ADVENTURES IN GUZZILAND

The Avignon Motor Festival celebrates all powered vehicles, and is an understated, still-growing event, run over 3 days, with around 50,000 visitors.  Tanks, cars, boats, planes, trucks, tractors, farm equipment, and motorcycles; this year with a beyond-killer display of Moto Guzzis.  Production bikes from all years, plus factory racers from supercharged 250 singles to the glorious v8 of 1956.  Enjoy...

SUPER-SPORTS MOTORCYCLES IN FAR-OFF LANDS

Vintage motorcycles might seem fragile to our modern eyes, and most owners would be horrified to ride them off-road or on a poorly-paved surface, so it's good to be reminded just how rough was the young life of our beloved mount. Macadam paved roads were a rare exception in the 1920s; cobblestones (which help horses find purchase while hauling loads) were common in town centers, but the rest of the world was paved with what the world had to offer - dirt.


Even if you were a rich young man in 1930, the scion of a good family of merchants or cattle ranchers, and had the wherewithal to buy the most exotic and up-to-date machine (plus some natty kit to peacock for the ladies), you were still limited to riding on the infrastructure available, and your 100mph hotrod had to avoid children, cows, horses, chickens, automobiles, and unexpected hazards.

This pair of fine young gentlemen hailed from Brazil, and chose as their mounts two superb machines, a pair of 'four-valves' in fact; a 500cc Rudge Ulster and a Moto Guzzi 500S - that's a Corsa Quattro Valvole, a four-valve overhead camshaft racing machine, extremely rare then as now, and just about the most technically interesting motorcycle available in the late 1920s. Hand-built in Mandello del Lario, in far-away Italy, the Guzzi a remarkable choice of motorcycle for the dirt roads of Brazil. There are few people on the planet who would ride a C4V down rutted dirt roads today, yet this was the home of one such remarkable beast.


The Story; (Top photo) We've stopped for gas with our heroes before a ride to the countryside, in a clean and new town center, as a well-dressed population kibbitzes - what a variety of hats on display! Also note the rider's kit - leather coat with 'pop' collar, flying cap, aviator's goggles. Tres chic. (Second photo) Charming barefoot children at an impromptu cantina stop. All children love motorcycles - they simply Understand. (Third photo) A trap for the unwary! The Mighty Rut! (Last photo) Banging the plot back into shape after a nasty landing, post-flight; the local Brazilian army regiment watches. In a world without television, or even radio out in the countryside, a pair of super-sports motorcycles racketing noisily through the village were THE entertainment for the day.
And would still be, in truth, even here in cosmopolitan San Francisco. The question is, of course, where is that C4V today?

All photos copyright 2010 The Vintagent.

Piaggio Recalls Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 for Electrical Shorting Problem

Piaggio has issued a recall of certain 2007-2008 Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 motorcycle models equipped with Triom headlights, low beam bulb and headlight reflectors.

The headlight low beam bulb has a "pigtail" wire attached to it. This wire connects the low beam bulb to the motorcycle's wiring harness. It may touch the hardware used to secure the bulb in the reflector. Over time and vibration the insulation may wear through causing the direct short to ground.

646 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Motorcycle Road Tests Index

I just added 13 motorcycle road test entries to my Motorcycle Road Tests Index.

These give information about where you can find the actual motorcycle road tests in the major motorcycle magazines. Also given are links to online motorcycle road tests.

Check out the following links, just added:

2008 Models: H-D Rocker C, Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS, and Kawasaki KLR650

2007 Models: Benelli TnT 1130, BMW F800ST, Ducati 1098S, Ducati Multistrada 1100S, Kawasaki Z1000, KTM 450 EXC, Kymco Xciting 500, Moto Guzzi Norge 1200, Suzuki Bandit 1250S ABS, and Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Moto Guzzi Recalls 1044 EV Motorcycles for Fork Yoke Defect

Moto Guzzi has issued a recall of certain 2003-2004 EV motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles, the lower fork yoke could fail. A crack can form around the lower fork bearing.

1044 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Moto Guzzi Recalls 232 Griso Motorcycles for Fuel Pump Defect

Moto Guzzi has issued a recall of certain 2006-2007 Griso motorcycles.

On certain motorcycles, a fuel pump hose may swell and change dimensions, thereby loosening its fit around the fitting at the fuel pump. The fuel pressure could drop. This could cause erratic motor operation, difficulty in starting the vehicle or stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

232 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.