frogonwheels

I am selling a brand new FAIRING for a Ballabio ( or others ? ). I am asking for $150.00 + shipping. I am located in California. The fairing is red, the fastest !!! You can email me at woodstuff(at)juno.com Thank you. Terry

I am located in Sacramento, California. I am selling a V11 Ballabio from 2004. It is red with only 2500 miles on it. It is in perfect condition. Everything works. It has an after market center stand and forward controls ( will come with stock controls as well! ). I own many bikes and the Guzzi was riden only on week-end leisure drives. Never in the rain ( doesn't happen much around here in central California ! ). I am asking $ 6,500.00 or best offer. Please if interested, get back to me via my email address on my profile for any questions you might have etc... Thank you. Terry http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/style_imag.../attach_add.png PS : just in case => woodstuff (at) juno.com

Darn right, # 3 is super nice. Good job !

On my 04' Ballabio, the piece that goes at the end of the left mirror and that you thread into the handlebar has broken off. The mirror itself has reversed threads and will not go into the handlebar without that piece. Would you know if I can buy a replacement somewhere from a Guzzi place or others ? Thank you guys for any tips. Bye. Terry in California

On my 04'Ballabio, the first rattle was actually a loose small piece of glass inside the headlight. No crack on the outside. Don't know how it happened in the first place and it happened to others as well. So I got that piece out through the bulb opening and VOILA !!! The second time around, I just wrapped the entire headlight with bicycle tubing and now the fairing doesn't interfere with the headlight. Go get it !!!

Hello, Some years back, I bought some Red Line oil cans for several of my bikes. Never got to use any of it and now that I want to change the transmission oil in my Ballabio, I don't remember which one to use : the shockproof or the 75W140NS ? I think it is the Shockproof but you're input would be appreciated. Thanks Guys.

Hi guys, For the ones who bought Jens's Moto Guzzi Junkers watch, what happened to it ? Do you wear it on regular basis ? when you ride your bike ? Have you had any troubles ? In my case, I bought two, one for me and one for a friend. For whatever reason, I kept the second one so it is still brand new in the box !!! I have over 80 watches, so the Guzzi watch doesn't see many adventures. Yet, I love it. it is actually fairly big, but yet very elegant. It works just great and seems to be accurate within 10 seconds fast per day. This Junkers watch feel great and seems really well made. I trully enjoy owning it, but it hasn't seen much of a challenge yet. What about yours ?

Hi Guys, I don't think it is the time to argue about why Jaap might have done what he did. That is the very same mental process that brought this situation. Jaap's message has nothing personal in it and I don't understand the need to go on & on about it, once it is realized it was NOT a personal message. It is just a clear and fair warning he and other moderators have other things to do than to monitor this fantastic website for anyone out of line. It is OUR JOB as members of this COMMUNITY to stop writing and arguing with anyone who's out of line. Best is not to answer and to totally ignore inappropriate posts. Anyway, this issue has brought to my eyes how much I value V11LeMans.com and I finally kicked my butt to make a donation via Paypal ( top right corner window ). Please let us refocus on really important Guzzi topics, like the " Hooters " thread..... Bye. Terry

If it is for less than $100, buy a round for all our members. If it is for more, please PM me ASAP !

Hi guys, I've been away for a while. Just got back and found this topic. I'll say 2 things : 1/ These kind of exchanges are no pleasant. Regardless of who's involved. I will never see the point and I honestly wish one of this forum administrator would step forward and put an end to it ( lock the thread, warn people, delete posts, kick members out etc...). 2/ Can we refocus on the fellow with the mechanical problem who started this thread ? You guys would make a funny movie : a fellow rider has bike problems and pulls over. Before you know it, two fellow bikers stop to help out. Before you know it, these two guys go after each other and get into a brawl, right there on the side of the road while the broken down fellow watch in total dismay. Before you know it, the local cop shows up and takes them all to jail. Before you know it, right there in the cell, the broken down fellow sits on a bench asking himself how he got there, all the while the two " helpful souls " pound on each other in a corner... THAT"S ENOUGH ! PS: I am a cheap guy. The way I learn stuff is by reading these free forums ( ps: contribution coming ) and finding out what happened and how it got fixed. PS: Jens, nice to hear from you. My Guzzi watch is still a true jewel. Did you ever sell them all ?

Hello Friends, I have been following this thread for a while. I was born in France and until my early 20's ( some 25 years ago ) I was truly French. After I met my future wife, I decided it was time to bail out and see the world. Moved to California, and here I am, 2 kids and a business later. I honestly would love to go to France more often. But the 3 times we have gone back, it was just plain FANTASTIC !!!! Because of my wife and 2 sons, we do speak mostly English, so I pretty much qualify as a foreigner. As a matter of fact, when I speak French there, people ask me where I'm from ? Go figure ? There are at least 2 kinds of " an American attitude " : one is the arrogant one, the loud obnoxious one etc... you know the type. The other one is why I love it here : a smile on your face from morning up, eager to have fun and to connect with everyone, basically a " radiant, charismatic " feel about live. With that game face on, I just found out EVERY experience in France was fantastic. From Paris to the smallest village ( like 3 folks !!! ). French people are just very cautious. Sadly, the first impression does it !!! But I guaranty you, if you bring a great attitude along, you'll do just fine.... But, at the end, it ends up being a very personal experience. Even with all the bullshit I grew up with in relation to the Brits, I LOVED England ( of course its people ! ). I have lived in Germany and in Africa. I have had always a great experience where ever I ended up. I have a dream : take my V11 and travel through Europe. And you know what, most guys around our world have been, or dreamed of, playing with motorcycles. A bike, contrary to what so many would want you to think, will open the world to you. That will take care of the guys. As far as the women, they love adventure. They might not relate to your grease and bruises, but they will love your smell of adventure..... Oops, I got carried away.... Bye. Thierry

GREAT NEWS !!!! Thank you for the prompt reply anyway. Terry

Hello, On my 04' V11 Ballabio, the sensor ( oil pressure sensor ? ) up on the case on the left side, is leaking a bit . I tried to tighten the two allen screws, but it hasn't helped. Can I make my own gasket ? Should I seal it with some blue gasket sealer ? Has that happen to anyone else / Thanks Terry

Hi Jens, Hi all !!! I'm in for the watch. As I was telling Jens, I like Guzzi & old automatic watches. It might be a bit pricey, but heck, what do you get lately for real cheap ? Anyhow, since it takes me most of my riding time to decide which bike to ride ( I have three ), I thought it was fit to get a third automatic watch so I can waste more time now in choosing which to wear before I even make it to the garage !!! We need still a few more fellows to join along, in order to get the 50 orders required. So volunteer yourself, or pass the word out. Here is a chance to increase your individualism : not only you don't find too many other Guzzis on the road, but man, what the chance you catch up with another guzzi fellow and he also wear the Guzzi watch ? Thanks to all the bold souls out there... Bye. Thierry

Hi, I won't say I know what you are going through : I wasn't there, and I'm not you. But I feel a connection, because I've been riding for 30 years also, and currently own three bikes. Six months ago, some young punks in a low rider came out of a blind corner in my lane. For the 2 seconds it lasted, I thought that was IT for me !!! I survived untouched. A real miracle in my books. I ended up so mad, after I got to their car ( they had spun off the car ), I turned around and got back on the bike. I really thought I was going to pound someone to death. I thought about giving it up, the riding and all. The love of the road was too strong. I'm out on my bikes as before, but I'll be honest and say I still carry the weight of knowing these fucking stupid people are out there as well, always. I have slowed down when I can't see too far ahead. Some of the fun is gone. But I still enjoy myself. I just pray i don't end up sharing your experience : it could be one to many. In the meantime, don't over " intellectuaze ? " that moment, and just go back out. Yes, it's true : if you fall, go back up and go. Don't force it ever, but give it another try. Thanks for sharing your story. Terry

Hello to all, My 04' Ballabio has always been strong enough at lower rpms, I actually never took it up on the tachometer. Today, for the heck of it, I decided to push it a bit more. When the needle got to 8500 rpm, the engine cut out. I was a bit surprised, with the 11000 red zone and all.... Is the 8500 rpm the official electronic cut out on that bike ? Thanks for the light. Terry

Hello, I am selling my 2004 MotoGuzzi Ballabio. I bought it new in Sacramento. It has around 2000 miles. Always garaged, never in the rain. It runs and looks just like new. The only thing I did to it was to add a centerstand. It has a small crack in the headlight lense ( seems to happen to a few people on this forum ), without having ever been it by any rock or something ? To make up for it, I would include an extra new fairing, The Guzzi bible and a few more stuff. I need to make room for my kid's go kart, and my other bike, an old Bmw, is the one I drive to work and need to keep. I am asking $ 8,500.00 OBO . Thanks . Terry in Davis, California woodstuff@juno.com

I did attend The Laguna Seca GP 2006 as my first ever live Moto GP. I bought the tickets online a week earlier. I got to stay at the Toro campground ( around 4 miles East of the track ). The camping was not marked properly from the freeway, and from the bad directions given to me at the will call, I missed it by ...6 miles !!!! It happened to others I taked to. But after that, it was really smooth sailing...beside the heat. Buses where running every 10/ 15 minutes. Very confortable, very fast. On Saturday, I left the track around 7:00 PM and waited only 20 minutes to catch the bus back to the campground ( showers, etc... ). On Sunday, I left around 9:00 AM, caught a bus and found myself on the track by 9:20 AM. I walked around, wearing my GUZZI hat, and got an early lunch. I decided to try turn 1, since I was a bit dissapointed ( meaning not impressed enough for the racing part ) by the corkscrew during qualifying the day before. I showed up at 11:30 AM, found a great spot right by the fence. I hookep up my umbrella in the fence, and stood there for 2 hours 1/2 until the GP race. It was a real bummer they canceled the AMA race earlier. But people were real friendly, and nobody threw a tandrum.. I enjoyed the race. I took pictures and a movie. I saw Nicky with his right arm pumped up after the finish line. I caught Valentino's engine blowup on tape. I LOVED the sound of the bikes by the way. As soon as Nicky won, I left and caught the first bus out. The race was over by 3:10 PM and I was at the campground by 3:30PM . I had told my family I would be back in Sacramento ( about 200 miles away ) late in the day. I ended up home by 6:30PM ( 210 miles in 3 hours, good highway 5 ... ) I would go back with a friend. Alone is a bit lonely. The track is fun in the way that you can see a lot of it from one spot, and you can walk it pretty quick. Yet, I feel it is just outdated, and would need some longer fast corners for overtaking and fun for the fans. They NEED much more going on, on the track itself at any given time. They need to make it exiting, and I would say overall that is what lacked the most, an exiting atmosphere. Dump the two guys doing life commentaries, and get some real charismatic fellows. Get some gas, oil and rubber smells. I miss the " old days " in the way that everything there today was spotless, from the racing teams, the track, the vendors and the fans. I saw basically only newer " Japs " speed bikes, and all the new Ducatis owned in America. Fans wore tatoos, not greassy dirty jackets, and drank .....water!!! ( because they're just too young ! ) Kidding apart, the crowd was very friendly, very calm and they drank quality beer ( no Bud, no Michelob etc...). Everybody tried to keep the grounds clean, and it was nice to see 20 years old guys, all tanned and tatooed, go the extra 20 yards to find a garbage can. More power to them !!!! It was darned too hot. But this has nothing to do with the organizers. It could be better, and will be better. I would go back...with some of you Guzzi guys. Yet, I can't wait to watch it on TV tomorrow evening on the Speedvision replay at 4:00 PM. Ciao. Terry

I'm with you here. If I get too lazy with that left foot, I will end up in a false neutral. I always try to coast to a complete stop ( just like you ) and will shift back to first. If I try as I am still in motion, the upper or lower gear will not engage without a terrifying grinding sound. If my life was on the line, I would find a gear at any cost. Otherwise, I play it cool like I need to adjust my goggles and stop nicely on the side...so embarrassing !!! If someone has a miracle solution, I'm all ears as well... Terry 04' Ballabio

Yo, from a frenchman who's been in the US for 25 years. De Puniet : don't even start there, an embarrassment for human kind ! Edwards : I like the guy. He's not up there with the best, but in Assen, he rocks. I wanted him to win, but his comeback on the last lap should go for the history book !!!! He did it by going 150%, it was crazy, but it was beautifull. I actually liked what happened, it showed us all how much on the line these guys are even with all the talks about electronic controls...... Hayden : He didn't come up the European ladder. He came as a super USA star a bit like Michael Andretti in F1. The difference, Michael left quickly his tail between his legs, but Nicky kept at it. This year, his third year, he's VERY good. I think he can actually challenge Rossi day in and day out. He won't show the true beauty of a Rossi, but he will show you talent and brain, juste like Prost in F1 . The way I see it, good luck goes with the best. Michael Schumacher is out of luck...because there is a new star in F1 . Rossi is not as good as before, more with bad luck...because of the pressure of the new guys. Go Nicky, and if you get the crown, wear it with pride. In the meantime, I believe GP racing is maybe in its best ever year. Ciao Terry

Hello, Would it work for a 04' V11 Ballabio ? If yes, what is the cost ? I would be seriously into buying it. Let me know As soon as you get a chance, will you ? Thanks. 'Terry woodstuff@juno.com PS: I'm in Sacramento, California

Hello, Yesterday upon going for a ride, I heard a strong rattling in the front right around 3500 rpm . I thought the fairing was once again touching the headlight ( just like when I bought the Ballabio new ) and needed to be adjusted. I took it apart and was in the process of installing a rubber gasket between the two when I noticed a loose piece of glass 1/2" x 1/2" square in the headlight. There was no markings on the outside, no crack, no hole. The glass piece came out from the inside of the lens. From the rides I take in the countryside, I know I never follow another vehicle. When I came back from my last ride, I worked a bit on the bike and there was no rattling then. Since Lee had a broken headlight as well just a few weeks ago, and couldn't recall what had happened, I wonder if there could be a weakness in the headlight lens right from the factory.... That doesn't change anything now....as I need to get soon a replacement . Ah Lee, what have you started ??? Bye. Terry

Hello, Question #1 : in the back of the pan, there are two bolts. What are they and which one should I undo to drain the oil ? Question#2 : if I removed the round cover at the bottom of the pan, is the oil filter difficult to remove? Thank you for any help and advice. Terry PS: Question # 3 : Has anyone ever used a tubeless tire repair kit ? At the BMW dealer, they had a kit with a " complex " tool to insert a mushroom plug, then gas cartridges to inflate the tire. Does it work?

Hello everyone, I did call Meredith at MGNA.She takes care of customer relation. I mentioned first to her that I had read about the 04 model being offered with a 2 year road assistance deal and that my dealer had told me he had never heard of such a program. She acted very surprised and reaffirmed the 2 year coverage. She said all the dealers had received a full promotional package to be displayed on their showroom floor. She asked me about the VIN # and was surprised to see that after 2 weeks, the bike sale had yet still not be registered with MGNA. She knew exactly the name of my dealer and mentioned she would give him a call to start the official paper trail about my bike. She said when that is done, I would get in the mail a wecome package with the road assistance program details. When, I have no idea.... She went on to ask me about my experience with the bike. I told her about the crack in the fairing and about my dealer's attitude about it. She said she would as well bring it up in her phone call to my dealer, because MG back in Italia, will cover any and all cosmetic and body damages within the only first 6 months !!!! I told her maybe to wait two weeks to see if my dealer would call them about my fairing on his own ( I don't want to piss him off as if I had gone straight behind his back ). She replied she would be as diplomatic as possible with him, but the sooner a claim is registered, the sooner it will be solved !!!! Anyhow, Meredith was extremely friendly, and while it might not get me a fairing replacement any sooner , or at all, at least I like courteous dealings. I'll keep you up with the progress. Terry

I bought my Ballabio two weeks ago from the only local dealer here in Sacramento, California. The purchasing experience wasn't first class, but the price was really good and I loved the bike. The dealer, who sells only European bikes, wasn't the most friendly guy around, but maybe he was having a bad day or something !!! Anyhow, I was gone with the family for a week and came back three days ago. I jumped on the Ballabio and went for a great ride on the twisties. It was a hot days ( around 115 on the road ) but I loved the experience. The engine has such a good response in engine braking, it is a joy to take these curves with only the throttle control, real smooth , relaxing and efficient.... The oil leak from the return oil line in the back of the pan has stopped on its own !!! I never thought anything ever fixed itself, but I swear it is dry now ? I found a very small airline crack in the fairing, right in the middle with the screw holding the two pieces together. I called the dealer, talked to a fellow I didn't know and he was really nice saying I was right to bring it up. He told me to bring the bike over, so they could officially acknowledge the defect. I drive 2 hours and park the bike right in front of the shop. The owner is inside, with nothing to do and no other customers. He totally ignored me, while I go to seat at the counter. I wait around ten minutes and he finally comes to me and ask me if I need something ( like he had never seen me before ??? ). I tell him about the fairing. He tells me the other guy told him about me coming over ?. We go outside, he takes a five second look and tells me : " When I get a chance, I will submit a claim to MG and wait for their answer. Maybe they will cover it, maybe they won't. If they don't, tough luck !!! Give us a call in a few weeks to see where we are on this matter. " and he walks away and go talk to a customer as if I didn't exist and was never there !!! Maybe he didn't make much on the sale of the bike. Maybe he doesn't like MG. But a new customer can only bring money to such a small business ( referrals to other buyers, accessories purchases etc....and even buying other bikes in the future ) That guy will never see me buy from him again. I will call MG myself to find out about this claim. I have serious doubt MY DEALER will ever do anything about it on his own. I am self-employed myself. PR is EVERYTHING in life and in staying in business. A smile doesn't cost much and goes a long way. What do you think ? Terry