dlapierre

It's happened to me a few times. Everything works and spools up but the starter won't engage. In every case it is just the connection at the battery posts that aren't secure enough. Try tightening them.

I've made a few seat pads for bikes for fellows on this site. They are wool. PM me for details.

ZGUKTC0294M111158 Bought in Spokane in 2010 and brought to British Columbia, near Vernon. Givi A240-type windshield and modified LCD taillights.

Trying to find a replacement windshield for this bike. Original cracked. Just being able to replace the clear part would do. Contact me at lapierredennis@gmail.com.

I'm so good a tuning my 04' V11 using my homemade manometer and voltmeter that I now wonder if I can use the same procedure on my 1200 sport (2 valve). Anybody doing that? Is it the same procedure? What millivolts apply?

All depends, doesn't it? I made some queries and got such good advice from a shipping company, I thought it would be worth passing along. First, shipping by boat, making the bike part of a container load is the least expensive way to go. Shipping rates are based on volume, not weight, by boat. I was quoted $5.00/cu/ft. Additionally, there is a terminal fee ($90.00) and an export documentation fee ($90.00). The least expensive and least troublesome way of crating is to mooch a crate from a bike dealer and re-crate the bike. In the UK, for example, they have issues with non-certified wood, so a crate from there takes care of any worries about what kind of material the crate is made of. The shipping outfit I spoke with also offered advice about assuring the transaction is concluded without difficulties. Assuming a deposit is already made by the buyer, once the shipping company has possession of the crate, it will notify the buyer so the balance can be paid to the seller. It will not release the bike unless the debt is satisfied. Depending on traffic and what else is in the container, shipping can take 1-2 months. Rough total cost? $600.00. Compare that with "budget" air freight, less than 1/4 the price of air freight. In my case, what I am negotiating to sell is a collectable motorcycle, so it would appear that the boat freight rate just might be worth it to the buyer.

All depends, doesn't it? I made some queries and got such good advice from a shipping company, I thought it would be worth passing along. First, shipping by boat, making the bike part of a container load is the least expensive way to go. Shipping rates are based on volume, not weight, by boat. I was quoted $5.00/cu/ft. Additionally, there is a terminal fee ($90.00) and an export documentation fee ($90.00). The least expensive and least troublesome way of crating is to mooch a crate from a bike dealer and re-crate the bike. In the UK, for example, they have issues with non-certified wood, so a crate from there takes care of any worries about what kind of material the crate is made of. The shipping outfit I spoke with also offered advice about assuring the transaction is concluded without difficulties. Assuming a deposit is already made by the buyer, once the shipping company has possession of the crate, it will notify the buyer so the balance can be paid to the seller. It will not release the bike unless the debt is satisfied. Depending on traffic and what else is in the container, shipping can take 1-2 months. Rough total cost? $600.00. Compare that with "budget" air freight, less than 1/4 the price of air freight. In my case, what I am negotiating to sell is a collectable motorcycle, so it would appear that the boat freight rate just might be worth it to the buyer.

Anyone have experience shipping a motorcycle from Canada to the UK? I've had a serious query from someone in London England about a motorcycle I have for sale, but I'm having trouble finding out how to ship, the shipping options, prices, rules, etc. I live in British Columbia, Canada. thx

I'm fooling around with my newly acquired 04' V11 Cafe Sport. So, prior to following the instructions for adjusting the TPS, I took my dad's old CO analyzer and got 4% CO at idle and up to about 3K rpm. Past that, the mixture became increasingly lean and at 4K rpm was at 10% CO. I kinda thought I was burning rich because the mileage in Imperial gallons was, at best, 40 MPG. My 03' V11 gave me much better mileage than that...around 50 if I was careful. Following the instructions, I noted the voltage at 210. I adjusted it down to 150, but didn't do anything beyond that. I ran the CO analyzer then and had 4% CO at idle again, but this time it dropped to 3% CO revving up to and including 4K rpm. I didn't, or haven't yet balanced the throttles, but my question is, is this change for the better, or should I be expecting some sort of problems brought about by clearly running a more lean mixture?

08' 1200 Sport that is mostly used for business trips...gotta get there, gotta get back, 350+ km each way. 04' Cafe Sport I also let one of my boys ride. Dennis

I've not been on this site for quite a while. There's been some changes. What happened is that I traded in my 03 Sport Naked for a 1200 Sport. This was last spring. But I missed my 03. I went to buy it back, but the dealer wanted too much for it, so I shopped around and found an 04 Cafe Sport I liked. Now I'm trying to figure out how to make the front end more like a Sport Naked, with the clip-ons, instruments connected directly to the triple-tree, and headlight that turns with the steering.

This is as much a compliment to the folks at Valley Yamaha as it is a surprise to me that my bike needed no adjustments. I stopped into their shop en route home from Vancouver BC to get the bike checked over, mostly to get the tps, etc. adjusted. At a shop rate of $80/hr, I was prepared to spend a few bucks. I bought the bike, an early 03' V11 Sport, completely stock, with 6,000 miles. It just turned 14,000. Aside from adjusting the valves and changing the fluids, a brake shoe and tires, I've done nothing to the bike. I thought that by now, I should have a competent mechanic give it a look. It took all of 30 minutes for the 33 year veteran mechanic, I never got his name, to check the engine, using his Axone (pp?) gizmo and embarass me with reminders about tiny things, like lubing my kickstand and levers I have been apparently overlooking, all of which he checked while I stood there getting a full lesson on just exactly what it was he was doing with his high tech instruments. The bike needed nothing: no adjustments, nothing. That satifying knowledge cost me 0.6 of an hour. I left happy.

It's funny. You probably know the Falkland Hotel is quite a magnet for Harley tough-guy wanna-be's. It's the only bar I've seen where cowboys and bikers mix without fighting, much. I guess it used to be a legit tough-guy biker bar, but I don't think anymore. You occasionally see what appears to be a tough guy, but the dead giveaway is when you see him with a soft ice cream in his hand. The only remaining vestiges of what it once was is the sign in the parking lot that still says "horses and hogs only". The other funny part is that the Harley tough guy wanna-be's seem to need to ride in gaggles.

Anyone out there do much riding at night? I picked up a bit of extra work lately and most of it is night shift. So, being budget conscious, I've been riding the bike to work. About 25 highway miles. There is usually next to no traffic at night on this country highway, so all I really have to watch carefully for is deer eyeballs. Of course I ride cautiously, and a lot slower, and the headlamps are now adjusted perfectly, but I've noticed I'm far more conscious of the way the bike sounds, runs, balances and generally feels under me when my field of view is limited entirely by the scope of the headlights. It has opened up a whole new level of appreciation, for me.

Does an 04' Lemans have a single or double plate clutch, and what difference does it make, anyway? I'm looking at an 04' and the information the seller is providing says it is a single plate, but he's not certain. thx

I'm into my second year with my 03' V11 sport. I love it. It's full of character. But, we seem to always be on the lookout for more and better, right? With that in mind, last week I tried out an 1100 Breva and a Norge. On first impressions, I found the Breva more familiar feeling, but it didn't seem to have the character of the V11. Don't ask me to define character. I can't define it. It's a pretty intangible thing. What I do know is that, with the slightly lowered seat on the V11 and tight suspension, I feel nicely tucked into the bike and that I have a good feel for the road under me. I also don't mind having to lean forward somewhat. It makes me feel that I am actually driving the critter rather than just sitting on it while it moves. I didn't like either enough to switch bikes. I've yet to try a 1200s. The nearest one is 4 hours away. Who among you has ridden the 1200s and what are your impressions relative to the various iterations of the V11?

Let me first preface my query with this: I'm really upset that I can't buy a new Guzzi from select US dealers. I continue to be impressed with their participation on this and the Wild Guzzi forums and their willingness to help. I would love to reciprocate. But, unfortunately Moto Guzzi is one of those manufacturers that will not provide the necessary information to the Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles that would let me buy from a US dealer. And, I know little enough about the Canadian dealers in this region that I have little confidence in the ones around here. I wrote to both Guzzi distributers, US and Canada asking why this import limitation existed and got no response. In contrast, I got a response from Triumph, UK, saying no problem, not only could I buy anywhere, but could get warranty service regardless of what country it was bought in. But, I want another Guzzi, not a Triumph. I'm smittten. Anyway, based on Pete Roper's description about how he is prepping his new bike, I wonder, first off, if it is possible to buy a new Guzzi right in the crate and do my own prepping. I also wonder what, exactly, that prepping would amount to. Is there assembly work? Do dealers normally adust the valves, gap the plugs, balance the injectors, etc.? Is there anything that the average guy with a decent set of tools and common mechanical sense couldn't do himself? Dennis

Nice! I like mechanical projects like that. Thx.

To answer your question, yes, the same Guzzis that are available in the US are available in Canada: Breva's, 1200 Sports, California's, the works. And there is no difference in specifications that I can see. What I think it is, is privatized protectionism. Where Yamaha, Suzuki, HD's, Triumphs and Ducatis, to name a few have no restrictions, and if I want to buy and ride one those back, I can, no problem, relatively speaking. But, BMW does, Guzzi does and so do a few others. With BMW, you have to pay them a fee to get a recall letter, something that one was able to get for free two years ago. I'll maybe send Piaggio USA a letter to see what have to say.

Couple of years ago, I successfully exported an '03 V11 Sport from the USA into Canada. Was a good deal and everything went well. I want to do it again, and combine a flight south to visit family in Tucson with a bike purchase and a ride back. Looking at the list of bikes permitted to be exported to Canada, I see nothing is listed for Moto Guzzi's beyond 2005 models. So, my question is: Has anyone exported a newer Guzzi from the USA than a 2005 model? I'm asking because the online list provided by the Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles states that it is up to the manufacturer to provide the Registrar the essential information showing the bike meets both US and Canadian standards, and I'm seeing more than one make of bike where that information is not being provided. This suggests to me that manufacturers are withholding the information in order to discourage what has become a pretty good deal for the ambitious individual and protect Canadian dealerships, mostly because individual Canadians can get better prices on vehicles in the US than in Canada. That, or all Guzzis made since 2005 are inadmissable, which makes absolutely no sense. The same makes and models are available here as are in the USA, but for more money. I already tried to query the Moto Guzzi USA website about this, but it came back with a notice that the site is down for a while.

That one is clearly scarier than mine. At least with the "o" ring on a string, all I need to do is pull the string with two fingers to dislodge the "o" ring to free the throttle return. And it takes little pull to do it.

I've never had a problem with moths getting to the wool. But I've lost a couple of good horse saddlepads to mice and packrats. Seems the mice and packrats like the accumulation of horse sweat (salt). These pads got damaged while being stored over winter in a barn. This was after 3-4 years of use and me getting too lazy to wash the pads. Doubt if you'll have that problem. But, if you are concerned about moths, find some camphor pellets (mothballs) to put nearby. These pads are washable, by the way. On long horse trips, I'd just rinse the saddlepad in the creek and let it drip dry overnight. But at home, a rinse in the bathtub in warm water with a bit of fleecy in it works fine. Horse pad owners can get 10 years out of a pad. I expect a bike saddlepad will last that long or longer. I'm game to take more orders for pads, for those who are interested. We've had some 90-ish weather here lately and every day it gets hotter, I appreciate the "saddle pad" more & more! Hey Dennis -- I have no idea wot they do in tack rooms for storage of something like this. Do I have to be concerned about moths getting into this thing when it's sitting in a nice, toasty-warm dark garage??!! BTW -- the elastic bands seem to work perfectly. I'm not going to change a thing.

I think I understand the feeling. I had an r1100r beemer up until a couple of weeks ago, about two months after buying a v11. I was used to the steering on the beemer and was a bit uncomfortable with the way the v11 steered into corners. It took a while to adjust, but I ended up selling the beemer simply because the steering started to feel much harder on the beemer than on the v11. You have to push the beemer into a corner. Not so with the V11, in comparison. As others have said, steer with a lighter hand. Once you get used to it, you'll feel much more like you are a part of the bike. I also like sitting forward, more onto the tank.