[Any ideas?]

I'm glad you have got your problem resolved Rotorhead, I'm still waiting for a reply from Hobbsport (but they are on leave this week so maybe its been sorted already...I live in hope). They did say they would sort something out before I go on holiday to Italy (which gives them a week and a half).

 

ciao

 

Mal

[givi bags]

I have managed to fit Givi 36l panniers to my Le Mans, and I agree they are a bit ugly but as I don't carry pillions I've mounted them well forward (the rack is over part of the pillion seat), the centre of gravity is in front of the rear axle. The reason for fitting them was extended camping trips where easy to use,spacious and lockable panniers are useful (also they were sitting in the back of my garage from a previous bike), a few long trips using the techno panniers convinced me I wanted more capacity. If I ever get around to buying a digital camera I'll post some pics.

 

The whole assembly is pretty easy to take off so if I do decide to take a pillion l can unbolt them and use my throwovers). I've tested the Givis at 100mph and they seem fine, in a few weeks I'm off to Italy so I'll let you know how they work in the Alps but I have to admit they are a bit of a pain filtering through heavy traffic as they are a bit wide .

 

Mal

[Any ideas?]

sorry for the delay in replying rotorhead et al, I'm away quite a lot at the moment and don't get to look in as often as usual.

 

I have not yet got a new PC111, the shop I bought it from (Hobbsport in Yorkshire)is in the process of getting a new one although they said it may take a little while and they may need to get the bike in again for some tests but in the mean time I'm just running without one, not ideal but it doesn't seem to be running too weak. Hobbsport who supplied and fitted the PC111 are confident a new one will be on its way soon but they did stress its the first they've seen fail.

 

I hope your problem is resolved soon.I'll keep you posted on progress.

 

cheers

 

Mal

[Any ideas?]

Oh the shame but good news (nothing to do with the Guzzi), yahoo my baby's back

 

Ok its all sorted now, the original breakdown was a very rare power commander fault (which has been confirmed by Hobbsport who fitted it), the, ahem, charging problem was my fault, in swapping the relays around I took out the 5 pin relay and replaced it with a 4 pin....ooops which stopped it charging, once back in the correct place it charges healthily, I think I've learned a lesson here.

 

Anyhow, I now have my bike back on the road - but temporarily without a PC, that is being investigated but they admitted its the first PC111 usb they've seen go wrong, can't wait for them to fit a new one as the power is definately down without it.

 

There you go, you can all sleep soundly at night now that this is cleared.

 

cheers

 

Mal

[Any ideas?]

Hi all

 

just got back from Scotland on old reliable Mk 5 le Mans on the second attempt after the V11 had to be towed back (well trailer really) after only making it half way.

 

Not sure if anybody has any ideas on this but what happened was an instant engine cut out from 90mph, I coasted to a stop and all electrics worked including starter,which was turned over a lot in various vain attempts to start the beast but no go, I swapped and replaced relays (had a spare one), checked for fuel - plenty and it was pumping fine (I got petrol soaked hands when checking as proof), the spark was a little weak, checked fuses...anyhow to cut a long story short I disconnected the battery and then thought what the hell I'll just try disconnecting the PC111, when it was all bolted together it started straight away, funny I thought but loaded my luggage and set off. Pulled into petrol station 20 miles further on and the battery was as flat as a pancake, had to get a trailer home.

 

I've since charged the battery and there is no charge when it is running, the voltage across the battery is about 11.8 volts, I checked the alternator at the 2 yellow wires before it gets to the reg/rec and that seems fine which points to the reg/rec but how would this effect the PC111 ?

 

any ideas?

 

Mal

 

PS I still love the bastard

[Valve stem]

I agree with Murray, don't worry about it, its certainly not a problem with all big block Guzzis, I've known a lot of Guzzi folk over the years and valve problems on the big Guzzis are pretty rare (a different story with some of the smaller models). Its possible there may be a batch of dodgy ones in some V11s but there's no point fretting over something that probably won't happen.

 

Just ride it and enjoy

 

Mal

[Valve cover question]

I'm also one for re-using valve cover gaskets - unless they're buggered of course(BUT make sure you always keep a spare set in the garage in case they do eventually tear or weep).

 

I've been riding & fiddling with Guzzis for many years and must have taken off valve covers hundreds of times & have always re-used these gaskets, I may have had the odd weep of oil every now and then in which case new gaskets are used but generally you shouldn't have problems.

 

Mal

[K&N Pods]

Thanks all, as usual very useful and very funny

 

I may fit the gloves although I'd rather a pair of little black numbers to match the bike.

 

I've got a few days off over Easter to mull the options over although I have to admit I'm tempted by the argument about keeping a long intake length. The Easter break will also mean no computer (only have access to one at work) so apologies if I don't answer any queries for a few days.

 

Belfastguzzi - the "Scottish rally" is organised through the Guzzi Club GB (although probably open to non-members) but unfortunately because of the size of the site thuis year its a bit limited in numbers.

 

Thanks everybody, much appreciated

 

Mal

[K&N Pods]

Hi

 

hopefully somebody can help here, I want to fit K&N pods to my lovely black Le Mans , I've looked at various threads (but probably not all) and the Guzzi Tech site and thought I had it sorted, i.e. I needed some coded RU1780, however I've just rung up Motomecca to see if they had any and they don't recognise these and offered RU1400. I thought I'd be clever and check the K&N website to see if these were the same but there is quite a bit of difference on most of the dimensions .

 

Can anyone out there confirm which ones are the ones to go for.

 

cheers

 

Mal

 

P.S. hopefully see some of you on the Isle of Bute for the Scottish Guzzi rally in a few weeks and by the way have I mentioned recently how fantastic Guzzis are..the summer/rallyseason is here (almost) ....yahooo

[Datatool]

Steve

 

I've got a datatool alarm (didn't want it but insurance was way cheaper with it), it looks like the LED is just fed through the panel (in my case side panel) and held in place by a small round push fit clip on the outside. I've not done it but it looks as though you can just carefully pop off the round clip and pull out the LED from the other side.

 

I'm sure it won't be too difficult (also - you may already know this - but you can take the fairing off in one piece, just undo the main bracket bolts and the indicator wiring and hey presto).

 

Mal

[Front tire cupping]

cupping seems to occur on several makes of tyres on Guzzis, even my old tonti Guzzis have all experienced it (Avon roadrunners were the worst - I hate them) but on the V11 with the original BT020 it certainly became a problem at about 4,000 miles plus (mainly at low speeds and in the wet). I've just changed to Pirelli Diablos but I'll have to see if this happens to them as well.

 

As to the cause of cupping, I've heard its probably down to suspension settings but in reality I've no idea

 

Mal

[rear wheel removal]

mikie

 

you probably know this already but while the wheels out its a good oportunity to grease the rear hub splines and its easier to get at those pesky grease nipples on the UJs/shaft.

 

Mal

[tire brands]

mystery solved, its a post by Baldini who quoted something of mine, so dkgross, you'd better ask Baldini about the 180 to 170 question.

 

I'm due for new tyres in 2 weeks, probably going for Diablo's (anyone tried Metzelers Mez 3 ?) but I'm sticking with a 180 rear.

 

Mal

[tire brands]

Hey up, this is getting a bit weird

 

I've only just noticed I've been misquoted (shock horror !!) - dkgross' quote box mentions me saying I've replaced a 180 with a 170 tyre. I've never done this and never intend to. I'm more than happy with the 180 section, I find it turns in quick enough for me .

 

Cor blimey, I'll have to watch this misquoting business, I could be quoted as saying I like Hondas next.

 

Mal

[Missfireing tuneing help]

motorheadbob

 

this may be daft but I had a similar problem on one of my old Guzzi's, after loads of messin about it turned out to be one of the new plugs I'd fitted, I put back the old spark plug and it ran beautifully (for a Guzzi) - just a rare duff new plug.

 

It would be great if it was something this simple - worth a try.

 

Mal

[tire brands]

sorry al

 

I realise this is a bit late but I've just seen your query about my odd choice of tyres, - an 020 on the front and 010 on the rear, this wasn't my choice, I had a wrecked rear tyre (big nail at high speed) 2 days before going on a trip to Italy. The only tyre I could get there and then in the correct size was an 010.

 

I'm now waiting for the 010 it to wear out (shouldn't be long) and I can have a proper set of tyres again.

 

Mal

[power commander results]

leafman

 

the map you get with a powercommander is a "general fit" map ( I think you can get ones for standard bikes and bikes with various mods) but these may not exactly suit your bike.

 

I took my bike to a local specialist who started with the map that came with the PC111 usb but fine tuned it for my bike to create a custom map. The guy there said some bikes seem to suit the standard maps but a lot need a tiny bit of fettling to get the best from them. I guess each bike is ever so slightly different, depending on exactly what mods have been made or even tolerences within the engine.

 

Either way they seem to have done a good job as the bike behaves very well with good power up to and beyond the redline. I'm very happy with it.

 

If there are no suitable tuning stations near you, Todd Eagan (as mentioned by Mike) is a very knowledgable & helpful chap who may have a more suitable map for you.

 

all the best

 

Mal

[This is making me crazy......er]

Murray

 

you may be right, I think it was only on left handers that the engine lost power, I'll try and only lightly grind the side stand from now on .

 

cheers

 

Mal

[This is making me crazy......er]

Hey guys

 

I was reading through this in awe of people's expertise when I remembered an incident last year when I was really hooning the V11 Le Mans around some corners scraping the side stand etc .... on several of the fastest corners the bike seemed to loose power at full lean, this was just briefly.

Looking at the tyres I'd gone over the edge of the tread and assumed that this was the problem but it fealt very odd , unlike anything I'd experienced before, could it be I've got a similar problem ? Not sure if this helps anybody but my Le Mans has the pump in the tank but not sure where the tip over valve is.

 

Mal

[tire brands]

leafman

 

as usual with this question everyone has their own favouites, if this was about older Guzzi's I could give much more advice but I'm afraid I've only done 5,500 miles so far on the gorgeous, sexy black V11 Le Mans (sorry getting carried away) and still have the original BT020 front and an 010 rear (this was fitted after 650 miles and a big puncture on the motorway 2 days before going to Italy - and it was all the local shop had in stock) but from what I remember I loved the 020's front and rear when they were new - very stable - which became less stable with the 010 rear (can't really blame Bridgestone for this though).

 

Having praised the 020's I'd also agree with Gthyni, just because the Guzzi's are down on power compared to Jap stuff it doesn't mean you shouldn't fit sticky stuff if you ride pretty hard, as usual personal choice.

 

One thing about the 020's however the front is now very "cupped" (although plenty of tread) which causes a very odd feeling on some low speed corners and I occasionally ride off the edge of the rear tyre, not sure if thats my riding style or tyre profile. I've heard that the cupping problem can be improved by fitting a 010 front but my girlfriend's Bandit has an 010 on the front and that has cupped also !?

 

I've also got to make the decision soon on a new set of tyres soon, hmm 020 or Pirelli Diablo.

 

Mind you I'm off on hols tonight for a weeks skiing in France so I'll be worrying about the carving ability of my ski's rather than the carving ability of tyres.

 

until I get back, ciao

 

Mal

[Introduction Thread]

Hi all

 

I guess its time I added to this thread.

 

I currently live in West Yorkshire and I'm getting too close to my 40th birthday and been biking here in the UK since I was 17. Even at 17 I hankered after a Guzzi - mark 1 or black/gold mark 2 they sold over here (still have the adverts from old bike mags - cor) but due to lack of funds I had to dream for several years while I rode around on a motley collection of Honda/Suzuki and Kawasakis either in Shropshire or in Wales were I lived for several years. College took me to Oxford in 1985 but after I failed my course I was destitute and decided to end it all and became a motorcycle courier on my ratty Honda 400/4.

 

An average of 1500 miles a week quickly killed this soft and pathetic Japanese bike so I looked to something sensible and tough for this kind of work. So armed with a 700 quid bank loan I bought a....yes you guessed it a Guzzi (what happened to the sensible bike! ), it was a 1977 850 T3, low milage but not by the time I'd finished with it. What a steep learning curve this was, I made just about every error I've ever seen on the wild guzzi forum but I loved it and somehow it survived until after almost 3 years despatching in all weathers, carrying all manor of goods (some of which were van jobs, i.e. huge & heavy) I'd had enough, not just of the job but of biking, as is my impetuous way I sold the very sorry looking T3 for 3 magic beans and went to college in Leeds (a well educated failure).

 

The magic beans failed and I missed biking so in my first summer break I bought a Suzi 650 Katana for next to nothing and despatched for my old company all summer, the biking bug was back.

 

Then just as mr taxman was onto me for not declaring my despatch earnings I bought a very tatty T3, for my college years this was my mode of transport but always dreamed of a Le Mans. Fast forward a few years to getting a job and regularly travelling on the Guzzi around Europe (usually to Italy - fantastic), I eventually turned the T3 into a LM1 lookalike, fears of clip ons for touring comfort were unfounded. Then for some bizare reason, 3 years ago I travelled to Glasgow and bought a LM5 - a bike I used to think was ugly but now love the look of and boy is it fun to ride, especially over long distance - i.e., you guessed it Italy. Thoughts of heavily tuning this bike (big bore, cams etc) led me to think about spending the money on a new Guzzi instead and with a heavily discounted price I became the proud owner of my lovely black V11 le Mans bought new last May - yahoooo is all I can say.

 

The T3 has now gone due to lack of use and the LM5 isn't used much (but a handy second bike just in case) and I'm loving riding this new fuel injected beauty although all this new fangled electrickery is a new learning curve 9thank Jaap for this forum). I've already been to Italy on it (my girlfriends brother lives in Northern Italy - what a drag, although she owns a Suzi Bandit - I'm trying to convert her) and have another trip planned this year with some of the local riders from the Guzzi club.

 

I go to most of the Guzzi events with the GB Guzzi Club so hopefully I'll see some of you around (especially at the V11 meet), sorry about the rambling, I get carried away and with 18 years of Guzzi ownership it makes for a lot of Guzzi tales, anyhow thats probably enough for now.

 

Ride safe

 

 

Mal

[2000 v11 recall]

Paul from Corsa Italiana rang me because he knew I had a new (2002) Le Mans - which was especially nice because I didn't even buy the bike from him.

 

He said the "A kit" was for early V11s and was conrod bolt related and the "B kit" was some sort of hose arrangement (he wasn't sure what at that time) and was for later bikes. As it happened my chassis number was not on the list - ZGUKTA...so no worries (no consolation for some of you folks though ).

 

 

Mal

[Paddock Stand]

Hi

 

I've not got an official Guzzi stand, I've got an ABBA stand which locates on the swing arm nuts, this way there is no weight on the rear suspension and rear shock etc can be accessed, to get the front wheel off the ground all it needs is a block/jack under the sump and you have both wheels off the ground and accessible.

 

I'm not sure where you are based (sounds like the US) so I'm not sure if you can get these over there but I've used this stand loads and can recommend it.

 

In the UK its available from http://www.abbastands.co.uk/products.htm

 

Mal

[Bubble Percentage]

Judge

 

I've got a black Le Mans (bought new 5 months ago but a 2002 model) which has no bubbling as yet (4,600 miles), some of these miles were in tremendous heat on German Autobahns so its certainly got very very hot but there's still time yet for the old bubbling to occur . I guess from what I've heard, the chances are you will get some problems with bubbling but it comes down to a personal decision: lust and price versus cosmetics.

 

Before I bought the bike I knew of the bubbling problem but went ahead anyway as I love it and it was a bargain .

 

Mal

[ITI v. Veglia]

Hi

 

I recently had my V11 Le Mans on Hobbsports Dyno, Mark commented on the speedo being 5mph optimistic all the way through (up to 136mph) which he thought was very good . Mind you I'm sure my old "Vagueliars" speedo on my old Guzzi stopped me getting nicked several times.

 

Mal