Modern Vespa

I haven't disassembled the heads yet. I did fill the combustion chambers with water. Both intake valves are leaking down. The leak on the front head is big. The leak on the rear head is small. I'm hopeful that I can lap the valves and seats to get them sealed.

Had a few extra minutes this morning and stopped at the lake before work. It's always good for setting the mood for the day.

Not the adventure you were looking for.

Funny how having a misfortune that's far better than the worst is somehow elating.

I was going to make a sparky remark about you looking scary, but c'mon. It's sad no one stopped even with you on your back. And the heat! One of our guys had trouble with his ignition wire had another event on his solo ride home. Lying on his back trying to snug it up a nurse slammed on the brakes ready to resuscitate him! 🤣

Hope you can get back on the road soon.

You've got a big debt with your sister.

A different adventure, for sure. 😆

I disassembled the heads today. I dropped a valve seat and broke a valve guide. So I'll need a few parts and some machine shop labor. Still, I'm getting off cheap compared to my worst case fears.

In defence of those that didn't stop, they may have assumed you'd pulled over to take a break.

In defence of the tow company trying to scalp someone stuck in the desert for $1,850.. guilty as charged your honour!

Hey, you were lucky, my sister would've left me! 😆

Bike show today…

But do they have an HP?

I hope economics is not deemed politics otherwise my appologies and ofcourse delete.

Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has shared his view on what to do in the current economic uncertainty: The best framework is to continue as we are with the world -1.

Cheered me up big time.

and then of course the tomato below with the text: If you do not want to oxidise; eat tomato!

Nice bike……nice Plate!

Your BMW is as long as my chopper! That's a big machine. 🙂

I like that head protector on the rocker cover. 👍

Been working a lot at the old house. Taking half a day for some fun.

Woke up to an email from Tamarit.

Bike's headed to the US soon. Got some photos. It's their creation so I don't want to jump the gun but if you follow them, #167 is mine. Anticipating pickup in October.

About a month ago I updated my iPhone from the XR to the 16E. I haven't dug into a whole lot because I've been busy and I just simply do what I do with my phone.

This morning I was taking the trash out and the sky looked kinda cool, as it often does. I pulled my phone out and snapped this pic.

I noticed that it adjusted the "shutter speed" for the low light situation. It counted down at least three seconds. I figured that holding the phone in my hand that long while taking a low light shot would suck ... but it really didn't.

Not only is the light compensation awfully good, it also did a nice job of image stabilization / correction. The results are more than I'd hoped for from the cheaper iPhone camera. I can see the individual stars quite well and even the crescent of the moon. Totally unexpected.

CASCHIND's experience in the desert brought back memories of an unexpected halt while riding in the US.
This was in 1992, my wife and I left Auckland, took our bike gear-helmets etc.- to LA and stayed with a friend in Culver City- a couple of minutes from Venice Beach ( another story ) Two days later we had purchased a Harley complete with bags and touring gear. I had Bartels fit some decent shocks and fork springs-plus-a Harley puncture repair kit which featured a connection that went from the once removed spark-plug to the tyre valve-then Hey Presto-crank the motor a few times and the tyre was inflated . Hmmm. My friend-BMW mounted-lead the way up the Pacific Coast Hwy and at a point we turned off into some hills and a Redwood forest. Brilliant riding and great warm weather. After a few hours, we were at the top of a rise and surrounded by forest when the bike felt decidedly wobbly, we had picked-up a nail in the back tyre .
Not to worry, my precaution re; the repair kit would soon have us back on the road...nail removed, rubber bung inserted, rear spark plug removed, Harley adaptor fitted ..WHA the!@#&! It split apart! I was left with the piece in my hand and the threaded other half stuck in the plughole
Not only did I have a flat, I had a bike with a hole where the plug should be.
My friend reckoned there was a town, maybe a couple of hours away on the other side of the ranges, where he could get an EASYOUT to remove the bust adaptor.
We were left, in the small lay-bye with the forest behind a low fence.
Some time passed, then a car appeared, slowed down and the driver called out "Are you guys ok" -'Yes thanks" More time-same thing. Then an old pick-up with a heavily bearded 'mountain man' called out 'you'll need this' and
handed over a half gallon water bottle. The funny part was when my wife- requiring relief from the effects of the water,-climbed over the fence to go behind a tree-a car pulled over, the gentleman looked out asked the usual,
then added " is that your lady?..I'll wait 'til she comes over'..'Excuse me mam, y'gotta be careful...there's rattlers in there !
Lovely people.

PS. We fixed the bike, had a great trip-so much so, left our bike with my friend, came back the next year and carried on enjoying the ride.

Cheering me up? Um..
I think I can save my wife's scooter! (2024 Piaggio BV 400 HPE):working it; 😀💪
Oh!:And she made Croissant wrapped hot dogs & baked beans tonight! 😀

Happy i don't need to check my gear oil

POV when your bike stalls* mid corner and you gently touch the brake lever as you bring the bike vertical and press the starter and ride on without lifting your feet off the floorboards.

* Yes It popped the engine light when it did

Happy that this is available again after a long hiatus at Costco.

It's cheering me up immensely that ferocious mythological Beasts are finally being permitted inside my local small-town public library.

I have finished up everything I can do to put my old engine back together. I'm waiting for new piston rings and for the machine shop to finish up with the valve job on my heads.

The new primary drive has been installed. This involved moving the transmission forward about 1/2". I also installed a new final drive chain. The cylinders are honed and ready for the new rings.

Knocking out all these tasks has cheered me up!

Okay I cropped a photo so I can at least share a teaser.

Keep that Pan rolling, it has a lot more miles to go and so do you.

Yesterday's afternoon thunderstorm with three inch hailstones missed our house by a full ten miles.....this time.

Saw the new GTV in Green Tenace today when I was in the store (picking up my new fuel pump).

Fuck that is seriously beautiful 🛵❤️

Would look perfect parked in the Aussie bush 🤣

I'm not enamored with the Orange stripes, helps with visibility but clashes painfully with the green IMHO

But have you seen it in person? So much better in the flesh

I don't know whether it's more appropriate to put this here or the "other" thread.

I got my new Cuppini rack installed yesterday. I'm cheered that it's done. I'm cheered that it arrived so quickly. I an UN-cheered at the fact that I literally had to cut about 1/4 off each of the inside mount tabs in order for it to fit under the tub properly.

I am getting so tired of items that are made specifically for my vehicle not fitting without some sort of modification. The BBQ rack for my Stella required the purchase of the correct mounting plate elsewhere, the front rack for my Stella had to be sent back, the windshield for the Sprint is a pile of manufacturing garbage and now this rack had to be cut down to fit. This seems to be the norm anymore rather than the exception.

What makes me happy is my wife was there with me to keep me from screaming and throwing tools and ultimately it's mounted and looks good.

Alas not yet, I will look to rectify that soon and be open minded on whether seeing it in person will change my mind.

Went for a little ride this mid-morning along the coastline, nice out ( mid 80s). Plus when I got home my wife had made me a Pumpkin cupcake ! It's a good day !

Got a hidden hitch installed on the TDI so the cheap draw-tite can go away and no more scrapey on the driveway of the new place in CO. Bonus points, no more contact betwixt the hitch and exhaust causing terrible drone. Should make the drive back west a little quieter anyway.

Also got a quote from a local feller who will do all the wall repairs, paint, *AND* floors, and it's a lot less than I expected it would be (still not a small number, but substantially smaller than I was prepared for). Rumor has it (from the realtor listing the house who also recommended him) that he's willing to wait til close to get paid (mainly cause everything in our neighborhood is under contract within 2 weeks of listing) and while I've inquired and not heard back, that would immediately seal the deal of "do it all IDGAF" and I can load up and GTFO.

That's got me so excited I'm light-headed.

Agreed.....just not under an extended 2 tonne Eucalyptus branch eh

I've nearly got my old engine buttoned up. Just need to get the heads back from the machine shop so I can finish it and start riding again. New rings for the pistons and installed pistons/cylinders on the cases today.

You would think: what is difficult about it?
The dealer programs the responder in a blank key and copies the key and ready.
But it is a BMW key.

There is a whole procedure behind it starting with you having to prove your car is actually your car, you have to pay in advance and then finally that copy-key comes directly from the BMW factory.

That is why I did not yet order a copy, hoping the original second key will sooner or later show up

Did you find out why those valves touched each other?

Sexual tension?

Yes. It developed an air leak at the intake port that led to a very lean condition. This caused the combustion chamber temps to skyrocket leading to a dropped valve seat on the exhaust valve. This caused the exhaust valve to stick open slightly and the valve collision followed. A big chain reaction of events.

The thought of being able to ride my scooter soon!

Foie gras nutter butter.(Peanut butter shortbread cookies, cherry gelatin, foie gras in a white chocolate and peanut butter shell.