Friday, December 23, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
ALFA Romeo Spider oil change
Well it was high time I changed the engine oil and filter in my 1986 ALFA Romeo Spider Graduate so this morning I set about the task.
Really it is relatively simple, with all the bits within easy reach and access. Amazing the little 1962cc 4 cylinder engine takes 7.1 quarts of oil! The oil filter is very large as well, as you will see in the photos below which compare it to the filter my Moto Guzzis take, which are the same size as a normal car filter.
Below you will see the airbox, which contains the air filter and atop which sits the air flow metering device, which senses and controls the volume of air entering the engine. The airbox is removed (3 bolts) to gain easier access to the oil filter.
So now she's all filled with fresh clean 20w50 weight oil and a new filter. Happy Spider :)
Really it is relatively simple, with all the bits within easy reach and access. Amazing the little 1962cc 4 cylinder engine takes 7.1 quarts of oil! The oil filter is very large as well, as you will see in the photos below which compare it to the filter my Moto Guzzis take, which are the same size as a normal car filter.
Below you will see the airbox, which contains the air filter and atop which sits the air flow metering device, which senses and controls the volume of air entering the engine. The airbox is removed (3 bolts) to gain easier access to the oil filter.
So now she's all filled with fresh clean 20w50 weight oil and a new filter. Happy Spider :)
Turkey Rod Run
A couple weeks ago I went to a HUGE car show at the Daytona International Speedway called the Turkey Rod Run.
Below is a link to all the pics I took.
TURKEY ROD RUN PICS CLICK ME!!
Below is a link to all the pics I took.
TURKEY ROD RUN PICS CLICK ME!!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Guzzi cruise
I added a little cruise control device to my Moto Guzzi Stelvio this a.m. It is a simple device which grips the throttle and then rests against the brake lever to hold the throttle open. Really simple and neat.
SEE HOW IT WORKS!
SEE HOW IT WORKS!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
DeLand to Savannah
I will be leaving Friday for the motorcycle ride on my Guzzi Stelvio to Savannah, GA.
I will be posting pics and comments along the way at the following link in case anyone wants to come along for the ride virtually. You can click on the pics at that link to read comments...
DeLand to Savannah on a Guzzi Stelvio
I will be posting pics and comments along the way at the following link in case anyone wants to come along for the ride virtually. You can click on the pics at that link to read comments...
DeLand to Savannah on a Guzzi Stelvio
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Changing brake pads with Kid Guzzi
Today kids were are going to swap out the rear brake pads on the Moto Guzzi Stelvio.
This is a simple affair and should take no more than 20 minutes.
First remove the two bolts holding the rear brake caliper in place.
Then slide the caliper to the rear and off of the brake rotor(disc).
Next remove the small circlip off the end of the brake pad retention pin. Using a punch or similar and a hammer tap the pin out.
The old brake pads can now be removed and inspected. At this time you might also delight in their inherent goodness and praise them for keeping you safe lo these many miles. Put them in your scrapbook of life as I always do.
Now depress the brake pistons so that the new brake pads, which are thicker than the worn old ones, will fit around the brake rotor when you reinstall the caliper.
Slide the two new brake pads into place. Reinsert the retention pin. I put a bit of anti-seize on the pin to make reinsertion a bit easier.
Make certain once you have driven the retention pin in place that you replace the circlip so that it stays in place.
Slide the caliper over the rotor. Replace and tighten the two bolts affixing the caliper to the motorcycle.
Depress the rear brake pedal several times until it is firm. This pushes the previously depressed pistons back up against the brake pad backing and up near the brake rotor.
Road test and delight in your new braking power.
Click the pics to ENLARGE
This is a simple affair and should take no more than 20 minutes.
First remove the two bolts holding the rear brake caliper in place.
Then slide the caliper to the rear and off of the brake rotor(disc).
Next remove the small circlip off the end of the brake pad retention pin. Using a punch or similar and a hammer tap the pin out.
The old brake pads can now be removed and inspected. At this time you might also delight in their inherent goodness and praise them for keeping you safe lo these many miles. Put them in your scrapbook of life as I always do.
Now depress the brake pistons so that the new brake pads, which are thicker than the worn old ones, will fit around the brake rotor when you reinstall the caliper.
Slide the two new brake pads into place. Reinsert the retention pin. I put a bit of anti-seize on the pin to make reinsertion a bit easier.
Make certain once you have driven the retention pin in place that you replace the circlip so that it stays in place.
Slide the caliper over the rotor. Replace and tighten the two bolts affixing the caliper to the motorcycle.
Depress the rear brake pedal several times until it is firm. This pushes the previously depressed pistons back up against the brake pad backing and up near the brake rotor.
Road test and delight in your new braking power.
Click the pics to ENLARGE
Monday, October 3, 2011
Savannah bound
In 2-3 weeks I will be heading north to Savannah, GA on the Moto Guzzi Stelvio with a couple pals to meet up with several more pals.
We'll be taking all backroads/state highways up in lieu of the interstate highways. Looks like we will primarily be on SR 17 almost all the way (~260 miles), so it will be an easy and enjoyable ride.
We'll be staying at a neat retro motel called the Thunderbird Inn in downtown Savannah. This will allow us to set out on foot in the evenings to explore Savannah, widely regarded as America's most haunted city. Of particular interest to me will be the haunted Moon River Brewing Co.
In preparation for the trip I purchased a new, larger "touring" windscreen for the Stelvio. This should give me a little more coverage than the stock windscreen (pics of both below).
Anyway am looking forward to getting out for a long-ish ride, exploring the Southeast USA by bike and hanging out with my motorcycling chums again.
We'll be taking all backroads/state highways up in lieu of the interstate highways. Looks like we will primarily be on SR 17 almost all the way (~260 miles), so it will be an easy and enjoyable ride.
We'll be staying at a neat retro motel called the Thunderbird Inn in downtown Savannah. This will allow us to set out on foot in the evenings to explore Savannah, widely regarded as America's most haunted city. Of particular interest to me will be the haunted Moon River Brewing Co.
In preparation for the trip I purchased a new, larger "touring" windscreen for the Stelvio. This should give me a little more coverage than the stock windscreen (pics of both below).
Anyway am looking forward to getting out for a long-ish ride, exploring the Southeast USA by bike and hanging out with my motorcycling chums again.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Teutonic Terror and Italian Stallion Ride Again
This fine Saturday in Florida I took advantage of the nice mid 80 degree day to get out for a motorcycle ride with my friend Andrew. Andrew recently got a new (to him) BMW K1300GT. I call it the Teutonic Terror as it is from Germany and it is FAST. I rode my Moto Guzzi Stelvio, aka the Italian Stallion, which is no slouch either.
We started off by taking the back route to PCS Daytona, a motorcycle shop that is doing some engine work on my 2002 Moto Guzzi LeMans. They are installing new piston rings and valve seals as the left cylinder has lost some compression due to a faulty fuel pump, which caused overly lean running and overheated the cylinder, At least that's the theory.
After that we stopped by the Helmet Shop in Daytona, where I bought a new motorcycle jacket. My old jacket had seen many tens of thousands of miles of use and it was just time for a new one. The new one includes both a removable rain liner and quilted liner for warmth so it will be good for year round use here in Florida.
Next we headed to coastal highway A1A and rode it up to St. Augustine, where we stopped for lunch at A1A Ale Works. Anyone who has been to St. Augustine knows the challenge of finding a parking space. It is usually a nightmare. Not so on the motorcycle! As we entered town Andrew spied a pedestrian walkway/alley with a bunch of mopeds parked in it. So naturally, we pulled in and joined the mopeds! No more than 30 yards or so from A1A Ale Works...awesome!
Speaking of A1A Ale Works, they have awesome beer brewed on site and their food is great too.
After a great lunch we took State Road 11 back down towards DeLand. It is a very lightly trafficked 2 lane highway and you can really open it up on the bikes. Really a load of fun!
CLICK THE PICS TO ENLARGE
We started off by taking the back route to PCS Daytona, a motorcycle shop that is doing some engine work on my 2002 Moto Guzzi LeMans. They are installing new piston rings and valve seals as the left cylinder has lost some compression due to a faulty fuel pump, which caused overly lean running and overheated the cylinder, At least that's the theory.
After that we stopped by the Helmet Shop in Daytona, where I bought a new motorcycle jacket. My old jacket had seen many tens of thousands of miles of use and it was just time for a new one. The new one includes both a removable rain liner and quilted liner for warmth so it will be good for year round use here in Florida.
Next we headed to coastal highway A1A and rode it up to St. Augustine, where we stopped for lunch at A1A Ale Works. Anyone who has been to St. Augustine knows the challenge of finding a parking space. It is usually a nightmare. Not so on the motorcycle! As we entered town Andrew spied a pedestrian walkway/alley with a bunch of mopeds parked in it. So naturally, we pulled in and joined the mopeds! No more than 30 yards or so from A1A Ale Works...awesome!
Speaking of A1A Ale Works, they have awesome beer brewed on site and their food is great too.
After a great lunch we took State Road 11 back down towards DeLand. It is a very lightly trafficked 2 lane highway and you can really open it up on the bikes. Really a load of fun!
CLICK THE PICS TO ENLARGE
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Ocean smackdown
Sunday I took a trip to Port Orange, FL to meet up with my friends Andrew, Jayne, Carl, Teener and their kids. With Hurricane Katia churning away several hundred miles off the coast we were feeling its effects in increased wave intensity/activity.
Andrew had his new underwater camera case and was taking some snapshots. He caught several of me having my butt handed to me by the power of the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
Andrew had his new underwater camera case and was taking some snapshots. He caught several of me having my butt handed to me by the power of the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A tale of two horns
As a motorcyclist, I am vigilant about the hazards around, which could easily do me harm or worse yet accelerate my voyage to being buried under 6 feet of terra firma.
I speak mostly about other vehicles...cars, trucks, etc. that may not see me as readily because a motorcycle is comparatively small.
With that in mind I was lucky enough to be given something by my pal Andrew which will help to make my presence known...a FIAMM horn!
The horn which was delivered on my Guzzi Stelvio is a rather anemic sounding little chirper. I'd be surprised if another vehicle could even hear it.
The FIAMM on the other hand is much more bold and brash.
So this morning I swapped the horns and here are little vid clips displaying the difference in their tooting power :)
Stock horn
FIAMM horn
I speak mostly about other vehicles...cars, trucks, etc. that may not see me as readily because a motorcycle is comparatively small.
With that in mind I was lucky enough to be given something by my pal Andrew which will help to make my presence known...a FIAMM horn!
The horn which was delivered on my Guzzi Stelvio is a rather anemic sounding little chirper. I'd be surprised if another vehicle could even hear it.
The FIAMM on the other hand is much more bold and brash.
So this morning I swapped the horns and here are little vid clips displaying the difference in their tooting power :)
Stock horn
FIAMM horn
Sunday, August 14, 2011
1986 ALFA Romeo Spider Graduate - 25 years old
Well just a few pics of my little Spider after I gave her a washing today. She still looks pretty good. One of these days I need to give her a new paint job, back to the original ALFA Romeo red.
Here's a link to all the pics on Facebook
Here's a link to all the pics on Facebook
Saturday, August 13, 2011
2011 Guzzi Beach Bash pictures
I rode down to Melbourne Beach on my Moto Guzzi Stelvio today to attend the Annual Moto Guzzi Beach Bash. A pretty good turnout with about 25 bikes or so I guess.
Here are a few pics. Click the pics to enlarge them.
Here are a few pics. Click the pics to enlarge them.
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