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Typical Dutch river delta landscape. In my pictures there is usually a Guzzi somewhere.

The Becker-Technik work stand is great, the problem is that BT won’t ship directly to the USA (or North America?). Stein Dinse will, but with the crazy import tariffs in place, it might no longer be a financially viable option. MG Cycles is the US Importer ($$$) ==> Linky

In case anyone is interested, that seems to be still available. I bought one less than 2 years ago, or maybe slightly over 2 years. Works really well. https://shop.becker-technik.de/en/products/central-lifter-24

got'cha. i didn't know there was a different clutch specific to those models...

Without wanting to worry you too much, there is a whole chain of things that can lead to what you are describing. They are all cureable, and mostly *fairly* easy to find. You have to go through it systematically and methodically, and eliminate possible faults one after the other. Thereby, start with the most obvious and simple and leave the complicated stuff until the simple things have been eliminated or verified as the cause of the problem. Battery is easy, and on the top of the list because you don't know how old it is, or how it has been treated in the past. Batteries age. What can happen when they get old is that they can take a charge, even start the bike once, but have no capacity any more. At a second start attempt, or even the first, they can't deliver enough energy to turn over the starter motor, even though they look like they are charged. That is fairly easy to test. Get the multi-meter. Measure the voltage across the battery terminals. It should be nearly 13V. Leave the meter connected and press the starter. If the voltage drops below 10V, the battery is most likely too old. There are several other things, known issues with a V11, that can cause the starter motor to not turn over, but check the battery first. One thing at a time. PS: this optimiser, what is it? There are "float chargers" on the market that are actually not really good for the battery.

My son had a volt meter i can borrow. Forgive my ignorance if the battery is dead would it not charge up, I left it on the optimiser over night and the following morning the bike started without any problems. Regards Dell

Hi @dell. Looks like @docc is heading in the right direction, but so's you know where he's heading: The symptoms indicate that the battery is not delivering properly, i.e. dead. 'Nuff said, do what docc says.

Not the same as on Dave's I think, but Mistral has something similar https://www.mistralspecialparts.it/en/product/classic-exhausts-moto-guzzi-v7-700-special-eldorado-850gt/

Do you have a digital volt meter?

Hi docc, Its a 2002 v11 le mans, i unfortunately not good mechanically so I don't know what relays are on the bike. The battery is a motobat i can't remember the number, but when I looked it up it appears to be the correct one, I have only owened the bike for about 3 months so not sure of the battery age. Cheers Dell

Hi, Dell! What is the make/model/age of the battery? What relays are in it?

Hi all, I started my bike up couple days ago, bikes always on optimiser, started no problem, I stopped for a coffee after 35 miles, tried to start the bike nothing, I was kindly given a start from a guys jump leads, bike was running rough but managed to get home, tried to start it again, again nothing, after being on the optimiser all night it started the next morning. Appreciate any help ,thanks in advance. Dell

@Gmc28, I hope my effort to help set up your thread came out okay. Sometimes that be messy. I did try to add back your second photo, but not sure that came through.... Looking forward to your V700's progress!

(new thread here to unclutter dave swansons thread) I may have accidentally ended up with this machine. Oops. A friend wanted to unload it, and offered it a few times over the years, with me declining, but finally circumstances, an adjusted set of desires, and price aligned, and now i have it. I honestly had thought it was a ‘72 V7 from just eye-balling it casually in passing a couple times, but it’s a ‘68 V700. Need to strip the paint and redo the tank (etc) paint scheme to something stock, or stock-ish, and am loving that red/chrome. the chrome would presumably be harder to reproduce. probably will be a while till i actually do much with it, as this was not a planned thing. Need to clear out some other projects first. Will be eye-balling stock or close-to-stock paint schemes, how to clean up the semi-hacked rear fender on this one, getting new fork seals in, ways to maybe enhance/improve the clutch activation, etc.

I hate that when it happens

That looks like a great project too Gmc28. [ Best make a separate topic for it. ] [docc edit: done! ]

I’ll be keen to get input on this machine. For instance, Daves pipes look great, and am interested in details on those. Etc. I’m new to the 50+ year old bike category, other than bikes i rode as a kid, so even things like any hacks for the clunky center stand that wants to fall down to vertical, or the clutch engagement which is beautifully simple but clunky… are there hot tips on any of that floating out there in this group? Link to @Dave Swanson's thread:

beautiful. I may have accidentally ended up with such a machine. Oops. A friend wanted to unload it, and offered it a few times over the years, with me declining, but finally circumstances and price aligned, and now i have it. I honestly had thought it was a ‘72 V7 from just eye-balling it casually in passing a couple times, but it’s a ‘68 V700. Need to strip the paint and redo the tank (etc) paint scheme to something stock, or stock-ish, and am loving that red/chrome. the chrome would presumably be harder to reproduce. Link to my "eventual project" . . .

Potential failure of the aluminum flywheel in the Tenni and Scura, and 'possibly' the Rosso Mandello, but maybe not

i have not heard this before, good tip. thank you...

exploding clutch? this is a thing?

I'm going to make some more oneofthesedays.

I'm not sure if that is an A.C. tester ?

docc, this has been over complicated w/the DVOM and overthinking. Testing this w/a simple incandescent test light is the way to go. To prove a press. switch is n.c. just turn the ign. key to the run position. If the light is indeed off , remove the wire to the sensor and touch it to a good ground. If the light comes on. The switch aka sensor is bad. To test the sensor to be sure , connect the test light to a 12v source then touch the test light to a good ground. Light comes on and you have a good circuit. Touch the test light to the tip of the sensor. If the light comes on your sensor is good. If the light is off , the sensor is bad. I have about 4-6 Fluke 77,87,88 DVOMs and 2 Simpson 260s and a SnapOn MT 406 analog meters. What I do most test work w/is a simple NAPA test light. This test light will do two things . It verifies V and verifies a good circuit (because a DVOM will not introduce a load int the circuit) by loading the circuit w/a test light. A good wiring diagram and step by step testing will help ruling out possibilities and verify what is good and bad. Good luck Sam , do take notes and take steps. You will be doing this a lot. MotoGuzzis will have lots of quirks. Inop lights are just one of them . Light connections are just one. Have plenty of vaseline ,De-oxit . contact grease or whatever gooey you rub on contacts are. Charging V is imperative , lights are a luxury . If my bike starts and runs: good. Brake lights and turn signals are not needed. I live in Ky. You drive through the state. You will understand.