joe camarda

March 18, 2003

I just changed the oil and filter on my bike...BUT I forgot to fill up the new filter before I replaced it.

After buttoning everything up I put in three US quarts of oil (Syn. Mobil 1) and the dipstick read "high" and I attributed this to the bubble in the filter so I started the bike and the oil pressure light came on for about a second and immediately went off. I ran the bike for approx 1 minute at low idle and then checked the dipstick again and it was still at "high".

Shouldnt the level have dropped as oil entered the filter? Did not filling the filter cause any damage to the engine.

PS the oil capacity in the owners manual specifies 3.7 US quarts. :blink:

Well, okay. After 30 minutes or so the oil level dipped down to "low", so I guess all is well.

March 14, 2003

Shifting is no longer FUN as my V11 Sport tranny is progressively developing more false nuetral shifts between 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 gears!

I know this has been covered in some depth in previous threads, but I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had direct experience with using a non-OEM MG spring. And spring base. I am especially interested in finding out where to obtain a spring and spring base.

On the other hand, has anyone had the warranty work done with an OEM spring, and was the replacement satisfactory?

I guess that I'd like to hear from ANYONE who has had this problem successfully resolved.

February 17, 2003

I believe theyre MISTRALS. They advertise on this site...see home page. Dont know about the labels though.

February 9, 2003

Well, most of you may recognize me as the guy who is soliciting money for the "MOTO GUZZI MOTORCYCLE" little league baseball team...and I imagine that some of you may be somewhat suspicious of me. So in an effort to preserve my good name, I thought I would enrich your existence by introducing my humble self! Besides, if Carl Allison can post here..I can too (good guy, he lives several blocks away and is ALWAYS willing to help).

Pretty mundane bio. 52 years old, born Clark Air Force Base in Phillipine Islands and (mis)spent youth in Des Moines, Iowa. Okinawa (near Japan). Brooklyn, New York (Fort Hamilton). Puerto Rico (Fort Buchanan). Oakland, California (Oakland Army Base) as the son of a career soldier (who in 1965 was in the first promotion batch to the new rank of Sergeant Major).

Joined Army myself in 1969 for 3 years, spent at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey and bought first bike in 1970, a brand-new Kawasaki 175 Enduro. 1971 saw me on a Suzuki 250 Savage (enduro)...and those brothers and sisters were the most enjoyable motorcycling days of my life, riding through the pine woods of New Jersey without a care in the world! The movie "On Any Sunday" was a semi-religious experience when I saw it then. In 1972 I bought a CZ 250 Motocrosser and got out of the Army. Sold the CZ and thought I would become a professional motorcycle racer :blink: so I went to a mechanic school in Milwaukie, Oregon. While there I met an Oregon State Trooper who unknowingly recruited me into law enforcement. I moved to California and several years later graduated from the police academy.

But my existence was meaningless...still no motorcycle. Until 1986 when I bought my first HUGE street bike, a 1985 Kawasaki GP-z 550. But, sad to say I sold it about a year later to pay off some debts.

Re-married in 1987 (yeah, I know I left out the first one) and now have 3 wonderful children and a wife. SWMBO was ambivilant about the bikes, and I guess I became so myself.

Until mid-December '93 when while looking for a burglary suspect I fell and broke my ankle . As I was laying there I KNEW something in my life was about to change drastically. And it did! While in the hospital (severe break..three operations, 9 screws and a steel plate) a friend brought me a motorcycle magazine to read.

I was hooked again, and it was a Moto Guzzi (Sport) that reeled me in! But Guzzi's seemed a little impractical to me then, so in '94 I bought an 88 BMW R100RS. Traded that for an '88 K-75S BMW two years later and then in '98 bought an R1100RT BMW. I put some Staintunes on the RT and I thought it HOWLED! Seriously...

But inthe back of my mind I still remembered that Moto Guzzi, and when I saw the new V-11 Sport, I just knew that despite my lingering suspicions about MG's reliability I just had to have one!

So, on a cold and rainy day in February 2002 I rode my first Moto Guzzi. And that, brothers and sisters was that! I sold the BMW and an SV 650 (see it at SVRIDER.COM forum 22, with the Triumph Speed Triple bodywork - I'm very proud of that creation) and plunked down some change for a '01 V-11 Sport. Ten months later, the free ($1000 accessory incentive) tankbag FINALLY arrived, and I'm still infatuated :wub: with my silver V-11 (Stucchi x-over and windscreen, Leo Vince Ti-ovals, Rich Maund seat, gold powder-coated wheels and other misc modifications).

Love this list and many thanks to Jaap for allowing me to bore everyone on it with my bio. And if youre ever on I-5 in Central California, stop by and see me in Patterson. Wave down a "black and white" and ask for Sergeant Camarda (they'll find me). Heck, if youve bothered to read this far, the least I can do is buy you a cup of coffee! :bike:

January 31, 2003

Jason. Ive just ordered a set of "Tommasseli's" (sp), but may hold off installation as I like what youre doing. Would be curious to know if cables, lines or anything else needs to be changed. I too have a V11 Sport. Are you in Bay Area near Al?

January 30, 2003

I have a bottle of "Redline" Shockproof oil to add to the trannie. I've read that the bike should drain overnight to ensure that all the oil drains out so that when the 850 cc's are added, you dont end up with more.

If the bike is lifted on the paddock stand, will the "tail-up" position allow the oil to drain completely? Or, should it be left on the side stand?

Is it necessary to remove the Stuchhi crossover?

Joe Camarda ('01 V11 Sport, silver) :helmet:

January 27, 2003

Very nice!!! Can you show some detailed photos of the welds and mods necessary? Ive half a mind :P: to attempt myself!

January 21, 2003

Al, methinks there is something wrong.Two possible solutions come to mind.

(1) The left cannister needs to move outward: Is it possible that the cannister tab mounts to the OUTSIDE of the hanger bracket?

(2) The right cannister needs to move inward (but is already mounted to the inside of the hanger bracket): Is it possible that the tab that attaches to the side of the cannister is reversed? Can the tab be flipped over so that it angles up TOWARDS the top of the cannister? and then the top of this tab attaches to the hanger bracket?

Being as I'm away from home and unable to look at the cannisters, I'm only guessing at "solution" 2. But as I recall, the cannisters were mounted to different sides of the hanger brackets on my V11 Sport.

Good luck. Something looks awry there mate!

January 21, 2003

Al, my Leo's are evenly spaced to the (4.5 inch) rear wheel on my 02 V11 Sport. The bolt-up was very simple, very clean and very solid. All in all, I'm very happy with the Leo's. PS...I like the job that you did on the rear fender, looks nicely finished!

January 20, 2003

Al, I have some stock silver V11 Sport wheels that would look very nice on your bike...wanna trade?

January 20, 2003

Al, I have Ti Leo's on my silver V11 Sport. I think that the cans are one of the most visually appealing features of the V11 Sport/Lemans series and (imho) the CF cans simply "dissapear". If I can get someone to take a photo of my Ti cans I will be glad to send them. (Carl, are you available?)

January 13, 2003

I bought my V11 Sport from Wilson's in Fresno and called Moto Italiano about having them service it.They were enthusiastic about servicing my bike and taking care of warranty issues (knock on wood...nothing major). As I recall, their price was LESS than I expected and the bike ran much better. Moto Italiano is NOT a big advocate of PCIIIs. Moto Italiano and Britallia Motors in Capitola are owned by same owner and so may have expanded resources. On the other hand Munroe Motors has a good reutation (as far as I know) and the few time Ive been in there (not for service) they seemed friendly. Munroe does have a larger showroom and more accessories on the floor. Bottom line, I'm very satisfied with Moto Italiano and have no real experience with Munroe Motors.

December 23, 2002

Timothy, another exhaust option worth considering is the Leo Vinces. Available in Ti, aluminum and CF. Both fit and sound are superb. About $800 for Ti and CF. Aluminum a little cheaper. Regards, Joe :helmet:

December 2, 2002

I'm also looking at options to raise my V11 Sport handlebars about an inch or so and wonder if anyone could offer insight to this (possible) solution.

Suburban Machinary (www.suburban-machinary.com) makes what is essentially a tubular handlebar, but without curves. All of the "bends" are welded angles.

So my q' is this: If I were to cut the Suburban handlebar in half and remove all but an inch or so of the center section, could the remaining center "stub" be inserted into the stock V11 clamp?

By doing so I would have the benefit of a wider range of adjustability through the rotation of each handlebar half in the clamp. I'm assuming the diameters are the same 7/8 inch.

Alternatively, the SUN RISERS look very nice. :blink:

November 18, 2002

Re 01 V11 Sport: In the process of removing the left silver body panel which covers the left airbox I've had to basically pry the body panel out after removing the three screws. In doing so I've cracked the panel. So I'm wondering:

1. Should the entire tailpiece be removed in order to remove the side

panel(s)?

2. Does the tailpiece simply lift off after removing the five attachment screws? Or is it more complicated than that? TIA for any information.

November 2, 2002

Russ, can a machinist tap the inside of your Verlecchi's to accept stock bar-ends? Oh yeah, I wish I had some disposable cash for your R100RS. I had a very nice 82 and miss it. Joe In Modesto CA USA :helmet:

October 19, 2002

mgcycle.com has "Verlecchi" multi adjustable clip-ons made by Moto Spezial. About $230 USD. They are listed under V11 Sport accessories, so I guess they should fit a Le Mans (?). BTW if anyone knows the difference between these and the ones offered by Agostini (Tomaselli's) would you please enlighten me. I was unable to find a picture on the Agostini site, so even a description would be appreciated. TIA. Joe Camarda in Modesto CA USA :helmet:

October 2, 2002

My understanding is that the Verlicci (sp) clips-ons from MG Cycles do NOT allow the factory bar weights to be re-installed. They are curved and therefore it may not even be possible to have the interior threaded to accomodate the bar ends. If any one finds otherwise please advise as I would love to get a pair but do not want to sacrafice my CRG bar end mirrors/weights.

September 6, 2002

If you want a seat with pillion cover retained you might contact rmaund@pinn.net. I've heard many good comments re the quality and comfort of his seats. He has a V11 Sport himself which he can send you a photo of..complete with his seat. Both price ($280 I think) and turn-around time were very good.

August 11, 2002

Of course I forgot the most important benefit!!! Seat of pants dyno indicates a slight hp gain throughout range. Power delivery seems smoother too. Of course these are subjective comments. I bought from discountmotorcycleexhaust.com for about $825. Comparable price at ema.com here in California. I am considereing a PC, but have heard conflicting claims. :helmet:

August 11, 2002

I just installed a set of Leo Vince ti-ovals on my V11 Sport and offer the following comments. (1) Fit and seal were excellent. Most impressive was the double co-encentric fitting between the cannister and the 12 inch fitment pipe (btwn cannister and crossover) ....the fitment pipe slid between an inner and an outer wall of the double walled cannister pipe. (2) The fitment pipe slid onto the Stucchi crossover MUCH further (about 2 inches as I recall) than did the stock pipe. (3) Left and right mountings were straightforward, simple and evenly spaced. (4) The "Leo Vince" logos were NOT attached to the cannisters, but were provided with rivets for self mounting. (5) The cannisters are the same length as the originals, however the fitment pipe is longer and increases overall length of the Leos by about 2-3 inches over stock. (6) The sound is like music..slightly louder, much deeper. (7) The double angle endcaps of the stock Guzzi cannisters are a piece of art (to be missed ) IMHO. Overall impression of Leo Vince system

August 6, 2002

Ian, try constructorsrg.com. I have a set of their mirrors on my V11 Sport and am quite satisfied with them. They are a little smaller than the Napoleons I had on another bike (SV650). The CRG's produce MUCH LESS VIBRATION, especially if machined onto your factory bar end weights. Joe in Modesto CA

August 4, 2002

Speedy T: In my humble opinion your R1100 RT is an excellent motorcycle. My opinion may be somewhat biased as I have owned one since (new) 98. Several months ago I bought a Moto Guzzi 01 V11 Sport, and I am now selling my RT. Not because the V11 Sport is a capable replacement for it, it isnt! The RT is more comfortable, has more carrying capacity, has more available accessories and has a better (at least larger, I really havent had any dealer problems) dealer network. I am selling the RT simply because the Moto Guzzi is more FUN to ride! I occasionally commute 50 miles per day and go on an occasional day ride so the long distance quality of the RT was not really crucial. BTW, several months ago Motorcycle Consumer News did a comparison between the BMW R1150R (naked) and the V11 Sport and the conclusion was that while the Beemer was a better buy, and a better all-round motorcycle, the V11 Sport was more connected to the riding experience and MORE FUN. I think that the V11 and the LeMans are very similar motorcycles but the LeMans has a slight edge on the V11 comfortwise, however, IMHO the LeMans will not approach your RT in terms of comfort and practicality. Joe in Modesto CA :helmet:

July 23, 2002

Scott, just realized that you are the "Newest Member" so welcome aboard! I just ordered a set of Leo Vince Ti-ovals today. Should take about 2 weeks to arrive Joe Camarda in Modesto CA :bier:

July 23, 2002

Registered and logged on. Joe In Modesto CA :doh:

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