Moto Guzzi Club GB Forum: Bellagio banter

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Almost
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Posted: 23 Mar 2012 at 06:43

Are you going to open a Guzzi collection in Cornwall Jmee?

Give peas a chance

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jmee54
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Posted: 23 Mar 2012 at 15:58

That's what Heather reckons! It all started with a need for a T3 Cali - you know the feeling?

I bought a basket case G5, which I have subsequently not had time to rebuild. When I came into a bit of cash the Bellagio was spotted and became a running ride and further decreased the time I would have spent on the G5. A phone call and a handy visit to relatives in Norfolk meant the addition of several boxes of T3 spares and then someone had to post a Convert for sale and as it is a running G5/Cali lookalike with the addition of a quirky auto drive (I love quirky) It had to be aquired. I am supposed to be selling the G5 and T3 so am open to very large offers for bits or all!

mudpie

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Almost
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Posted: 27 Mar 2012 at 06:59

Anyone else finding that little button to change the time blooming fiddly?

Give peas a chance

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tonewuk
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Posted: 27 Mar 2012 at 08:19

What Button.The menue button on the bars????

Need powder coating or Chrome plating doing or Polishing PM me for details http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/motoguzzigroupgb/

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Almost
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Posted: 27 Mar 2012 at 08:54

Yes that one, I get so much switch bounce the Italian electrics have not improved!

Give peas a chance

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jmee54
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Posted: 30 Mar 2012 at 21:13

Where's everyone gone? Have you all been as busy and distracted as I have?

mudpie

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tonewuk
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Posted: 30 Mar 2012 at 23:43

Originally posted by jmee54

Where's everyone gone? Have you all been as busy and distracted as I have?

Well not much money,in the line for fuel.
And just bought the bits for the bike.ETA 2 weeks.

Need powder coating or Chrome plating doing or Polishing PM me for details http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/motoguzzigroupgb/

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Almost
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Posted: 31 Mar 2012 at 12:57

I got an invite to the local Harly Dealer they were haveing a HOG roast. I thought the things must be bad if the dealer is setting fire to his stock, turned out to pig in a bun with a bucket of chips for free

i thought this club had beardy weirdies but the local HOg chapter beats them. Anyway nothing like parking a guzzi in the middle of 100 Harleys

Give peas a chance

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OldJohnboy
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Posted: 31 Mar 2012 at 13:23

There was a Harley 1200 something-or-other parked up outside our local branch of Cotswold Outdoor yesterday. I have to say that it was a fine looking machine; It would be a shame to spoil it by putting an ol' git like me on it though Smile

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BigRon
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Posted: 31 Mar 2012 at 14:26

LOUD PIPES SAVES LIVES

We know a song about that, children.

Turn the volume up and listen to this:

Loud pipes saves lives

Everyone's entitled to my opinion

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RayS
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Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 13:07

Happy Birthday 940V - Hope you have a good one.

Ray
Dover, Kent

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OldJohnboy
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Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 16:19

Manic happy retreads.

'Will you still need us

Willyou still read us

Now you're sixty four' (Bah da dum-tish,dum-tish, do de do doo)

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jmee54
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Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 16:52

Happy Birthday Dave, wherever you are!

mudpie

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Trepidiste
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Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 22:41

Bon anniversaire mon ami

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZaZqx9v3dU&feature=g-vrec&context=G29f673dRVAAAAAAAABQ

Kiss my Axe

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940V
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Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 08:18

Thank you all bretheren xxx + {{{papal wave}}}

....Life can be quite rewarding for 64 y.o's doncha know!

The Bolide noir is in fine fettle and i really think that we should all soon string a few paragraphs together and begin lighting up the BB slot once again.

How about each of the Bellagisti penning a few posts about living-with-a-Bella now that all the 'new model' euphoria has faded out and we now know just what a fine machine we have?

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derekh
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Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 13:21

Hi all

Bellagio is still running well with no serious problems, will change tyres at next service at about 10,000 miles

After filling with fuel on saturday bike would't start, it had blown one of the 15amp fuses, replaced it with the spare one and all was well, have now bought some more just in case

All the best

Derek

Bellagio
Norge

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940V
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Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 15:41

Hi Derek. Yes this is a known problem. It's a wierd bit of circuitry that also involves the rear light going out at the same time as the start relay.

With mine, it was the precursor of a starter failure that luckily was still within the warranty period to get replaced f.o.c. and i've had no further probs with it.

Hey! Big%20smile

...Having seen the wear on your sidewalls from enthusiastic 'Suffolk Colt' cornering techniques, i find my self aghast with incredulity....(loike)...That you could possibly wring 10k out of that tortured rubber.

(te hee) Wink

If you do a 'forum search' you will most likely turn up the easy d.i.y. wirinfg modification details for this one, and i think it was originally penned by ex-webmaster B.U.K.

<--edit--> Mr. Dunmore also has a handy trick he showed me, that is a quick fix get-you-home tip should you be caught out without any spare 15a fuses while out on the road.

Edited by 940V - 02 Apr 2012 at 15:44

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Almost
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Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 20:15

Over A years ownership of the Bellagio. Rob’s thoughts.

Well clocked up around almost 3k miles. So getting to know the bike, especially having another bike to compare it with. It is nice to know that you have a bike that very few have. It’s a hard bike to describe. And seems to be confused about its gender, is it a cruiser, tourer or frustrated sports bike probably best described as a cross dresser!

For me the good points is it does not kill my knees, brilliant for commuting to work on, very good for pottering around, but equally good for giving it the beans. Handling is OK, not so sharp as other bikes with a shorter wheelbase, however I have found that the bike is sensitive to tire pressures, if they drop a bit it does affect the handling. I did have problems with the oil weeping out after a thrash, but that seems to have now stopped as the oil level has dropped and seems to have found its happy point. Still after all this time can not get used to the lean angle when putting the bike on the side stand though. My bike does have the rear rack and a Givi bag, which personally not that keen on the looks but find it invaluable for work to throw my junk in rather than a rucksack.

The problems: Mainly the electrics and the finish. To be honest for the cost of the bike I thought the finish should be a lot better. The paint is very thin and the matt lacquer is easily rubbed of. Also there are a lot of places that are now beginning to rust. Most of my problems I have had have been down to the electrics, or rather the connectors. These are very cheap and prone to corrosion causing intermittent faults; biggest one was failure to start due to the neutral switch corrosion. Everyone laughs when I am asked, ‘oh you got a Guzzi, what problems have you had’, and I reply electrics!

So plans for this year. Have a go at servicing the bike myself, then:

Go on holiday with the financial controller

;

Change the seat to the sportier version, get a quill fitted, change the indicators and find away to mount them on the fork leg so I can use or not use the Givi screen as I feel fit. Then if the funds allow (financial controller, again) get the bike re-sprayed red and white like a Ducati and go for some bar end mirrors. I would like to put a lower shock on the back just to make it a bit easier on the legs to touch the ground with both legs but that is not a priority.

Give peas a chance

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940V
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Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 21:07

~ Muchos GrassyArse Mr. Amlost.

....{{{Ya Reeiba ya riba}}}

There chillun, is a simple way to strng a few sentences together.

A simple lesson for the 'word association' and '3 word story' exponents to explain how to actually break out and write something vaguely interesting....

..(j/k you fkn deadlegs)

Thanks for your first BB Bellagio review there Rob. Of course, your initial take in the 'What-Guzzi-Bike-Should-I-Risk' is now the food of legend, but we mustn't rest on our laurels here ol' chap!

...Ohh noo, nooo no noo.

Look chasps, you all have a reasonable grip of Engrish... (as she am spoke)..and we don't give a tuppeny fig for any grandmar errors or cringeworthy speling mistackes..so why not give it a go?

..You nowanna look like a pratt doing it on-line?....Seemples!

Craft your tome in wordpad on your pc then copy and paste it into your post editor...Just think of the benefits of deleting all the anglo-saxon insults and piss taking and clicking 'go' on a post that is sanitized/humane/thought provoking yet totally family friendly and almost sporiphic to the most cromwellian moderator on the planet.

....Ok {{{testing testing}}}

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tonewuk
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Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 21:55

Well demostrated with the aid of pictures what a impact does to your forks.
And Yoke(now on order) Funny the italiians did not get the Yoke.Seriously they did not understand Yoke.
So playing the waiting game for the bits.

Need powder coating or Chrome plating doing or Polishing PM me for details http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/motoguzzigroupgb/

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940V
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Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 22:52

Originally posted by tonewuk

Well demostrated with the aid of pictures what a impact does to your forks.
And Yoke(now on order) Funny the italiians did not get the Yoke.Seriously they did not understand Yoke.
So playing the waiting game for the bits.

Absolutement my learned fiend

Wait one tonna, we haven't started on the most 'impacty' one yet ol' frootie...

Wait 'till we tell 'em that the front is over-braked to get the cyat among the pigeons!

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Almost
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Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 06:59

Cat jumps on the pigeons. Don't give it such a handfull when braking and don't try a sports bikes brakes!

Give peas a chance

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940V
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Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 08:51

Originally posted by Almost

Cat jumps on the pigeons. Don't give it such a handfull when braking and don't try a sports bikes brakes!

Yes, this is a slightly controversial one isn't it.

But i think i understand what tonna referred to and have ideed smoked a front tyre too, but like you say you do need to be a tad careful but this can go out of the window in a 'panic braking' situation and it's a cinch to lock up the front and thus provoke a front end slide on these bikes.

I have the span on the front brake lever set so i can just hook the tip of one finger over it to encourage 'light touch' application and always balance front and rear braking for best retardation from speed as a means of getting a more stable and controlled fast stop.

Perhaps a different set of front pads would give a more progressive feel?

I remember the rim mounted disc on the Buell would give a distinct 'hiss' or sizzling sound as more pressure was applied, and being an ultra short wheelbase machine, would provide an 'endo' or stoppie without too much provocation, so this was also a handy way of keeping the shiney side up.

I have to admit that i have to pay more attention to detail now, having been spoiled by the long time on ABS equipped Beemers, which by the way can bring other 'perils' into play.

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tonewuk
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Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 15:33

Originally posted by Almost

Cat jumps on the pigeons. Don't give it such a handfull when braking and don't try a sports bikes brakes!

I have and i dont.
But when you consider that a jackel weighs 30k heavier and it has a single front brake.
Why do you need such powerful brakes.With i think a loss of feel between lock up and no lock up.
So as a experiment i going to rebuild the bike with one front disc.If i dont like it i can allways pop the other back on.
To be honest i wish i could have the linked brakes back like on the cali,A far better braking system.

Need powder coating or Chrome plating doing or Polishing PM me for details http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/motoguzzigroupgb/

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iandunmore
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Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 15:48

Weyhey, me and tonewuk agree.

Linked brakes are the best.

MK111 Le Mans not for sale. One careless owner.V750 Breva, magic.North Oxfordshire.

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Almost
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Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 20:28

The zinging is down to sintered pads, personally I like the sintered pads for the feedback and the sound.

Give peas a chance

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940V
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Posted: 04 Apr 2012 at 10:48

Originally posted by Almost

The zinging is down to sintered pads, personally I like the sintered pads for the feedback and the sound.

Yes, me too.

But i think the gg kevlar pads would not have that initial grab and would be more 'progressive' for the front of the Bella....I mean, it's not that we are going to be hauling it down from 130mph with the tail end wagging in the air is it. Wink

.....Is it????? Big%20smile

Here are some economical options of hh sintered and gg kevlar pads for our chosen weapons

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/moto_guzzi/bellagio_940cc/07-09/picture/pads_front_ebc_standard_gg_type/

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/moto_guzzi/bellagio_940cc/07-09/picture/pads_front_ebc_sintered_hh_type/

<--edit--> whoops typo Embarrassed

Edited by 940V - 04 Apr 2012 at 10:49

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tonewuk
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Posted: 04 Apr 2012 at 15:36

fiver difference in price,
more copper in the one set

Need powder coating or Chrome plating doing or Polishing PM me for details http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/motoguzzigroupgb/

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940V
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Posted: 04 Apr 2012 at 20:57

Szzzzz (lol)

...Hey, talking about coppers, let me tell you how i discovered the Barmouth sandwich.

Well, Barmouth is the very nearest seaside resort to us lot here in the black country.

It's a really groovy place (iau)... 's'funny but have you noticed how them hill billies mangle english to make a sentence sound like a foreign language?

Anywayo, I have now been suitably re-aligned in my general demenour, having been refused entrance to a 'grab-a-granny night' by a cro magnon look alike in a frilly shirt and a black suit marshalling the front door, on the grounds that my waistband was far too high and perhaps i would be better off nodding off with an absorbing book and a few glasses of ***Sanatogen than cluttering up A+E later on.

Tsk! fkn hell, i still 'feel' 20

...OK tonna (end of bllx)...Try those kevlar pads ol' chop...I'm going to!

I can't possibly write an ownership review of the Bella, having lauded it all this time and (truly) knowing the upsides/downsides of the bike...It is after all a very individual mosheen with many interpretations possible.

Robin Slayer drew the short straw wih the 'archetypal' friday afternoon jobbo (bless 'im) and he stuck out the 'wallet drain' to the bitter end.

The rest of us just seem to rock on livin' with it....

Barmouth Sandwich?...Ha! Look on "www.trip advisor" to see a short review i penned on a Hotel in the town....

<--another edit--> *** Wincarnis is just as good!

Edited by 940V - 04 Apr 2012 at 21:04

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jmee54
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Posted: 04 Apr 2012 at 21:53

A bit of an adventure tomorrow. Flying to Gatwick and hopefully riding home on a Convert. Twill be a bit chilly around the nether regions mind! The auto transmission will be odd I'm sure.

mudpie

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General Banter
Moto Guzzi Club GB Forum : General Discussion : General Banter

Topic: Bellagio banter
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