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Today I received a big envelope with some really nice goodies and letters from the US. Thank you ‘spine raiders’ 🙏 And especially Docc! Hope you had a great weekend.

Hi Everyone! i am happy to be a member of this forum for this wonderful Moto Guzzi model. i took delivery of this '02 Le Mans i purchased off ebay that came with all the goodies i hoped to find, Throttlemeister, MotoBits, Givi and more. I've been with Guzzi's since 2007, i have a 2011 V7R and sold my '09 CalVin last year, and am glad i found this Le Mans. I'm looking forward to participating with you guys, have been mostly reading topics, but will be more active. Here's a couple pics of my bike. It's been a bit neglected, but nothing that some attention can't make right. Right now, i'm changing fluids, it will need a new set of tires and i'm thinking i'm going to purchase a full Mistral exhaust system. PS. my apologies, this intro should have been posted in "Introductions."

I’ll spare you the “Buon giorno” and similar affectations of many who have just returned from Italy or wherever. 🙄 I got back a few days ago from a motorcycle tour — on Moto Guzzis, of course 😄🇮🇹🏍️ — of France’s Corsica and Italy’s Sardinia. It likely surprises no one who knows me and is reading this to know that I have some pic and vid evidence of that trip. 😄 Actually, all of the “riding” pix and vids were supplied by others, and primarily Retno & Tresno (Indonesian Guzzisti) and Paula, a Brazilian pillion. Thanks to them as, quite frankly, I saw very little scenery as I was just trying to stay alive! 😱 First, a quick word for the TLDR types and anyone else who has interest in but too little time … or simply has the attention span of a gerbil. 😄 Bear in mind that I started with about 1800(!) pix, and culled those to a number you’ll have to open the slideshow to see, but more than 85% fewer! That said, if you have neither time nor inclination to see all the pix, just watch the three brief vids that start very early in the slideshow. They capture so much of the riding experience that was often a tunnel of terror for me at the time. The pix link opens in “collage landscape,” thereby (in theory, at least) permitting you to see all pix at once, and to see all (untruncated) captions by hovering your cursor over individual pix. Open the slideshow to see the larger pix and captions … (tho, maddeningly) Smugmug allows captions to fade after several unless you work at seeing them. Grrrrr. https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Corsica---Sardinia-by-Moto-Guzzi/n-2kjBXg And, here is a link to some vids that I did not include in the slideshow, but you might find interesting. https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/Extra-Videos-Corsica-Sardinia-Guzzi-Tour-2024/n-BMsp3R Best, Bill

Standard forks are quite easy. Øhlins was ok to, a little scary, expensive parts. Doing the White Power forks on the 1100Sport now. Different story, red neck tools to be made to remove springs ++. It was like fitting new pistons and springs without the right tool. Probably something like 2 tiny half mons to help double lip seal to enter leg. Xparts.net had 2lips seals and dustcover available. Dustcover no longer available from Guzzi. Cheers Tom. Sent fra min SM-S906B via Tapatalk

A Moto Guzzi will never be a good investment PERIOD . A Moto Guzzi will be an extension of you . a. A Moto Guzzi will make me a better lover : NO b. A Moto Guzzi will give me clout w/my friends: NO H/Ds do that. c. A Moto Guzzi will make me a better mechanic , DC electrician , wiring diagram reader , understand mechanical theory and troubleshooter: It had better. , or you have wasted your time. d. YOU will become a part of a group of people you can contact 7-24 with a problem and get an ANSWER . e. Can I ever get my money back on these money pits ? NO

I have Kindoy's previous Griso SE project and it is an absolutely lovely machine. The quantity and quality of the upgrades on this prime example should seal the deal for anyone who is remotely interested.

I told you we could count on the other inmates on the ward to judge pure, crystalline sanity when they see it.

This was a particularly challenging photo-collage to select a single favorite. Yet, I chose this one. Certainly for the captivating character depicted, gelato in hand, but made ever more curious by the story behind the fleeting donna misteriosa in the background . . . and that longing look .

That’s it. Maxed out with so many V11s I did always wanted a Rosso Corsa & Coppa Italia

If you come to Tennessee, those are the guys that will turn around to come back and help you jack up your blown out tire, jump off your dead battery, and give you water while they "keep the wolves away".

There's enough muppets around that can't be trusted to operate a vehicle in 2 dimensions let alone 3. I'm the exception of course so I'd love one:). No mention of range and performance. Phil

Update. G'day folk's, yesterday I had the forks moved up in the triples by another 4mm to make a total of 12mm (this is 12mm of fork plus the 3mm cap by the way as some seem to measure differently) and I have to say that I reckon this is the last piece in the puzzle for me! As I've mentioned earlier it was pretty bloody good at 8mm in the corners but felt the front was still a little vague / light cruising around without positive throttle input. I've only had one ride since, but I did manage to give her a bit of curry and I am chuffed with the handling now. The front is planted in a straight line and even more planted with greater feel and feedback through the bends! Everything I was trying to achieve! Thanks to all who have guided me in this as like many I was clueless about suspension! In summary to all this I reckon it started when I went from a 170/60 to a 160/60 rear tyre which is 6mm smaller than the former which alters the front / rear balance in an already skewed to the rear set-up. Then factor in the flaw in the compression fork leg which I tied to overcome with Progressive springs exacerbating the lack of feel there especially with no damping due to very old fork oil and then gaining an extra 10 kilos of body weight over the period and just to add to it wearing a backpack with about 10 kilos in it.....I rode her like this for some time in some pretty hairy situations and she was still ok if you rode accordingly. But bit by bit I reckon I've got her just so now (for me) and can't wait to get out there and really enjoy the ride! I don't feel like I have to compensate for any handling issues now! Sorry if this has been a bit long winded but just wanted to share how I got my bike sorted. Cheers Guzzler. Ps It's a 2001 Red frame and have the forks up thru triples by 12mm, the Guzzimoto fork fix (blocking the oil blowholes in Comp leg) Linear .95kg springs (I'm 90 ish kilos) The Comp is +4 and Reb at +12 from full soft ( set by adjusting from full hard ) Hyperpro steering damper set at + 4 and a Hyperpro 460 emulsion shock ( standard length 280mm ) which is set at + 28 of 50 clicks of rebound (comp/reb set in a fixed ratio) plus 15mm of preload on it..... And fresh oil ha ha...

I think Hallmark is pretty dead too.... Having spent countless hours perfecting my handwriting at school, using nibs in holders, having ink included in desks, nobody uses pens any longer. The cards that I receive have printed words, and if I am lucky, there is a hand drawn signature on it. Even documents are no longer requiring hand signature. You can sign electronically, and it is just as good. I am fighting that lost battle anyway. I have gone back to paying by check as I can't stand having to enter codes to confirm its me before I can log in. I have to pay an extra six dollars to receive my insurance card on paper since I refuse to download the insurance's application on my phone. I don't want to be bound by my phone for just everything, because I often go out without it. My last flight to Phoenix Az to go to Sedona, I had to pay extra to print my boarding pass. I paid for the flight, but that does not include a boarding pass? next it will be the luggage tags that you will need to pay for? What a formidable world we live in!!! thank god I can get out of all that on my Guzzi...

Got it! 🙋🏽‍♂️. Bringing it up the border to 🇨🇦. Took me 4 years to find one! Now will need all your help to sort it.

Hmmm, a theme recurs . . . Goodbye Milton, good riddance Helene. Hello, Hurricane Girl . . .

As for cost, do you want the real amount ... or what I told Kathi?

https://www.wildwestmotoplex.com/ Today I learned from MPH Cycles that we have a new Moto Guzzi / Aprilia dealership in Houston; I went there to check them out; I could actually sit on the Stelvio and the Mandello! They also have a bunch of V7, and the V85TT in two livrées. The Blu White Red looks really nice. They told me they only sold two Guzzi since they started. They have one part of the floor dedicated to BMW, and they have many GS1300 (of course!). According to the sales assistant I spoke to, the Yamaha Tenere and the Honda Africa Twin are the most sought after. In fact, he said they never have any on the floor because they get sold as soon as they come. There is less than 1000 USD difference between the Stelvio and the Mandello. They are both around 15,000 USD. You can basically purchase both and still spend less than for a BMW GS1300... unreal! Although I can keep my feet flat on the floor seating on the Stelvio, you really have to make an effort to bring it upright from being on the sidestand. Much more than my Quota, and that is with an empty tank.

+1 on the kill switch. It's possible that a marginal relay resets with a very short cool-down, but I would not expect that to be consistent every time, or in how long it takes to cool. But rolling the throttle or hammering the throttle to the pin might hold the clue, that you have a weak kill switch, or possibly a pinched wire grounding to the handlebar. I think it's to be fingered in person, and an inspection with cleaning warranted.

Ha... 17 year old thread has awakened. These things are like cicadas.

Without wanting to discount @docc 's reference to relay problems, after reading your update I would - Have a close look at the throttle grip (motor off, good light) and see if anything moves when you wrench open the throttle. - Whether yes or no, open the switch block (and the throttle grip) and have a good look at everything. Your discovery of the apparent connection with the kill switch makes me think that the throttle grip / switch block might be slightly loose, or something along those lines, and the "violent" movement is enough to break the contact, or perhaps cause a short, in the kill switch. Annoying for you, but a very interesting problem.

I am going to Paris in November, and I have made a direct deal with the owner of the place I am going to rent. AB&B prices have increased fueled by all the new laws enacted by localities in order to protect the Hôtel businesses and the long term rental market. The municipality in Paris has made it very difficult for owners to rent appartments through AB&B. They already had imposed a limitation of the number of days they could rent, and now, to be able to rent short term, you need to possess another appartment of the same surface that you can rent long term. They have also come up with additionnal taxes, mainly to satisfy the Hôtels. Therefore, with less rentals, prices have gone up. Not to forget that this year, the Olympic Games in Paris had inflated the prices to levels never seen before. As I go to Paris once a year, I have been staying in some dumps which really should not even be listed. Still, better than those expensive 2 stars hôtels... But if you are looking for better deals, there are ways to alleviate the pain. For example, if you stay outside of Paris, prices go down very quickly. The subway takes you to the city center in minutes, so it is not compulsory to stay with a view on the Seine. When I was working in Italy, I quickly learned that if you wanted to spend time in Venice, you stayed in Mestre. Take the bus to Venice, you have one every 10 minutes. The money aside, yes indeed, you now have to fight your way for every sight you want to visit. But if you really are daring, and resourceful, not easily frightened, I can recommend a few places where you will not see many tourists; Kazakhstan is one of them. I worked there for a few years, and it is stunning beautiful and tourist untapped.

FleetwoodMac, Peter Green, brings me back to this years Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon, with a lot of less familiar bands playing music of Rory Gallagher of course but also a lot of Peter Green. Oh Well(1) and Shadow Play, made the crowd go bezirk (big pogo in front of the stage) to such an extend that the artists feared for their audience. Great time.

SNL used to do a continuing skit where a fake Buckingham was always a guest on the skit's 'show' but they always ran out of time before he could talk. This time the real LB showed up, Watch Paul Simon. He knows.

Example of simple oil question: "Oil?" Example of simple answer: "Yep."

No wonder my wife haven't understood anything I said for the last 48years . Cheers Tom.

Ah. I am the Goofman and I approve this idea.🛫

That is well put. The chassis, exhaust, engine management, and suspension are all 2002 LeMans. I really do love the Tenni color scheme. Yet, it is pretty well known here that I love ALL of the V11 SpineFrames.

It’s a forum worth saving, I say we go for a deasnt seat across the pond next year for Jaap. We can make that happen . Cheers Tom.

If you search for "Rubber Tank Straps" or "Fuel Tank Strap Rubber Backing" you will find lots of choices. EPDM, Buna N or Nitrile material will work fine.

Not very wise here.. but a common failure is the voltage regulator from a dodgy ground. This would have let the battery run down. If it was truly 0 volts (!) it may be dead even though you charged it. Battery's don't like being totally discharged. Once you have replaced the voltage regulator and ran a solid ground from the regulator case to the engine block and most likely replaced the battery..report back. Oh, and welcome to the best knowledge base on the V11 in the world. Somebody else may have a better idea than me shortly..

Anyone that rides their bike to PI deserves everything they get. I've been to PI track about 1 gazzillion times over the last 40 years and I learned in the first 2 years never take the bike. I always take the car and packed in the boot is the appropriate infostructure for everything from freezing hail and gale force winds to 40 degree heat and sunstroke and everything in between. This can happen all on the same day withing an hour, no exaduration. You can't carry enough stuff on a bike to cover off those conditions comfortably. Many times I've spectated from the car for a few hours in freezing driving rain only to be applying sun block an hour later. Phil

I'm seeing fewer homes decorated for Halloween, but among those fewer, they seem to be more extravagant. I'd say good riddance to Halloween if it does fade away. The big stores are full of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations, all at the same time. I wonder who has room to store all that crap. I don't. I have too many boxes of motorcycle parts. Halloween is a made-up marketing holiday. It has some fun parts, but it's a lot a sugar that the kids don't need along with a lot of plastic waste that the world doesn't need. But I am not above trick-or-teating to my neighbors' houses with an empty shot glass in hand. Maybe I'll try a wine glass this year. As far as I'm concerned, we can get rid of the other two holidays too. While I like the idea of periodically stopping to be thankful, the whole Pilgrims and Indians things is just the start of one of the biggest genocides in human history (not worth celebrating). I also like the idea of getting the family together at year end and exchanging gifts. But I'm not buying the Christmas origin story or the Santa marketing campaign. Let's go back to celebrating the solstices and equinoxes... objectively observable natural phenomena. We can have a major holiday once a quarter. That seems like a nice rhythm. But then, those holidays don't mean much to people near the equator... so to each their own.

$3530 at today's to $ exchange rate of €3250. Scroll down here for details: https://www.motoguzzi.com/en_EN/experience/corsica-sardinia/ Add airfare -- $1400 in my case, IAD to MPX -- and other trans costs and you are pretty much there. Hard to get that much terror so cheaply. Bill

https://flic.kr/p/2qosp9u Ho trovato questo vecchio video del 2006, girato in Valtellina 😅 avevo da poco montato gli scarichi special!

Looks like a great trip. The day-of-the-week floor mats were funny. Bummer about the spill - and that's about what I thought would happen to the pipes on new engines. Cattle in the road... classic. Scenery... stunning. And Brazilian Pillion... well that just sounds right.

don't wait https://www.valueyourmusic.com/most-valuable/78-rpm/all-time

Yesterday, October 12th, 2024 was the Grand Opening of Iron Supply Motorcycles Katy (Houston) at their new location. Majority of participants where on four wheels, but there were a few interesting motorcycles; in particular a Kawasaki H2-R. As you probably know, the retail price is about 60k USD (without taxes and all the other add-ons that are not shown in the USA). It is really beautiful, but at that price? 321 HP @14,000 rpm... I have documented the previous location in 2021, when they informed they were moving. Three years after, they have now a much larger building and parking. I am going to take some photos and update the thread. Nevertheless, I went there by chance and won a dual sport helmet from Alpinestars decorated by Troy Lee Design in "Red". There is justice after all...

Always amused when people go to all the tourist spots in the EU and are dismayed because its crowded and expensive..like coming to the US and going tho Disneyland, The Grand Canyon, New York City, Nashville, San Francisco, Orlando, etc. etc and expecting reasonable prices and relaxation....I spent almost month in Italy/Switzerland/ Austria in July /August, Riding the Guzzi over 3000 km in the Dolomites / Passo dello Stelvio/Timmelsjoch ..etc,etc with a friend born and raised in Rome..We purposely rode Stelvio early AM on weekdays and spent every afternoon and evening in smaller towns and villages.....The whole trip was very relaxing and enjoyable, I went a couple years ago too, and I will go again next Summer...very nice. I asked a few people from the areas we were in about those tourist backlash articles, they all just chuckled and said they hadn't heard about it.

I have seen more Tyco failures in V11 than any other relay. Worth getting a full set (5) of High Current 5-pin relays and see if "problem solved." https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/picker-components/PC782-1C-12S-R-X/12352866

LOL, So true. More like a breakup though, she's leaving me. More pics below:

I think the idea is to buy the man a plane ticket.

Having followed myriad tire (and oil) threads on the interwebs, and on tarmacs, I would venture some consensus: 1) Tires (and oil) are good! 2) Fresh tires (and oil) are ALWAYS better than worn out tires (and oil). 3) Change tires (and oil). Ride & repeat.

She is fixed thanks for your input guys . Some how I guess because the trans was stuck in gear when disassembled,even though I marked the gears before I removed them the bottom gear was one tooth off so the trans shifted but the indentation for the switch was half where it should wave been hence wiggle and light would go on and off. So thanks again 😎

How the motor talks to you, nothing like it.. And a happy frame to go with it, ENJOABLE. +1 for the rest of comments from gstallons. Cheers Tom.

I think Bill needs another Billybob

I’d say that while yes, it is a ‘Western World’ phenomenon it is generally more of an anglophone western phenomenon, certainly my experiences in non-English speaking cultures in the last couple of decades have generally been more favourable. There is also the simple matter of history. History and sums! For the last half millenium at least western culture has been, both geographically and politically dominant. The historical narrative, at least the one most people absorb, is western and Eurocentric. Now other countries and cultures are becoming wealthier a proportion of their citizens will want to travel and when you are looking at countries like China and India with populations of over a billion a piece it doesn’t take many as a percentage to mean that their chosen destinations will become overwhelmed. Throw in ‘Our’ own boomers who have retired and want to see a bit of the world, often in a cocooned and ‘Safe’, ie, familiar environment that never takes them out of their comfort zone and it all turns into a rapidly evolving train wreck! I don’t think that the majority of these people are bad or unpleasant. Just boorish impatient and demanding. The way Jude and I tackle it is probably a bit unusual in that we try to avoid big ticket ‘Name’ destinations like the plague and if we do want to go somewhere where you know it’s always going to be insanely busy we go, as we do in most places, in the depths of winter as this tends to thin the tourists out a bit. On top of this we like to go to, and actively prefer, to stay in poorer, less developed and smaller towns and villages. Apart from the fact locals in bars and restaurants are always fascinated by WHY these strange, little old white haired pensioner people have come all the way from Australia to their little turdpoke village in Abruzzo or wherever! Then they want to know if you are on first name terms with their cousin in Griffith in the Riverina in NSW or their son Claudio who is a waiter in Adelaide etc etc ! In the UK we only drop down below the imaginary line we’ve drawn between the Bristol Channel and the Wash to visit relatives as anywhere below that line is an overpriced zoo with far, far too many people, most of whom think they are terribly special and are crying out for a good ‘Throat Punch’! Above the line things are infinitely better. There are still pockets of asshattery and some of the cities are really grim after 45 years of almost uninterrupted Tory destruction but the population density is way lower, it’s cheaper and the locals, (Outside the grim cities.) are friendly and helpful. It is also the cradle of the Industrial Revolution with history and museums to die for. The countryside, even in mid winter when it can be pretty bleak, is beautiful and once you get into Northumbria and Northumberland and thence on to Scotland the geography and landscapes are simply breathtaking. There is plenty of interesting Roman history to tickle my fancy in the borderlands areas and once into the highlands the austere magnificence is hard to beat although the lack of trees in the far north can cause issues! In January on one trip we were travelling around the A9 across the top of Scotland and had picked up some picnic vittles in Wick. After nearly getting stuck when it stated snowing the weather cleared and we continued but Jude got a bee in her bonnet about finding a picnic table and eating out of the car. Somewhere just west of Thurso she spotted a side road with a sign depicting a picnic spot so we hung a right and went down to the small rest area on the coast. It had a beautiful little beach, (Surprisingly devoid of naked Germans because as you know wherever you go in the world if you find a nice beach it will have some ageing banker from Düsseldorf and his hausfrau lying around with their kit off! Even in Scotland in January!) The absence of trees though belied the fact that it was in fact blowing about a force five gale! As we gathered up our meal of some cold cuts and proper English Cheddar the sun broke through the clouds and shafts of sunlight speared down onto the snow covered Orkney islands to the north, it was like the dawn of the world and stunning to behold! When we got out of the car though the gale was all too apparent but my darling helpmeet insisted we go and sit at the table, which we duly did and I set about hacking up the Baguette I’d bought in Wick. Jude unwrapped the 1/2 Kg of delicious cloth wrapped cheddar and sat it down on the table just as a particularly strong gust of wind hit, picked it up and sent it whistling off in the direction of Stromness never to be seen again! One assumes some lucky guillemot or puffin probably dined well that day! Anyway, after that even Jude thought discretion was the better part of valour and we retreated back to the car! And continued our trip! Sure, in the summer it would have been warmer, the wind would probably of been gentler and we might of got to eat some cheese! But at the same time the A9 across the top of Scotland is in some places only a single lane road with passing pull-offs. In summer it would be gridlocked with morons towing caravans and other assorted mouth breathers! We were probably lucky to see two cars an hour! Anyway! Enough. My main message is pick the ‘Wrong’ time to travel and you’ll find it’s likely to be the ‘Right’ time!