FuelCooler

I would try several applications of acetone (letting it soak), while sharply tapping it with a rubber mallet (or wood). Keep the acetone away from your body work and sparks/open flames. Also run a razor blade down the forward side of the cover, if you can. The starter is off, right? Cheers, Steve

Welcome T Dog! I love the Greenies, so much so I forced my neighbor to buy one. If you have a KTM and a Buell as well, that is an awsome stable of bikes. What models are they? This is the best place to get answers (before walking down to MI at least). Have fun Cheers, Steve

Good idea, bad idea, I can see both sides. We Guzzi folks are a bit off center anyway. I was always fond of the original Honda CX500. Double the displacement might be fun to try. But will it sell? Will it attract new buyers? We may get to find out. What ever it is, I hope it is a home run for Moto Guzzi. Cheers, Steve

Hi Smudge, I will respond assuming you can do the work yourself, otherwise have a good shop check these things. Also I am assuming the bike hasn't been wrecked and rebuilt. First I would make sure the steering damper mounts aren't binding up. Then I would unbolt the steering damper and stroke it back and forth to check if it operating smoothly (with no jerky-ness). Next while I had the damper off, I would lift the front wheel off the ground and check for smooth operation of the steering head bearings (especially just off center) and make sure they are properly adjusted. There is a good chance those bearings left the Guzzi factory with a minimal amount of grease, so now would be a good time dissassemble the steering stem to clean, check and re-lube them. That should get you started. Cheers, Steve

Well, I don't know who is best. But I know who my favorite is............Page-y! Sometimes he sucks so bad it is almost comical, like the majority of the Heartbreaker guitar break and other times he is so unbelievably good it brings me to tears, like I'm Gonna Crawl or Custard Pie. Sometimes he is good and bad at the same time, but he is going for it and that energy is not lost on this listener. I love Claptons songs more than his playing, like Bellbottom Blues, The Core, Layla. He is great, but I don't quite feel his guitar work the same way I do Pages and Becks. Beck's Come Dancing is absolutely BAD ASS, beginning to end. And even Jeffs work on Rod Stewarts Infatuation is cool.......Flame away!!! They all groove well enough for me (Gilmore too) Cheers, Steve

For everyones information: As seen in his avatar, Brent is about to accelerate briskly into our alley after gently cleaning any debris from his rear tire. We may need a third party to handle photo or radar duty.

True! In the alley we have contests of daring and stupidity on a regular basis.

Welcome smudge! You have a damn sexy bike. The fuel tank color is beautful. This web site is a fantastic resource and a fun place to hang around. Cheers, Steve (FuelCooler)

I wish I had bought a 1000S when I was DeBenGuzzi's age. He has got to be the coolest dude in Minnesota. But, I was 40 when I bought my V11. It is my first Guzzi. I have loved the looks of the engines since I was a teenager. I knew someday I would have one (after I was done taking tool kits out of my sportbikes to save weight). There was a comparison test between the V11 and the R1150R that I studied for many an hour before deciding to buy the R1150R, as it easily won the test. It was a great bike and was the most rational buying decision I have ever made (for motorcycles at least). After a year I realized I was bored with it. It sold within 3 days. I bought my Guzzi, used, without even a test ride (it was very cold and rainy). No need, I was done with being rational. It is by far the coolest bike I have ever owned and my favorite bike to ride, 2 years later. Cheers, Steve (FuelCooler)

Exactly! Steve

If the alternator has an internal rectifier! Otherwise it will put out AC by design. Just f'in with ya Brent. Cheers, Steve

Welcome aboard Joe!, This is a great site for information, help and advice. I have been a member for about 2 years and had a lot of fun, and I have learned alot. It's a good bunch here. Cheers, Steve

I wouldn't count #46 out for the championship just yet, but it really looks like Stoner, Ducati and Bridgestone (in that order) have really got something special figured out and they look to be applying it well! I hope its a good year of racing. Cheers, Steve

Hello biggerjim, It sounds like you are a bit rich, even if you don't smell it. What kind of modifications (if any) have been made to your bike, and what kind of riding (twisties, interstate, etc.) are you doing? If it is bone stock you should be getting at least 30 mpg unless you are doing a track day. These things should get 40+ mpg cruising at 70-ish on the highway, if they are tuned up. Steve

Yes, it is normal. It is probably coming from the gear box / clutch. Try pulling in the clutch, it should go away. It kinda sounds like a connecting rod is about to come out of it. But it is fine! Enjoy your ride! Steve

V11crazed, I am excited for you! My first ride on my 2000 V11 was unforgettable. I fell in love as soon as I pulled out of the drive way. I believe you will love yours. They feel 'alive'. Best wishes to you, Steve (Fuel Cooler) P.S. I lived on Pima in Tucson back in 1988 for the spring. Nice riding and weather to be sure!

I am not disagreeing with you ratchethack, but I wonder if this is one of them 'old timer' tales. I heard this warning growing up as well. Many times I had wheelied or other wise ran my XR 75 Honda, 1978 RM125, Maico 440 thru standing water and was terrified of them cracking. Then when I was older, I did the same with my XR 250 and EX250 quad and was a little less worried. None of them cracked. And some were plenty hot (and old!) when I did it. It still worries me, and perhaps its because I never shut one down immediately afterwards and continued to throw water at them. To be honest I have never personally seen a cracked block, cylinder or head on an air cooled bike that wasn't caused from some internal part trying to exit. Don't get me wrong, it may happen all the time, I just haven't seen it. I have some knowledge of aviation motors developing cylinder head cracking from rapid temp changes (P&W radials), so it is possible. Any one else with first hand experience on water cracked air cooled bike motors? Cheers, Steve

OK, You guys have scared me nearly enough to change over to synthetic this summer. What I have done up until now is change my yak fat immediately if I get stuck in stop and go traffic on hot days (which happened to me once last year). The oil probably had 1000 miles on it. It still looked like honey, but I wasn't taking chances. It looks like 2008 will be a full synthetic year for me.........BRENTTODD as well, if he's reading this thread! Thanks for the temp readings, gentlemen. Steve

For what its worth, my bike is 'V9' bigger than nerog2f's. Can EU- Expidition haul bikes that big?

PM sent Cheers, Steve

Hi tripletom, I had an oil pressure sensor fail 400 miles from home (at the beginning of a 2400 mile trip) in a long, dirty rain. And the sensor was new, I had installed it just before the trip. For some peace of mind, I would make sure the oil filter isn't starting to loosen. It is possible to do through the dipstick hole with a long screwdriver and a flashlight, but dropping the oil pan or oil filter access 'cap' would be much better. Cheers, Steve

I still have the stock clip-ons, but yes, you are correct. 54mm is the fork tube OD size for the upper and lower triple clamps as well as the clip-on ID for a 2000 V11 sport. Cheers, Steve

I think it's cool. I don't have any ink on me, but if I was going to get a tatoo, something like that would be in my top two choices.

These are my guesses: If it is ping, did you richen up the mixture since adding those M4's? It could be too lean. And we are most likely getting the 'winter blend' gasoline here in the northeast, which might be affecting your mixture as well. Or, your front crossover (below the alternator) may be rattling. As for the tip over valve, you can blow/suck into it when it is vertical to establish if it is working. I mounted mine at the very end of the hose on an existing bracket on my sump. I hope this helps. I am going to do a little research on winter blends and post back. Cheers, Steve Edit: In short, after some searching, we use Refomulated Fuels (oxygenated) in the Northeast USA winters (starting mid-Sept.) to reduce CO emissions. The typical oxygenate is alcohol based and it leans out the fuel mixture of vehicals with no O2 sensors (like our V11s). So a carburated engine (non-feedback) would run leaner as well. So if you were borderline on mixture on your V11 this summer, you will be too lean on the oxygenated stuff you most likely just filled up on over Thanksgiving. If anyone knows otherwise / better please add you comments, I did get this info off the internet!

I couldn't have been happier with my silver 2000 V11. It was unique, looked great, felt great, sounded awsome and everyone asked about it, even non-motorcycling folks. Then some yahoo (I think he works at an auto shop) two doors down from me bought a green 2000. Its like everyone has one now............and to make it worse, his is prettier. Damn it!!!!