Service near Boston, MA?

C

Christian J

New member
Location
Boston, MA
New owner of a '74 750 and I've yet to talk to any shop who has actually worked on these bikes. Any suggestions in New England (within a few hours of Boston)?
 
Christian J said:
New owner of a '74 750 and I've yet to talk to any shop who has actually worked on these bikes. Any suggestions in New England (within a few hours of Boston)?
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Moto Borgotaro in Brooklyn, NY, some way away but he's got a reputation for doing good service work and modifications on Breganze bikes - I'm very far away so never used his services but have found him reliable when I've bought some used Lav bits from him.
That said, I agree with Paul, the 750 twins are very simple to service yourself unless it's major engine work like crankshaft, etc. With Tim Parker's "Green Book" and a parts catalog like Wagner's (find it online but get parts from wherever, there are numerous suppliers) you should be able to keep it running well.
 
Is that why the term 'DPO' is so commonly seen on here?! :eek:

True, they are not Swiss clocks, but if someone has no mechanical experience it's still a mystery and not always a simple job to take on any work, even simple servicing and tuning. But with care and good info (like the Green Book) they are a rewarding way to educate yourself.
 
piranha-bro2 said:
Is that why the term 'DPO' is so commonly seen on here?! :eek:

True, they are not Swiss clocks, but if someone has no mechanical experience it's still a mystery and not always a simple job to take on any work, even simple servicing and tuning. But with care and good info (like the Green Book) they are a rewarding way to educate yourself.
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The first owner was a well known engine builder and shop owner. He's now deceased. 2nd owner deceased (I think). 3rd owner rode it 150 miles in 16 years and not a source for service advice.
I have a pretty good understanding of mechanical things and have done work on some pretty complicated engines but there's a ton of value in having some old git poke around the bike and suggest improvements. Wouldn't it be great to have someone say 'they all do that' instead of guessing? That's why I joined this forum and asked. I'd be excited to read a preferred oil thread!
The green book seems to be out of print so if anyone has a spare or scanned copy I'd love to read up on it. Wish me luck, I hope to learn a lot from you guys!

Moto Borgotaro has been friendly so I will head down there this winter to compare my bike to their current inventory.
 
Smart plan, its a shame this place, website, wasn't around 20 years ago so issues could have been avoided. Like me having a shim job done and supplying my Green book to the shop mechanic who followed the WRONG Toque figures for the head printed in the green book and stripped the case connections, made much weaker by the DPO who used the dumb bending engine stud and removing said stud and fitting them upsidedown short thread into the cases method when he did stupid shit. Yep, these bikes can collect dumb owners who don't know there limitations
 
Christian J said:
The first owner was a well known engine builder and shop owner. He's now deceased. 2nd owner deceased (I think). 3rd owner rode it 150 miles in 16 years and not a source for service advice.
I have a pretty good understanding of mechanical things and have done work on some pretty complicated engines but there's a ton of value in having some old git poke around the bike and suggest improvements. Wouldn't it be great to have someone say 'they all do that' instead of guessing? That's why I joined this forum and asked. I'd be excited to read a preferred oil thread!
The green book seems to be out of print so if anyone has a spare or scanned copy I'd love to read up on it. Wish me luck, I hope to learn a lot from you guys!

Moto Borgotaro has been friendly so I will head down there this winter to compare my bike to their current inventory.
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There was a reprint of the Green Book last June. Tim Parker is in the US and his email must be on this forum somewhere.

Paul
 
thanks. Madhouse has a sister shop, Nova, that might have the experience. I haven't heard back from any...there's plenty of time to get a consult though.
 
Christian have you tried chatting with Seacoast, just across the border in NH? They're a big Italian bike shop, and were happy to work on my Cagiva, so probably worth a shot? https://seacoastsport.com/ And they transport your bike to their shop for $50.

Or maybe Dunbar's in Brockton?

Peter
 
Paul Marx said:
There was a reprint of the Green Book last June. Tim Parker is in the US and his email must be on this forum somewhere.

Paul
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Just had an email dialog with Tim who says:

"Yes, I do have stock of a newly reprinted paperback edition which I will keep available, now, indefinitely. I have a local printer.

I have priced the book inclusive of secure packing and USPS postage. $60 US in the domestic USA; and $75 US, via air, for the rest of the world.

And my preference is to be paid via PayPal - as a FRIEND - using my email address - laverdatim1@mac.com.

I usually mail within 48 hours of receipt of order."

I have no commercial interest in this, just friends with Tim and appreciative of his original "Green Book" edition's help when I'd had my SF2 for some time with no technical reference and maintenance guide back then and think that every Breganze 750 and triple owner should have a copy.
 
arancia said:
Just had an email dialog with Tim who says:

"Yes, I do have stock of a newly reprinted paperback edition which I will keep available, now, indefinitely. I have a local printer.

I have priced the book inclusive of secure packing and USPS postage. $60 US in the domestic USA; and $75 US, via air, for the rest of the world.

And my preference is to be paid via PayPal - as a FRIEND - using my email address - laverdatim1@mac.com.

I usually mail within 48 hours of receipt of order."

I have no commercial interest in this, just friends with Tim and appreciative of his original "Green Book" edition's help when I'd had my SF2 for some time with no technical reference and maintenance guide back then and think that every Breganze 750 and triple owner should have a copy.
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Thanks for the precision.

Paul
 
I've never found the green book particularly useful as a reference for maintenance. It's not really structured as a workshop manual, nor is it a rivet-counter's reference book like Falloon's bible. It falls somewhere in between. Plenty of useful info and helpful tips but they're mostly buried in pages of text.

I find the best way to use the book is to read the chapter on whatever part of the bike you're working on before you pick up any tools. It gives a bit of general info and helps get your head around the job before actually tackling it.

This is not a criticism of the book. Just an observation.
 
Dellortoman said:
I've never found the green book particularly useful as a reference for maintenance. It's not really structured as a workshop manual, nor is it a rivet-counter's reference book like Falloon's bible. It falls somewhere in between. Plenty of useful info and helpful tips but they're mostly buried in pages of text.

I find the best way to use the book is to read the chapter on whatever part of the bike you're working on before you pick up any tools. It gives a bit of general info and helps get your head around the job before actually tackling it.

This is not a criticism of the book. Just an observation.
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Remember when it was first written. There wasn't anything else, in English at least.
I use it mostly for parts references.
You have to be careful, some dimensions and clearances are wrong. Typos no doubt.

Paul
 
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