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#Post#: 1953--------------------------------------------------
25th Moto-Guzzi Club Scottish Rally
By: banquo Date: May 2, 2017, 2:43 pm
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I won't say I got dragged along to this kicking and screaming,
but it hadn't been on my radar.
However, when good friend Mr Rondelli suggested it in the middle
of winter, it seemed like a good idea, as I imagined basking in
the warm Spring sunshine, and chugging peacefully through the
leafy straths of central Scotland. It was with some trepidation
then that I started my preparations at the start of the week. An
Arctic blast was blowing in from Iceland, peppering the country
with snow and hail, and it was bone numbingly cold, with a wind
that wasn't so much biting as rabid. My sleeping bag cost a
tenner out of Tescos, and although it states that it's good for
minus temperatures, you get what you pay for, and it's not.
Learning nothing from my miserly purchasing habits, I added to
it by purchasing a fleece blanket - from Tescos, on the
assumptions that two cheap devices are better than one.
Fortunately, the weather gradually improved as the week went on,
and by the time I was loaded up and setting out on Friday
afternoon, I needed only 3 layers to stave off the hypothermia,
and enjoyed a reasonably pleasant ride down to Thornhill via
Crieff, Braco and Doune.
The journey was punctuated by a persistent misfire that feels
like fuel starvation and has resisted all attempts so far to
cure it, and some more disturbing gearbox issues, involving
jumping out of 2nd, which has occurred a couple of times before,
and more disturbingly, an 'automatic' change from 2nd to 3rd,
without touching the gearchange. Hmmmm.
Arriving at the campsite, we chugged happily past a couple of
V-Twins that were floundering around, feet down, in the chunky
75mm gravel that someone had laid as a supposedly suitable road
surface, and set up camp in the dry, which is a novel
experience.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/arrival%20friday_zps0egbjvlh.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/arrival%20friday_zps0egbjvlh.jpg[/img][/URL]
Following far too much beer and whisky on Friday night, I was
getting hypothermic in the bitter wind on Saturday, and set out
for a wee ride through the Campsies in the afternoon to warm
myself up with the single heated grip (the other one hasn't been
rediscovered these past two years). Revisiting Campsie Glen and
Lennoxtown, where I hadn't ridden since 1972 was entertaining,
as was climbing the many hairpinned hills with a bike that
wasn't running at all well.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/Campsie_zps2liafftd.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/Campsie_zps2liafftd.jpg[/img][/URL]
Being unfamiliar with the area, and mapless, I just went where
the road took me, through Kippen, Fintry, Lennoxtown, Killearn
and Balfron, before arriving at Loch Lomond at Balmaha, where
the heavens opened:
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/balmaha_zpsdljaa2lo.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/balmaha_zpsdljaa2lo.jpg[/img][/URL]
Back at the campsite, it was still dry, but with a bitter wind,
and we could see the squalls over the hills, but happily missing
us.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/squall_zpsaeencwqi.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/squall_zpsaeencwqi.jpg[/img][/URL]
Saturday evening was a repeat of Friday, but having built some
confidence the previous night, the transition from beer to
whisky seemed earlier, and it was very, very late when we were
finally chased out of the Village Hall into the dark. The cold
air did for my companion, and it took four of us to manhandle
him to his tent.
It was at this point that I decided to check over the bike, and
noted a very dull green glow from the handlebar. Never done it
before, but I'd forgotten to switch off the heated grip,
unwisely connected directly to the battery, and not to the relay
I was going to get around to fitting some time. It was two in
the morning, and it had been left like that for a full 12 hours,
on a 14 year old battery that was removed from my Harley several
years back, having lost its capacity to churn over that lump of
Milwaukee iron.
Under normal circumstances, this would not have caused much
concern; the Mighty Falcone will start with a flat battery, and
has done so before, but in an uncharacteristic bout of
organisation, I had ordered up a USB outlet, and fitted it on
the Thursday night, so that I could leave several chargers at
home. No doubt it was this that caused my drink befuddled mind
to cause instant hatred from the happy campers, and decide to
try firing up the motor at 2:00 a.m. and it DID start, and that
DID encourage a fellow rally goer to join in with his Nevada,
and yes, we were extremely and justifiably unpopular the
following morning, except by those who stopped by to have their
phones charged by the chugging NF, no doubt mightily impressed
by the foresightedness of Guzzi, in choosing to fit a dual USB
outlet way back n 1972.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/USB_zpsju4wgmha.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/USB_zpsju4wgmha.jpg[/img][/URL]
We were going to take another ride on the Sunday, but things got
technical as a fellow rider was having intermittent electrical
issues, that had caused his motor to die completely on a
motorway contraflow, requiring him to paddle it down the side,
with articulated trucks roaring by his head, until he found a
break in the barrier. He'd thought it was the kill switch, and
it had started running again after he shorted the wires out, but
had died again several times before he got RAC recovered, not
back home, but to the rally. That's dedication. He'd fitted
optical electronic ignition, and someone had suggested there
might be a fault in the connectors from there to the coils. The
suppliers had been excellent, and couriered a spare to the site,
and although that had been fitted, problems remained. A Guzzi
guru on site had declared, "it's your ignition switch" and
indeed that made more sense, because how else could both
cylinders stop at the same time?
The sun was beating down by this time, and the wind dropping,
and it was suggested that the time to address this pressing
issue was now, and not when it broke down again on the way home.
The fairing had to come off to expose the switch, which emerged
looking almost identical to ours, with the bullet connectors and
metal body. There was talk of shorting out the two wires, but
that would leave the ignition on permanently, and fry the coils,
so eventually we decided to make a back-up connection, directly
from the battery to the ignition wire.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/P1020393_zpsjwpgsc67.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/P1020393_zpsjwpgsc67.jpg[/img][/URL]
It was obvious that it would be far easier to do that where the
wire emerged, than at the switch, and we soon traced it to the
left side panel, just under the battery. Perfect. Now all we
needed was a fused lead, with a ring connector at one end, and a
spade at the other, just long enough to reach from battery to
ignition lead. I looked sadly at my new USB outlet, and a tear
sprung from my eyes as I realised the necessary sacrifice for a
fellow Guzzi owner, and started unbolting the seat, and then my
shiny new outlet.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/P1020396_zpsqwmgwnav.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/P1020396_zpsqwmgwnav.jpg[/img][/URL]
I still don’t know if he got home OK, but I do know that if it
did stop again, he had a genuine NF accessory to hand to bring
the life back to his recalcitrant V-Twin.
Sunday night was perhaps a more muted affair, my companion from
the night before having suffered badly on Sunday, but the
evening descended into the usual silliness, and a good time was
had by all.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/Jake_zpsll85yfrk.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/Jake_zpsll85yfrk.jpg[/img][/URL]
At the awards ceremony at the end, there was a gasp of disbelief
(from me) when the Mighty Falcone was awarded Best Guzzi at the
rally, a title that was stunning in its level of
inappropriateness, given the condition of some of the other
machinery on site. Perhaps it was a sympathy vote, but I
discovered the one who had chosen is a closet NF owner, so the
reality is it must have been a fix!
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/trophy_zpsl6eg2wyl.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/trophy_zpsl6eg2wyl.jpg[/img][/URL]
I would have chosen one of the pair of well used and excellent
V7s, the only bikes there that were older than the NF. One had
been purchased as a barn find in Colorado, and had arrived with
bee hives in both the airbox and the instrument binnacle. Looked
gorgeous and sounded even better.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/V7s_zpsa6dnhwmu.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/V7s_zpsa6dnhwmu.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/colorado%20bees_zps8muefjt4.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/colorado%20bees_zps8muefjt4.jpg[/img][/URL]
The best of the weather was (of course) saved for the day we
were leaving, and the gear was packed up in glorious sunshine,
which is a far better outcome than trying to persuade a sopping
wet tent into a sopping wet bag while the rain runs down your
neck, and as far as your boots. If you think the luggage looks a
bit top heavy, that's because it is, as I discovered when
unloading the bike at home, as it made a perfect somersault over
the sidestand, and landed on its side, apparently doing not much
harm. Bugger.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/break%20camp_zpsgf2yqryf.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/break%20camp_zpsgf2yqryf.jpg[/img][/URL]
On the plus side, the gearbox worked normally all the way home,
although the reluctant engine did not take kindly to the stiff
Easterly headwind.
Great weekend, great company, too much drink, but I'd do it
again.
[URL=
HTML http://s21.photobucket.com/user/bancquo/media/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/mono_zpsy4ggqyzr.jpg.html][IMG]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/bancquo/Classic%20Bikes/25th%20Scottish%20Rally%20M-G%20Club/mono_zpsy4ggqyzr.jpg[/img][/URL]
#Post#: 1954--------------------------------------------------
Re: 25th Moto-Guzzi Club Scottish Rally
By: nick949 Date: May 2, 2017, 2:54 pm
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Great write up Jake. Of course the NF deserved the award,
recalcitrant gears, missing engine and all. On the other hand
the award may have been handed as a hangover antidote. I'm not
sure I approve of heated grips on an NF though - even if only
one works. :P
Nick
#Post#: 1986--------------------------------------------------
Re: 25th Moto-Guzzi Club Scottish Rally
By: Guykate Date: May 12, 2017, 1:25 pm
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Tis Kate...am the owner of the black n orange loop in your pics
Banquo....I hope you dont mind..but have taken the liberty of
emailing your brilliant post to Roger who edits the club
mag.....twould be good for the other club members to have the
chance of reading your entertaining and witty prose.....
#Post#: 1987--------------------------------------------------
Re: 25th Moto-Guzzi Club Scottish Rally
By: nick949 Date: May 12, 2017, 1:36 pm
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[quote author=Guykate link=topic=312.msg1986#msg1986
date=1494613521]
Tis Kate...am the owner of the black n orange loop in your pics
Banquo....I hope you dont mind..but have taken the liberty of
emailing your brilliant post to Roger who edits the club
mag.....twould be good for the other club members to have the
chance of reading your entertaining and witty prose.....
[/quote]
Hi Kate - very lovely Loop. Infinitely more cool than anything
else produced in the last 40 years.
Nick
#Post#: 1988--------------------------------------------------
Re: 25th Moto-Guzzi Club Scottish Rally
By: Guykate Date: May 12, 2017, 2:37 pm
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Yes...hes a nice lad.....and only today I have aquired a pre war
aero screen...which I am goin to try on him.....twill either be
sub zero or a total bo**ox.....😄
#Post#: 1990--------------------------------------------------
Re: 25th Moto-Guzzi Club Scottish Rally
By: banquo Date: May 13, 2017, 5:03 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=nick949 link=topic=312.msg1987#msg1987
date=1494614163]
[quote author=Guykate link=topic=312.msg1986#msg1986
date=1494613521]
Tis Kate...am the owner of the black n orange loop in your pics
Banquo....I hope you dont mind..but have taken the liberty of
emailing your brilliant post to Roger who edits the club
mag.....twould be good for the other club members to have the
chance of reading your entertaining and witty prose.....
[/quote]
Hi Kate - very lovely Loop. Infinitely more cool than anything
else produced in the last 40 years.
Nick
[/quote]
It was nice to meet you Kate; if Russell is interested, I have a
full write up for our own Club mag, and will be happy to send
him that. I love your bike (but you already worked that out for
yourself...). 8)
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