Roy's Bikes, Biken' Stories, & Adventures

Thanks for visiting
 

Some of my real job and work is combined with my Motorcycle passions. That makes life a little more FUN.   

In '96 I created and ran the original version of the MGNOC website (Moto Guzzi National Owners Club).  After a few years that volunteer duty passed on - and on - and on to several others.  

I also started the MGCL (Moto Guzzi Correspondence List) and it's associated web in 1996.  Here it is 2008 and the MGCL is still running and has over 900 subscribers world wide.  Web work and Moto Guzzi - what a life.  I just wish it paid like a real job!

 I started riding dirt bike motorcycles at 14 yrs old, in 1970 on an beat up used Yamaha 100 trail bike. 

I eventually, got a brand new Harley Super Glide in 1976 (the bowling ball years for HD), For 6 months it was my soul transportation, it was a very cool looking ride.  But as a motorcycle - well, it sucked. Broke down lots, parts vibrated off all the time, had no power, bad brakes, no suspension, etc.  Hell, it could barely spin the rear tire !  I floated the lifters once when the speedo said 103.  I doubt it was actually doing more than 85 or 90mph.

Needless to say I sold the Harley before the year was out.  I took that money and bought a '54 Chevy pickup and a Non-Running Moto Guzzi Ambassador 750 found in a barn - really.

I've been riding that 1970 Moto Guzzi Ambassador (see right side of page), since finding it in a barn covered in pigeon dung.  It was sitting there looking ugly as ever with the right hand cylinder half apart showing the burned up  siding- as if the last rider ran it out of oil.  Bought it for $400.00. 

I had to rebuild that cylinder and did the other at the same time.  When we got it apart the cylinder walls had big gouges in it from broken ring pieces.  I didn't know how to find Guzzi parts and ended up using VW Pistons with lots of help from a mechanically inclined type friend.  That was in 1977.  Over the next years I replaced this and that, rebuilt this and that.  I now have a completely new engine rebuilt up to a 1000cc (1998), the old Ambo is still running strong and is nicknamed Ambo W/Attitude. 

In '99 I bought a '98 Moto Guzzi EV 1100 as a wreck from a motorcycle salvage yard.  Had a good time resurrecting it.  Read about the "Twisted Sister" Moto Guzzi resurrection at right.

In '2000  I bought a '80 Honda GoldWing.  I have bought and sold several motorcycles through the years.  One of the more unique bikes I've owned "twice", is a '77 Moto Guzzi Convert - Auto shifter!  Very cool.  I still "commute" on my motorcycles regularly - rain or shine. (2006).

 My old shop, was so organized and easy to use. 

 Today's shop is smaller, much less organized and I have gotten ride of most extra parts. 

'Course you know as soon as you get rid of something you end up needing just that very part ! 

In 2002 I got to scratch a 5 year wild itch for a Moto Guzzi Centauro.  What an AWESOME machine this was.  Click on the picture link below for the full story about this Italian Stallion. 

Late in 2002 I Traded the Centauro and got another bike I'd been drooling over for the past 10 years - a Honda ST1100  Sport Touring Machine.  This bike is a perfect all around do it all Motorcycle.  Has become my main commuter and Long Distance Ride.  See the Picture below for a link to the full story.

My sweetheart Dulane, passed her Motorcycle drivers license exam this year (2002), and bought herself a beautiful 1981 Honda 400 Automatic.  Bike had just over 3,000 miles on it.  Mint condition - Great Find.  We have been really enjoying riding together and have ridden through out the seasons thus far.

UPDATE:  Dulane now rides a 83' Yamaha 750 Virago.  4 speeds, Tons more power than the Honda 400 and lots of style to boot. 

I can't believe it, but I actually sold the Ambo w/Attitude after owning it for 30 years.

I was so broken hearted I found a '74 Eldorado to ride for a short time, but sold it shortly after fixing it up pretty nice.  What a treasure this bike was!  I still have the ST1100 because I use it for commuting and biken' pleasure.  I can't afford nor do I have the space to keep all these great motorcycles.  In order for me to experience owning and riding them, I tend to buy one, ride and fix it up some and eventually resell it so I can go on and buy something else.  I'm a poor mans collector.

Travel Stories

Moto Guzzi National Rally 1999   New Mexico "Roy and Greg's loop frame adventure"
Greg on his Eldorado and me on the Ambo w/Attitude

Moto Guzzi National Rally 2000  Virginia and the Blue Ridge Parkway  (For me a dream trip come true - On a fantastic loaned fresh restoration '74 Eldorado)

Moto Guzzi National Rally 2001  Grass Valley California
Another adventure on the Ambo w/Attitude

Moto Guzzi National Rally 2003, Mt Vernon Washington
My local Guzzi Club is hosting this rally, so I imagine this one will be more work than play 

Moto Guzzi Ambassador
"750/1000
Dinosaur with an Attitude" 
It's a real "cosmopolitan" motorcycle.  

Moto Guzzi V 1000cc engine, 850 cam, lightened flywheel, 850 heads, 5 speed trans, 850 front end, dual disk brakes, 850 rear drive w/cush, air shocks, hotter coil & plugs, bosch starter, police bars w/extensions,

VW battery, 34mm Carbs w/K&N filters,

Big front and rear tires, custom seat, handlebar risers/setbacks, oil gauge, volt meter, windscreen, rear air shocks, onboard air compressor, fish tails, and a real custom red on pearl  with a 9 faces Santana impression mural paint job done in 1980!

Ownership: 1976 - 2008
Sold it in 2008 in a moment of weakness

Roy & Dee on a Full Moon in August.
Vamps, just a couple '0 Vamps.
 

I had a '98 EV for nearly 2 years. 

You might enjoy reading about the Resurrection of a "Totaled" '98 Moto Guzzi EV affectionately called the "TwistedSister".  I finished working on it and rode it for about a year before selling it in 2000' to a fella from Norway who traveled the USA on it with a buddy of his on a Harley - but that, again, is another story.

Brief Encounter with a Moto Guzzi Lario.  2001

I have collected some pics and a little story to read - click the pic.

My son Josh talked me out of the Lario.  He did a marvelous job restoring it.

 '98 Moto Guzzi Centauro

2002 was the year I enjoyed a Centauro.  What an exciting bike! Click Centauro Picture for a story about my experience with the most awesome Moto Guzzi produced in years.  It ain't a daily rider, but it sure is a sexy mistress.

'77 Moto Guzzi Convert

  
This was the Guzzi Automatic.  Very reliable, easy starting and easy riding motorcycle.  Never gave me any problems, just smiles.  I owed this bike twice - once in 1997 and again in 1999

'80 Honda GoldWing

 Old Reliable Commuter and probably the most comfortable, easy and relaxing ride I've ever owned.  Click the picture for "the rest of the story" or  Goldwing stuff

'97 Honda ST1100

Honda's best kept secret is out.

The ST1100 series is the most complete Sport Touring motorcycle ever built.  My current commuter & long distance traveler.  I've Owned this bike from 2002 and still own it as of now - 2008.  Click to read more STuff (Honda ST1100) or Click the picture for "the rest of the story".

March 2008 I purchased the most sought after Classic Moto Guzzi ever built.

1974 LAPD Eldorado 850.
 

Click the picture for "the rest of the story".

My "Current" 2001-2008 adventure machine is a Trike named "SpiT-fire"   

ST1100 4-cylinder "motorcycle" with a VW front Axle sporting 2 side by side seats.  Pretty Unique.  A Sport Trike if you will.
Click to see the SpiT-Fire Trike Story

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That is it for Motorcycles & Trikes.  But, we do have another interesting hobby - or Passion.  Doing our part to help the environment and personal economy, we run Bio-Diesel B-100 in our Diesel vehicles with 4 wheels. 

In addition we have begun a new hobby doing SVO Conversion Kits to take that Bio-Diesel to the final phase where you can run Straight Vegetable Oil for fuel. 

YES, you can pour waste veggie oil from your local restaurant into the fuel tank and drive for the same mileage - only the fuel is like - dang near FREE!  See details at:

www.Grease4Fuel.com 

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We also made a living statement to help the environment and our economy by building a custom Cedar Log house with many environmental friendly features.  If interested go see the SPIDERHOLLOW web site.

Dulane (Dee), is now riding a shifting Yamaha Virago.  The story is: Dulane's daughter Sonya just got her bikers license and is learning on Dee's HondaMatic - but she purchased this Yamaha to ride when she is ready.  Learn first on the Honda, then they will swap bikes back.  Dee owned this bike from 2004 to 2008

Well, meantime Sonya bought a Suzuki 550, Then a 1996 Virago so Dee got the '82 Virago back and we have been riding together on motorcycles for 6 years.

We were going to sell the Virago, but Dee pulled the AD at the first bite of a sale - just couldn't let it go -yet.  She wants to ride it a few more times, but arthritis is making riding the Virago not such a pleasant experience any longer.  I assume we will eventually be selling the Virago.  Meantime, here are some good 1982 Yamaha Virago Pictures.

Dee's Honda 400 In Action

 
(Dee's first bike 2002-2004)