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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:

43rd Annual Show, and always dear in my heart as it was the first time I saw a Greenie in person and I haven't been so insufferable since. Much to the consternation of the president of the club I park my bike on the field but don't register it so it can get voted on. I just do it because I can keep an eye on it. Pit stop on the way home. Also because the green looks fabulous in the sun.

It's a 01 red frame Greenie with no bracing. Cheers Tom.

Regarding the air bypass screws, it occurred to me to say that if you have to set one side quite different than the other (like 3/4 and 1 1/4 turns out) to synchronize the throttle bodies at idle, take time to look for a vacuum leak.

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?

It's a crack and a crunch, like something hit it. If it is ABS, that is tricky to work with. I think I'll pass. 🤔 Thanks for your input!

Read it years back, and thought it spoke well touching some of the intangible elements and sensations. Gonna have to take a look at it again and see how time has changed my feelings about the things it brings out. If I remember correctly it briefly bounces into T.E.Lawrence and his Brough Superior also!

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.

The front fairing on my 2000 V11 is fiberglass. The side fairings are plastic. I took mine to a couple body shops for an estimate on a repair on a deep scratch, not a crack. Both of their first response was "How much is a new one??" Both shops came in at about $350 for a complete resurface including sanding, repairing the deep scratches and repainting. The paint was the most expensive part where they told me that the paint alone was over $100 in their materials cost. The second shop told me the best way is to just do it myself and gave me pointers on grit of sandpaper and how to paint. The biggest thing he emphasized is to allow a couple days of curing between coats of paint and the clearcoat. He told me to leave it out in the sun for a couple days to dry between coats. He estimated it would probably take me a month to do it myself if I followed his advice. So as a temporary fix I just got a color match paint pen from autozone and colored in the scratches while I ponder what my long term solution will be.

Gus & @Skip painted the wheels I think they are cool. Maybe influenced by BMW K1 perhaps.

With a Coyote 5.0

MySport yet exists, and thrives, solely because of this community and the magic that comes with SpineRaids .

If you own a red frame bike , you need one of these brackets PERIOD . I would puke if my trans. case cracked . This is the cure . IMO , there was not a proper radius made or cut into this case to prevent cracking. this stuff is a science all by itself.

Great stuff, @cowtownchemist! Complete with PBR Amp Fluid . . .

80CX, I can't say for certain. My guess is no But research it, I'm often wrong Still unclaimed

I read it . Great book ! Also , Zen & the art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig . Loved it .

Quite a spread. I'd love to see the Alfa and the rug it's on. @Goofman

Why have the cylinders on so many of those bikes sagged so much?

Try searching "AMP Superseal".

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):

I use something on all electrical connections . The Deutch connectors on stuff at work are a bear , I use Motorcraft electrical grease or Lubriplate 105 white grease on everything .

Short frame V11 1999-2001 (Sport and Rosso Mandello). I am not sure a cracked gearbox mounting boss has ever been reported on a braced Long Frame 2002-2005.

I always shoot some contact cleaner into that gap too. Next time I'll throw salt over my shoulder.

I like the Garage-Mahal

Sounds like your TB’s are due for a rebuild..

docc, you have, of course, excluded the possibility that the multimeter has a dickey connection? No offense meant, but someone has to ask the dumb questions...

Latest first ride of the season….

Hi One of the best but there are a lot of traffic and cars, motorcycles and...other stuff. I visit last year in may and NOT on the weekend. A wonderfull moment and many special views. Follow the indications on this site https://www.trueriders.it/itinerari-moto/costiera-amalfitana/amp/ Have a nice holiday! (If you can visit Cilento coast!)