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This morning, I was driving the v11 to work I had a close encounter with a moose. I was stopped at a light behind a truck pulling a landscaping trailer behind a long line of cars. Saw a moose heading toward me down the street on other side of the road about 75 yards away. I had left some space between me and the trailer to locate the numerous pot holes in that stretch of road. Once it passed the truck and trailer it veered into the space I left in front of me. At this point I'm thinking remaining motionless is my best strategy. It got within 4-5 feet of me and went across road into the field and took off. I could hear its breath and smell it as it went by. Sorry it happened too fast to get a picture!

Here's a nice video about my first bike, the CB 350-Four

Big, smelly people come around the Guzzi breathing heavily. True, this NEVER happens on my Honda . . .

I noticed that riding a Moto Guzzi often has that effect on people. Now we can add animals too....

My first roadworthy bike was a Honda CB175 . Not enough zip, so I bought an old Honda CB450. It went OK, but had a drum front brake and a friction damper in the middle of the steering head. . It featured an under-tank ignition switch and a reserve fuel tap that we don't see on modern bikes. Then I got a CB450 with a disk brake. Better, but I always thought that Moto Guzzi was the bike to have. By the way, the pictures are not of my bikes, mine were never quite that tidy. Honda-CB450-Ad.webp

Ecco questa è stata la mia prima “moto”!!! (representative pic) sono immagini di repertorio trovate sul web ma il mio è esattamente così si tratta di un Cimatti bat baby del 1973. L’ho guidato per la prima volta all’età di 5 anni…era fantastico!!! Il motore che monta, è il classico Franco Morini della serie S 5 (esse cinque), monomarcia con frizione automatica in bagno d'olio. É ancora in mio possesso ma necessita di un restauro. Allo stato mi manca lo schienale ed il “db killer” 🤣🤣🤣 This was my first “motorcycle”!!! they are archive images found on the web but mine is exactly like this it is a 1973 Cimatti bat baby. I drove it for the first time at the age of 5…it was fantastic!!! The engine it mounts is the classic Franco Morini of the S 5 series (these five), single speed with automatic clutch in oil bath. It is still in my possession but needs restoration. Currently I miss the backrest and the "dbkiller" 🤣🤣🤣

First licenced street bike at 16 was a souped up 100ccm Zundapp. Sailor for a while, and a new Suzuki 500. Along comes 750 Kawasaki H2, very simple had to be had. First Le Mans ll in 84. As younger multiple bush bikes ripped of everything not needed. Tempo, Villiers, NSU, Royal Enfield. Almost for free those days. Cheers Tom. Sent fra min SM-S906B via Tapatalk

Thanks, Mick.. I have a remote mic that may alleviate much of the issues. I'm still very early in the flight test stage because of the weather, and taking a video has been low on my priorities. When the audio was unusable I downloaded Openshot and (mostly) turned down the audio except on the last few frames. Sorry for the thread drift, Docc..

I remember when one of my neighbors rolled in with one of the first Honda CB750 Four, certainly the first this 10 years old had ever seen. Golden metallic, chrome everywhere, and this enormous engine with 4 long sweeping exhaust pipes distilling this otherworldly soundtrack... that pretty much set me up for becoming a lifelong motorcycle aficionado.

No pictures. After taking the ABATE class I traded my 1978 Saab 99GL (with weeping $900 brake calipers and rebuilding kits unavailable and a failing cold start switch) for a "bottle fly blue green" 1981 BMW R65 with around 9500 miles. The dude I got it from had put a matching color Windjammer on it, and once I pulled that off and replaced the original headlight and blinkers it was fun as hell scraping the foot peg feelers and peaking out the Ronnie Reagan 85mph speedometer on the curves and hills of southern Indiana. After about 3 years I traded it in and got K100RS and the person who bought it crashed it a few months later. Still keep an eye out for one, but the exhilaration of the younger me probably paints the memory of that bike a little brighter than the reality of actual item. I do remember the right side Bing carberator dumping gas on my foot occasionally...

All just lively conversation!

thread "crab" ?

Back from the Öhlins service center.

Wow, y'all have taken this so beyond "fishing" . . .

Gorgeous bike nakaimoto! The number of those in the US with mileage below 10k and great condition is probably in the single digits. Congratulations and enjoy - nothing quite like the wonderful feeling of riding a V11.

you will need time to find a good bike and spare parts today rumours say they made from 1992-2001: 983 bikes Quota 1000 (Mandello) 889 bikes Quota 1100 ES (Monza factory?) registered in Germany 2017 (notorious market for BMW GS contenders): 29 - 1000 83 - 1100ES prices still very low - but hard to get a bike offered very good information here: Quota | guzzi-quota (arnes.si) Quota - Moto Guzzi - Topics - Gregory Bender (thisoldtractor.com)

thanks for the ideas but i decided to keep my quota as factory vanilla as possible. (certain OEM spare parts are a nightmare these days) You can do maaaaaany things to fix those quirky issues with the ES1100- i have seen few guys going this path and they all invested quite a lot money, time and emotional energy to make their really unique personal bikes. Worldtraveller (including ABS) , Rallye racer or Supermoto - Quota gives determined guys a space to plot their customizing vision on a quite special bike. I do not know a Quota Tuner that is not satisfied with his artwork outcome. But all those guys admit that using a BMW GS ,Honda Africa Twin or even a Stelvio would have been way cheaper and easier. Quota customizing - is a special kind of fever, that i could avoid in my life so far. My bike hording disease does not allow me budget, time and focus to go on this amazing trip. You read, if you like to try bit Quota Madness - my only advice is - go shopping for good Quota 1000 or a 1100ES, with all possible upgrades done by the previous owners. It will probably save you a lot - time and money. Have fun !

Both Brazil made, aug and sep 20. I have 1 more Demon spare, made in Indonesia. Feels a bit different, but NO, will not be mounted. Known the tire dealer since early 80, so no problem there. I might send the pictures to Pirelli if doable. D not acceptable for a bike tire. Cheers Tom.

Honda CL 350 (representative pic) ... drove it to high school ... more of s street bike than a dirt bike, suspension didn't do too well in the woods.

Crappy video of a flight around the pattern right before sunset. Had to turn the sound down because of the wind noise so you can't hear the little Verner run. Pay no attention to the growling of a dragging brake. The weather has been shall we say unconducive for flight testing and learning how to use the cheapie video cam..

Summer 1986 i got posession of my older brother´s former commuter simson moped - he had upgraded to 'real' MZ motorbike. i was 11 years old and had no licence but there was no sheriff ever seen in grandma´s village since the early 1970ies so a wild summer illegally riding my first bike in the fields - is one of the best memories in my life. I kept the bike running on grandma´s farm but without any cosmetics since this summer - pure Nostalgia. Often times people asking me when i would get rid of this useless weak cycle - as i had horded so many "powerful upgrades" in between and needed space. Nostalgic me - instead rescuing crashed simson moppeds from junk yards around grandma´s farm. (spare part donors ) 20 years later - kids started to go crazy for these simson mopeds and over the next decade this grew into serious bike fashion here. - Nostalgia or totally bananas ?

Keeping my fingers crossed, but I am the new proud owner. I paid the asking price. It checked all the boxes me, except price: Color, Year, Mileage, condition, Recall Work etc.. Currently awaiting shipping First Guzzi in my stable of Ducatis, BMWs, KTM and Triumph.

nos·tal·gia| näˈstaljə, nəˈstaljə | noun A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. 14 years old, I was finally getting a real taste of freedom when I graduated from a bicycle and was legally allowed to ride a "Cyclomoteur" on the street... without a license. I literally lived on the darn thing and loved it, from taking me to school in the morning to meeting with my friends afterwards at the café and going on adventures on the week-ends. And when summer came, we'd load them up and go on multi-days camping trips in the backcountry... lots of fun memories. The Italians had Vespas, we had Motobécane, Velosolex and Peugeot. The Peugeot 103 was ubiquitous in the streets of France in the 70's and would become the most sold moped in the world. It was the most popular model back then and has retained a cult following to this day. The Peugeot 103 celebrated its 50 years anniversary in 2021. Here is an article in honor of the event - Sorry but it's in French. https://www.mobylette-mag.fr/4890-peugeot-103-le-cyclomoteur-le-plus-vendu-dans-le-monde.html

Just saying, wortht having an extra look at your tires. Mounted late last fall, production year 20. Can't say I experienced anything like it. Will I get the same tire, NO. Cheers Tom. Sent fra min SM-S906B via Tapatalk

My 1000 S came with Demons made in 2012. Almost like new, but to old for my liking. So much for getting new tires Cheers Tom.

This is really strange. The place of manufacturing does not usually change anything to the quality of the compound. In a tire thread, we discussed how important the storage of rubber/elastomere compounds is critical. The tires should always be left in their individual wrapping, and stored in a temperature controlled environment until they are ready to be installed. Another possible issue is the vulcanization process. Temperature and time are so important. When I was a student, I visited the Michelin Plant in Clermont-Ferrand. The guide told us that any breakdown in the process equates to failing QA/QC and resulting in discarding. You should definitively have your dealership to make contact with Pirelli to make them aware.

Thanks for the video Chuck. I've been trying to get to a Spine Raid for the last few years but things got in the way. So fingers crossed, "this is the year". SKIP

Greener than blue, but the model is correct, with the twin discs... quicker revving than the bigger airhead boxers, black valve covers and silver "snowflake" wheels. Fun machine. Since I basically started out with a shaft drive opposed twin, the torque twist is natural to me and I adjust to it and counter steer even when I'm on a "traditional" chain drive!🙃

Thanks Doc I'm gunna need to replace mine soon so timely info mate! Cheers Ps right one has cracks and is taped up but may as well do both next service!

Same problem with the small block motors, but only three possible positions. Still only one that is right, though. The last time I bolted mine on (the flywheel, I mean... ) I set the motor to one or the other of the TDC positions, and matched the appropriate mark on the flywheel to the sighting hole in the bell housing. I think that is more or less the only way to be sure of getting it right.

Oh, forgot my excuse for not coming. Grandson Max is coming in from Iowa State to visit for a few days and leave his truck here for the summer before flying back to Socal. The planets just didn't align, and no dog could get them lined up.

Talked with Joe last night -- who was having his own 4-wheel travel adventure at the time. As I told him, my planned conflicting trip to the PNW has been cancelled/postponed as a result of my riding bud deciding that he should break his arm! So selfish. Anyway, as the old saw goes, "it's an ill wind ..., etc." So, I am back to attending. Joe said that my readmission will only cost me this: After this event, I'll ride back home on Sunday/Monday, and head back to Kentucky's Daviess County on Thursday for the Mutton Run! On the bright side, too, I'll get to see ailing Aunt Wilma again ... probably for last the time, at least on this planet. But, as Kathi will be in Italy , I can play. Have to figure out some way to keep the hummingbirds fed, and the grass will grow to the point I'll need a herd of goats to keep it mowable, but I don't want to miss the fun. Thinking that I'll ride the V7 III for Act I at Dale Hollow, then the Griso for mutton's Act II of My Old Kentucky Home on a Guzzi. Bill

Latest first ride of the season….

Ok, my "proper" first real motorcycle... 16 years and a few days old, A1 license in my pocket, I now can legally ride a bike up to 125cc on the street. Between the money I had been squirelling away from Christmas, birthdays, a few odd jobs and the proceeds from selling ice cream on the beach for a couple of summers, I was able to buy a brand spanking new Yamaha DTMX 125. It'll be 2 years and a full license until I can "legally" ride any motorcycle on the street with no restrictions, but those 2 years were filled with countless adventures and proved highly formative as a young rider, on the street as on the dirt. I loved every minutes of it.

I learned to ride on other bikes, but the first one I owned was a Suzuki GSX 250 E. One of these, mine was silver. The one in the picture has side covers from a 400, but the caption in Wikipedia, where the picture came from, says it is a 250. At the time, the japanese 250 models were commonly a downsized 400. Japanese laws were such that "up to 400" was a class, our laws made 250's a class, and the japanese manufacturers catered for the market by sleeving down their 400 models. Otherwise, the 400 and 250 models were identical. As a learner and probabtionary license holder in the state of Victoria, Australia, one was allowed to ride a bike with up to a 250 cc motor. The 2-stroke wave started just after I bought my first bike, so I got a 4-stroke. There was much discussion about what was the best 250. I think the GSX that I had was one of the better ones. I really liked the bike, rode it for a couple of years, and then sold it on to a mate to buy a car. About a year after buying the car, I got a 1976 Kawasaki Z900. After riding that for a while, I had a ride on "my" GSX 250 E, which the mate was still riding. The dominating thought was "did I really used to ride around on this tiny thing?". How quickly one's perspective changes.

First one was this (representative pic, didn't own a Polaroid back then....).

My very first would have to be some lawnmower powered minibike. Not sure if it even had a brand name on it. I just ripped up and down a long gravel driveway in upstate NY when I visited my father (that's all I was allowed to do). But my first street-legal transportation motorcycle was a 1972 Honda CB350-Four. Candy-apple red. Not sure if I have a photo of it. But I did buy a 1973 version a few years ago and putted around on it for a while. Re-owning the first bike did not re-capture the magic. It was just tragically slow, but it was fun for a spell. Rode that for a year and some change then got my first new motorcycle, a 1986 Yamaha Radian (also red). That was such a great little bike, and I have not seen one in a long time.

Installed a nice seat.

Yep !

99 V11 = ZGUKR0000XM111333 01 V11 = ZGUKR00001M114451 03 V11 = ZGUKTA0202M211214 04 V11 = ZGUKTA0203M211381 Cheers Tom.

What, What, another Pirelly Sport Demon with the same fault [emoji35][emoji35]. Tire looks fine when mounted, a week later when filled with air cracking showes. Cheers Tom. Sent fra min SM-S906B via Tapatalk