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I used SealMates on my Stelvio forks. They were leaking pretty good. Lots of crud came out and now everything seems like it should be. So that either means the fork is out of oil or there is oil and I fixed it. Only thing I dont know is how much leaked out for the previous owner. I don't think you can check oil level with forks installed. So if I take them out, new seals and wipers go in.

Fwiw, the 35mm negatives have worked great for me over the years but I've not yet tried it on inverted forks. And, the film thing didn't work on my Wing last Fall so I bit the bullet and bought a Seal Doctor at RevZilla. The Seal Doctor worked great! It was hard to believe how much crap the Seal Doctor pulled out over and above what the 35mm film had removed. While I do my best to routinely make sure my fork tubs are clean and free of bug goo & dirt, the newest bike I have now is in excess of 16 years old so if I do experience a fork leak that film or Seal Dr can't resolve, I really can't complain. Also, FWIW, check this guy out....

I copied Chuck's method so I wouldn't have to dig deeper into my wallet for the stuff that shows up better on the dipstick.

On the ride home yesterday, I noticed my left front fork appears to be weeping a little bit. Right one seems ok. I've read thru some of the various threads about forks and will dig around for some 35mm film and see if I can reseat existing seal and get thru the season. Looking for a tutorial or something that outlines the steps to replace the seals, what seals to buy, and any special tools needed, etc. Will look thru the manual later tonight.

Kinda too big

I managed to crack my front fender on the Coppa while rearranging the bikes. I can probably glue/patch it but I would rather just replace it. Anyone have one? Thanks!

A classic move when installing a Roper Plate is to install the oil dipstick while the plate is in place and mark the dipstick right under where the plate is relative to the dipstick. You can drill a couple holes there in the dipstick and use those to set oil level. As mentioned, with the Roper Plate installed you should be able to run the oil level right below the plate with no issues.

Great song writer...!!

Good idea, another mod I've seen is to dimple the stick metal or plastic. Can't help think a flat metal stick would be better, like you used to get on older cars. I purchased the flashlight after losing 3 pints of oil when an oil cooler hose started to leak (you see now why I prefer to overfill). The subsequent Motorcycle Accident Invetigation Team report cited "user ineptitude" as the root cause of the failure. In accordance with the mandatory recommendations both lines were replaced. My main worry was too little oil, as if you're obeying the stick marks waaaaay overfilling isn't an issue with a "Roper Plate" installed One more thing the Australia with its solid belly pan, collects all the oil at the front which then blows rearwards and exits in the vicinity of the rear tyre. Coating the rear tyre with engine lube provides early fault warning, preventing premature engine failure by potentially trashing the whole bike insted.

I did what Chuck did, drill holes in the stock black plastic dipstick. They make it much easier to see where the oil level is. But I agree, the stock set up is hard to see. It should have the holes from the factory. Classic engineering fail.

What? You aren't using the Guzzi spec "white" oil so you could see it on the black dipstick?? I drilled a series of 1/16" holes in it, and that worked.

Not sure if I'm just inept (highly probable) but I've never been able to asses with any confidence the oil level in my 1100 or HiCam engine (both broadsump engines) I've tried the plastic standard dipstick and a metal one, the metal one being slightly better, but I still find it hit and miss. Not that it is really so critical, as now with Pete's sloppage plates in I way overfill the sump past the "high" mark, until the oil is just below the level of the plate (thank you @Lucky Phil for the advice) and never had any problems. Even seeing that though is a little tricky, I usually asses it with the help of a small torch and barbecue stick to see when it touches the oil. Anyway I suppose this is stupidly obvious but I purchased an LED flexi torch and it's great I can put it into the dipstick hole and get a good view of the plate and the oil sitting below it. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00008BFS6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I saw this guy live at The Tampa Theater about 1980-ish. What a captivating showman . . .

There are so many great cuts on her 2003 release, Retrospective . . . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrospective%3A_The_Best_of_Suzanne_Vega

Looks a lot like an 80's TV show to me. Great song.

Our air cooled, V-twin big block Guzzi are a good example of design based upon maintenance and reliability goals. The whole spineframe chassis, as well. The ease of wheel removal, brake service, and battery access is admirable, IMCO. Sure, there is that "tank off" thing for the air and fuel filters, but I've seen worse.

Well the Germans were way in front of everyone. Part of the reason they used inverted V12 engines was ease of maintenance. On a ME109 for instance the crews could do most of the engine work from the ground without stands by simply opening the bottom engine cowls to access the engine top end where most of the maintenance items were. On a Merlin you were working from a stand 6 feet off the ground on top of the engine cowls. Phil

Thanks @docc I'll take a look. Surprisingly the plastics on the bags are in pretty good shape still

@Lucky Phil I totally understand what you are saying about the rear end on these. This is the exhaust system my dad found and put on and I'm doing what I can to keep this bike the way he had it as a tribute to him

@p6x I would have to estimate something like 15 gallons lol? If you think the pain job looks bad you should see the sad state of the ceramic liner lol

@fastaussie, I do not know if you are still looking for a "Champagne" V11, but I found one on Facebook Marketplace that looks like new! It is a 2002 millesime, 18k miles, 7500 USD or best offer. Personally, the 7500 USD are justified when you look how spotless the bike is. It is located in Dresden. No Audiomick, not there, but in Ohio... I know, it is confusing. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/322860094160717/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Ae4b418ba-97fe-45ea-a027-9ef4825d5572

Nope. The F4 was perhaps even a better example. This is why since the '70's, design has focussed on reliability and maintainability.

But to the uninitiated it looks like a tank; the bag is set on the inlet, hiding the cockpit, and the gauge could be reading the amount of fuel left. I know what it is though. It is an egg shaped barbecue, such as a green egg or a Kamado Joe.

The interwebs can be amazing. I am amazed that this song was ever performed live. And more amazed it was captured on video. Sure, it is a cacophony of sound and video, but, hey: " Blood Makes Noise !"