I ran my Fort Mason-Marina Green run yesterday after work. It was a beautiful afternoon and I really needed both the release after a difficult week and the reminder that in fact I do enjoy running. It’s been too long since I’ve run and hopefully this is the start of getting back into the groove. I ran 5.4 miles in 55:39, disappointing on one hand because last year I was recording some much faster times. … Read the rest
Well, it happened. I still don’t subscribe to the theory that it’s necessary for every rider to drop a motorcycle, but Sunday afternoon I became «one that has» instead of «one that will.»
The cause? My pride, pure and simple. I was trying to keep up with better riders. We took off from a brief stop and I ended up third with a couple of faster people behind me and a couple much faster people in front of me. I was … Read the rest
| Luggage Mounting Rail Closer view of the Moto Guzzi saddlebag mounting bracket |
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| Luggage Mounting Rail Another view of the Moto Guzzi saddlebag mounting bracket |
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They do seem sort of “extra” and take away from the clean lines of the bike, but not too badly.… Read the rest
Every time I see a Triumph Bonneville, I think, “Now there’s a damn fine motorcycle.”
Triumph’s cruisers and the sportbikes don’t do much for me, but that Bonneville is sweet.… Read the rest
My accessories arrived today, and Tuesday night once again became Project Night at Turnsignal Tim’s Garage. This wasn’t any real wrenching, just a bit of “some assembly required” work to install my new luggage mounts and saddlebags. Turns out there was one bolt missing from the kit, but I figure that’s not too bad from a factory where the workers have wine at lunch. Tim rustled around and found a bolt that fit, joking, “hey, it’s from a Ducati, so … Read the rest
On the way home tonight, as I was almost there, I tapped the shifter and found it wasn’t there. I looked down to find my heel-toe shifter and its linkage dangling. I was just a couple blocks from home, so I kept it in second until I got in front of the garage, and got down to examine the damage.
One nut that held the linkage was just missing. I could put the bolt back through and shift again, but … Read the rest
I just called my insurance company to let them know that my new Moto Guzzi Stone, which they had listed as a 2005 (and the State of California has it that way tooâI have to get my registration changed ugh) is really a 2004 model. Doesn’t really matter to me; as far as I can tell the 2004s and 2005s are identical. Still, I was afraid that if I got into an accident and had to make a … Read the rest
I ordered 40-liter hard saddlebags and electric heated handgrips for the Moto Guzzi today. I’m still undecided about the windscreen versus touring fairing question and I don’t have any long trips planned in the immediate future, so I held off on ordering one of those. I’ve proven I can do an overnight trip just with bungee cords and webbing on my fender and passenger seat, and my messenger bag, but getting the weight off of my back and eliminating … Read the rest
The Moto Guzzi is in the shop today for its 1000 mile service, so after dropping it off last night I’ve been riding the Yamaha around again. In just two weeks I’ve been thoroughly spoiled by the Moto Guzzi. It’s really rough riding this lightweight, low-powered bike around. I hate to say “you told me so” but yeah Randy, it does feel like a scooter to me now.
Of course, I’m glad to have something to ride while the Guzzi is … Read the rest
I am the very happy owner of a 2004 Moto Guzzi California Stone. It was purchased new, but all the paperwork says ’04.
This bike is as different from the Virago as day is to night. They both are black, they both are V‑twins, they both have a cruiser profile, but the similarities end there.
The most immediately obvious differences are size, weight, and power. The Stone at a quarter throttle in first gear accelerates hard enough to give me … Read the rest