FuelCooler
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Posts posted by FuelCooler
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...We got along very well since we both think doing wheelies in the alley is the most fun you can have.
Brent
True!
In the alley we have contests of daring and stupidity on a regular basis.
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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)
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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)
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....If I ever had to choose just one bike, it would be SO difficult. I'd make a list of the pros and cons and for sure on paper the BMW would win. Then I'd go down to my garage, look at the bikes, tear up the list and sell the BMW.
Exactly!
Steve
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Dan is right also check that the alternator is not puting out a/c voltage that will give you a heap of trouble. Make sure those grounds are good and tight.
Brent
If the alternator has an internal rectifier! Otherwise it will put out AC by design.
Just f'in with ya Brent.
Cheers,
Steve
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Hi All. I'm new to this group and just wanted to say Glad to be here. I have been a visitor but since I bought my 2004 Ballabio I decided to join. I am a 54 yr old who started riding as a child. I have been riding and loving my 1972 Eldorado for the last few years. I ran across a nice deal on a NICE 2004 Red Ballabio so I grabbed it. Some of you may have known or heard of this Ballabio, it belonged to Bill Hagan here in Atlanta. I love the bike, way more than I thought I would. Anyway from what I've seen so far of this group it will be a pleasure to be a part.
Joe in Atlanta
1972 Eldorado
2004 Ballabio
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
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While he surely still has a few good races ahead of him, I think his reign ended last night. Oh, he'll win some races, sure, but i don't think he'll be world champion (in MotoGP) again: the new crops are very good, very fast, and definitively NOT afraid of him.
On the tv screen, last night, Vale looked old.
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
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hello everyone
i have a question for yall
i just returned from a 50 mile ride and pulled my plugs
they both have a dark and sooty side and the other side of the plug is still white and clean.
did i miss my tune, or is this normal for all guzzi's
i also noticed i am getting horrible gas mileage, maybe in the twenties.
but it does not smell rich
any help would be appreciated....
thanks biggerjim
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
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I did start her up today....is is common for the Guzzi to have "thump, thump" sound coming from what sounds deep in the engine, during idle? I'm just unsure what to expect.
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
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I believe its a girl, but I went out in the garage to find out for sure. I checked under its tail and I found some big rubber and a shock! I'm afraid to look again........
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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!
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Gil, I'd be mighty careful about throwing water on any motor that's not cooled all the way down, very close to ambient. This is a classic, oft-repeated scenario, where a bucket of water is thrown on an overheated motor, followed by dumping all the oil through a brand-spankin' new crack in the engine block.
Many's the moto and car alike that's suffered the same fate at the hands of someone spraying it off to clean the motor.
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
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It never gets really hot here in Seattle. The hottest day I remember here in 14 years was 97-degrees F. A very warm summer day is in the mid-80s F. Here's what I have seen as typical for oil temps on a calibrated thermostaic dipstick on my V11 Ballabio on a day in the 80s F. (all after the machine is fully warmed up):
Steady state cruising on the freeway: 100-105 C.
Running really hard through the twisties: 125 C.
Heavy traffic stop-and-go: 140 C.
140 C. is way too hot for yak fat. It's iffy even with top-shelf synths if the oil stays at those temps for long. Even the best oil is cheap compared to, say, a crankshaft. Save the yak fat for your lawnmower . . .
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
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Hey nerog2f hows that v2 run pretty good? Does it run as good as the new 07
For what its worth, my bike is 'V9' bigger than nerog2f's. Can EU- Expidition haul bikes that big?
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Trying to contact this cat 'cause my wife is interested in his bike for sale. Hey Rick! My window of opportunity may not be so big...so please respond.
PM sent
Cheers,
Steve
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Firstly I have done a search and found a nice amount of info that adds to my own conclusions on what happened this morning. This is a summary that may be of use to someone in the same position as me (guzzi virgin).
Saturday, went out for a good ride with a friend on his Gixxer 1000, we did about 200 miles in mainly wet conditions. It was a good day and we didn't hang about and I did what I always do after a ride; give the bike a good wash and then douse liberally with FS365 and grease/WD40 anything that needs doing. I put it away and yesterday used the DR600 for work. Decided to use the Scura today as I wanted to do the valve clearances on the DR tonight. Start Scura this morning and the oil light flickers a little then glows a bit brighter, then goes out, then comes back on bright. So I switch off and let sit for a while then check oil level. Looks fine, maybe a little low, so I add a pint more oil (going by recommendations to overfill slightly). Get geared back up, re-start and there's the light, burning bright. I had a little think, maybe it's just not up to pressure yet? No, it doesn't go out, yet I know there's plenty of oil in there. Now I like to test things thoroughly so I nip up and down the road as I'm convinced there's not an oil issue. It's fine, no noises (yes I have had a bike seize in the past, I know the noises and the feeling), anyway my guts tell me not to ride to work on it so I park it up and put the bodywork back on the DR to take that instead. So once the DR is all back together I think, 'sod it I'll start the guzzi once more', so I did and no oil light once started. Hmm.
After a bit of reading I have drawn two conclusions-
My pressure sensor is either on the way out or was damp from the wash/ride on the weekend despite being doused with WD.
I want to fit a pressure gauge so I can see what's going on.
Any further insights would be welcome.
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
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I am looking to lower the bars on my 2000 sport, kind of like the vortex clip ons. has anyone installed them and
what size is the clamp. Is 54mm correct? thanks
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
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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.
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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!
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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!!!!
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Im not sure how ugly a bag of assholes really is. Are we talking nice bleached out porn star assholes or we talking big fat trucker assholes. I am sure i dont like fat trucker assholes but I am also sure i do like porn star assholes. So i think we need to clarify what type of assholes we are looking at before we can go any further at all. Ha ha
My stomach hurts from laughing!
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Steve
The newer front subframe fits perfect!
The older design was invented for the 4V engines to allow some clearence for the timing belt covers. This styling was kept for the V11, but they are not interchangeable with those of the Centauro/Daytonas. These subframes will not fit the V11s because the engine on these bikes is displaced to the right. This was necessary to accomodate a 160 rear tire together with the old 5 speeders.
You will need this subframe in case you want to install a 4V engine into the V11.
Very sweeeeeet news. Excellent info.
Thank you!
Cheers,
Steve
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That's what Paul Minnaert told me recently, as well. I thought originally when the V11 Le Mans came out that the swingarm length or position was changed, but he informed me that the frame was lengthened just behind the steering head, and everything at the back is identical.
This is good news. From looking at photos, it appears that the frame is longer there. The front subframe bolt is right there at the leading edge of early and late model tanks. Looks like its time to spend more $$$.
Thanks Kevin and callison.
Cheers,
Steve
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Respect, for sure!...
5 seconds less fast than the fastest is still very fast !! Means, they really are champions!
That is impressive. 5 seconds may be long time for a fellow professional motorbike racer (who was on his game), but for a car guy to get that close is quite a feat.
Michael Schumacher Cheers,
Steve
why is Guzzi your beloved bike?
in 24/7 V11
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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.