polebridge

March 4, 2008

I sent another 10 to Todd a couple of weeks back and most of the rest of the last batch have gone. Chris Craft, who posts here as RossoRC or some such ordered one a few months ago and although my records say it was sent it didn't arrive so I've sent another one out which I hope will arrive more promptly!

Other than that I've sold several to Europe and a couple more here in Oz.

As I've said before I'm sure if anybody has ANY problems, with either non arrival or installation I want them to pester me, publicly if they wish!

Pete

Just received mine in the mail from the guys at MPH. They are very prompt and I was suprised at how quickly it arrived. I hope to get it installed soon.

Thanks again Pete.

February 27, 2008

Mirrors are now fitted. Went around to a local engineers who skimmed down the original bar ends to take the new mirror clamps,charged me £10.00 ( just under 20 dollars ). Just fitted the mirrors this morning and I think visually they are a big improvement over the originals. The real test will be how they perform on the road but I can't see any problems,I just hope I remember the extra width when filtering! Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions.

Congrats. I really love mine. Just to prove it to myself, after riding with the bar ends for several months, I reinstalled the original mirrors and gave them a try. Didn't realize just how much I disliked the look of the original mirrors! After one ride they were back off and the CRG were re-installed. I won't be trying that little experiment again.

Good luck with them. I sure you will be happy with your decision.

One more thing. Yup...the people on this board are great. They are extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help out. In my opinion they have added, in a positive way, to the whole experience of owning a Moto Guzzi.

Regards

February 23, 2008

Well,attempted to take the bar ends off this morning in order to get them machined to take the mirrors.Clutch side came out without to many problems but the throttle side will not budge, hope I'm not missing anything but I'm presuming that both sides come out the same way by using the allen or hex key only. Any tips,tricks or suggestions? I don't want to mess anything up by being heavy handed but I'm at a bit of a loss as to the next step.

Don't know what to suggest. Mine came out no problem. The bolts on my bike both have conventional threads (counter clockwise to loosen).

Maybe you could use a little more leverage?

Good luck.

February 22, 2008

I mounted CRG lane split mirrors on my V11 and used bar end adapters from RhinoMoto:

http://www.e-securedsite.com/RHINOMOTO/sto...20and%20Mirrors

They worked fine although I do nitice a slight bit more vibration in the grips compared to the stock, heavier, bar ends.

Hope this helps

February 13, 2008

There are ten in transit as I write this. If they aren't there by Friday it will be early next week.

Pete

Fantastic! Thanks Pete.

February 13, 2008

I contacted MPH Cycles to find out if they stocked the Roper plate. According to Todd Haven they normally have them but are currently out of stock waiting for Pete's next run.

Any idea on when you might be sending MPH some new stock Pete?

Thanks

February 8, 2008

Oil pressure relief valve.

Thanks Ratchethack. Any idea of what oil pressure is normal at idle with a warm engine? Does 40psi sound about right?

Thanks

February 8, 2008

The OPRV is rated 55-60 psi. John mentioned 80 psi but I think that was for a much shorter time. What weight oil are you using?

Right now I am using 15w/50 full syn. Pardon my ignorance but what is OPRV?

February 7, 2008

Finally got my pressure guage installed. It's a really nice piece and looks great. The only problem I had was getting the pressure line feed attached directly under the fuel tank. On my bike there are various cables/hoses directly in the way and I needed to bend the pressure line sharply to get in installed. It would have been easier to remove the tank completely (maybe).

Anyway it was fairly straight forward and easy to get in place. I think it is a valuable piece of equipment on this particular model of bike. As John has previously noted, you can actually see oil pressure DROP when applying hard acceleration. It looks like I will be installing one of Roper's sheets as soon as I can locate one.

Being able to monitor oil pressure on this bike has been a real eye opener. I've seen the light so to speak (the oil pressure light that is and I do not wish to see it again).

I have a question for John (or anyone on the board who can help) about oil pressure and his experience with the V11. On my bike (Coppa Italia) pressure reads about 80 psi when I first start the bike cold. After it gets completely warm it will drop to around 40 psi at idle and stay around 60 psi when just cruising aound (probably about 3K rpm).

Does this sound normal?

Thanks.

January 24, 2008

Thanks for the advice guys. I am pretty sure this only happened the one time, and I shut her off very quickly, so I think I will keep my fingers crossed on this one and assume I am OK.

I think I'll get one of Pete's plates installed before spring just to be safe though. I really like this bike a lot and I would hate to run into any big problems.

January 24, 2008

I just read the thread posted by Ratchethack and now I am scared!

My oil light DID start flashing once under hard acceleration (the bike probably had about 1K miles at the time). I immediately shut the engine off and coasted to a stop. After checking the oil level and seeing it was ok I restarted the bike and it seemed fine. Just to be on the safe side I rode it home and took my truck to work that day.

I now have 9K trouble free miles on the bike but after reading Pete's thread I am very worried about what damage I may have done and when it might rear its ugly head!

Any thoughts on this? Does the collective wisdom of this board predict dire consequences in my future or do you think I am OK? I think I will install one of Pete's plates. Just hope the horses are not already out of the barn!

Thanks.

January 4, 2008

I replaced some rubber trim on my LM fairing with some neoprene edge protector from McMaster-Carr . Type "edge protector" in their search box and you should be able to find a profile that will closely match the factory stuff.

Here's another option: http://www.saeng.com/4000.htm . Some reviews I've seen on the web say this stuff works, others say it's useless Maybe a search here would turn up some first hand knowledge?

Happy Holidays to you too!

Thanks for the feedback. I ordered some of the edge protector from McMaster-Carr. It was the least expensive option and I think the closest to the OEM stuff.

I received it in the mail already and it looks like it will work fine. I haven't had a change to fit it yet but I will let you know how it goes as soon as I try it out.

Thanks again. I really don't know how I would have found this stuff if not for this forum!

December 22, 2007

Been there, got the t-shirt. I did it on the outside in front of all my neighbours (probably noone saw me but it felt like all of them was watching). That situation is a real back-killer too. Good it turned out pretty much OK for you.

Thanks. How did it turn out for you? Hope it wasn't too bad. By the way, where do you get the T-shirt???

December 22, 2007

Well...I was preparing to do a winter project on my bike and dropped it over (to the right) trying to get in on the shop stand. Thankfully, not much damage done. I was able to bend everything back into place and no scatches or dents anywhere. I'll count myself lucky for now. The only thing that I need to replace is the rubber trim around the outside of the windscreen.

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement piece of this stuff? It's a 2004 V11 Cafe Sport Coppa Italia.

Thanks and happy holidays to all.

November 30, 2007

I just took a look at the inside of the back cover of this month's (december?) issue of Cycle World. Moto Guzzi has put in a full page ad for the new 1200s. Wow! The bike sure looks beautiful in the ad photo.

Has anyone seen the 1200s in metal? What did you think?

I was pretty convinced that my next bike purchase would be the Griso 8V but I don't know...that 1200s looks pretty nice too.

Any thoughts out there on these two machines? (the 8V seems to be getting some good initial reviews)

Just curious.

October 23, 2007

This sounds EXACTLY like what my 2000 V-11 Sport started doing last fall.

I found that someone, at some point, had assembled the clutch incorrectly. The friction plates are not symetrical. They MUST be assembled with the hub protruding aft, NOT forward.

In my situation the assembler had placed the forward friction disc with the hub facing forward (wrong) and the rear one facing aft (correct). The result was that, after some wear of the front friction disc the hub becomes the item of first contact with the flywheel, instead of the friction material.

This creates the most bizzare clutch engagement feel that I have ever experienced. I think it is because, on the initial contact of the clutch surfaces, with light throttle application, hub material actually succeeds in engaging with the flywheel. Then, as you add power, the metal-to-metal engagement slips, then as you complete the engagement, the rear disc engages sufficiently to lock it all up. So, you get this weird mid-engagement slippage that feels so bizzare.

Examination of the forward friction disc's hub and the corresponding location on the flywheel did reveal evidence of contact, in the polishing of the contact surfaces. Proper reassembly resolved the issue and I have not experienced that symptom through this riding season.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply.

Assuming that it is the same problem I can tell you that mine must have been wrong from th factory since I have not had any service performed on the trans.

Anyone got any tips/advice on dropping the engine and transmission in order to servie the clutch?

Thanks again.

October 23, 2007

I have about 9k on my V11 Cafe Sport and am starting to have some strange problems with the clutch. I have noticed that when I pull away from a stop in first gear the clutch starts to engage smoothly at first and then it seems to disengage as I let it out further. The first couple of times this happened I thought that it had popped out of gear. I pulled the clutch in and kicked the lever down and the same thing happened again. Then I noticed that if I continue to release the clutch (past the 'flat' spot) it completely engages near the end of the lever throw (sometimes quite abruptly).

The strange thing is that it doesn't happen all the time.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

October 15, 2007

Hello All,
I purchased my Nero this summer from FBF. All mods were done by FBF, by the previous owner after he purchased the bike new. After 5000 miles he decided it wasn't what he wanted. His outlay and loss were my gain. A quick run-down of the mods:

FBF 11:1 piston set

Breva cam

FBF oversize intake and exhaust valves

FBF hand ported and polished heads

FBF modified open airbox w/ BMC filter

FBF exhaust cross over

FBF Carbon fiber slip ons

Power Commander (to be removed, for a full ECU remapping this winter)

Tuned on the FBF Dyno

FBF claimed, on their webpage for this bike, that it dyno'ed at "90 horsepower at the rear wheel."

I was also told the total of parts and labor was about $5800.00.

I did not recieve the promised dyno report with the bike. It arrived with leaking Ohlins front fork. Basically, the head of their sales department, the "gentleman" who did the deal, front to back, will not return my calls, much less respond to my other attempts to get the aforementioned Dyno report. The front end is fixed, along with some other things, and we move along...

I had never rode ANY Moto Guzzi before buying mine. My dealer, an ex racer who has told me "You could have done better..." on at least one other bike, said after his test ride (quite calmly, Relaxed even,) "You bought a REALLY nice bike."

I don't have the "4-5K flat spot", she doesn't like holding at 3K (that's where I get the occasional POP), and LOVES the over 6K range. Sounds incredibly deep and rumbly, which ALOT of people, riders and not, comment that it sounds "beautiful" or words to that effect. I ride almost all commuter stuff, daily. Just got back from 450 miles of twisty, and empty, valley and river filled S.W. Wisconsin. I fail too see how I could have enjoyed it more.

I have since rode a stock Griso, and my bike, "4:20", back to back. Not to knock the other bike, but I knew as soon as I got back on mine, I bought the right one....and HELL YES, the money HE spent was well worth it, to ME! Life is short, and fun is NOT FREE, but you'll long forget the cash when your'e FLYING down some road, somewhere... Later, S.H.

I have to agree about the sound of your bike. I was in the FBF dealership for a test ride of a Lemans that they had there. I liked the bike and the sales guy offered to show me a really nice one that was in for service. They took me back into the garage and showed me your bike (it may not have been yours at the time). I thought that it was a beautiful bike. The mechanic offered to start it up just so that I could hear it and wow! It was the sound of that bike that convinced me that I had to get a MG. I wound up buying a Coppa Italia from a dealer in New York city. It came with the Ti kit, which I installed, and I later added a PCIII, a FBF X-over pipe, and airbox replacement kit. I took it to FBF for a custom map and it now makes 87 hp and 74 ft/lbs of torque at the rear wheel. I am very happy with my decision.

Enjoy the music.

September 26, 2007

'No-longer-so-very-Free World'

I think that you have just raised a very serious issue here!

September 12, 2007

It looks to me like they inserted a spacer for the mirror, between the handle bar and the bar-end piece. I lathed a band in mine for the mirror clamp.

For what it's worth, I found that mirror insufficient for traffic and returned to the stockers.

Greg,

Is that an oil pressure guage? Where did you get it and how tough was it to install?

Thanks

August 30, 2007

Hey D, I have both the FBF carbon fiber slip ons, and the FBF X over. Bought it that way. I can't tell you how many bikers and NON bikers tell me that my Nero has a BEUTIFUL sound. They say things like "Awesome", "So Deep and Rich" and "Totally Bass-y, but not as loud as I thought it would be..."

I would say it is "Melifluous" to about 4500 rpm, then it's more Raucous, in the 5-6500 range, where I am quite often.

"Controlled Violence" often pops into my head...

I am not aware of any sort of "Removable by Design" baffle.

I also have a Big Breva Cam, oversized valves, hi compression pistons and the heads are ported and polished, so there is bound to be some difference, but you are DEFINATELY headed in the right direction, IMHO. But... I also believe I am beginning to see that "MG Madness" on the horizon...Gotta go, LET'S RIDE!!!! Lovin' it, S.H.

Any chance this bike has ever been in the FBF PA. shop? I was there once when the mechanics started a bike that looks identical to this one. The sound was awesome!!

I asked about the bike and they said that it had about 35K worth of engine work on it and made over 100 HP.

The sound of that bike is actually one of the things that convinced be to buy my first MG. I am very happy with my decision.

August 29, 2007

VA,

My kit included serveral hanger options, non of which included passenger peg mounts. I simply hung the cans on the sotck passenger peg hangers. No problem!

For me the race ECU actually worked pretty well. Eventually, I decided to go back to the stock ECU and added the PCIII and got a custom map at Ferracci's shop. I went back to the stock ECU in this case because I figured if I ever found cans that I like better that the TIs I can sell the entire Ti kit cans and ECU together.

Good luck with your install. Let us know how it goes and how you like the results. It's really pretty easy to do. the ECU is actually easier than the cans. Just be careful as you are removing those little screws from the ECU (and replacing them) that your wrench does not touch the battery terminals. I did this and it through quite a spark. I felt fortunate that it did not fry the ECU.

August 29, 2007

Hello,

I have the same problems as yours with the loose crossover pipe on my 03 LM Rosso Corsa. I was thinking of ordering the Aaron Bard alternative shims. Where can I order these please and how much and are they better than the original shims ?

Thanks, Ben at bdfjazz@hotmail.com, from Paris

Never heard of these Ben but if I can track them down I'll let you know. I might be interested in these myself.

Thanks

August 28, 2007

PB, generally speaking, it's a good idea to go over the entire bike thoroughly when you take delivery, and either simply check everything accessible for tightness, or pull select bolts out and threadlock them. I've done the latter on most if not all the bikes I've owned as a general rule.

This is not something unique to Guzzi, though Guzzi's have been known to lack threadlocker in wot I consider many places it needs it (too numerous to mention). I don't know that there are particular places to look out for, though I discovered some large socket-head frame bolts that were less than tight on Day 1. <_>

It's also a good idea to periodically check critical bolts for tightness -- regardless of whether they've been threadlocked. IMHO the brake assemblies would be an important place to start.

It's a good way to familiarize yourself with the bike and stay in tune with it. The practice greatly decreases probabilities of problems and strandings on the road.

In 34K miles, I've not ever been stranded, nor have I as much as had a part begin to back off for a dive down the road underway. Except for that pesky speedo drive, which popped off its staked-on retaining disk on the bevel drive, and launched itself somewhere on the road. . . and that wasn't due to a loose fastener. . .

Have fun.

Thanks. I'll start checking the major ones I can find. Good advice on the brakes. I think I will start there. I am glad to here you have had so many trouble free miles. The dealer I bought my Aprilia from used to sell Guzzis but has dropped the brand. The salesman I bought from from there says he can't believe I bought a Moto Guzzi. He really hates them. According to him the only two he sold had so many problems that they both were lemon lawed eventually. After that they dropped them altogether. I told him that mine has been a great bike with no problems at all. He warns that I will have big problems. "It's only a matter of time".

I am assuming of course that he is completely wrong!

Anyway, on a side note, I did actually manage to slide my front Z6 just a tiny bit. Not intentionally mind you and it recoverd so quickly that I didn't even have time to panic! You know that feeling when the front end suddenly goes light on you? Must have hit a slick part of the road or something. It recovered before I could even think about it (and with no input from me at all).

Good tires.

August 28, 2007

I have 7K on my V11 now. Since buying the bike the bolt that holds the steering damper in place backed out. I pulled over and fixed that. Last night I notice that the handle bar (it's a Coppa Italia) mount was quite loose. Another nut that worked its way loose. I assume this is due to vibration. I will tighten that one tonight.

My question is this. Do I need to start checking all the various nuts and bolts for tightness? Does anyone else have these issues and, if so, can you recommend a procedure for checking these i.e. which nuts and bolts give the most problems and need checking and how often?

Thanks.

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