Lodola on highway and small bikes
andrew nahum
Thanks for the feedback - I realise what you mean about roads and
speed. Today, when I leave for work in a minute I will hit my 500th
mile commuting in inner London on my Guzzino ! It has been a gas but
I only started it Autumn because everything else was then in pieces.
Because I know the back roads it is fine but even so there are
stretches which are edgy because 30 mph is not fast enough. It is also
pretty nice in the Suffolk countryside, where I keep it usually where
there is lots of back country. It has shown me that you can have fun
on any bike if you can match the road to the performance.
My 250 Airone Sport is absolutely fine on secondary roads where the
national speed limit is 60 mph - it never gets in anyone's way (I use
all the revs) and can easily pull 70 and I think tops out at 75, so
not so great on freeways, but I have also used it there. However, like
my 450 single it is more stressful (to the rider) on those routes
because of the lack of acceleration at the higher speed. It's normally
re-asssuring to be able to give some right wrist during lane changing
to ensure maximum separation from traffic coming up behind.
I will certainly look for a Lodola - the trick will be to find a right
one. I look forward to your comparison between the 175 and 235.
Best regards
Andrew
On Mon, Feb 15, 2010 at 12:15 AM, Mike Peavey <mpe...@comcast.net> wrote:
> It's a really fun little bike to ride and like Jerry says, the 175 is Moto Giro eligible, should that day come. But contrary to the statement of owning one only as a collectable, I'd have to disagree, at least here on the East Coast. Besides the two East Coast Giro's, there's a pretty enthusiastic crowd of little bike riders and we seem to have an lots of ride opportunities, Dicing at speeds approaching 60mph on some of New England's secondary roads is a gas. I've got a couple of 900 cc bikes and the past few years, spend as much if not more time on the 250's. We all approach the Giros with a good mind set, ie. trying for minimum points against, but after about the second time check, 90% realize they really don't have a prayer of winning, so I'll leave you to guess what comes next. Let's just say it's fun and pretty exciting.
>
> To tell you truth Andrew, I'm not sure which is the better bike, but I'm about to find out. I've just gotten the 175, which as you're probably aware is an SOHC, but I've had the 235, a push rod head, for 3 years and once I got it sorted, it's been lots of fun, It's done 4 of the Moto Giro East and the only problem has been a thrown generator belt.
> Parts are a bit scarce, I did the top end on the 235 and the piston was available through the King of Piston in Italy, though we had to manufacture the valves and guides. I also had to have the swingarm pin and bushings made. The rear Boranni on the 235 was rotten when I bought the bike, and a replacement rim was not available in 17 inch, 32 spoke, so I had Buchanans Spoke and Rim lace up an 18, which fits and I really don't notice a difference, other than I think it helped the top end some. I have since found a source for a rim, but not sure why I'd bother.
>
> I've as yet needed to get inside the bottom end or deal with the clutch. Paul at Guzzino has lots of the electrical bits and such things as shock bushings and some of the UB carb parts, jets and gaskets as well as engine gaskets. The Dellorto guys in the UK seem to have most of the carb parts. Stucchi in Italy, shows a list of many parts, but most are no longer available, the majority of parts they do have are parts you're not apt to need. They do have the oil filters, which is no longer available in the US, but I've found you can modify the filter for a 4.2 Jag slightly and it works fine. No such problem with the 175, no oil filter and no air filter box.
>
> So long story short, it is possible to keep one running with a little of research, and it doesn't hurt to have a friend with some ingenuity and a pretty complete machine shop.
>
> Mike
> Boston
Mike Peavey
Forgot to mention, one obvious plus to the 235, at least here in the US, they don't come up for sale often, but are more available because the 175 was in production only from 56-58 and the 235 from 58/59-66. More readily available also means they cost less. Unless you really want the 175 for Giro eligibleness, or the overhead cam, the 235 is probably the better deal.
As far as top end goes, mine will do 70+ mph, but it really is ringing it little neck. I often ride with a couple of Airone Sports and it's just that step slower.
Good luck,
Mike
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