Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

On an entirely different note, can anyone recommend someone to paint a fuel tank and side panels? Having drastically slimmed down my bike collection I’ve decided to throw some money at my favourite old Moto Guzzi T3 and have been slowly stripping and rebuilding it in time for spring, and I want to have the tank redone. Any recommendations?

it's not great for desert

Just quoting for posterity, so awesome. Getting my Michelin Trackers fitted tomorrow with some ultra heavy duty tubes so even more excited about the local enduro track opening. Reset the suspension to what's in the owners manual tonight, was a slight revelation what the 450 is capable off. Pretty stiff.

Probably not the cheapest but Rage Designs in Cheshire has a great reputation.

That's great - new tires are always a total win. Haha, I'm going to shut up and make to with the 2 stroke. The new air filters arrived, so I just need a bracket for my big (3.2gal) IMS tank and I should be set for a longer shake down. The plan is to be ready for a D37 Hare and Hounds on the 27th. If I don't break anything or bottle out before that!

I found that Trackers need to be run at very low pressures to get the most out of them. They have a good reputation among less experienced riders, and a bad reputation by a lot of hard enduro guys (especially ones who like to climb up rocky gullies).

What pressures will you be running?

Does anyone have a slim small 2T exhaust can, going to waste?

Need something for a spare beat up old trials bike. Aiming to cut open the original to repack, but wondered if there are any small small cans about that might fit as a stop-gap.

No idea on pressures yet, but confident they'll be better than the dual sport factory rubber. Any recommendations I'm all ears but luckily not many rocky lanes in Beds, so fingers crossed. I've got a 70 mile loop planned up to Santa Pod so looking forward to seeing how they go.

On the DR I run flat... Less than 10 irregardless. I have single rimlocks on both wheels, and no slippage.

Start with 13 front and 10 rear. I prefer 10 and 8.

Sounds like it’s geared very long, my CBR600 would do 60+ in 1st but that was at 12-13k rpm!
I spend most time on my s1000r in 2nd-4th and only really use 5th-6th for cruising.

Sounds like it’s geared very long

Yes maybe. I did actually crack the throttle a few times, but it just wasn't at all necessary.

The new luxury of overtakes..... Habit kicked in on the first one and I upshifted unnecessarily, but after that I just wound it up and found myself at warp speed in an instant. It's amazing to actually slow down on an overtake about the same moment when on the XJ I'd be upshifting at the redline!

I run 12-13psi. Different terrain obvs. Faster and rockier, I suspect. It's easy to pick up pinch flats. Also, we have the most astonishing assortment of thorns to deal with. Single rim lock. I think I have all Michelin heavy tubes at the moment but the undefeatable, gold standard are the Bridgestone ultras - they're almost like tyres! Heavy but bombproof.

Next set of tyres, I might switch over to Tubliss - they look very impressive.

Meant to say…Can you get some Oko sealant before the ride? Trackers are awful to fit, I would not want to change a tube while out on the trail.

My local mechanics fit ‘Bike-Seal’ so that’s swishing about in my DR’s inner tubes.

I recently bought some Oko to put in the Sherco, and looking online it seems well-rated for what it is, if Bike-Seal isn’t available to you.

Thanks for the psi suggestions, presumably you're still running these low pressures when riding on the road between trails? I already have rim locks so that should help. The bike's now with the garage so will definitely look into adding some sealant for future, like you say would like to do everything to avoid fixing puncture at the side of the road. The mechanic this morning seemed thrilled to be fitting the Trackers :D

Trackers are hell to fit because the sidewalls are so damn solid. It makes for a very good budget/novice tyre at low pressures, but a terrible mounting experience. As someone who changed a tube with levers in the shed, I avoid ever needing to do that again with these tyres. Also, I got a puncture on day one of using a new set, so don’t wait too long to think about it.

And yes, I am used to running them flat on the road. No big issue unless leaning deep.

Came into work today to the familiar stench of petrol, only much much stronger than usual.
We do MC storage at my work, and a customers brand new Guzzi (under 1k on it, few months old) has shit the bed.
Did smell a bit fuelly before hand but didn't think much of it. Then this week fuel tank seam has let go. Unfortunately right over the top of a manifold so not going to be a 'ride it to the dealership' situation. Dropping about half a pint a day by the look of the puddle.

Customer rang the dealer, and I'm not sure exactly how new MC ownership goes, but it quickly sounds like they are gonna have to fix it themselves and prove it was the brand new tank that was faulty. I mean I guess they get a lot of folk who drop/bend/crash/somehow abuse their new bike and go hunting for warranty when obviously its abuse so will be auto on the defense, but it was me I'd be raging. Might all work out just fine. Just surprised !

sounds like they are gonna have to fix it themselves and prove it was the brand new tank that was faulty

Well that's a disappointing response from the dealer... so much for customer care?

Very familiar line? “It’s your fault it leaks, because you bought it.”

Very similar to the experience of other Italian products and services.

In Florence the next room’s AC dripping onto our pillow; “Well, you booked that room.”

In Pescara when missold a stupid 4€ item asking for exchange or refund, “Refunds? We don’t do that here, you’re not in the UK now.”

Hair in the food in McDonalds Milan, manager states, “Well, it’s not my hair what do you want me to do about it?”

The list goes on.

Haha
Yeah getting that feeling already.
Remember when working in manufacturing in China (and other places TBH) some folk just did not understand the basis of warranty and reputation. They were like 'well you have the money now, why are you bothered about them, the customer'

Yeah - all the true, off road tyres (as opposed to MX) I’ve fitted have been bears. Especially the rears. The carcasses are super stiff. I’ve only ever had two punctures al fresco. The two most useful gadgets have been a wire pull, to thread into the valve and pull it through, and the bead mate, which holds the tire deep into the bead, while you lever the other side.

I always carry a dozen or so super large zip ties too - 6-8 will hold a totally fucked tyre on the rim and let you ride slowly home.

Ducati had the same problem in the US with some bikes plastic tanks. Odd as it wasn't just one model of bike and not all bikes.

Service industry people?

To be fair others have an exceptional experience in Italy, so I am happy to be the odd one out with a consistently poor time (versus every other country visited). Just unfortunate if someone else also suffers this level of service too.

Don't think my experience of Italy counts, but understand what you mean.

Do off roaders still use mousses?

Yeah - very popular out here for MX / Supercross / Desert. They're f'ing expensive though and a cock to fit.