and Kansas.
The weather started to cool off a little by Missouri and Arkansas, "only" in the 90s. Arkansas has some truly amazing riding roads, twisty and challenging. Pure NT joy.
Tennessee and Kentucky were a combination of lovely twisty roads that would turn into four lane highways for a spell, then back into two lane twisties. Lots of fabulous riding in northern Tennessee and southern Kentucky.
Then back into the Old Dominion, Virginia, and home.
Total mileage was 4,410 miles over 16 days. Only one brief period on the interstate highway in Wyoming where there just wasn't any other option (speed limit 80), all the other time on secondary and thirdly roads. Average fuel consumption was 68 mpg.
Now I have two NTs.... I don't know what I'll do, but I love both of them, so for now, there are twins in the garage.
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