Leo's Compressor Guzzi on Bike Exif

Really chuffed to have Leo's Guzzi Falcone Compressor up on Bike Exif. Deservedly so, because it's a masterpiece - well done Leo for building such a fantastic machine and well done Ian for the excellent photography and words.

See the bike here on Bike Exif, then go and buy the brand new Issue Three with the bike in here

Reggio Emilia mostra scambio

My father-in-law Alfonso was at Reggio Emila mostra scambio (autojumble/swap meet) yesterday, and sent me some photos. I first went to Reggio Emila 20 years ago on my Guzzi S3 while I was living in Italy, and it was, in those days, smallish, friendly and lots of stuff to see. Now it's bigger, still lots of stuff to see, but all of it expensive, but it still retains the best atmosphere for any Italian mostra scambio, and I miss being able to go there for the day - and wander about rummaging through boxes of oily stuff and eating gnocco fritto - terribly.

 Thanks Alfonso!!

Moto Guzzi Falcone - Supercharged

This is Leo and his extraordinary Guzzi Falcone 500c compressor cafe' racer - it eats pistons like spaghetti and can be unpredictable like Sophia Loren in a huff but it's a work of motorcycling and technical art.

Full feature in the new Issue Three, out right now!

Issue Three posted out today to subscribers - and a message from the Ed

Issue Three finally in stock!!

Finally, after more delay at the printers, Issue Three is here, in my hands, and it's looking good.

Subscribers' issues will be going out first, in the next couple of days. If you'd like to buy a copy, you can get it here

More on what's in it very soon...

Knee down scraping action on the Baines Imola Ducati 900

This bike handles like the proverbial train on rails, as its owner Nick shows, and those pipes make a sound made in heaven. This is Baines Imola number 001 - full feature in Issue Four, coming up in a couple of months...

Happy 90th Birthday - Buon Compleanno - MOTO GUZZI

I love my Moto Guzzis, and I'm very happy to know that Moto Guzzi is 90 years old today. Can't be many manufacturers still around that are still producing bikes after almost a century. Here's how it began on the 15th March 1921:

On 15 March 1921, in the office of notary public Paolo Cassanello, the “Società Anonima Moto Guzzi" company was established in Genoa, for the "manufacture and sale of motorcycles and all other related activity in the metalworking industry". The partners setting up the new enterprise were Emanuele Vittorio Parodi, a well-known Genoese shipowner, his son Giorgio and his friend Carlo Guzzi; Parodi and Guzzi had served in the Italian Air Force together with Brescia-born Giovanni Ravelli, a pilot killed on 11 August 1919 during a test flight and remembered by the founding partners with the winged eagle, the symbol chosen for the new company and soon to become famous all over the world as the Moto Guzzi emblem.

Treat 'em mean

Spent a great day yesterday with Nick and his fabulous Baines Ducati Imola, the first one made, and his rather lovely 944 Superlight. The Baines Imola is a stunning bike to ride fast, and as good as I hoped it would be, encouraged by Nick who told me to redline it whenever possible - easier said than done.
Nick likes to ride rather than polish his Ducatis, though burning rubber is always optional. Thanks Nick!!

More on Nick's Baines Imola in Issue Four of the mag..

Pure Energy

I miss and remember the days when I had vital energy like this - just fucking fantastic

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Love getting stickers in the post!

Because I barely ever get anything nice in the mail apart from the usual bills and junk mail crap, it really made my morning to get Pete's latest stickers - they'll be going on my toolbox this weekend. About time I got some stickers made up too, been thinking about it for a year at least..

Send him a photo of your bike/project and he'll send you a sticker, you can't go wrong! Thanks Pete!
Check out his great blog Eat The Rich UK here

Zaeta by Kustom Garage

Seen on the always excellent Bike Exif here:

Zaeta by Kustom Garage

Laverda SF 750 motor anyone?

Spotted on Italian Ebay - sat outside for 30 years apparently. Starting price 800 euro...place your bids here

Issue Three on its way - at last!

At last, Issue Three is done and dusted and at the printers....more details soon.....

More shed shame

This is my old shed which was conveniently a few minutes down the road from where I live. It was basically the end of a long cow shed, and I had just moved house so it was chaos. I think that was the first time in 20 years I didn't have a working motorcycle on the road. I didn't stay there long - didn't feel safe and the farmer (read millionaire) who I paid my rent to was odd and dishonest, but that's another story.

In the first pic there's my 750 S3 unceremoniously squashed in a corner, with my Yamaha XT600 Tenere that I last rode when I was in Italy about 6 years ago! Next to that a T3 Cali that had gearbox issues, and in the foreground a loop frame V7 700 that I had for a few months. In the second shot that's a Guzzi Stornello Scrambler 125 on the right (used to ride that round London for a while), next to a 1950 Gilera 150 that I restored in Italy years ago but have never ridden. At the end is my Le Mans 2 Special - not one of these bikes was working, though the T3 Cali now does sterling service, at least it did up until about October, since when it's been sitting outside my house. It's simply been too cold here for me, but now it's time to charge the battery and get riding. I've become a fair weather rider, something I reckoned I'd never be...I'm also a skinflint so happy to say I didn't pay more than a grand for any of the bikes pictured, a couple were even free (maybe that's why they don't go?).

Helmet to suit you sir

My mate Jay forwarded these on to me. Can you actually buy them? I'd go for the water melon meself, or would that be the walnut?