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This V11 lives in the northern part of the Netherlands , there’s a lot of Dutch spinies on the forum 💪🏻

Today I picked up the Nero Corsa from Moto Forza, a local shop that I highly value (having bought 3 bikes there, and many parts). It had been sitting idle for too long with failure to start issues. The mechanic found that I was only getting 5 volts through to the starter, so he wired in an extra relay. Now it actually starts. Gonna go for a short rip this afternoon and give her a proper flogging over the weekend. My Scura has been having the same problem, so I dropped that off when I picked up the Nero. Just in time for spring riding.

I've been known to dabble...

I was thinking more "dancer in a party dress " . . .

Italian tune-ups have been known to work wonders.....

Because there aren't many bikes as beautiful. Pretty simple for me.

And that, sir, is the correct answer.

My comment about them not crashing well wasn’t so much a criticism as a simple statement of fact. They don’t! Thing is they aren’t designed to be crashed so in terms of their performance and ability as a motorbike it’s an irrelevance. If I was a few years younger I’d be seriously looking for a V11 now but I’m old and unhealthy and don’t have much money for fripperies and toys any more since I retired and with my current stable of bikes I certainly can’t justify another one! The biggest issue with the Spineframe series to me is that they were designed and built at a time when the factory was very cash strapped and therefore some of the design features, (The outrigger bearing in the bevelbox casing is a good example.) are a bit ‘Poverty Pack’ and poorly thought out. Other parts though like the four shaft gearbox are a delight! I wish that had been carried over into the CARC series as a good one is a real joy to use! Look, they are what they are. The only way to know if you want to buy one is to ride one. So what are you waiting for?

Regulator-rectifier . Cheers Tom.

So true!

This V11 Le Mans is a beautiful birthday present for your wife. It is a very matury ellegant ballerina with an astonishing first impression, it ages like a flower in her prime. All of it resembles your beautiful wife. How else could you honor her.

It really makes perfect sense for me. I was torn between getting a characterful retro bike, but I also want something with nice brakes and suspension that can really handle. I guess most young riders are put off by the weight and age of these bikes.

The Griso and the V85TT are some righteous bikes. Get your prescription filled ASAP . Disclaimer : this bike is meant to be ridden , worked on in equal amounts. Have you been looking at a particular bike ?

You need a V11 because you don't have one

I also questioned "less practical" as I typed it because the V11 Lemans is not an impractical bike overall compared to many other more specialized bikes. Perhaps I should have instead said, less versatile. Yet again, it is more versatile than many other more specialized bikes. The Griso and V85tt both simply happen to be excellent do everything bikes. The most obvious answer is @Oxfo-Moto needs the V11 Lemans so as not to miss out on it's extraordinary riding experience. Very very different experience than riding my Stelvio which I love in a different way.

Almost true...the 2V 1200 Norge engine is significantly better than the 2V 1100 in the V11 series. However...having said that, owning and enjoying a 2002 V11 Scura, a 2008 2V Norge and a 2015 4V Griso...all I can say is: N+1 is the correct # of motorcycles you should have, with N being the current number! By all means delve into the V11 series...worst case scenario, you could sell it, but I doubt that would happen. The V11 series of bikes are extremely intuitive to ride, love the twisties and are very easy to work on, with the exception of some oddly placed zerk fittings...but to be fair, all of the Guzzi bikes have something unique about them. I have yet to find a reason to sell any one after having acquired another one.

We do have several members here with, or having had, both a Griso and V11, like @Scud. I would be curious what MisterÜberGriso, @pete roper, has to say about the comparison. I was surprised to see him express some admiration for the SpineFrame V11 recently having previously only noted him saying, "The V11 doesn't crash well. " The question being, "What with a Griso, then why also a V11?"

V11 Le Mans is less practical, more engaging, and more fun.

It's a longish trip, but I could concievably actually ride to that. Should it happen, and time constraints allowing.

If you have EVER used a thermal imaging camera , you know what heaven is.

Wish I had one to do something with!! LOL.. **Guess I'll just plod along on my beautiful VroomHilda Silver 07 Norge until then...

Gotcha! what about the shoes?

Yeah , these bikes are HEAVY compared to other crotch rockets they are compared to and categorized with. 12k RPM , wheelies , stoppies and burnouts are off the list of things to do. A John Deere c/shaft & flywheel is not the hot setup for this bike. The trouble is they are dressed up to look like a crotch rocket, The age of the average rider cannot reproduce the stunts Johnny Knoxville and his bunch do/did in his shows either . Don't even think you can.

IIRC , Montesa had a motocross bike and for a while they had "blooey pipes" . Think of expansion chambers and cut them in half at the largest diameter. i only saw them once in a DB or MXA magazine . I wonder how they sounded and if they did anything at all ? the equivalent to cutting off your exhaust system (on your car/truck about 24" off the manifold ? It's louder so it's better !

Inmates are coming out of the woodwork, now! What say you, @activpop? Why a V11 on top of a Griso?

RR ? Lagrasta , the temp gun was to check for heat buildup due to a poor connection. I have a couple of them and a FLIR camera to see any bad connections. If the connector is the problem , you can use crimp connectors to make a permanent connection and when the time comes you can cut them with side cutters.

@docc this is solely and entirely your fault, due to the previous post. I take absolutely no responsibility.

Y'all-boys need to remember when to shift into low gear!

I'm just hoping it rides as good as it looks. And if the bouncer in the dinner suit looks like Dakota Ditcheva (Google her) then I'm quids in. Thanks for the reply.

"Well darling, audiomick told me I needed one, so here it is". That should seal the deal😂

A more serious attempt at that question. I haven't ridden a 4-V big-block (your Griso, for instance) or a V85, but... The 4-valve head is the "modern" iteration of the old big block motor. From what I've heard and read, it is very good. The V85 is the latest generation of the motor in my V35 and my Breva. By all accounts, also very good. The motor in the V11 is more or less the ultimate developement of the 2-valve big block motors. As far as I understand it, the motor in the 2-valve Griso, 1100 Breva and 1100 Norge was not much different, but they were all CARC models and a bit more refined than a "classic" Guzzi. The V11 has the spine frame, so not a classic Tonti frame and therefore not quite a classic Guzzi anymore, but also not that far away from it because of the motor. What you have is a big, classic Guzzi twin tuned to within an inch of it's life wrapped up in a pretty good frame and suspension. In its time, very good. All the character of the old Guzzi V-twin combined with pretty snappy motor response, and very useful handling and brakes. It is a combination I like. The difference to the other two you have? Barely concealed brute force. A bit like a bouncer in a dinner suit.

FFS! My marriage is doomed...

The amusement park is overgrown, the gates are padlocked and the whole area is patrolled by Rottweilers

I'm not man enough to lift my Griso when I drop it moving it into my garage. Had to get my mate's 16 year old son to help lift it. And you've obviously not met my wife...

Congrats from the Netherlands! Good to see some more young (I was 25 when I bought mine, now 10 years ago) people buying V11's! That is a beautiful color. Feel free to send me a message if you (or anyone else from the Netherlands, but there are not so many) wants to go out for a ride!

Compliments, @wavey_davey1, on the informative discourse in the video. Quite a relief to hear so much detail about the V11 (and other Guzzi models) well presented. I would like to thank both @Pressureangle and @p6x posting this video separately to be certain we did not miss it. Thanks, guys! That @swooshdave beat everyone to the punch should be no surprise. The operative term is "swoosh !"

Just reviewed this entire thread after the Lemon Drizzle Gang video came up. Pretty amazing that @wavey_davey1 performed this "recommission" in three months! I thought that these links to the video belong here . . .

I've officially ridden my first 1000 kilometers on the Lemans now!

Yeah, I've confirmed that too. But they tend to not improve the state of the wiring. Only 5V at the starter is even less than mine had when I bought it.