JohnnyV

Hey everybody - I really do need your help! Spring is arriving and road is warming, but my MG ain't yet ready to rock... Some modifications have been made but the last touch is missing. Please, help me with the next topics! 1. How can the speedo- and tachometers of the V11 Sport (ym. -03) be remowed? I loosened the screws behind the meters and took the plastic cover away. Next, I detached the electrical connection of the tachometer and pulled the bulbholders off. Now, I had the tachometer removed - that's fine! But how about with the speedometer? The speedo cable and the buldholders were easily removed, but how on earth can the pin and the shaft of the tripmeter be removed? If they are still on place the speedo won't come off! Can anybody help me? Even Richardson's Guzziology doesn't tell this trick. 2. Ok, let's imagine that with your invaluable help (Thanks in advance!) I have now removed both the speedo- and tachometers. However, my tachometer's lens is pretty scratched - this is the original reason why I started the job. The scratches on the lens are pretty surprising, since the part is nearly new - at the end of last season I got a new meter (still under warranty...) from my local MG dealer. Thus, I want to change the lenses, preferably to glass ones. How do the lenses come off? Has anyone experince on this topic? 3. And finally, the most embarrassing thing... When I was removing the electrical connections from the speedo, a bulb dropped inside the meter (doh...). Ok, Richardson warns that the bulbholders are flimsy, but I should have been more careful. What goes around, comes around... If I can't remove the speedo, I can't get the dropped bulb from the inside of the meter... How is it possible that a good intention - to change the scratched lens to a new one - can cause such a problem! I hope someone can help me with these questions or I have to change the oils to my old Japanese steed. And that would be a shame! WBW, Johnny V

Many thanks to Carl and Al for advice! Dealer ordered a new tacho under warranty. I'm just waiting for it... Postal services of Italy seem to be somewhat slower than Rossi and Biaggi. Now the tacho has gone totally mad doing full 360 grade circles once a while. Have to try to fix it by myself... Additional question: Can somebody explain the exact functions of the each five relays of the bike - what relay does what?

Hey, The tachometer of my two months old (1200 km) V11 Naked has started to do odd things. When I ride with stedy gas for example at 3000 rpm, the tacho jumps suddendly to 4-5000 rpm and then comes rapidly back. The problem was first occasional but is getting worse and worse all the time. The problem doesn't seem to happen at very low revs (1000-2000 rpm) but starts at 3000 rpm. The running-in is not yet complete, so I haven't revved the bike higher than 6000 rpm. Has anyone else had similar problems? How to fix it?

Tack ska du ha, Göran! I can see what my mates told me - as a MG rider you are never alone with your problems! So I'll book time for dynoing. Have to purchase those mufflers and filters first. Yes, I live in southern Finland, but two nights ago the temperature was still under zero!

Hello Everybody! I just purchased a new V11Naked and have driven 850 km with it. Nice bike and surprisingly agile for such a big-bore machine! I'm really happy with my purchase! However, few questions from a novice to you: 1st: I would like to install round and rather small carbon mufflers, Mistral seems to do ones. Mufflers should give more ground clearance than the original ones, but I still want to save some footspace for my pillion riding wife! She is nice!! Have you experiences on Mistral's round carbon mufflers, can I buy Mistral mufflers and shorter footrest hangers (are they needed?) from Net? I live in Finland and selection of this kind of stuff here in the North is rather limited... 5 million people in a country size of Germany, and its not a surpraise that I have seen only three V11s during last three years! 2nd: RossoMandello's small fairing (I guess it is of carbon?) would be fine. Is there other similar fairings available from other manufacturers? Guzzi's quarter fairing (for example in Cafe Sport model) does not look as nice at all. Can I purchase Stucchi fairing from the Net, or is the official importer offering Cafe Racer's fairing the only choice? The fairing shouldn't be attached to the forks, but to lamp 'holders'. 3rd: Stucchi hugger was damn fine, too! Original hugger looks clumsy and doesn't even protect shock well. Again: somewhere from the Net? 4th: I'd like to have a little more power in my bike. Those Mistral mufflers would certainly help, but is the remapping of fuel injection a requisite, too? Is PowerCommander and (expensive?) dynoing the only way to go, or can I just bolt the Mistrals on and enjoy the sound? 5th: I'd like to replace the original air filter with a free-flow one. In many pictures of this site I have seen (violet) air filters attached straight to the air suction ports. I guess the owners of these bikes have removed the original air filter and routed the new filters shorter way. Who manufactures these filters? Can I bought ones from the Net? At least now I'd need that dynoing, wouldn't I? 6th: How about those illegaly desirable Dymag wheels? How much (in what ever currency...) and from where? I haven't slept since I saw a picture of those! I'm ready to eat porrige and drink water for 6 months and save money if I only get a pair of Dymags for my bike! how much lighter are those when compared to standard wheels? 7th: Idle is painfully low even when the motor is warm. In the manual they show screws in the throttle bodies to adjust the idle. Is the adjustment of the idle really that simple, or is there some other gigs to do with the fuel injection. Manual tells about vacuum gauges - where the hell can I purchase those and are they a requisite? This may be a stupid question for hard-core guzzisti, but forgive me 'cause this is my first bike with EFI! The only disappoinmet of V11 has so far been the low quality of electrical work. Italian electricity and water doesn't match... All connections are visible and vulnerable for mud and moisture. I guess I have much of taping to do next weekend to protect all those electrics... I ride my bike from March to October, 10-20 000 km per year, and here in Finland that really means something else than for example there in the USA. Last year I got some bruising from alphalt because there was so much of show on the road! Fortunately, my Suzuki was in better condition than I was! Crude conditions force you to keep your bike in good condition! MG V11 seems to be a good and solid bike for countryside adventures and for long distance commuting! MG is the best bike I have ever ridden, and it has such a soul that is missing from many other bikes! Safe riding for everybody! And be careful with the deers! Damn raindeers are always there where they shouldn't be. But of course I understand that the raindeers are interested in my MG. Who wouldn't!?