New pope demonstrates great taste in cars

[Boris Bajic]

Careful. Some of the contemporary Guzzi's are the very opposite of what you want.

No... a proper Guzzi..... V7 or T-3 or (in extremis) a V50.

I think the T-3 Cali would be a good Popemobike, but for all those parades and drive-by things (maybe the wrong expression) he could even use one of those wonderful old SP1000 Convert slushbox jobs..... Gorgeous.... Like a Goldwing, but for people with taste.

Then the old Pope could pop round (I bet he does) and say stuff like "Venn I vas Pope, I did nott heff zeez sings!"

And the New Pope (the cool Pope) could say "No, you had a Tiger IV you forking Nazi scum!"

And then they would laugh and slap each other on the back as only two living Popes can.

Do I win the prize for the first mention of Hitler (or those associated with his regime)?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A Hydro-convert with footboards? You sir are a genius. It is the perfect Popemobike for Francis I

I was going to say a Spada (but mine was pants, the electrics were possessed, as they were on my V50)

 

[Noodley]

I would love one.

Become the next pope

 

[Boris Bajic]

A Hydro-convert with footboards? You sir are a genius. It is the perfect Popemobike for Francis I

I was going to say a Spada (but mine was pants, the electrics were possessed, as they were on my V50)

1. He is the bloody Pope for God's sake!!. A little possession in his electrical system would really not be a big deal for him. That's what Popes do!!!!!
2. You have mistaken character for a series of electrical faults. They are not faults. Even at midnight on a cold, wet November petrol station 40 miles from home, it is character. When you can't feel your fingers to check the wiring... it is character.
3. I am starting to want to be a Pope and to ride around on a motorcycle that does 60mph at about 500rpm in top. Dukka-Dukka-Duikka-Dukka...
4. Not the Pope bit, just that proper, old slight lift at the rear as you drop the clutch and that impossibly fluid delivery when everyone else seems to be revving the limiter off just to keep up.
5. And the brake pedal that just sort of calms the whole thing down and makes the frame and suspension behave themselves from any speed and into any bend.
6. Guzzi and Bisto are similar in one way: Aaaaaaaaaaah....

Sorry, was I interrupting?

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Please continue . I'm really enjoying this thread. I'd like to see the Pope on a bike: I'm sure even His Holiness needs exercise.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You have mistaken character for a series of electrical faults. They are not faults. Even at midnight on a cold, wet November petrol station 40 miles from home, it is character. When you can't feel your fingers to check the wiring... it is character.


Sorry, was I interrupting?

When the collected rain water in the sealed ignition lock, situated atop the steering yolk, causes the ignition to cut out and in and out and in as you carve a roundabout looking to go straight on, this rendering your 500cc V twin a 250 single and your 1000 V twin a 500 single (because each chuffin' cylinder has a separate ignition circuit - like that's the solution the dolts) and when the unburnt fuel then ignites and shoots flames from out of the relevant exhaust when the ignition cuts in its not character...






.... its a fault. A design fault. An execution fault. An electrical fault.

I rewired both, warranty repair refused both times, and used a KH?175? lock in both cases. Worked fine.

And I'd buy a Mk II Lemon again tomorrow if the lovely Helen would not leave me as a result.

 

[vernon]

A Hydro-convert with footboards? You sir are a genius. It is the perfect Popemobike for Francis I

I was going to say a Spada (but mine was pants, the electrics were possessed, as they were on my V50)

V50 electrics

The nightmares I had with their frailty. All I had to was sprinkle some salt on my chips in the kitchen and the wiring would rush headlong towards converting itself to green dust overnight in the garage. Having live feeds all componentry and operating them by earthing them out didn't help.

Mind you when it did run it delivered more smiles per mile than any other motorbike that I have owned before or since.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

V50 electrics

The nightmares I had with their frailty. All I had to was sprinkle some salt on my chips in the kitchen and the wiring would rush headlong towards converting itself to green dust overnight in the garage. Having live feeds all componentry and operating them by earthing them out didn't help.

Mind you when it did run it delivered more smiles per mile than any other motorbike that I have owned before or since.

^ this x 1,000,000

I've had three, brand new V50 MkII which cost mne more to insure over three years than it cost to buy, two year old V50 Monza that got stolen, sob sob, and a 20 year old Mk II later in life. The most chuckable, twistable, foot peg grinding, full throttle thrashable, get up at 03:00 on a morning and do 200 miles before work just for the sheer joy of riding it, grin inducing motor cycles I've ever owned long term. But so chuffin' unreliable. Dodgy electrics, poor quality oil seals on the shaft drive, fragile gearbox castings, horrendous non-existent warranty backup and ludicrously expensive spare parts. Cult classis today. There are roads in Wales that were built for a V50, along with stretches of the A272 that are now 40mph and 30 mph zones, and when I drive of cycle them these days I still think "It's that corner" and "here's that bend". Happy days.

for fun ime Morini 3 1/2 Sport runs 'em close, as does a Lemon Mk II.

 

[tyred]

Become the next pope

What qualifications do I need?

 

[vernon]

^ this x 1,000,000
for fun ime Morini 3 1/2 Sport runs 'em close, as does a Lemon Mk II.

I am actively considering several cunning plans to acquire a Morini 3 1/2 or a V50 involving storage at a remote location and a willing 80 year old co-conspirator.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

What qualifications do I need?

Are you a perv?

 

[Boris Bajic]

I am actively considering several cunning plans to acquire a Morini 3 1/2 or a V50 involving storage at a remote location and a willing 80 year old co-conspirator.

My daughter has expressed a wish to acquire and restore an old Morini I have at the back of the garage: It's an 'artillery wheel' 3 1/2 Sport with a big-valve 500 motor, kick start, absurdly oversized Dellortos and original 2-into-2 Lanfranconis with much of the bafflery removed.

I once rode a MkIII lemon (the ugly one) but I just wasn't tall or strong enough to make it do anything clever.

The Morini used to say "Bokka-bokka-bokka-bokka" and it rolled on and off the throttle like an avalanche at that point when you suddenly see that it means business.

I don't suppose it ever chucked out much more than 40bhp, but a more stimulating ride one has difficulty imagining.

I've just realised that the hairs on my neck have gone a bit tingly - and I haven't touched that bike for twenty years.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

My daughter has expressed a wish to acquire and restore an old Morini I have at the back of the garage: It's an 'artillery wheel' 3 1/2 Sport with a big-valve 500 motor, kick start, absurdly oversized Dellortos and original 2-into-2 Lanfranconis with much of the bafflery removed.

I once rode a MkIII lemon (the ugly one) but I just wasn't tall or strong enough to make it do anything clever.

The Morini used to say "Bokka-bokka-bokka-bokka" and it rolled on and off the throttle like an avalanche at that point when you suddenly see that it means business.

I don't suppose it ever chucked out much more than 40bhp, but a more stimulating ride one has difficulty imagining.

I've just realised that the hairs on my neck have gone a bit tingly - and I haven't touched that bike for twenty years.

output means diddly; power-to-weight ratio and the ability to lay that power down is what counts imo.

And watch out for those Dellortos. They'll suck children and their buggies into the motor and wreck it.

 

[Boris Bajic]

So what are we really saying here?

The traditions are dodgy, the liturgy questionable and the stance on contraception unforgivable, but if we could get the Pope to bumble about on a old big-cube Guzzi with footboards and an auto box, we might cut the Catholic Church a little slack?

I think I could live with that.

But put hate preacher Abu Qatada on an M1 Yamaha and I still think he's a looney-tunes hatebasket with serious emotional issues.

That is just how I see things.

 

[ComedyPilot]

If he wanted to be true to his 'humble roots' then why has he bought a car?

Surely riding an ass, or walking is more humble and appropriate?