And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I think Old Enzo said that when you buy a Ferrari, you just pay for the engine. They throw in the coachwork for free. He also said that aerodynamics are for people who don't know how to build engines.
2 fuel pumps, 2 distributors, 2 coils, 3 carbs. Thirsty and hungry. And a steering column that doubles as a chest spear if you screw up and overestimate your abilities.
They really stuff that V-12 in there. Italians do some truly awesome cast aluminum work, their foundry and materials engineers and foundrymen are top notch. They do spectacular magnesium wheel casting. The Marvic rep I bought a set of rims from, had a video of the raw cast wheel just out of its mold, to avoid cracking while metal solidification happens, they have an enormous amount of material around the OD of the wheel, near a foot both dimensions, after cooling and precep treatment its machined off and used again. The rep mentioned one out of ten cast magnesium wheels are rejected, remelted for further casting. The wheels on my bike are scary light, front is 3.6lbs, rear is 8 plus with the cush drive. Gave my bike an amazing improvement in every aspect of handling.
Ducati's aren't too bad. Have two, first of the 750 Supersports imported in the US and a 748, they have been trouble free all these years. Change timing belts and shim the rockers as specified, oil and filter at 1000 miles with Klotz oil, had a leaky fork seal after 18 years. Thats it. Course chains and brake pads, tires, air filters, thats normal stuff for a bike. I know the early Ducati bikes required more maintenance, like the single cylinder bikes, finicky if they had Desmo valves.
I think Old Enzo said that when you buy a Ferrari, you just pay for the engine. They throw in the coachwork for free. He also said that aerodynamics are for people who don't know how to build engines.
ReplyDeleteSo, attached to the two yellow tubes, then routed to the fuel line which is going to the carburetors, are *two* fuels pumps?
ReplyDelete2 fuel pumps, 2 distributors, 2 coils, 3 carbs. Thirsty and hungry. And a steering column that doubles as a chest spear if you screw up and overestimate your abilities.
DeleteOooh La La. V-12
ReplyDeleteFerris?
ReplyDeleteThey really stuff that V-12 in there. Italians do some truly awesome cast aluminum work, their foundry and materials engineers and foundrymen are top notch. They do spectacular magnesium wheel casting. The Marvic rep I bought a set of rims from, had a video of the raw cast wheel just out of its mold, to avoid cracking while metal solidification happens, they have an enormous amount of material around the OD of the wheel, near a foot both dimensions, after cooling and precep treatment its machined off and used again. The rep mentioned one out of ten cast magnesium wheels are rejected, remelted for further casting. The wheels on my bike are scary light, front is 3.6lbs, rear is 8 plus with the cush drive. Gave my bike an amazing improvement in every aspect of handling.
ReplyDeleteI love Italian engineering and design. But, other than the Pantheon and the Coliseum none of it lasts unless you scrupulously maintain it.
ReplyDeleteDucati's aren't too bad. Have two, first of the 750 Supersports imported in the US and a 748, they have been trouble free all these years. Change timing belts and shim the rockers as specified, oil and filter at 1000 miles with Klotz oil, had a leaky fork seal after 18 years. Thats it. Course chains and brake pads, tires, air filters, thats normal stuff for a bike.
DeleteI know the early Ducati bikes required more maintenance, like the single cylinder bikes, finicky if they had Desmo valves.
Look at those excellent Weber carbs, that engine is art.
ReplyDeleteThose seats appear to use cotton balls as the padding. The driver - rider would feel EVERY single bump - dip - pothole in the road.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the car - WOW !!