kaput

Rice pasta! Can't wait to see it. Kaput

Got inspired recently by a Brit classic mag on how to paint with a can. The tail section on my green/gray V11 was either never hardened correctly or the sun's rays here in florida ate through the paint (when I didn't have a garage I used to go through at least one cover per year due to the sun). The repaint turned out pretty good. Now I'm going for a ride!! Kaput

Ride my Falco inbetween getting parts, right now a new starter solenoid but the V11 sport and Falco combination is a good one and I think there are one or two other forum members who own the same. Whenever there is a choice the Guzzi wins. Kaput

Damn! and all that time wasted in the Guzzi library. Kaput

It would be interesting to hear your comments once you get a chance to really try out your new bike. You'll probably find that it revs out better than you might expect, certainly better than a cruiser V twin. Check the oil regularly and expect to pay more attention to maintenance, and carefully go over the technical how to threads in this forum. I would be curious to hear what it might be like to first ride a guzzi for someone used to jap inline fours so please report back. Recently I took the opposite route (as I'm lucky enough to own more than one bike) and bought my first inline jap four missile in twenty years (ZX14) and it was mindboggling for about two weeks and then became more mildly amusing. I'm keeping the bike as it makes a great tourer but it is coldly efficient and I soon miss tinkering and fussing over the guzzi as I find it is always the one I pick if its time to just go for a ride. I think you are going to find it an involving experience. Kaput

Unfortunately I also own an Aprilia Falco. Now things are really in the toilet. Kaput

Hey Karl. You are right, Stan's was a real no frills Guzzi shop tucked away in the industrial wasteland of Gainsville. I used to go visit him occasionally. As you probably know he had all kinds of cool Guzzi stuff tucked away in that shop of his and he was always good for a funny story. I haven't been there in a couple of years but if HE dropped out then he truly was the last dealer standing here in Florida. By the way, you appear to have a nice collection of bikes. Do you do all your own work (it is alnost inevitable isn't it) or have you found anyone to help you if you had the need? Kaput

Yup. should have shopped at wall mart. We got plenty of those here.

Just in case jrt is a few years off: Le Mans IV, non standard sticker. or to throw another dart into the ocean - a daytona 1000 with a non standard eagle - at least the tank has the right color. Kaput

When my dealer in Ft. Pierce Florida (he was worth the hour and a half trip) finally decided to call it quits about a year ago I knew there was trouble. He had been grumbling for a long time but he actually raced guzzis and knew his stuff. So now I was stuck with the Miami area dealers. Three of them have dropped Guzzi within the last year. No big loss really as they were terrible to begin with. A new multi brand dealer opened about three months ago. I dropped by to collect an oil filter and was told they could order one for me. Told me all I wanted to know. Look for number 4 to drop out shortly. Its bad out there. Kaput

Recently bought a ZX14 Kawasaki - wonderful bike that makes up for those 20 missing ft lbs of torque and then some - but you are still right - it is still missing something. Now that I've re-remembered that the missing something is in my cafe guzzi my Guzzi gets more miles than ever. Kaput

I would say buy it. It remains one of my very favorite bike experiences. I would buy another if one came around and I had the cash. It is mucho charismatic, makes great sounds with an aftermarket exhaust, the giant tach is very cool and distinctive. and the bike is quite comfortable over long distance if you push the clip ons to their highest possible setting and slightly inward. The 16 inch wheel was not a problem so I never changed to an eighteen inch wheel. Astralites are nice though. Stories of instability at high speed and all that didn't ring true with my experience. I had no problems in that regard and the bike handled well for what it was. The air suspension upfront probably leaks and if the bike still has a points ignition prepare to get irritated or swap for an electronic ignition. K and N pods are also nice on that bike and makes things much simpler. Jetting can be a problem depending where you live and how it is set up. Mine was set up for high elevation and it took a lot of trial and error to get it right. Moto International can help you. The seat resembles a plank so if you plan to travel you will want to search the aftermarked. Corbin makes a nice one. I would not hesitate you will love it. Kaput

My "global idiocy" self grenaded on itself at sunrise coming down off the Cherhalla Skyway. Bad place to get caught up with this problem and see a flickering oil light followed by metal on metal noises. So I can relate with Guzzi323. I'm no professional but this is my third Guzzi and I've tightened a few filters in that time. If Greg knows about 4 self imploding Guzzis due to a loose filter we can now make it 5 so I guess that makes it a global epidemic. Kaput (means broken in German - get it)

I can relate Mdude, like you my experience with the bike was like a multiple engine personality disorder (more/less vibration, flat spot, inconsistencies etc etc) but I wanted to accept it as just another one of those guzzi character building things and spent too much time balancing throttle bodies, messing with the idle settings and adjusting the tps settings. The gnome will finally behave if jacked into a PC111. The inconsistent response mostly goes away. Happy wrenching. Kaput

My bike ended up OK after 6 months of parts hunting - thanks for asking. It required a complete bottom end rebuild and now runs great. Interestingly there was another bike at the dealer I initially trucked it to with the exact same initial symptoms and problem. I sincerely hope that your problem is a minor one and that you can continue to enjoy your bike. I also don't want to make you paranoid about potential problems. The entire experience didn't sour me on guzzis - it only made me realize again how potentially easy they are fix. I've owned three guzzis (Eldorado, Lemans IV and now V!! - combined over 100,000 miles) and this was the first and only serious problem I've encountered. Kaput

Happy to hear that good luck was with you and that your family and property are safe. Here in South Florida we can relate - I'm still looking for roof tiles as there is a 6 months back log but my guess - if I had to choose - is that tornadoes are even scarier than hurricanes and with hurricanes at least you get a few days of warning. Kaput

One of the things I would check is to make sure that the oil filter is on tight. I had a similar problem when my oil light briefly flickered a couple of times while I was cresting the Cherholla Skyway at 6 AM last summer. When the oil light flickered again a few minutes later I thought it might just be my overenthusiastic right wrist. I unwisely kept going until I started hearing the beginnings of a most sickening heartwrenching sound. Trust me - you aren't given a whole lot of warning. When I got the oil sump off, the oil filter was clearly loose. By the way I also discovered that Guido had generously left behind two extra screws for me within the oil pan. Kaput

This is a good movie if you don't expect too many obvious thrills and can allow yourself to commune with your weepy side. The scenes of the shed mechanic brewing his own pistons and the Indian at speed on the salt flats alone are worth the price of admission. It is more of a road picture really (think Easy Rider on nitro heart tabs) with quirky characters and Anthony Hopkins winning you over with a great performance. Yes its a little cheesy but don't let that stop you from seeing it. Kaput

Thank you Paul and Baldini for answering. I think I understand what both of you are referring to. Looks like maybe something was installed incorrectly. Kaput

Wrestled my rear wheel off yesterday (2003 sport 10,000 miles) due to the failed wheel bearings problem that others have also reported. I had jrt's beautifully machined extra length spacer on hand (thanks jrt!) and was anxious to replace the bearings and install the extra length spacer. My question is - does anyone else's rear wheel contain 2 thin washers that go on either side of the final drive box or right next to each bearing. I do not see these items in the parts drawing of the rear wheel. With wheel removed I count two thin wahers (described above), 1 thicker washer that goes with the rear wheel nut, one spacer sleeve, rubber cap and the spindle. Did I get some extra parts or do I need thicker glasses? Thanks in advance for any replies. Kaput

The view from the napoleons mounted on the brake/clutch levers - in my humble estimation - gets no better than the stock mirrors. Kaput

I fitted the napoleon bar ends in the lever pivot holes and am happy with both the performance and looks. The view is not as good as the stock mirrors but you can set up the napoleons to get very close. By the way, rubber mounting them (I used BMW K bike valve cover o rings because they just happened to be around) seems to help. Good luck. Kaput