Baldini

great job Ryan & looks like the little fella thinks so too KB

Not sure that more lean on the dirty stuff at the edge of the road would've saved you: If you're running wide at the exit then maybe look earlier in the corner for the problem: Turning in too soon? Late turn in helps, esp in tight stuff cos V11's do run wide given a chance & badly need weight over front when ridden hard in turns (body weight/raise forks?). Did you close throttle? Throttle effects rate of turn & lean. What happened immediately after decking peg? Leaning off can get you round when clearance is gone....Hope you get everything sorted. Best wishes. KB

Yes. It has big effect on handling & character of the bike, & with car type clutch/flywheel & shaft trans is mostly why you have to ride a Guzzi different to other bikes. Put anyone on a Guzzi who hasn't ridden one before - see how they react & tell me it's not quirky....eg: "how the hell do you ride this thing?" You have to learn to ride a Guzzi & ride it the way it wants to be ridden, you can't just apply UJM experience etc. You can get on a Duke, Buell etc & just ride it, it's character doesn't interfere with riding it quickly...even if you never rode one before. For me, on the V11, the motor isn't the limit to getting bodyweight forward, it's the long tank. A shorter tank would much improve handling ability. Is the Sporti tank shorter? On a Tonti you can spread your knees along the rocker covers & get a fair way up over the motor (well I guess it depends what shape you are...). But yeah, that you can't get your weight right over the front wheel is a limiting factor in how hard they can corner. KB

Buell? Pah! Across the frame crank v twins are ten a penny, the other stuff is peripherals - the very heart of a Guzzi is it's biggest quirk - take a look: a big v twin with it's crank running along the frame - not many of them about these days... KB

Thanks Graham, I did just that ! KB

Pete, Best wishes mate, I'll call this evening, or call me if you want. I can deal w/ trays as you wish. Keith.

Yeh. up to 02, or pre radial brakes anyhow. I have one on - straight replacement fit. KB

My Scura (w/clip ons) came with lower edge of bevel at top of legs level with handlebar clamp top surface which is about same as Greg says. I raised forks in triple clamps 11mm so that third ring on leg is level with bar clamp top surface (that is 23mm above top surface of triple clamp). As Dave says, much improved steering. It will much easier hold a line in a corner w/o drifting wide. There is no downside that I have found. But as said above, check all clearances. KB

Keeping oil level up to max on stick or slightly higher seems to work. From reports I've seen of oil lights coming on, it seems only to be happening when level is down a bit. KB

If you bring some, I can send em out for you - whatever suits. Look forward to seeing you here. If Pete's still on, I'm hoping to be in Cambridge for a beer with him Mon 18th if anyone else is interested in coming along. KB

On Scura, stock springs are unmarked but according to shop, Ohlins spec card shows 9 N/mm. I weigh around 210lb inc gear & ride pretty hard. With 10 N/mm springs I get correct sag with 5 turns on preload (on stock springs I had to max preload) & need v little compression damping. Works pretty good. I could probably go to 10.5 I guess, your a bit heavier so 10.5 or 11? KB

Yeh. I queried this w/supplying dealer. I was assured that it was just sloppy factory procedure: ECU's for Ti kit are picked from bin of stock ones & reprogrammed - some don't get stickered correctly. This may sound like (& may be) BS but another dealer I spoke with who had handled the kit said same. Both know factory & MG for years. Kit ECU was certainly different to stock (I interchanged them several times to compare) seemed richer, pulled harder but was lumpy & felt rich. Stock was smoother but didn't seem to have the grunt or maybe felt a bit lean. I decided to take them at their word, stuck w/ kit ECU + PC111 & once set up on the dyno it all runs great. Of course it maybe stock ECU + PC111 would also run great w/dyno. I dunno but I'm OK w/ how it turned out. I payed a lot of money tho - sounds like you got a real bargain, & even if ECU is wrong it's a fair price for cans. Do you have PC111? KB

Wheelsucker - if they work for you, great. If your riding in the dark & fog to work every morning: respect to you. I used to have a set of foglamps fixed to engine crashbars on me ol Tonti - made riding in dark much easier. Do what you need to, take no notice of cheapshots from people who just like to hear themselves crow & for all I know only take the bike out sunny sundays to go sit outside the cafe. good luck to you mate! KB

Why? KB

I never had one, but impressions of a couple of brief rides were a really lovely, creamy, smooth & powerful motor (let down by terrible on/off advance/retard stutter at lower revs - as others mention), a very tall, roomy riding position, but unlike Steve, I found handling wasn't very confidence inspiring, but maybe you get used to it - he's a longterm owner so should know best. As I recall they'll drag the alternator casing ridden hard & if they go down on that (righthand?) side can damage the crank...so maybe check for any evidence. A V11 is not so roomy, not so smooth a motor (apart from ign stutter). Longterm & used hard a sorted & cared for Guzzi is v solid. I haven't enough experience on the Laverda to know but my impression has been that the Laverda is more fragile, despite it's appearance of being hewn from solid. And I'm surprised Steve finds handling & stability so much superior to the V11 (unless he's simply comparing shaft/chain driven character?) - perhaps it depends on specific bike? Laverdas have a real presence & a lovely wail - it's the motor that makes them tho. KB

You need this under "technical topics" to get replies I think. Dunno re plug but 160 will quicken up handling with no real downside as far as I know...unless you like slower handling of course...& availability...

Yeah, I was talking to a bloke here who was going to sell his on cos of the heat he was getting on one side onto his lower leg. Other than that he liked the bike. I only rode one a v short while so didn't notice anything, but it seems a real well sorted bike, especially the gbox & back end. Congratulations, I bet the heat issue can be sorted. KB

aw f*ck, what is this now... KB

Yeah, OK Pete. Keith.

it's always had plenty oil? no oil lights?

Dunno about truth but we all form opinions & mostly that's all they are. I haven't used Metzelers recently but had me99's etc & Phantoms...Metzelers worked fine, they were good tyres, but I found I preferred thefeel from Pirellis. Some liked Metzelers...guess it's same today. To say Metzelers don't work on Guzzis is just personal opinion also, not fact. I've got Conti Sport Attacks on now...they grip great, but don't have the feel of the previous Power 2CT's. Handling is completely different - much slower & neutral, nice in it's own way, but v different to the Michelins. Like Skeeve said above, keep it in proportion. Most these modern tyres work great, but each has different characteristics & appropriate applications. Grip, handling, price, mileage, size, availability? As to relevance of magazine tests mostly run on Jap Sports bikes on track .... KB

What's a Road Geez?

Goran, I found same problem. I take the sidestand off for track, only takes a couple of minutes & yes - find something to lean it against - it's no big deal. Still a problem on the road tho, esp cos you don't know where the hits are coming..... On mine, suspension's set pretty good - forks are slightly raised but Ohlins shock is long (could you raise rear?) - problem is lean angle permitted by sticky tyres - dunno what tyres you have, but grounding wasn't too bad til I put on Pilot Power 2CT's - going back to BT020's should sort it..... KB

I use ear plugs whenever I go out on the bike. Don't feel they interfere with any sense of what's happening around me. I have mild Tinitus - maybe I think from years of riding without. I just use cheap foam disposable ones but some fit better than others. KB

Like Ratchet I spoke with Redline Tech (UK) - he rec'd Shockproof Heavy. It stopped (completely) persistent weep onto xover & maybe it slightly improved shift quality too... KB