nick949
Well-Known Member
There is something rather wonderful and deeply satisfying about getting up before sunrise and riding an old bike all day. My 41 year old Guzzi Convert is a mere whippersnapper in the old bike realm, but compared to the pantheon of Harleys, Victorys and Goldwings (yes and bloody Gs's and Transalps, although not on the backroads I was on) I saw on this holiday Sunday, it was positively geriatric.
I was heading for the Elephant Lake Road, which I heard was a good one (actually OK, but nothing special), but first I had some cross-country treks planned, using logging roads through some undeveloped country. After riding 18 miles in on a single-track gravel road, I got skunked (not literally) and had to retrace my steps. The pictures and captions tell the story.
The Convert is a surprisingly good steed for unpaved roads. I was a bit unsure of the linked brakes at first - on the Eldorado and Nuovo Falcone I rely on engine braking and the rear brake so as not to lock up the front wheel on the loose stuff. I needn't have worried. The braking on the Convert was predictable and safe, plus the instant access to full torque that the auto-trans provides means it's easy to use the throttle to get out of trouble.
Back on the paved roads I cruised all day with the speedo needle pointing due north (60mph). I was glad I was wearing my chaps, chaps, as the right cylinder has a mystery leak which sprays a gentle mist of hot oil on my shin. The amount is trifling - perhaps an egg-cup full through the day, but it's unsightly. It appears to come from somewhere near the plug, but neither the valve cover nor the cylinder head gasket seem to be leaking and the spark plug is tight. None of my other Guzzis leak and I have no experience with such things. I will have to ask advise of some old Brit-bike afficionados.
In 454 miles and 11.5 hours (about 10.5 actually riding) I didn't have a single moment that raised my blood pressure (I don't count little slips on the gravel - they are expected and normal) and not once did I say 'stupid arsehole' about another driver - no, not even under my breath. A Good Day.
more pics: August 6th 2017 | Facebook
Nick
I was heading for the Elephant Lake Road, which I heard was a good one (actually OK, but nothing special), but first I had some cross-country treks planned, using logging roads through some undeveloped country. After riding 18 miles in on a single-track gravel road, I got skunked (not literally) and had to retrace my steps. The pictures and captions tell the story.
The Convert is a surprisingly good steed for unpaved roads. I was a bit unsure of the linked brakes at first - on the Eldorado and Nuovo Falcone I rely on engine braking and the rear brake so as not to lock up the front wheel on the loose stuff. I needn't have worried. The braking on the Convert was predictable and safe, plus the instant access to full torque that the auto-trans provides means it's easy to use the throttle to get out of trouble.
Back on the paved roads I cruised all day with the speedo needle pointing due north (60mph). I was glad I was wearing my chaps, chaps, as the right cylinder has a mystery leak which sprays a gentle mist of hot oil on my shin. The amount is trifling - perhaps an egg-cup full through the day, but it's unsightly. It appears to come from somewhere near the plug, but neither the valve cover nor the cylinder head gasket seem to be leaking and the spark plug is tight. None of my other Guzzis leak and I have no experience with such things. I will have to ask advise of some old Brit-bike afficionados.
In 454 miles and 11.5 hours (about 10.5 actually riding) I didn't have a single moment that raised my blood pressure (I don't count little slips on the gravel - they are expected and normal) and not once did I say 'stupid arsehole' about another driver - no, not even under my breath. A Good Day.
more pics: August 6th 2017 | Facebook
Nick
, and just a few months after a MAJOR op. Respect 
