docc

Too cool! I took mine out on some little traveled country roads where there were good places to pull off. I had the Stucchi flyscreen off at the time, so just two wrenches to budge the headlamp. Took me maybe five or six attempts, as I recall. I ended up going by the distinct low beam cut off as the high beam pattern is decidedly funky.

[The post wasn't moved, just the links posted here, as well, for discussion.] I get that a lot of folks find the V11 heavy. Before the Sport, I had caféd a first year GoldWing. It was a fun and interesting project, but weighed 650 pounds. I wouldn't say that makes the Sport feel like a "lightweight" , but more like "fighting weight" by comparison.

My RoadCrafter and gear weigh, like, 25 pounds.

Freshens the fuel!

Two different members have offered to send me these bolts. As always, you guys absolutely rock! So, after two weeks with these ordered from Dealer#2, he was informed that they are on backorder (at MGNA) meaning they must come from Italy; three to six (more) weeks. "Nah, never mind." I called Dealer#1 back as I had learned they did receive one of the bolts. The regular guys were out sick, so I regaled the nice lady with my plan to hijack a LearJet and steal a Bentley to come get the bolt. She got a good laugh, then spent about an hour, found the piece, put it in an envelope, and emailed me a tracking number! Things are looking up! Thanks, again, to everyone that has reached out to bail me out!

What an amazing effort and outcome. You guys are the best!

waspp is a solid citizen, and good member here for a long time. Good luck on the sale, waspp! Come to the South'n Spine Raid again on whatever you are riding!

So, you can trap bigger monkeys with the later tail sections?

I didn't know there was a difference. Different materials. Seems that early tails are rotomolded Nylon like the tank, so has some "thickness" in the structure. Later tails are ABS, as I recall ?

Pop Quiz: What has more character? A ) A modded V11 LeMans with a Chianti cork for a timing-mark inspection plug. B ) A snowed-in, nicley massaged, vintage 2-stroke Yamaha. C ) The guy who has both these things. Answer: * obvious* . . .

Here's one with the remnants of a Ducati ST in the background after The Dark One has had his way . . .

I have an appropriate cartoon of The Greenie Strut, but nothing to really represent The Dark Side. Makes me think of this guy, though . . .

I am reminded of the wise words of one illustrious P.Roper, "V11 don't crash well."

The Guzzi "off road" round carbon fiber (Mistral) cans weigh almost exactly 10 pounds less than the stock LaFranconi that came off. Belling, balancing, and polishing the air intakes gave me surprisingly good results (entirely qualitative and subjective seat-of -the-pants, but also the change to the sound from the perch . . . bellissimo!)

Might try the oil change. It's worked for others who went to one of the RedLine products (as i recall). Other shave had success just removing and cleaning the switch. Glad you know exactly what it is now!

I like what Jerry Douglas is doing, adding horns and going uptempo . . .

Well . . . le'see: I'm calling Harper's in the next couple days to see if they ever were able to get them. My order with MI is in it's final throes, but they did tell me they got "one" of them. Second: "back ordered." So, if Harper's really doesn't have them, I'll book a flight to Seattle, rent a Bentley, and have it chauffeured to MI to pick up the bolt since they have a $10 minimum order. Dang. There's that snarky thing coming out again!

This is making me snarky . . . > Tanks that just *prop up* revealing all the delicate bits? Makes me snarky. > Chains and sprockets while I wait another week. Or two. Or three for the one bolt I need the reattach the shaft? Snarky. > Clutch under a side cover? My V11 looked like an exploded view in 3D. Snarkier & snarkier . . . > Fairing? By fairing", you mean this bike is wearing layers of clothes? Oh, I feel less snarky already. My Sport barely wears anything at all. *Just enough* to keep things "interesting" > Sidestands? Me and Rube Goldberg go way back (that V11 stand: Oh, my!), but I've seen some Ducati (sui)side stands that were snarky in their own right. > That is a terrific bike, that Ducati! An awesome and interesting comparison to the V11!

Oh, my, no. My father's family has a long history in West-by-God (smile-when-ya-say-it) Virginia, well back in time to when that was part of most western Virginia. Let us not forget our lineage or our history. Perhaps by default, I was not born a Volunteer, but was "added to the 543rd EOD, Ft. Sheridan, Ill." much to the joy (and later misgivings) of the detachment commander.

I love that this is coming together! What a great looking place! Welldone, LowRyter!

Thanks for the great pic of SpineRaiders on the Cherohala, Nick! That was a chilly fog! There is still a lot of great riding without falling in with an oversize group. Any more than 4-6 is a formula for various difficulties that are entirely avoided with the "Team" size collection of riders. These more natural "Teams" often have two or three riders that have ridden together before and two or three more who have discovered a common bond and interest in the goals for the day's ride. Makes for lively conversation both here, and on Friday, as riders get staged for what they want to do Saturday. There have been riders who just like going for a spin solo, or with a buddy. Sometimes, a guy needs to get a tire mounted, or just hang back and have ice cream; take some photographs. When we have taken the Team approach, the success is evident at the 'debriefing" under the pavilion at nightfall around the campfire. And, as always, the ubiquitous TechSessions that pop up!

Oh, dear! I came across a pic of Chuck working the Test Bed . . .

See? Ideas proliferate . . . Just watch your milkshake!

Come on back to The States, LuckyPhil! Word is we're all headed to Scud's like lemmings for a Spring-fest . . .

That's stunning! And singles are cool. German bikes are cool. A motorbike from a place called "Zschopau?" That's extra cool. Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk !