Foxy

If in doubt I have a spare pair of V11 heads for sale

I found Halfords satin silver finish engine paint is a good match for the grey alternator cover on my V11, and has so far lasted considerably better than the stock paint. My rocker covers are bare polished metal, which made polishing out some scratches from a crash rather easier.

These days I exclusively use Altbergs. I bought my first pair several years ago: I've still got them, but don't wear them much any more as they're too warm for summer use. But after several years use they are as comfortable as an old pair of slippers, tough as old boots and still completely waterproof. They provide more than enough protection (CE approved) without resorting to nasty plastic, and as they have a proper sole unit they cope very well with walking duties too, as well as providing reassuring grip on poor surfaces - unlike Daytonas. Now I mostly wear these: Similar, but lighter and a better all year round boot for the UK. All the excellent qualities of the Clubman Classic, with the added bonus that work give them to me for free. Comfortable enough to wear for twenty hours plus, including plenty of leg work and standing around. Completely waterproof, nicely made. So good I have two pairs, one pair for day to day and one pair bulled to perfection for those special occasions.

Cibie Z-beam in a decent shell. BMW /7 headlight. Much better than anything else they've produced in recent years.

To paraphrase a friend and life long Guzzi fan... don't let the test ride put you off

It doesn't make it a bad bike, and there are few bikes out there that do it for me in the same way, but to deny the V11s are without a number of flaws is to close your eyes to the patently obvious.

If it's perfect you want then you're thinking of the wrong bike. The Le Mans is a heavily flawed machine that in the wrong place at the wrong time is a monumental pain in the 'arris. Of course in the right place at the right time then it's wonderful, which is why I put up with it. The only way I can get it comfortable is with an Airhawk, and even then mates wonder how I do it. If you do fancy it then got for it, just make sure you do it with eyes wide open.

R45. Glutton for punishment.

I couldn't possibly comment. Oh, all right then. I'm hoping I'm through the gremlin stage with my Le Mans. I really do hope so, because having not long ago spunked out on a new engine it'd better be fine. But so far, admittedly with only a couple of thousand miles on the new engine, it's been fine bar a minor oil leak in France and a fairing bolt vibrating lose today. It might even make up for leaving me stranded at the side of the road with just one cigarette and big end soup in the sump. My little BMW copes with most of my miles. It currently has 162,000 miles on it and gets used for 55 miles a day, despite being 26 years old. In the past year it's not been free of trouble, and is at the moment off the road with a leaky gearbox seal. But then you expect problems on a bike on this age, and even with ragging it up and down the motorway everyday it still refuses to use any oil between services. And unlike my Le Mans nothing has taken more than a day to fix. Shame it's a soulless old heap really. I will also admit that many people thought I was mad to take the freshly rebuilt Le Mans and thrash it round the south of France for 5 days last month and expected me to come home on the back of a truck.

If you were a rocket scientist I'd tell you that you don't need to remove any of the exhaust system to remove the alternator cover

Wish I knew. The odo has stopped a shade under 11,000 miles, probable mileage is still only in the region of 12-13,000. It should have had in the region of 30,000 miles on it so far, but took a knock in so far as it now has a new engine. New speedo is waiting to go in, rear wheel bearings being done at the moment (how bloody much!), numerous minor electrical niggles, paint that may as well be tissue paper and a new gearbox breather. Hopefully passing it's MOT today and I'll have it back on the road tomorrow. Will be quite nice to have an alternative to a 1982 BMW for the miles I do, I just wish it could be as reliable as my Indian made Royal Enfield. Fingers crossed though I'm getting closer to the point where it's sorted.

Fitted Monster pegs after binning my Le Mans last year. The rubber topped pegs are an aftermarket alternative for the Monster sold as a genuine Ducati part. They are far, far cheaper than genuine Guzzi parts and the rubber top suits my needs better than the originals which I found slippery in the wet. Another bonus is that unlike Guzzi parts Ducati parts tend to be in stock or available this side of the second coming.

Won't even mention the camouflage effects of bright lights, or risk homeostasis, or that defensive riding will always be safer than mechanical aids. Might as well cover the bike in reflective graphics and swear by a white helmet... On the flip side the headlight as bog on the V11 is sufficiently crap even the rider tends to struggle to notice the difference on main beam, even at night

And how does that help you see where you're going? And while it might be standard practice where you are it is still pretty stupid.