Mike Rother

Okay MG fans, I need some help in locating an exhasut system for my '03 Lemans. Looking at the October BOTM, I can not rest in my quest to find a new Quad D Ex Box... I love the look more, rather than going with the performance gains of other systems but I have been having trouble finding a dealer. I've even contacted Ghezzi Brian's website and seems they cant put thier fingers on them any more either. I'm located in Hawaii and would need to have them shipped so I'm leaning on this sites experts and fans alike. Mike

We have about 10% ethanol in our fuel in Hawaii. I'm real close to sea level at 11 meters MSL and 200 meters from the ocean beach. It's progressively becoming worse - would like to know about possible repairing or replacement options. Getting a new OEM tank seems like it might place me again into this predicament in the future. Mike

I have a 2003 LeMans w/ 12K miles, basically stock and a daily driver My question is this; I've been developing little white corrosive stalagmite looking formations popping out from around my fuel tank filler neck - any idea what is the cause? It also smells like some form of corrosion. I've taken it apart the filler neck and it appears around the outside of rubber gasket between the filler cap frame and the tank. I'm also having problems getting it back together after R&R'ing the fuel door, each time it gets more and more difficult to reassemble link the corrosion is deforming the filler neck mount. I can add pictures later if needed but a local mechanic believes it to be a form of aluminum corrosion of some sort...? Please help. V/r, Mike

Congrats on your purchase Jerry and welcome to the forum! I have the same bike, same year and similar purchase situation. Bought mine August 9th, 2007 in Phoenix AZ; drove over 2,000 miles back home to MN just in time to catch the National MG Rally in my home state. Had a great ride with only 4,500 miles on the OD when I left AZ, the only mishap was a broken speedo cable about 300 miles from home. I was also using a Lowrance GPS the entire way so current speed wasn't an issue. These members here are excellent sources for information and have a plethora on experience. Since owning my bike, I have had two other small issues which were well documented on this site and was able to repair / troubleshoot them both in no time. My bike is currently in a container aboard a ship on it's way to my new home on Kauai Island. Though a small island, I'll be able to ride year around even though I may never use 4-6th gear, lol. Mike

One could only be so lucky to have a garage full of your bikes! The CBX was another great one but I prefer the lighter feel of the 1100F but both are equally historic. Best of luck closing your deal. Mike

The good news, the bike is fixable On the flip side, maybe some more good news (depends on your view) your marriage may need more than a mechanic! Great story btw but your garage seems to missing one of my all time favorites - a 1983 CB1100F Super Sport. Someday I will be riding one again. Mike

More good advice, thanks KB!

Thanks Rachet, thanks Pete... Very informative and friendly group here, I hate to embarrass myself further and add that I am new to bloging as well so the early quote thingy was in error. sorry I'll be getting some good "T" wrenches soon, the little bit I've delt with already leads me to agree with their need. The moving company that is shipping my bike and household goods to HI wanted teh tank drained and motor run empty for safety sake and with no shop manual (yet) it was "trail by fire". I hope to perform as much of the work on my bike as possible, I prefer trusting my own lack of knowledge in maintenance on my bike then letting someone else who cares nothing for it screw it up if you know what I mean. Speedo cable already went at 6475 miles and have the new one in hand but will have to wait till I meet my bike later this month for installation. Also have a sensitive engine cut-off button which went barely touched kills the motor and a loose senoid wire which vibrated off but thanks to the great network of bloggers here, these problems were well documented and thus fixed. Mike

Thanks Richard for the help... Thanks for the great link Bob, I've added that to my favorites list! Mike Thanks Doc, thats one I thing I did have, lets hope the movers packed that too, lol. Mike

Hello all, New owner and limited mechanical experience here looking for advice on things I should have in my toolbox/garage to properly maintain my 03 Lemans... I'll living in HI with limited shops to help with basic tuning and services needs, would appreciate your comments. My bike has just had the 6000 mile service and is in mechanically stock form with no aftermarket performance items. I should probably mention my toolbox is very bare and will need anything other then the basic household tools. I also realize the list could probably go on forever on things one could use but I guess I'm looking more towards a place to start from realitive need and frequency at which these things would be needed/used. Thanks, Mike

Thanks for the reply K, looks like you have done a few mods to your bike judging from your info... Would love to see some pics of your mods - mine is nearly stock except for levers and Buell mirrors but I'm looking to do more and need some ideas. Mke

Greetings all, New MG owner here, just flew from Minnesota to Phoenix Arizona and picked up my '03 Lemans on August 9th, 2007. It had 4713 miles on the odometer when I first headed out of the seller's garage that day driving north to escape the AZ heat. 3 weeks of proud ownership has now added more than 2500 miles to my Lemans taking me through Flagstaff, AZ; Albuquerque & Santa Fe, NM; as well as Colorado Springs & Denver, CO. I must say it was a long ride back but this aloud me some intimate time to be alone with my new ride. Other than a broken speedo cable just outside the MN border, my trip went without incident. My first rally was the '07 North American National Moto Guzzi Rally held in my home state of Minnesota which was barley a week into my Guzzi ownership. Fortunately for my daughter and myself, I elected to stay in a hotel in nearby Lacrosse WI due to the 2000 plus mile ride home the week prior. Well, Thursday and Friday went great at the rally but Saturday the rains came and by early Sunday, the campgrounds which the rally was held flooded completely! Many owners and enthusiasts lost their bikes, trailers and more; not the mention the locals who lost everything. I was a little surprised not to see more V11's at the rally, only a few Lemans and a couple other V11 naked owners showed to the event. I must say that I love your site and its' members knowledge in this forum, I've had two little quirks develop on my bike both of which were well documented here. One was a loose wire on the starter solenoid and the other in the sensitive engine cut-off switch on the right handlebar control. Thanks to everyone's blog, I was able to easily find and fix these problems. Can't say I've owned many bikes (this is only my second) but I grew up on the back of my father's Eldorado in the early 70's which I'm sure is where my love for the brand came. Being more sport minded lead me to purchase my first bike a little more than two years ago; a '92 Suzuki GSXR1100 which was slightly modified. Though a great bike, I always wanted to continue my father's interest in these V-twins which has brought me to my current bike. Since I bought my bike in Arizona, it has now scene New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and it will soon see Hawaii. You see, I've recently retired from the Army after just over 20 years of active service and will follow my wife's job to Kauai Island this month. In fact, my bike and household goods where shipped this week and I can hardly wait to ride there. A new super-ferry will begin inter-island commutes this winter which should help me and my wife explore the other islands on my Lemans as well. If anyone knows of other MG riders in the Hawaii Islands - please let me know, I'm going to miss riding amongst MG owners over the course of the next couple years. Respectfully, Mike