Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Jim, I just sold my LASER 100 so I'm coming into a little money. I think I have one of all the worthwhile Saitos. Two of some, two .65's two little .30's, two FA .40a's, two .56, two .62 etc.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Jim, I just sold my LASER 100 so I'm coming into a little money. I think I have one of most of my fave Saitos. Of course any Saito is a fave. Two of some, two .65's two little .30's, two FA .40a's, two .56, two .62 etc.

Jesse Open

Jesse Open

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

My neighbor in W.Va. rode a Bultaco 200, people used to scream at the MX officials when they would let him race in the so called 175 class, as a race starter I knew that the rule book said 126 or 151 to 200 I forget.. He was one of those guys who was graceful like a ballet dancer, he looked like he was going slow but was always nearly half the race track ahead of the second place guy. He was sneaky fast as they say.

acdii

I have plans for a B-17 from Jan Hermkins. It's 1/10th scale, and plans show a .40 2 stroke for power. What Saito with CDI would work to replace the 2 strokes? I'm thinking the FG-11 might do it, or the FG-14, but want to be sure before I start my acquisitions.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

The FG 11 has a bore increase of .03" over the Saito .62, (bore 1.03) to make a .66, (bore 1.06) it is a sweet running engine. I have one and I like it.

Here is what I wrote concerning the FG 11 on March the 8th of 2017:
Thanks Jim, and it works'

Saito FG 11
Prop===Xoar 13x6
Fuel===Gulf Gasoline, 89 octane ethanol free/Mercury Marine two stroke full synthetic compatible with water or air cooling@ 20 to 1.
Stock FG 11 Ignition=RCXL
95 minutes total run time, I ran the tank 1" lower than the first run, there was no difference in the running.

Max rpm stock muffler== 9,155
Max rpm Turbo Header==9,293
Idle RPM with both=2,150

High Speed needle is sensitive one click lean with stock muffler =9,100
One click lean with TH==9,240

The TH has that same deep throb as the glow engines.

That's it, it's a keeper.

acdii

Same here. Put it on my LT-40 after having it in my T-Clips. Problem i had was it is not strong enough to recover from a stall if it happens too low, so swapped it out with a .65(I think) glow. It is perfect for the LT though. Haven't flown the T-clips yet since I repaired it to see how well the new motor can pull it out of danger. I had stalled it with too high AOA like I normally do with my SSE, and wound up dropping a wing, and full throttle did little to get enough speed to pull out of it in time. I always felt it was a little under powered for the Clips.

the Wasp

My Feedback: (1)

yes I saw that LOL

Jim

Rudolph Hart

Jesse a good friend john from way back raced an overbored mk1 le mans 850-1000 v twin against my suzuki gsx1100 superbike in that class and surprised the bejeezuz out of me.Moto guzzi's are hands on like early dukes,you can't afford to have a mechanic you pay,unless it's an emergency.Back in the day i had a big busted girlfriend with a custom made jacket who owned a motoguzzi le mans mk2 or three with the flouro orange patch on the front of the small bikini fairing/bug smasher which she rode well,but everyone i knew viewed moto guzzi riders as being a bit weird.Like volvo drivers over here in the sense that if you got t boned it was gonna be a volvo driver because they are digging in a different ditch to everyone else.

ps dave the maico breako here came about because the parts you commonly use most like rings and pistons plus gaskets every couple of meetings were more expensive than say a honda cr500 which did'nt look as pretty as a maico 490 but more than equalled it in performance

Jesse Open

1955 Guzzi 500cc V-8 170 MPH plus.


1972 Guzzi 850 Eldorado


2001 Guzzi V-11 Sport. Salvaged from the Maryland flood that year.


Obligatory Saito content
The Tonti framed Guzzis are amazing bikes that handle and brake very well in the twisties. For a basic pushrod engine they can put out darn good power too. The early Dukes with the bevel geared, shaft driven OHC were a bit labor intensive. Valve adjustment with the little valve tip caps and all. The Guzzis are so easy to work on a mechanic is not needed.The Nikasil cylinders, the nitrided crank are near bullet proof. Not like they often need it but you can replace a pair of Guzzi cylinders on that LeMans in about 1 hour, with just basic tools. Racing isn't everything however. When I open the garage door in mid-January and suit up for the ride to work, I know the old Guzzi will snap to life and is always up to the job. Just the same when I am headed on a day trip from Detroit to St Louis. The Guzzi will get you there even if it is 30 years old and nearly 200,000 on the clock. I like all motorcycles (except most Harleys) If I ever have to live with just one motorcycle, it will always be a Guzzi.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

In my 66 years of riding I've only owned two non Harley's. The MAICO 125 mentioned above and my very first bike when I was 14, a 1952 Indian Brave, (248 cc), flat head/side valve, made by Brockhouse in the UK. It had a fried alternator/generator or whatever they called it. It would run total loss for weeks on a common 6v car battery. For years I thought it was a re-badged Beezer, but not.

Jesse Open

Here is a pic of the 63 year old Triumph that I was out riding yesterday. Bought this one in the 1970s for $200 . It was in about 12 carboard boxes at the time.

1955 Triumph TRW


Indian Wally's son had a pile of the Scouts and Warriors. I don't recall the side valve versions. Don't think he had any of those. His were US built singles and twins, all were OHV and seldom ran well.The Indian built small bikes had individual valve covers and looked a lot like Saito engines. The later Brockhouse bikes were actually Royal Enfields. Never owned a Harley but I have worked on plenty of them. (Actually, I don't HATE Harleys, I just like poke a bit at Hobbsy about them)

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

That Triumph is a beautiful green, if I could have a second bike it would be this. I like that big tall Saito 499 that is fuel injected.

Rudolph Hart

Jesse most of the saito engine and airframe to fly them people here have a grandson that,given some spanners and a sunday afternoon can put your 55 trumpy back in to those cardboard boxes.Nicely done resto,the big money paid at auction now is for bikes with the original patina specially jack ehrets as raced vincent black lightning he signed.Went for a million US over your way and came back where it belongs to an aussie buyer.

Dave...never restrict yourself to just riding harleys it cramps your experience and why torture yourself when life can be so short pard?

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

The only Harley fault I've noticed is that you arrive at your destination too soon and have to get off. I was hoping to go for a 100 mile ride, (well 90) to Jamestown, but that's 180 over there and back. I've been known to ride that far for a hamburgler. as my daughter called them when she was little. It's getting geared up for a cold rain here.

Jesse Open

I remember seeing that Jack Ehrets bike sale! Glad to see it back where it belongs . Remember Rollie Free?
. I have always preferred preservation over restoration and rarely subject a machine to that stuff.
Aside from a connecting rod bearing that was damaged by the previous owner when he took the bike apart;; Along with a few gaskets, tiresdtubes , hoses , battery etc ,That Triumph is ORIGINAL. That IS the "patina".

Sorry about the [post above. I'm not used to the glitches on this site yet.

Dave, No need to stop riding . A 1000 mile day is a good start. BTW, That 90 mile ride in the cold rain sounds very nice. Let us know how it went when you get back.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Wow, did the Site blow up?

Test picture

Jesse Open

the Wasp

My Feedback: (1)

Jesse, that setup looks really clean with the white Nylon engine mounts, but what prop is that, it looks chromed

Jim

Rudolph Hart

Jesse apparently dave's not back yet...that MUST be a comfortable harley i hear they don't put a lot of strain on your arms either.That inverted saito engine set up is very well thought out and executed.

ps i think rollie free set some land speed records on a vincent.

Rudolph Hart

Jesse apparently dave's not back yet...that MUST be a comfortable harley i hear they don't put a lot of strain on your arms either.That inverted saito engine set up is very well thought out and executed.

ps i think rollie free set some land speed records o

Jesse Open

Maybe Dave is waiting at the side of the road somewhere. If we don't hear from him soon, I'm hopping on the Triumph and initiating a search and rescue mission. We need Dave!
Yep, the prop is a chrome plated APC 13-8 Rollie Free indeed ran at Bonneville but, he is best known for modeling in his Speedo Swimming Trunks. Also responsible for "improved" safety rules at Bonneville:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollie_Free

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Yep, they are pretty weak, mine will only lift the front wheel in 1st gear and bump it up for a few feet in second and hold it at the upper suspension limit in 3rd.

Jesse Open

Wheelies? Even the little Enfields can do that!