Kane

The bike made me think of your bike, docc. How many silver V11s — with a Stucci flyscreen no less— can there be in Greensboro?

Saw this $1200 2000 V11 on the CycleTrader website. I know nothing about this bike, but for the asking price I thought I’d mention it: https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2000-Moto-Guzzi-V11-5012974616 Good luck!

In spite of the paint fade issue, I’ve put a set of these on my tank. Thanks for posting on these 4corsa! They do help with the feel of the bike while braking. I’d not really had a concern with this until I graduated from riding in Levi 501’s to some Klim riding pants. Those are some slippery duds! I guess they’re suppose to slide.These tank grips pretty much negate that problem.

Taking a tip from 4corsa’s earlier post, I put a set of TechSpec tank grips on the Greenie today. As pointed out by Phil in that earlier post, an opaque tank protector will show uneven paint fade over time when removed, but these sound like they work well and I’m curious to try. I’m not sure how I feel about the center piece. I may take that piece off and replace with clear. Anyway, here is what a Greenie looks like with slabs of rubber of her tank:

Here is the Stucci “Fly Screen” in factory green paint, once offered as an accessory . They pop up for sale every now and then. I found mine N.O.S. from a local Guzzi mechanic. Not much of a fairing, but it does seem to help. Good luck!

Thanks, as always, for your sage elucidations! This place is awesome—-I feel like a fly-on-the wall at a post-race pit party! It looks like I missed the boat on the LM IV. It sold before I could get to it. Nonetheless, I’ve learned a lot here. Perhaps the 16” stigma is good for the buyer given what these bikes sell for compared to the 850s. Cheers, and I hope everyone is staying well and getting some good rides in.

Looking around for Tonti frame bikes I have found a LeMans 1000, 1986 model with the stock 16” front wheel. My impression is that the 16” wheel is considered undesirable, and I have heard that this model may also have smaller brakes or rotors (?). How much of an issue is the smaller wheel and brakes on these models? I’m also wondering if the frame geometry is different on the 16” wheel bikes compared to the bikes with the conventional 18” wheel. How hard is it, and how well does it work, to convert these bikes to 18” front wheels? I have read that people don’t like the handling, that some feel they are a little unstable because of the 16”, and that putting a 16” on the LM was more of a marketing move than an engineering move. But also that Dr. John had much success racing these, but it would be a road bike for me, not a racing bike. For getting into a carbed Tonti Guzzi via the ‘86 LM1000, is the 16” wheel and smaller brakes (if that’s the case) a deal-breaker? It would be great to hear from those of you who have experience on these. Hope everyone is well! Thank you

I dig the Griso, it’s grown on me, but my head is still on its way to wrapping around it. A lot of Thor’s hammer or something of the kind going on. Is that exoskeleton tube that cradles the tank a frame member or an accoutrement? I think if Ellen Ripley had ridden a motorbike, a Griso would have done it! Perhaps I’m still acclimating to the Griso, but I like the idea of an 8V Guzzi. How about an 8V LeMans?

I love your Rosso! Does the Rosso tank sit taller than the Greenie tank? It looks larger, maybe it’s the camera angle.

Unrelated: I have backed off all of the dampening on the forks (compression and rebound) and the steering damper, and brought up the tire pressure to 40psi rear and 38psi front, and she feels better than ever!

Marabese is a hard act to follow.

That’s a nice herd of ponies!

Not sure if these have been posted before, but you might find this of interest: https://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/moto-guzzi-cafe-racer/moto-guzzi-v11-cafe-racer/ https://luxatic.com/the-moto-guzzi-v11-sport-receives-the-japanese-treatment/ Cheers to our beloved V11! [docc copied and pasted "Image Locations".]

Is paint fade really an issue with the V11 tank paint? I have heard about early pork chops and other red parts fading, but I’ve not heard of problems with the tank, fenders, etc. I like the idea of the Tech Spec pads as it’s a little hard to get a good purchase on the tank when braking, more so depending on what pants I am wearing. But I live under the ridiculous southern California sun. Phil, I suppose the sun in Oz is not too different from what we have here......have you had problems with paint fade with your V11 tank? (a Greenie, too, like mine )

Your bike looks great. Bad to the Bone!

Beautiful. The paint looks amazing for a 50+ year-old motorcycle. The whole bike looks amazing! You must a proud papa! The Italian red is starting to get to me.....

Brisk, bracing, and bold! A perfect Viking’s ride! I’m becoming a big fan of the Rosso Corsa.

Rhode Island. That’s a clean looking Greenie! A great bike to ride around New England on!

Looks like a beautiful day!

Ok, this is a dumb-ass lame question: what wrench should I buy to adjust the spring load on my rear shock (the kind with the white spring)? Will any generic shock adjuster spanner wrench do, or is there a particular type that works best considering the nut size and space restrictions? I’ll try the Ohlins wrench. Thanks!

Bob, here’s a link to a page that brakes down how to read the Moto Guzzi VIN numbers: https://www.mgcn.nl/database/mg-framenummers According to this, yes, the last six digits are the serial number. My bike falls somewhere in the middle of the range of serial numbers in the recall notice. My bike runs great, but the recall notice is concerning. These are twenty-year-old bikes. I wonder how many MG caught and serviced when the recall came out in 2003, how many have gone unrecalled, and if there have been any cases of the problem described in the recall notice.

Cheers, Brother! That a very nice collection. Looks like you’ve got it covered pretty well. And a carpenter’s hatchet to boot! Hmmmm...that shade of red looks a little familiar.

Is there a way to tell if one’s bike has had the transmission recall done to it?

Indeed! Here’s one my faves, an old U.S.F.S. double bit with a True Temper Kelly Work Flint Edge head:

Hey docc, I’ve got one of those trendy, over-priced GB axes! I have their Small Forest Axe, but I sent the first one back because of a sloppy head alignment. The second one they sent me is fine, and it’s a nice handy large hatchet / small axe, but I actually use my Husqvarna axe more and find it just as good an axe at less than 1/3 the price of the GB! I did however refinish the Husky’s handle with linseed oil and cleaned up the edge, and now it’s very much on par with the GB. Actually the Husky’s handle has better grain! Husqvarna’s on top, GB’s on bottom: