Guzzimax

Hi Kane & VTwinStorm, No longer have the Speed Trip 1050, sold it a couple of years ago, loved the bike, didn’t mind it’s bug eyed headlights, but I found it too easy to ride like a hooligan, and decided it would be a license looser sooner or later. I’d bought the Speed Trip when it was just a year old from a guy who’d just picked up a speeding ban I think my current favourite is the Griso 8V. Difficult to pick a favourite V11, I don’t feel any stronger attachment to any one particular V11, I genuinely enjoy riding the 1999 Greenie/Silver red frames as much as the Rosso Corsa. I don’t currently have any Triumphs, following many years of riding Hinckley Triumphs. I'm going to try a 1200 Scrambler to see how I find the big parallel twin. Did have a Hinckley Bonneville 865 a few years ago but couldn’t really gel with that bike, it just felt a bit too characterless, dare I say it even a little bland. I’ve yet to try the new 1200 Triumph Twins These are my 3 V11 Sports, and the MT01 tucked away behind them

Never tried a 1200 Daytona, I did own a few Hinckley Triumphs a few years ago before getting submerged in the world of Guzzi’s. The polar opposite of the V11 was a Speed Triple 1050S with a full Arrow system. It was a fantastic hooligan bike, felt like a genuine street fighter, but it encouraged very fast riding, I felt like I had to be pushing the envelope all the time, and eventually I sold it around 3 years ago before I lost my license Where the Speed Triple was short & flickable, the V11 feels long and stable. The weight bias is towards the rear being a shaftie. The brakes are excellent and even the non ohlins machines handle well. However if you are used to a multi cylinder bike the V twin could feel raw & unrefined. Close the throttle and the engine braking is immense. I find that part of the attraction of the Guzzi. Whilst it’s been said a thousand times before, the V11 is a motorcycle of character and rider involvement. They have been hand made in Mandello del Lario in relatively small nos. Where I ride Truimph Speed Triples, Beemer GS’s, Gixers, R1’s etc etc are everywhere. A V11 is a rarity. Heck every Guzzi with the exception maybe of V7’s are a rarity around here It’s a motorcycle with soul, the sensation of the transverse vibration. It’s unique, but not for everyone 1429

I appreciate your point that one tends to prefer that which one is bonded to. I personally arrived in the strange situation of acquiring 5 V11’s because I was genuinely interested in discovering the subtle differences of some of the main sub-models, and I couldn’t bring myself to sell any, so the collezione just expanded over the years. My justification to myself in buying a Greenie this year, when I already have a silver red-frame, was that Greenie had Mistrals, a belly pan, tail tidy, and various mods whereas my Silver is entirely stock, and apart from the future addition of a Roper plate will remain that way. I don’t really have any strong preferences of one derivative over any other, but I’m sure that there are some folk out there in Guzziland who have both red & black frames, and I’m interested in hearing other’s opinions. My local Guzzi community is awash with various Calis, 1200 Sports, various LeMans, Stelvios, V7s, and a growing no of V85s; even a Spada, but only one 1100 Sport, and no other V11. It’s like the Spine era was bypassed. I was seriously looking at an 1100 Sport earlier this year, but I decided that I just couldn’t get along with the hardcore riding position….

So is there a consensus amongst the Guzzi community about their preferences? Short red frame & short tank (chinpad) long black frame & short tank (chinpad) long black frame & long tank (internal fuel pump) On balance I find black frames feel a little more planted in corners. Must be the 20 mm longer wheelbase plus all the extra bracing around the swing arm / subframes. I don’t feel the fatter 180 rear tyre has much of an effect in slowing the black frames turn in. I have a 2002 transition model (registered in 03),and the extra 20 mm of frame visible behind the steering head doesn’t bother me. I don’t find it aesthetically less pleasing than a long tank

Have to agree with Pete Roper about the 8V’s. Elsewhere on another forum I’ve just written a comparison between my Greenie, Griso 8V and Yamaha MT01. I love V11’s - I’ve currently got five of them, everything from a Greenie to a Rosso Corsa, but IMHO the Griso 8V raises the bar. When the 4V motor has run out of puff and fells revved out, the 8V just keeps on pulling & pulling; the Griso’s frame also feels rock solid, and when riding hard on a twisting B road the red frame starts to feel “edgy”, the Griso feels more planted. I can’t disagree that aesthetically there still isn’t much to challenge the cohesion of the V11s looks, but I’d encourage anyone to try a properly mapped 8V, as an old school air cooled V twin it’s about as good as it gets

Last week, same location, same ride, my Griso parked behind the Beamer R1150, my fluorescent backpack resting on the then cold exhaust

If anyone from the UK is reading this post, this is the pavilion car park in Matlock bath, this afternoon

80XC100 asked me how I feel the MT01 compares to my Guzzi’s It’s very difficult to pigeon-hole the MT01; it’s no sports bike, it’s not a cruiser (but it’s got a cruiser engine), it’s not a tourer. Perhaps that’s why when it was in production from 2005 ~ 2011 it was a sales flop. They’re as rare as hens teeth here in the UK as well, but now rapidly achieving cult status. I think they look incredible - Mad Max meets Godzilla, they have massive road presence, and wherever you park it, it always draws a crowd usually with “what the hellisthat” questioning. Some folk confuse them with a Yamaha Bulldog 1100. Firstly I have to say I’ve never ridden any Buell, in the UK they are also as rare as hens teeth, so I can’t use that as a benchmark. The MT01 is a torque monster, 2000 rpm = 60 mph. It’s only a 5 speed box, but unless you doing 80 mph+ you rarely need 5th. Overtaking anything up to close to the ton is easy, open the throttle and the wall of torque pushes you forward like a warp drive. At 4500 rpm it’s all over! But it’s a very tall heavy bike, something like 260 kgs wet (574 lbs), and it feels like it carries it’s weight high. You have to work hard in the twisties, at the time of its production, some road testers praised its handling, but you can’t forget it’s bulk, it turns in slowly despite not having a massively long wheelbase (1525 mm; V11 black frame 1490 mm; Griso 1554 mm 61”). I think the suspension is a little under damped for it’s weight. After an hour or so in the saddle, you need to take a break from the vibration. On the plus side the finish is incredible, polished pushrod tubes, the extruded aluminium frame looks like a work of art, mine is 16 years old and still looks terrific Today I took the MT out on the same route I did on my Griso 8v last Sunday, and my Greenie 2 weeks ago In terms of ride satisfaction my scoring is (1)Griso 8V (2) V11 (3) MT01 I will write a more comprehensive comparison when I have more time. My conclusion is the MT01 is too much of a niche bike - great to have in your stable if you can indulge yourself with several bikes, but too compromised to be a great all round riders tool. The Griso 8V is a great all round riders tool, and the V11 is a worthy runner up, just edged into second place by the fabulous 8V Guzzi big block. I have to say that if I could only have one bike I’m my garage it would be a hard choice between an Öhlins equipped V11, or a Griso 8V, but it wouldn’t be the MT01

Bike cleaning afternoon today, Greenie & MT01 out of the garage, and treated to degreasing, bug removal etc to smarten them up. Reminded me how heavy the MT is pushing it around the yard, makes the Greenie feel like a lightweight. Two roper plates arrived yesterday, got to order some sump gaskets

The relative weight (heavy or light) is what you get used to. I’ve been recently riding my MT01 and that’s 265 kg (584 lbs) wet. Getting back on a V11 (around 540 lbs wet), and it feels like a 250 cc in comparison. Despite the MT01’s cylinders being a conventional in-line Vee, the tank is bulky, it has a high C of G, and great care is required when wheeling it around a carpark or garage. I don’t find a V11 bulky, but if I usually rode a V7 it would seem huge In our local riding “community” there are 2 female riders, one has a V50, the other an Enfield Himalaya. My daughter started learning to ride a couple of years ago, passed her CBT and I bought her a little Yamaha YBR125, then she was promoted at work & had to move to London, with no secure parking at her apartment, and the YBR was unused in my garage so I sold it. She always rides pillion with me when back at “home” I think a V7, or V9 would be an ideal Guzzi for female riders, low seat height, not too heavy, and low C of G. Rarely see any though……

Excellent choice of machine. Went on a ride out around Derbyshire today with some friends, I was on my Griso 8V, seen here parked next to a friends fabulous MK1 Le Mans, whilst we were stopped for tea & bacon butties

2003 Rosso Corsa, 04 Le Mans, and my 05 MT01 the Master of Torque

My 2003 Rosso Corsa

Thanks for everyone’s valued replies and opinions regarding my tyre question. Over recent years I’ve also had several Triumphs (including Speed Triple 1050 & Tiger Sport 1050) using Michelin Pilot Road 3 sport/touring rubber and always been happy with Michelin’s grip/handling/wear performance Equally my Greenie and Gen 2 VMAX have Bridgestone tyres, and in the case of the Greenie almost new Battlax BT021’s. These feel OK when they warm up, but warm up takes a long time and they don’t feel so good at colder temperatures

Where did you source your Roper plate kit from?

It’s getting time to replace the Pirellis that my 1999 silver V11 is riding on. This has lead me into browsing what brand/spec of tyres I should choose Both my black framed V11s with 180 rears have Michelin Pilot Road 2 sport touring tyres, and I’m happy with their performance, although Michelin now offer newer versions Does anyone have any recommendations for the red framed V11s with 170 rears? My Greenie has Bridgestones, and I feel that they are more touring than sport, the rubber seems harder and takes longer to warm up yesterday I was taking to a guy I know with a 2015 V7 II Special originally fitted with Pirelli Sport Demons (bias ply). Hated them, said white lines and poor surfaces unsettled them very badly. Changed to Avon Roadriders & reckoned it’s transformed his V7 handling Now I know that V11s with 17 inch rims would have more modern radial rubber compared to a V7, but whats people’s recommendation for rubber for a red frame with a 170 rear?

I was all set to buy a Monster 1100 earlier this year (last of the air cooled), then this Greenie came up for sale, only 5K miles, and with a lot of money spent by the previous owner (new clutch, frame & swing arm powder coated, belly pan and lots more including a LeMans style bikini fairing that I’m yet to fit). The price was right, next thing I know it’s in my garage next to the others. The Monster will now have to wait until next year….

I’m lost for words, what a way to butcher a V11, awful, styled by Lego

And here is the exposed frame of a 2003 Sport, it’s slightly longer than the earlier red frame (@ 25 mm from memory)

I’ve never really been excited by cruisers. I’ve got a Gen 1 & Gen 2 VMAX but they’re not real cruisers (standard bars & foot pegs) and in the case of the Gen 2 they handle well for heavy (310 kgs) bike. The feet forward & foot boards of the Cali 1400 don’t do it for me. Also doesn’t the 1400 motor have a single throttle body, and I recall reading some where that the 1400 head design is very restrictive ? Narrow ports / poor gas flow compared to the 1200 motor? Fully appreciate that the 1200 roller tappet motor in the Stelvio is the same as the Griso’s and if adventure bikes were my thing I’d probably rate them above the Griso, but IMHO aesthetically & dynamically the Griso 1200 is the ultimate big block development for me

PJPR01, you sir have summed it up perfectly!

Had a fabulous ride on my Griso around the Derbyshire hills today. Did exactly the same ride on my Greenie 2 weeks ago. Reflecting on the contrasts, it reminded me what a gem the 1151 cc 8V roller cam motor is. Masses of torque throughout, and at high rpms it just keeps on pulling. The Griso 8V is a joy to ride, sure it’s long heavy bike, but I can hustle it along the twisties around here and make great progress, it countersteers well, and generally feels rock solid even when really pushed hard, I think it’s a lot more planted than my red framed V11’s, but that’s down to it’s longer wheelbase and stiffer frame. IMHO styling wise I still think a V11 is slightly ahead of the Griso, but the Griso was and still is an awesome package & finale to the big block Guzzi’s Will we ever see an as accomplished a Guzzi as a 8V Griso ?

Last weeks Derby area Guzzi meet (I’m on the black Griso) We’re all upside down