OldButNotDead
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Posts posted by OldButNotDead
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I'm very lucky to find myself in Mandello on the second week in Sept. of this year. I have been told that alot of Italia takes some of summer off, and that the Guzzi museum has very limited hours, and that the factory itself does not operate any kind of tour. Is any of this true?
I've seen pictures, and the area around Lake Como looks just beautiful. Is this true of the Mandello area as well? Hotels?
Ciao, Steve
Nice.
In 2006, we stayed for a few nights a short ferry ride across the lake, in Bellagio - http://www.hc-bellagio.com/INGLESE/hotel.htm. Bit of a tourist town, but bearable. Some wires got crossed, and the hotel owner, who was fully booked, found us a place in some old lady's apartment in town. The family that own the hotel, the Borelli's, are terrific hosts.
We happened to be around for World Guzzi days (3rd week of Sept?), and if that's happening this year, and if there's any way you can arrange to be there: do it! Getting to walk through the factory, see the wind tunnel, etc. was lots more fun for me than the museum alone would have been. Course if you don't have the option, and will be in town anyway, the museum is certainly worth an hour of your time: http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/museo.asp?lin=eng
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O'BND:
What "OEM" components did you use? Cables? Hydraulic lines? How high can one go without swapping lines and such?
(And do you have a photo of your set-up?)
Thanks, docc-with-the-achy-hands
My saga involved an initial swap of Ballabio handlebars/cables/lines for the original 2002 V11 Naked parts.
This was early on, immediately after purchasing the bike in 2003 - before other options were available. We've got no hills here, and I hadn't yet heard of track days, so the clip-ons were just annoying. After discovering the joys of riding for sport, I wanted that capability back.
When the Convertabars for the V11 came out, I bought just the clamps and flat bars, and exchanged them for the Ballabio handlebar. Looking at their web page now, I notice that the Convertibars "bars" have since changed. They are now adjustable in another plane - allowing downward angles for the racer types.
I haven't done range-of-motion measurements, but some are given in the V11-specific installation notes found here: http://www.convertibars.com/InstallationList.cfm
Likewise, I haven't shot photos, but here's a good one from the installation notes:
If I was buying Convertibars now, I'd just buy the whole bloody kit (which includes lines and cables), to allow maximal range of motion. I don't see the point of going halfway, but that's my default attitude.
I pretty much agree with all of dlaing's comments above. Definitely more vibration that the rubber-isolated handlebars; can't say I remember what the clip-ons were like. Barend weights + barend mirrors help.
Takes me about 20 minutes to switch from high to low (or back). Cheaper than buying a track bike. At least until you drop it.
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The Verlicchi have the look of the originals. Certainly elegant. Has anyone actually fitted these to a V11 Sport?
The Convertibars have the downward angle that (I think) I'm trying to get rid of.
You have the option to buy Convertibars that are angled downnward, or you can choose to get the flat ones like I did. Either way , they offer a huge range of available positions. Way up and back for town and way down and forward for track. Did I mention I really like these things? I did replace my lines and cables using OEM bits.
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Speaking with a current/past dealer sounds like a great opportunity to gather some realistic expectations about what it would actually mean in practice.
Sad to say, enthusiam and competence are not always enough
-- http://www.detroiteurocycles.com/Many thanks to Jeff: having a local dealer with his level of integrity has been awesome!
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Well said and very thoughtful! However I am very busy with my work, I want to ride when I have the chance, not wrench, and I don't care how many inebriated italian farmers it took to assemble, by hand god forbid, my beautiful Ballabio. I have the skills to maintain the bike on a regular basis and fix the occasional issue, but neither the time nor the inclination to fix the stuff the factory should have caught and if not them then the dealer. It is they who've dropped the ball, so to speak.
I'm sorry you found this forum AFTER buying the bike, rather than the other way around. Sounds like you didn't do enough research before buying, and/or the dealer didn't honestly reply to your informed questions about GUzzi QC. "Enough" reseach in this case probably isn't all that much; sorting out a bunch of annoying crap on new bikes is pretty standard. Pretty reliable once sorted, but given parts/dealer availabilty, still NOT an easy child. If you're not feeling infatuated by the Italianess (love + hate + all in-between), I'd advise bailing somehow. I hope you figure out a way to get the ride you want. Good luck.
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: I seem to remember someone stuck a "how to install the plate" on the forum a few months back but i cant see it. I want to install the plate shortly before i forget all about it 
Gary
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The G-ology reference was extensively discussed in (at least) one of the previous threads on this subject. I think there's mention of that somewhere in the first one or two pages in this thread here(?). Don't be having the idea that there are ONLY 16 pages on the Forum, debating this. No, no, fascinatingly no.
Thank you for pointing this out BlfstGzi. I unfortunately have a full-time job, which keeps me occupied more than I'd like, and often prevents me from appreciating the full scope, depth, and tone of board content, particular for the back end of these technical topics. I'm just pleased to be able to nip in now and then - to help keep a battered and bruised thread going. Now it's back to the Hooters for me. 
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Sixteen pages! Nice work, fellas!
Proud papa!
I well may have missed it, but I don't recall any references in all those pages to the fact that this is a documented "Guzziology" procedure. Odd no?
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Thanks for your highly enlightened contribution, OBND.....
...I beg of you, please do share something. One gleaming morsel of purely radiant, stellar magnificence. A tidbit. Pearls before swine. Scatter a few meager coins o' the realm in the dust for us peans. Anything at all. I'm sure that I, for one, would be MOST indebted. . .
Well, this IS embarrassing. I only posted to hear myself speak, and shot my ENTIRE WAD!!
Must...recharge...(gasp)....my...load. Please (gasp).....carry..on................without...me...(gasp).
Awwww, OK, here's some sharing before I go back to being useful - "peon" is one who walks (rather than rides); while "pean" is a hymn of praise.
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In the interest of being social and doing my bit for the community and thread....
You blithering eejit!
Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah.
I have vastly more experience and insight into this (and all other) topics and you have a distorted view of the essential nature of human beings and reside in a stupid part of the political spectrum. So piss off.
HAH!
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I will bought one of Jens production BECAUSE it is an automatic
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I also feel this is a CRITICAL feature, as is the recommended method for recharging the spring:
Sorry honey, I can't go shopping with you, my watch needs winding....
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I'm gettin' dizzy ......
...Tried to make the Guzzi feel "nervous" and actually found I could by putting
too much input into the bars...Been riding bikes with clipons over 20 yrs. I'm just tossing out that it might just be technique rather than some of our mechanical suggestions...
+1.....
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Cool! Thanks for weighing all that.
True evidence of the superiority of the QuatD, that I stupidly traded away dreaming of HP.
Note also that the QuatD moves the weight forward and down and centered.
Sure, no worries. Winter provokes whatever OCD tendencies I have.
BTW DL, and not to get you into a tizzy, but there's a chance I may wish to part with my QuatD at some point. I bought it for the ground clearance, but it turns out it scrapes in right-handers. If I can source a non-scraping 2-1 from RacerX or a recommended local fella, I might need to sell the Quat. Would be sad, since I do think it looks really cool. I dropped the bike last year, so it's a bit rashed, but I'm sure it would look great in a ceramic coat.
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Yah, try working the plunger in hot soapy water, then WD-40 or similar. Can't say why, but this revived mine.
It just so happens that my neutral light stopped working yesterday. After grounding the sender wire and seeing the light work I pulled the switch. The plunger was free and working fine so I put an ohm meter on the contact nad on the body and pushed the plunger all the way in. No contact. I'm thinking this means that I have to replace the switch. Anybody have any other ideas on salvaging the one that I've got?
PS I'm running Redline. It pained me to see dribbling out the hole when I pulled the switch
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Yes unscrew it and plug the hole with a bit of paper towel to retain the tranny oil. Many discussions of this returned by searching on "neutral switch". You could try cleaning (vs. replacing) it; worked for me
. See:http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=neutral+switch
ok, so nothing electrical/complicated involved, I just unscrew it out of the gearbox cover and change it? is that it?
could it just be that it needs to be "lubricated" or something similar?
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Flat for me. Didn't think dropped would be comfortable on the street, and we hit the track only rarely.
DL - I've got a similar issue to yours - the sloped seat had me mashing my genitalia into the tank at every slowdown or stop
. A cheap fix is to slap on some tank pads from Tech-Spec or Stompgrip; not pretty, but your testicles will no longer need to live in fear. -
Just got a pair of convertibar mounts and wondering whether to mount them above or below the clamp. So my question is how is handling affected if I lower the top clamp(and everything else involved) about 3/4 of an inch. How is handling affected if I raise the top clamp so that its almost even with the top of the tubes?
Loosing the appropriate pinch bolts allows the *fork tubes* to be repositioned. The top clamp stays put.
Raising the forks effectively shortens them, quickens the steering and reduces straight-line stability. Lowering the forks does the opposite. As RH describes, the particulars will depend on things like yer weight, tires, current suspension setup, and riding style.
I've got an 02 Naked and raised the forks ~ 1.2 cm to load the front tire and quicken the steering. My convertibar clamps are mounted underneath the top triple tree and still give plenty of height to the bars when that's what I want. I really like these things; I can switch from way higher to way lower than stock in ~5 minutes. My only complaint is the odd bar ID - most expanders don't fit well.
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I really love the end result! Good work! (in good v11lemans.com habit: when will you start taking orders?...
)See the Kelly Baker carbon fiber glass option here: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=460
Not cheap, but you could always bend up your own.
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Solution: In case of breakage of the pawl spring A in vehicles with frame numbers before KT111435 - KS112350
My frame no. is KTC0033M111153
I'm guessing I have the wrong sized boss? Am I reading my numbers right?
It's an '03 with 26000 miles and no prob's.
I thought I was OK...now not sure.
Thanks
In this case, I don't think it's wise seek surety based on theory. Mandello seems renowned for mixing and matching lots of parts - no guarantee your XYZ-numbered bike doesn't have the "oversized boss" that has been associated with breaking springs. I think you're "probably OK" with a bona fide 2003, but the empirical route is safest here - get in and check if you want to know.
I just swapped out the spring on my 2003 badged wrinkle-painted 2002 (10,000mi). Turns out this bike has the smaller boss, and the spring looked fine, but I now I have that knowledge, and enjoyed learning a new aspect of the bike. If you don't want to do it yourself, Detroit Eurocycles should be able to do this in an hour or two if they have a spring on hand.
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I have my eye on an 01 V11 Sport. Anything special I should be aware of or that I should check - recalls, pawl springs, etc?
This will be my first Guzzi.
Thanks for any comments,
Dave
A important thing to check is the "frequently asked questions" section of this website. A list of things to review on potential purchaes appears here: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5692
Fun bikes if you enjoy getting your hands dirty!
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I'd be interested to hear of any user experiences with these. Still hoping to find a setup that won't scrape.
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Just the smell of this stuff instantly removes me to a hotel room in Oaxaca, back to a scene not likely to be repeated (nor fit to be shared). I favored the El Famoso brand at the time.
Raw and nasty has it's place, but the refined stuff from Del Maguey (w/o worm) is interesting too. They offer a story of the worm...
http://www.mezcal.com/worms.html
And no, I haven't eaten any worms, though did eat (and liked) the smaller version of the chapulines (roasted grasshoppers) sold in the market.
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The Quat-D weighed more than one stock muffler, but less than the combination of one stock muffler and the stock crossover(without catalyst).
Probably about half of the combined crossoover and two OEM mufflers.
I weighed by feel, not by scale.
Turns out all my exhaust bits are off the bike at the moment. You know it's winter when you spend the evening putting bike parts on the bathroom scale...
2003 stock system (no front xover) = 32.2 lbs (~14.6 kgs)
headers (5.8) + xover (5.6) + mufflers (19.6) + hangers (1.8)
Ferracci (carbon) + Stucci system = 24.4 lbs (~11.1 kgs)
headers (5.8) + xover (7.2) + mufflers (9.6) + hangers (1.8)
Quat-D (2004, minus the cat) = 17.2 lbs (~7.8 kgs)
headers (3.2) + muffler (14) Add another 1.6 if you keep the cat
Digital Tanita bath scale. Not certified or promised to be accurate. YWMV
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Many many previsous discussions regarding this switch; accessible by searching on "neutral switch".
Some document success by just cleaning the switch instead of replacing it.
Visiting Mandello del Lario
in 24/7 V11
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