[procedure for removing forks]

Since you have the front wheel and fender off I presume the brake calipers have been removed too. After that all you need to do is loosen the pinch bolts for the clipon handlebars and triple clamps and then slide the forks out. If you're going to remove the fork caps you should loosen them after loosening the top clamp pinch bolts but before loosening the lower clamp bolts.

 

Everything is easier with a shop manual You can buy one from a forum sponsor at the top of the page, buy a digital version on ebay, or find a downloadable one on the web. Someone here can likely provide you with a website for the downloadable one.

Thanks Tom,you'r a gent. Sorting a manual out today

[procedure for removing forks]

Hi,would anybody on the forum have the correct procedure for removing the front forks on a 2001 V11? I have the front wheel off and mudguard. I have removed standard ie just oil filled front forks from bikes in the past but never done this job on the V11. Any pointers would be much appreciated. Also I was thinking of fitting a fender extender to the front mudguard while I have it off. I believe one intended for either a Yamaha XJR1300 or a Suzuki SV650 will fit,has anyone done this? Thanks.

[removal of petrol tank for painting]

Hi Bruce,thanks for the link,plenty to read there to help with the tank removal.Agree with the bronze choice as I have been looking at a metallic bronze colour used by BMW. I have tried googling for a pic of the bronze 09 Norge you mentioned but without success. I think bronze along with the red frame would look the business.The champagne colour used by Guzzi is another option but it may be a little light for my taste. Thanks again for the info and suggestions.

You might find some info here:

 

Tank removal

 

I'm partial to silver V11s but the new bronze color used on the '09 Norge might work with the red frame and pork chops.

 

Have fun!

 

Dennis

[removal of petrol tank for painting]

Hi and thanks for taking time to reply.My favourite colour on a bike is a rich red but the problem with the V11 is its almost unique red frame. I had a 1980 Beemer 1000 which I had resprayed a deep candy apple red which looked great but I need to stay away from red on the V11 because of the existing frame colour. I tend to go for the warmer richer colours and usually make my mind up fairly quickly but it's taking longer in the case of the Guzzi.I'm off to a classic bike show at the weekend,maybe I'll get some inspiration there. Love that beemer in your picture,I have an R80 and I never tire of the classic look of the older generation flat twins. Safe riding and thanks again.

I once had a BMW with a piant that looked black far away but up close it was a dark rootbeer color with gold metal flake, that was cool paint, I think they called it Bronco or something. it had gold pinstriping but red would look good too.

[removal of petrol tank for painting]

Hi Slavomir,many thanks for the information and the input on paint colours.That paint scheme on the old M3 Le Mans in the picture would be cool and pretty unique on a modern Guzzi as I think it was a paint scheme used by Guzzi some years ago, on I think the 1000S model.I recall seeing one in green and black as opposed to red. I like the sound of the Pearl white and red striping better though,that would be classy. Good luck with whatever you decide to go with and thanks again.

lock the pet-cock, dismatile the tank, drain out the fuel, take out the pet-cock, the pressure regulator...

 

one thing I really dont know how to is the leather thing on the top

 

I will have my LM repainted also..

 

schemes what I am thinking of is getting it pearl white with red side frames. I have rosso corsa fairing so I would let the stripes stay dark red and the rest paint in white

 

 

OR!

 

having it painted in similar way

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/87/26477333...f199802.jpg?v=0

[removal of petrol tank for painting]

Hello all

I have removed all "body"parts from my 2001 V11 ready for painting except the petrol tank which I have left on the bike for as long as possible so that the engine could be run. The parts go in for paint soon and so I will removing the tank. Before I commence I thought I'd ask on the forum for any advice in relation to removal and refitting of the tank. I don't want to suffer an air lock or other vacuum related problems when I come to get the bike on the road and was wondering of any experiences that others have had when attempting the removal and replacement of the tank. I still haven't quite made up my mind on a colour for the V11 but metallic bronze is my choice at the moment. Any suggestions would be welcome as I am fairly open minded on choice of colour, though I am bearing in mind the red frame factor. The bike is silver at the moment but after sustaining damage a paint job is necessary and so I thought a change would be in order. Thanks for listening and remember "ride while you can"

[V11 with LM1 fairing?]

Thanks! It came in black, and I had it mounted that way for a week, but decided to get it painted silver to make it look more like a stock part of the bike. I'm really stoked on how it turned out.

Thats exactly the look that I,ve been after for my silver V11. It's going off the road in the coming winter for a new coat of paint so I think I'll invest in the same fairing from Sprint. Was any major work needed in order to fit the fairing as I noticed it's actually intended for a Triumph? Any info would be appreciated,that's a sweet looking Guzzi you've got I wouldn't change a thing on it.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

Mirrors are now fitted. Went around to a local engineers who skimmed down the original bar ends to take the new mirror clamps,charged me £10.00 ( just under 20 dollars ). Just fitted the mirrors this morning and I think visually they are a big improvement over the originals. The real test will be how they perform on the road but I can't see any problems,I just hope I remember the extra width when filtering! Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

Don't know what to suggest. Mine came out no problem. The bolts on my bike both have conventional threads (counter clockwise to loosen).

Maybe you could use a little more leverage?

 

Good luck.

Hi Polebridge,job done! Wrapped strip of leather around the problem bar end to protect finish and then applied mole grips. After several attempts and numerous swear words it finally came loose....result!

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

Well,attempted to take the bar ends off this morning in order to get them machined to take the mirrors.Clutch side came out without to many problems but the throttle side will not budge, hope I'm not missing anything but I'm presuming that both sides come out the same way by using the allen or hex key only. Any tips,tricks or suggestions? I don't want to mess anything up by being heavy handed but I'm at a bit of a loss as to the next step.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

I mounted CRG lane split mirrors on my V11 and used bar end adapters from RhinoMoto:

 

http://www.e-securedsite.com/RHINOMOTO/sto...20and%20Mirrors

 

They worked fine although I do nitice a slight bit more vibration in the grips compared to the stock, heavier, bar ends.

 

Hope this helps

Thanks Polebridge,it's really heartening the way people on this forum rally round to help.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

I had a pair of the CRG mirrors and machined the bar ends for that custom look too.

 

I rode with these mirrors for about a month and could never get used to them. Yes, they are the best looking mirror on the guzzi but the CRG mirrors are too convex which made it hard for me to tell how far back vehicles were behind me (everything looks small in them when in realility they could be very close). You also could not tell the difference between a patrol car from any other car or truck on the road. After a few eye openers, I went back to the Napolean mirrors. Not as trick in looks but work excellent in traffic.

 

Just my thoughts,

Mike

Fair point Mike,I remember having convex mirrors on a Suzuki I bought second hand a few years back. After my first ride I swore I'd get rid of them.I got used to them after a while though and left them on without any problems,hopefully it will be my experience with the Guzzi.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

I had a friend turn my bar ends to fit CRG style mirrors:

 

 

 

They are so sweet looking and much more usable than the stock elbow inspection mirrors.

 

Joe

Hi Joe,love what you've done with the bar ends, definetely think thats the way to go.It looks such an obvious but tidy fix,cheers mate.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

Are your mirrors like CRGs? If so, it's possible to mount both the weights and the CRGs. THis is what I did on my Ballabio. I used the heavier weights we (Moto Intl.) sell as a kit, though you could just as easily use the stock weights.

Hi Greg,I think I'm going to keep the stock bar ends and get them machined down as Joe has done in the post below,time to get out the yellow pages and find a good machine shop,thanks for your input.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

I had my stock bar weights machined to take the CRG mount. It was a pricey event ($85US) and the weights are a bear to get out. If you have a later model the weights may be different, I don't know.

Thanks for the input docc,time to put my thinking cap on me thinks.

[removing bar ends to fit bar end mirrors]

Hi to all,I'm attempting to fit a pair of bar end mirrors sometime over the next few days and was wondering if any one has attempted this.What to look out for and any tips on making the job easier. I've bought a set of motomax bar end mirrors which were supposed to give me the option of just clamping over the existing bar ends but on inspection are to small circumference wise. Any help would be appreciated,thanks in advance.