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I recall @Bill Hagan coined "Garage Mahal " for his digs in Atlanta. Bill's new digs be "Moto Grappa ." Goofman's cool section is known as "Moto Brimstone " . . . (My digs are known as . . . the garage.)

Riding with multiple V11 Sports/Lemans is a visceral experience. These bikes really have soul and bellow out a unbelievable sound, especially during a group ride. Kale mentioned on the phone recently that he could hear when our bikes sound would synchronize at the same rpm, like when tuning a musical instrument. It was an epic weekend with experiences found only at a SpineRaid .

Now that it has had time to soak in , It was good to hang out w/everyone and meet members , hang out with , talk to socialize with some decent people . I realize it is imperative to go to the next one , the next , the next and the next . Owning this bike would be frustrating w/o you , your input & this website.

@Goofman's "Alfa" parked between the trucks . . .

On the bike I still have I used copper plumbing bends and =can't recall what type hose= but it has lasted awhile now. Use your best judgement on what will tolerate oil. Many say don't use auto heater hose. I made mine when those preformed replacements were $40.+

Never thought I'd have that many bikes lined up at Moto Brimstone!

In the current issue of Moto Magazine, www.motomag.com, the BMW R1250RS, Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello S and Yamaha Tracer 9 were put through their paces. Their format is to bring a non professional rider amid the journalists. The Moto Guzzi held its own pretty well. The classification was as below: Styling: Moto Guzzi Ergonomics: Yamaha, Moto Guzzi; mainly because the reach to the bars. Engine sound: Moto Guzzi City usage: Yamaha, Moto Guzzi; because of its turn radius. Dynamism: last; Pillion: last Engine: deuce Electronics: Moto Guzzi Braking: Moto Guzzi/BMW Here's what they say: Pro: -engine output -global comfort -driving and performances Con: Suspensions a bit firm, turn radius in city, active aerodynamics not useful, front a bit heavy when driving fast in tight curves. Here's the results:

I've had 4 6speed V11. A 2000, 2X 2002, and an 03. All had crank vent tubes in various stages of disintegration. They aren't made to handle the heat and oil mix. At least the oem's weren't. Leaks often presented dripping onto the center of the crossover. this one. https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=1186

I received the latest issue of Moto Magazine, and there is a comparative test of six tires designed for Sport-Tourism motorcycles, such as the V11; Dunlop Roadsmart IV Pirelli Angel GT II Bridgestone T32 Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE Continental Contiroadattack 4 The test took place at the Goodyear Mireval track in France. It used to be a racing track purchased by Goodyear and transformed into a tire test track for all kind of vehicles. This track has multiple asphalt quality and a "wet" loop. The testing was conducted with a Yamaha Tracer 9, one of the motorcycle used for a sport-tourism comparative test with the Moto Guzzi V100S, BMW R1250RS, results will come in a separate post. Each tire sets was ran for two laps on the fast track, length 6.6 km. When the tires are manufactured, they are covered with a thin layer that facilitates their removal from the molding machine; The braking tests were measured with a VBox Sport from Racelogic, using GPS data. In the dry, for each tire the speed was set to 125 km/h, and the braking distance measured between 100 km/h until 5 km/h. In the wet, the set speed is 90 km/h and the braking distance measured between 80 to 5 km/h Maneuverability was checked; the Goodyear track has all kinds of tests to verify how easy the motorcycle respond to impulses. Also, behavior on wet asphalt such as fast, slow curves, banked curves, skidding under acceleration, stability. Now we need to keep in mind that the braking results on the Tracer are carried out using the ABS, I don't really know how it translate on our V11. Find the results of the test herewith: -The top performance was given to the Dunlop Roadsmart IV, the second best was the Pirelli Angel GTII; Some of these tires have a GT version for heavier motorcycles and SP for Sport roadsters. I believe the V11 can use the standard version. Note that all the tires tested are manufactured in Europe and Japon for Bridgestone. Michelin is the only manufacturer to have dual compound for the front and rear tire. All the rest have dual compound rear tires. Again, one important aspect of tires is never measured: average autonomy. I am currently on ROAD 5, since the ROAD 6 were not not in stock. The Roadsmart IV neither earlier this year. Only the Roadsmart III was in stock. The Roadsmart IV is given as the best in terms of maneuverability and stability. Something that I have been told; the Tires we purchase in the USA are not coming from Europe. It should not make any difference in terms of quality though... I am completely happy with my Road 5, and will attempt to install Road 6 at the end of year. Then I will check the Roadsmart IV at the end of 2024.

Worth repeating: The @Chip Seal-Mobile (with Titanium cans!) . . .

And it coud be at the front going into the spine. leaving oil all over. Cheers Tom.

Motus designed two motorcycles based on a V4 90degrees, push-rods, two valves, 1650 cm3. The MST 165 hp, and the MST-R 180 hp. Motus beat the pushroad production speed at 154.76 mph (249.06) and did even better at 165.85 mph the following day. Unfortunately, Motus lost their investors in 2018, a few months before the commercialization of the motorcycles. A 4 cylinder V twin made in the USA... that would have been cool, no?

I expect that a gearbox from a crashed bike could be cracked if the engine got a smack from the front.

I know this post is redundant, but the later LongFrame lower/rear subframe "tube" brace is clearly visible on this Rosso Corsa and the image is just so compelling and begs to be shared!

Docc , you are probably the MVP of this forum for the US.

I don't think $350 is out of line if you want it pristine. Particularly when you consider the cost of the bike-specific paint. These guys repair a lot of plastic car bumpers. So the tech is well advanced. Consider the cost of a bumper repair and add a little for the rare paint match. I suppose you could purchase some of the two part bond/filler and give it a shot. If that worked out, you could make decision on painting it.

Just sharing a couple pics of my recent audio projects Original Large Advents fully recapped, refoamed, reupholstered, and rebadged. In here you can see the Marantz 2270 which is currently on my bench for a full restoration. Heathkit W5-M monoblock amps fully recapped and restored. Before pic. The after pic of the W5-Ms with my Bozak 302a Urbans, which also have been fully recapped and upgraded crossover

Did too... when we had that conversation about ladies on motorcycle. It is in a thread somewhere in this forum; When I was dreaming about riding long distance, I purchased the "Une Demoiselle sur une Moto" (Girl on a motorcycle) written in 1973 by Anne-France Dautheville. In that thread, someone suggested "The Perfect Vehicle". She depicted pretty well what the past used to be, and to some extent, the present for us aging V11 enthusiasts. However most of the new generations are never going to get it first hand. The secret pleasure of riding a motorcycle is vanishing fast. We are still somewhat perpetuating it, but it is fading. My 27 years old son never understood that craving. No matter how hard I tried to pass it on. When I attempted to depict the derived intense emotions of riding, he just did not connect with it.

Aren't we all habit's creatures? The way I look at it, I want to try as many as I can, to find out if I am able to distinguish what is tagged to have better performance. With the mileage I am putting out while doing the Texas Tour, I can justify poking around to find out what I think suits the V11. I shall hit 30k miles by year end.

FWIW, if you are looking for connector parts try Greg Bender at This Old Tractor. https://www.thisoldtractor.com/for_sale_wiring_harness_tonti_california_iii.html

I was in my garage briefly today, and had a look. I saw a hose, about half an inch thick, that goes in to the crankcase vertically just in front of the end of the crankcase before the clutch bell housing starts. Very, very oily. I think we're on the right track.

[moderator edit]: While the valve adjustment and breather hose/oil leak conversations are still intermingled here, I moved the TPS discussion to a more dedicated place:

I just finished reading this excellent book by Melissa Holbrook Pierson who is an avid Guzzi enthusiast. I learned about her last year when I received my copy of "Moto Guzzi 100 Years", in which they dedicate the first few pages of the book her - that's no small thing. Her first bike was a V65 Lario which she rides all over the east half of the country. Lots of history of the motorcycle and riders included. She does a good job of explaining what it is about Guzzis that we love. I won't spoil it for you, but it was a really enjoyable read - highly recommend!

this came with the RAM clutch/flywheel assembly. it is for the five speed trans. it is unnecessary for the six speed. it's not even good for a spare if you want it post: "I want it" in this thread. First post gets it. I'll pay shipping continental US. shoot me a message with your address after you post here. if you live in a foreign land you can pay shipping thanks cdr

And my 2001 V11 has no bracket under the spine. NO evidence of someone grinded it of. Yes, I have some thoughts of making a bracket without welding. I have a spare case . Cheers Tom.

True, that. Seems all of the cracked cases I have seen are silver and were discovered without apparent incident. My dealer told me that landing wheelies on a V11 ShortFrame could do that . . . I said, "It wasn't me!"

Correct. There is only the underside mount tab on the RedFrames. Apparently, the 2001 Rosso Mandello ShortFrame (painted black) does not have the tab. IIRC, @Tinus89 added a tab to his Rosso Mandello frame the brace it. The later V11 tube-braced LongFrame, 2002-2005, does not have the underside tab for the plate, but probably* braces the engine-> swingarm across the gearbox adequately with the lower tube braces from the rear subframe (seen below, just above the exhaust). *Does anyone recall a cracked gearbox mounting boss on a LongFrame V11?

Yes, I think so too, without being 100% sure. One way to find out is to burn a shaving of the material. Doesn't need to be much. ABS burns with a yellow flame, and makes lots of black smoke. The other indicator is the noise it makes when it is dropped or hit. ABS makes a fairly clear clattering noise, almost bell-like. I don't know if there are any in english, but I have found a couple of videos in german on Youtube (from nerds, mostly...) about identifying the various plastics. ABS can be welded with a hot-air gun. I made a succesful attempt on a V35 Imola fairing. I got the ABS "welding rods" from a local hardware store. The hot-air gun needs a nozzle to concentrate the air stream. The one I have has about a 1/2" opening, and allows one to "focus" on the spot to be heated. One should open the crack to a Vee shape with a miniature grinding wheel before welding. My result looked fairly messy. Ideally, one would practice on something else before attempting the real thing. Nevertheless, I was able to smooth it off adequately on the outside to have it painted, and it held until the fairing was finally destroyed when the bike fell off the side stand. Again. The current fairing on that bike is the third one I've had...

For sure, the Stucchi Luigi Moto Guzzi color-matched accessory flyscreen for the 1999-2001 Sport is fiberglass. None of the later, or Rosso Mandello, flyscreens were the same. The 2002-2005 full-size LeMans fairing is some kind of polymer ("plastic"), pretty sure ABS.

Hey Docc tks for confirming my memory of things;you're right I just confirmed with Dave Richardson's "Guzziology" & if that's what they're calling an input spline,it can be used to align the new clutch plates going on. Hey CDR "I want it" I'll send you a pm to work out the details. Tks very much

He** no ! Make sure you have swivel sockets to accomplish this feat !

I do have the bracket for my V11. Still on the lift getting driveline renewed with unis. Been at a standstill for a bit, life gets in the way sometimes. When the bike comes down that will be the next installation. Hoping to find everything there intact. Don't need any "oh shit" surprises.

Yeah, reckon I'll stick with my Angel GT11.... I just rode home from work earlier today, 70 kays 11 degrees TORRENTIAL rain and even with 13 thousand kays on them they were rock solid, stable and secure! They've still got quite a lot of life left in them and will replace with same or next gen Angels if available when I'm ready! Bloody good in the dry too ha ha Cheers

I'll stick with Dunlops <Guzzi content> $

When you look at the peanuts difference between those tires' performance, there is no bad choice here. They did say though, the Michelin braking performance is affected because it is the only tire that triggers the ABS extremely early in the test. As we know the ABS helps in control and not in braking performance. Just out of curiosity, I looked at the prices and availability using Revzilla; The Metzeler Roadtec 01 are ALL out of stock. There are the cheapest. The Michelin Road 6 are the most expensive. Some of the GT versions of these tires were not available.

Agreed, @4corsa! A thoroughly enjoyable read that reaches out to our sense of what motorcycling is. Something (some "thing") that is so hard to express, especially in writing.

I posed the TPS gap question to a friend of my brother who was a Guzzi dealer / Guzzi Race team owner in the 90s and early 2000s (now vintage car builder/racer), and here is his reply: "🤣 Marelli FI if l remember. Lowest cost supplier…. Design change of the sensor or throttle body or both…. Both are sealed for water intrusion by design. Air for TB. Water for electrical connection on the Tps. could always tape off and insert some black RTV. " Was hoping his input might be a bit more enlightening, like "adds more air for intake by design", but seems to confirm what you were all thinking - just not one of Guzzi's better moments in parts supply integration... Mareli FI if l remember. Lowest cost supplier…. Design change of the sensor or throttle body or both…. Both are sealed for water intrusion by design. Air for TB. Water for electrical connection on the Tps. could always tape off and insert some black RTV.

Dang, y'all . . . Got me hopping on thread drift and scatter . . . (Looking to split the TPS content from this air bypass thread to its own topic.)

This: Seen looking forward from the left, airbox removed: Frame plate seen from the right, looking up past the throttle rod: Red Spine Frame shown from the bottom, attachment tab is the smaller, further forward (to the right in the image):

https://www.motivcycleworks.com/ Your profile says an '01: contact Don and get the bellhousing bracket. Don't let the tranny crack like mine did. I'm sure I paid for the r&d for the bracket. Tell 'em John sent ya.

It occurred to me that I should perhaps expand a little on the quoted post. The text came in conjunction with some diagrammes of measurements of a cam that the quoted person had made himself. The text should not be understood as a recommendation to always set more clearance than the manufacturer specifies. The recommendation for greater clearance on the old guzzis is based on measurements and empirical trials on that particular motor. It seems that the manufacturer struck a compromise very much in favour of low wear and tear on the valve train and quiet running (i.e. very long ramps on the cam to save stress on the pushrods and rockers...). The recommendation for more valve clearance shifts the compromise towards a bit more valve train noise, less thermic stress for the valve seats, somewhat better performance (at least theoretically), and perhaps a little more stress for the valve train.

That time we spent together moved at the speed of light. It was over way too quickly . I enjoyed every second of it !

Pretty cool to ride with Josh on his "cruddy old bus bike ." Makes me proud my Guzzi says "Sport" on it . . .

Slovenian police

First "real" street bike. Recent separation from the Army. '69 H1 500 Dad-built Honda powered Rupp was the true first.

Finally got to ride one. White Base Model. The bike rips and I only had it in T mode. I got it well over 90 criss crossing traffic in a couple of miles of city Interstate. Certainly faster than any Guzzi I've ridden. Didn't quite feel like a Guzzi, I didn't notice any torque dip with the throttle. The bike was little more upright -I could use a little more rear tuck with the pegs. It was stable in traffic, great pick up from the engine and sharp brakes. So far as handling, I didn't have a chance to run it in many curves, the riding position could be better IMO with a little more leverage for the pegs. No doubt that's a rider's preference deal. In tour mode those little wings deployed and the bike was stable in very strong sidewind. The owner told me that he could feel the difference when the active aero was on. I'd say the closest bike would be the Yamaha 900 sport tourer in feel and performance. The only thing I didn't like was chintzy header covers. They just gotten the Green one in presold.

A constructive review from that same guy:

Abruzzo will enchant you...

Abruzzo will enchant you...

Beautiful scenery. Been there last autumn. You'll see tourist coaches on the road, passing eachother with 2 inches space. Take the boat to Positano. BTW, I only saw three Guzzis in one week, and a lot of GS's.