Bbennett

See http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/08/29/afx2194331.html The article claims Valentino Rossi will drive for Ferrari's F1 team in in 2007. I personally hope he does not leave MotoGP!

I parked my V11 (legally) in downtown Seattle yesterday, and was rather surprised to not find my shiny black/red bike there after my meeting. I am standing there in my leathers contemplating what might have happened. My 1st thought was it had been stolen and I regretted not affixing the disk lock. Then I pondered the obvious fact that every other vehicle on the street was gone. The machine that issued my parking sticker had allowed me to get 2 hours (and taken my money) and the city towed me exactly 1.5 hours later. OK, I had originally failed to notice a hand-written sign on the parking kiosk (from some other misforunate) said "your car will be towed promptly at 3pm." A few calls on my cel phone revealed that a local towing company had indeed taken my bike due to the City wanting the street clear for buses at 3pm. I was unaware of this risk in parking downtown in Seattle. I tried to find a motorcyclist to hop a ride with but ended up in a taxi. After a $10 ride, I walked up to a very sketchy looking building where the towing company "operates" from, a woman saw me and said "oh my God I just saw a beautiful black motorcycle on hanging from the back of a two truck and thought - I didn't know they even did that!". So much for my scant hope that they had used a flatbed. I sat down in the dust and waited for them to "process" my bike. During the 25 minute wait, a lone cyclist drove by and gave me a hand wave. The guy was on an old round head Guzzi and he had no idea he was waving to a fellow Guzzi rider! $160 was the total. The impoundment lot guard directed me to a Kawasaki when I handed him the receipt. No, I said, it is that one over there. Adding injury to insult, they marked up (rubbed off the clear coat) on a side panel with their fancy sling. The mark is very very subtle but I can see it. Well, at least it wasn't illegally stolen. Bob

I had a similar problem today to the original poster and will pass along what I believe (fingers crossed) is the fix - at least for "my bike's" (2001 V11) problem. Caution: I am no mechanic. Symptoms: When riding two up I noticed a slight miss between 3-4K that I had not noticed before. My first thought this was not-quite-perfect PC-III map that exhibited itself only under "load" and in a notoriously weak part of the engine power curve. Then today I was riding by myself and noticed the flutter between 3-4K when riding 1 up. Then things got interesting: I had a full misfire at about 5K...the bike literally seemed to turn off and on in a heartbeat. I needed gas and filled the tank with 92 Octane. The symptoms worsened. The bike would intermittently misfire under load (initially when going up a hill, and then seriously misfire when pulling off from a standing start). It got to the point where I could barely take off from a red light! The problem was "worsening". I replaced the fuel - thought it might be "bad" . No improvement. I removed the PC-III. Did not fix the problem. Was there a fuel obstruction? Was the fuel pump dieing? ECU? Then I noticed the negative battery terminal was slightly loose. Tightened it and Voila. I have not had the problem since - but have only ridden a few miles. Thanks Bob

Hello- I searched the forum for previous discussions on this topic to no avail. Are there any ideas on why the nuetral light on a 2001 V11 has started to not come on when in nuetral? It sometimes quits for 30-40 shifts and then comes back on for another period, then it goes out again. Yes, I am sure that 99.9% of the time I am actually in true nuetral. Thanks, Bob (in Seattle)

I get about 130 miles on a tank of medium Octane fuel on a 2001 V11 and remain very happy with my bike for what it is worth. I have owned many motorcycles but this remains my favoriate "street bike." Off to Laguna Seca tomorrow!

I am the original poster and the problem is resolved. JRT was right - I had neglected to hook up the third red cable. Yes, I had checked but until I was told there were 3 wires on each terminal I could not "see" the third errant cable. Oddly that did not change or resolve the problem though. I changed the starter relay - no effect. Then in desperation, I checked very fuse. Even ones that "had nothing to do" with these symptoms. Hmmmm.. That 15 mm fuse (apparently for lights according to the fusebox decal) was out. I replaced it and the bike fired up instantly with a new roar. WHy new? Well ,I have my new StainTUnes and a PC-III. After a 5 minute warmup I took it out for a test ride. I am very happy. THe pipes are not too loud. Of course there is more airbox roar (well there is no "airbox" now) and I hear the mechanicals of the engine more. Power is excellent. And my front end feels "lighter" when moving the back around in the garage - cannot really explain how removing the sidecovers and airbox would have such an effect. Thank you all - and if you ever hear a click in stead of a roar, check that 15 amp fuse. A rookie (well at mechanics)

Hello All- I just installed a PC III and a set of StainTunes on my 2001 V11 but cannot get the bike to fire up. During the installation, I removed the battery and "arc"ed it in the process. It did not appear to be too severe but I do not know. I checked and all wires to the battery are hooked up and the fuses are OK. All I hear is a "click" when I try to start - coming from one of the (replaced) relays. I notice the headlight seems a little weak and the horn will not honk, so I put it on the trickle charger overnight. Still, today the headlight still seems weak and the horn doesn't work and the same click is heard. I try jumping the bike with a 12 volt car battery - no change. Tried dis-connecting the PC-III for grins but of course there was no change. Of course the on/off switch on the right handlebar is "on". Bike is in nuetral with clutch in when I attempt the start as normal. I am sure the trickle charger is working as I see little sparks when I connect it. Any ideas? Bob

Back to your original question: since you are getting the RV in Everett, you are already north of Seattle. Thus, I echo DGross's suggestion that you definitely take the North Cascade Highway. Even in an RV this is a world class highway and is the definitive Pacific Northwest scenic route. There are well (much) quicker ways to Spokane but you can make it across the pass in a day and spend the night in Winthrop, then head onto Spokane. If you want to meet some of the Guzzi people in the Northwest (I was going to say "Seattle"), pls start another thread on that topic and we can meet at the Georgetown Brewery or whatever and discuss,uh, bikes.

Jeff - once you get the parts, pls report back to us on whether those Buell parts fit. And do you know if the Lemans turn signal lenses are the same as on a '01 V11? Thanks Bob

How much gasoline is left when the fuel light flickers on? The question is re: V11 2001 sport The manual is unclear on this topic and I did not see it addressed in the FAQ Thanks Bob P.S. I am not a metric thinker - I understand quarts better than litres