jam

Thank you both for responding!! G, i'm speaking from memory coz the bike is at the mechanic's, but yes, there was a rubber partial sleeve on one of the lines. I say "partial" coz it only went half-way around the line - in fact, it looked disheveled - not exactly all chewed up, as in chopped-up or cut-up edges or anything, but it didn't look right. hard to describe. And the rubber was only on one line. do you have the rubber sleeves on both lines? I'm getting some new lines thru Todd E. at Guzzitech.

Was out on a Sierra Nevada "pass-bagging" jaunt last weekend, and 15 miles from the end of the day - after we rode Tioga and Sonora Passes - my 2003 Rosso Corsa started puking oil big-time. turned out that a nut on the horn assembly rubbed thru the oil cooler lines and made holes in the rubber. Has anyone else had that happen? Just curious.... Btw, it was a glorious ride thru the Sierras, and I was VERY lucky that this happened where and when it did. Had it happened up in one of the passes, would have been much more problematic. As it was, I slipped a bit 1-2 miles before we stopped to look at a map (and then noticed the oil), but didn't know why - thought I must have not seen some gravel in the shade on the goat road we were on.... Of course, the oil on the rear tire was the cause. Really lucky.

Thanks all, for your commments. Felix is totally right - there is a BUNCH of great riding here in CA. Also true that the hardest part is getting outta LA to get to it. Crowded freeways for miles and miles.... but once you escape.... So, depends on what kind of riding you want to do, to answer the question Harley vs sport-tourer, etc... If you think you'll just be slabbing mostly, then I suppose some type of cruiser for comfort could be justified..... haha!! But it would be a crying shame not to hit up the superb sportbike/sporttouring roads we have. I live 3 hours north of LA, at the western base of the Sierra Nevada, which mean lots of twisties just to the east. There is also heavenly sportriding in the whole northern part of the state, north of San Francisco. How much time will you have to ride? A tip: it will be hotter 'n hell in July/August, going to Las Vegas from LA. Central Cali is also very hot, unless you go up in the mountains. Northern CA - less hot in general. California coast: not hot, but trafficky in the summer, tho beautiful, scenic, and twisty riding along the coast. I'd also be more than happy to suggest routes, etc as you know more details. I'm pretty familiar with most of central Cali and northern CA. I don't know rental shops, but Todd Eagan, the guzzi guru in LA, might be able to help you with a moto hire. If nothing else, I'm sure you'd enjoy making contact with him. he's at todd@guzzitech.com Happy to help in any way possible. Just let us know.... Cheers!! Thanks, that is a really generous offer. I will let you know how I get on with the hire shops. I am going to sit down and plan a route - perhaps you would be kind enough to cast your eye over it when I am done ? I want to go to Vegas just to say I have been there and then maybe head North. I want to see as much as I can. I have been to the States several times before (I work for an American Company) but never California. Very envious of your planned trip to Belaggio. I aim to take my Guzzi back to it's place of birth one day. Maybe in 2013. Look forward to the photos. Consider it done, on all counts.

This wasn't a long trek, but it was a particularly enjoyable ride on one of my favorite goat roads, here in central California. Didn't see one other vehicle during the entire length of this little gem (about 20 miles) called Drum Valley Rd. Maybe not surprising considering the conditions, tho with my Gerbings plugged in, I was very comfortable. I think the RC was enjoying the ride as well....

Well, in the name of "research", we went out for a nice central California early-winter ride in the foothills: David on the Scura and me on the RC. weather was nippy, but the sky and scenery were gorgeous. Used my gerbings on and off. There's a nice curvy section that we have ridden quite a bit, so today we rode it, then switched bikes and rode it again in the same direction. We both noted major differences. Yes, the ergos, which I hadn't really noticed the other day: I felt much more stretched out over the gas tank on the RC. Scura actually felt better applying some pressure/a little weight on the handlebars (a la going downhill); opposite of the RC, where I try to keep weight off the handlebars. Scura felt more secure when i just stayed on throttle, no matter what speed or rpms. Scura felt much more snub-nosed, but maybe that's just an optical illusion, coz of no fairing. David said the RC felt more stable, the Scura more nervous. Scura probably needs to have suspension set up properly to give a fair chance. I do think it would take some seat time AND a very good rider to make the most of the Scura. I admire those of you who ride that bike well. A few pix from today's ride.....

Yes, G, I'm the same as jami. I joined the forum awhile ago under jami, then forgot my password or something, and was having a hard time getting it all sorted out. So i just rejoined as jam. maybe not kosher, but seemed easiest at the time...... Well, too bad the hubby didn't dodge the bullet of wrecking the Scura on the track coupla years ago, which is why it's been out of commission for so long. Only injuries were to the bike. Time to get reacquainted.....

Well, I just found out today after telling my husband about your post, Skeeve, that this Scura has an Ed Milich modified steel Cali clutch. He said Ed put one in after the stock aluminum clutch grenaded in Jean-Mark's driveway (as you mentioned!!), right when Jean-Mark was finishing a ride. Didn't know that. Ed shaved the steel one down, tho maybe it's still not quite as light as aluminum, but still lighter than the RC's. So your theory still applies?? (Sounded good to me anyway....). And I think you all made a good oint, in that the fairing does more than I realized, especialy since I'm short (5'3"), and so am pretty much completely tucked in behind the windshield, which is nice. Anxious to do more side-by-side testing, especially sans rain. I got in a good, 250-mile ride on the RC today, and was thinking of taking the Scura out tomorrow if it doesn't rain, but my husband said he may want to commandeer his own bike tomorrow. The nerve.... Yes, the RC felt like an animal today - an animal in top shape, and on a mission. I am absolutely addicted to it. Merry Xmas, all!!!

Just came across this a few days ago, and it's been an interesting read. The shift lever on my 2003 Rosso Corsa started sticking only on the downshift, on the last day of a 6-day, 1800-mile ride around northern California/southern Oregon in October. The bike had about 40,000 total miles on it by then - I bought the bike with 750 miles on it 2 years ago, so all original lever, springs, etc. I had ridden a few dirt and gravel roads on the trip, and rode in the rain the last 3 hours of the trip. The bike was pretty filthy by the time the the lever started sticking. After I got home, I gave it a good bath, including squirting and hosing off a fair amount of Simple Green up in the shift lever and environs, and it didn't stick any more after that. Have ridden another maybe 2000 miles since then. Just wanted to share this with you all. I had heard about the dreaded pawl-spring issue, and consulted with Pat Hayes, who had just helped another Rosso owner deal with what was definitely a pawl-spring issue. Helped him replace it, in fact, after watching a similar emergency operation get perfomed at the rally in John Day this summer. I'm sure Pat would be happy to discuss his experience with you - he posts on some other guzzi forums; he doesn't have a v11. Very good information here, though - thank you!!!

Well, S-Kitty, I don't know if you were kitting (haha!) or not, that the Scura can sense fear, but I swear I had that very thought riding it on Sunday - that it would be able to sense any fear on my part, and that would make things even worse. So I tried really hard to be brave - but not stupid. One other little factor I left out in the original post: it was raining pretty good during the ride, and some of the non-freeway foothill curvy sections were starting to flood a bit, so conditions were dicey to start with, on top of the new tires. (Does one actually scrub in tires in the rain?? I'm guessing not quite as quickly, coz less friction...) I'm hoping the bike will give me another chance soon, under less "complicated" condtions. Anxious to try to isolate some of the various factors.... I've ridden a 2007 Griso, and (I think) same-year Breva. Rode a 2008 1200 Sport for a little bit on a track. It felt almost too smooth and not classic-guzzi-like, the little bit I rode it. (I thought the brakes were really soft, also.) Those rides were all several years ago, though, before or right when I got my RC. Would be interesting to try them again now, after having so much more seat time on the RC.

Thanks for all of your replies!! Let me try to answer them. Both of the bikes have PC IIIs and have been custom-mapped, but by different people, both of whom I trust a fair amount to do a good job on the dyno. Neither bike has the MG TI exhaust kit; the Scura has a BUB setup (no crossover any more) and the RC has custom-made pipes (no crossover either). I think they both have K & N intakes now? (the Scura used to belong to Jean-Mark Arechiga/Dr. Know, whom some of you might know and remember, and maybe even know the bike??) I was comparing the rides freeway to freeway only (trying to keep it apples to apples as much as possible), and was mostly surprised by the difference in the feel of the power - felt like a qualitative rather than quantitative difference, but just based on feel, not any numbers. On the Scura, I felt more like I was riding IN the power/pull, where as on the RC, I felt more like I was riding on top of it somehow. I've always felt like I was riding astride a big, powerful warmblood stallion on the RC, as opposed to feeling like I was in the actual belly of the beast on the Scura. Handling: a whole different story. At low speeds, the Scura feels very squirrelly to me: the front end feels like it's wandering all over the place. (Tho it did just get revalved with a supersport kit, but maybe not totally dialled in??) None of that wandering feel on the RC AT ALL. The Scura felt much better at higher speeds, but I haven't ridden it enough to develop confidence on it in the curves. They both have Ohlins, of course. And I'm embarrassed to say that I actually got a Sigma bike speedo about a year ago, after reading about that solution here on v11 (thank you all), but have not installed it. I'm embarrassed to say that it's lying around the garage somewhere. I've gotten so used to no speedo, and using my gas-stop logbook system, that I kinda lost the incentive to delve into installing the Sigma. Just kinda kept on riding. And I've actually liked riding the RC by feel and vision, and getting rid of the tendency to look at the speedo in the twisties. Yes, it'd be handy for staying out of trouble on the straights and the freeways, but I've kinda developed a bit of a feel for the legal limits, etc. So, I'll have to keep doing "field research" on the 2 bikes, and see how my impressions of the Scura evolve. Of course, I welcome any additional thoughts anyone has.... Thank you all again - very interesting stuff. PS - And yes, MOST important thing is that I love my RC. I felt like a piece of me was missing when it was down for the engine rebuild. I had other motos to ride, but they just didn't fill the hole in my heart.....

Btw, this is the same RC that I burned up the left cylinder on, requiring an engine rebuild this past summer. It's been fine ever since - have put probably 5000 miles on it since then(odo is gone too, but i keep a logbook at every gas stop; just haven't added up all the miles recently...), including an 1800-mile ride thru northern California and southern Oregon in Oct. Great 6-day ride.

Today, I rode my husband's 2003 Scura for about 50 miles, on some foothill sweepers and then the freeway. As soon as i got home, I jumped on my 2003 Rosso Corsa to do an immediate comparison, but only on the freeway. Was mostly interested in the differences in the power feel, delivery, etc, not handling differences. I was surprised at the difference between the 2 in the feel of the power. Wondered what anyone's thoughts were on this. Both bikes have power commanders, custom mapping, and aftermarket pipes: the Scura has BUBs and the RC has custom-made pipes (I've posted pix of my beloved RC on here before.) I looked up the specs for each bike; they seem to be identical, except the RC is supposedly 11 lbs heavier. My impressions of the Scura: planted, powerful, obvious, beastly, almost-brutal pulling power. got to 90 mph very easily, with room to spare. thought i was in 6th, but thought I'd check just to make sure. Nope, was in 5th!! put it into 6th and it kept pulling a freight train. The RC: power and pull were both there, but somehow it feels more refined, lighter (even tho it's a heavier bike), more dancing on the road, more subtle??? (my speedo's been non-op for a long time, so i couldn't compare the speeds, but i've put a bunch of miles on the RC, and i think my speeds on the RC were comparable to the Scura's on the ride). No less power, pull, or speed - it just felt lighter or more subtle in doing it. don't know how else to describe it. Anyone have this experience, or can explain??? Was an interesting (and very pleasurable) "test".... Oh, the Scura had new tires on it - Dunlop 616s, and the RC has fairly fresh Dunlop Roadsmarts, but i don't think that explains the different feel.....

just wanted to post these pix of the damage to the left cylinder of my RC, coz they're so graphic. The amazing thing is that I rode another 800 miles after this damage was done, I believe. A testament to the strength of these bikes, as well as my stupidity (not necessarily in that order....). Re potential cause(s): consensus seems to be maybe valve adjustment issues, maybe mapping issues, maybe???? I'm getting an engine rebuild done. Can't wait to get back in the saddle.... (Not sure the pix are getting shown....)

Thank you, all, for your feedback. Here is the latest, after some testing, and very helpful consultation with Todd Eagan. A compression test was done, and the right cylinder was fine at 185 psi; the left cylinder was at 95 psi - NOT GOOD. So it's thought that excessive blow-by in the crankcase is forcing oil up into the upper frame, which is leaking (there has always been a little weepage from that upper frame area - there must be a tiny pin-hole or crack or something in that upper frame, but it has never been noteworthy till now). I believe my options at this point are a top-end engine rebuild or engine swap. Will decide shortly which way to go, depending on several different things. I feel pretty confident that this is the issue after spending an hour yesterday with the local guy who did the testing, and having Todd involved. This diagnosis is also consistent with a coupla little things that occurred recently with the moto. I've been feeling so bummed, because I'm so in love with this bike, but feel a lot better now, since I believe it's been diagnosed and can be made healthy again, even tho it'll clearly involve some dough. I just want to be able ride it again. I miss it BAD. I also have a Yam FZ1 - took it out for a spin yesterday, and it just ain't even close to the same riding experience.... the FZ is fast and all, and lighter and more flickable, but still.... vanilla..... Thank you again, all of you, for your input and interest. i'll keep you posted.

Well, the timing cover WAS leaking before, but has been fixed. It's not leaking from there anymore. And the breather hose has been checked - I don't believe it's that. I lived with some minor leakage before (which required very little oil addition, just mostly vigilance), which turned out to be the timing cover and the ignition timing sensor, both of which have been fixed. This is something new and is more alarming because the oil level has been significantly low the last 2 weeks - have had to add quite a bit of oil since this developed. Can the crush washer under the banjo bolt be seen in the pix? Thank you, all, for responding.

I have a 2003 Rosso Corsa which I bought 2 years ago with 750 miles on it. I've put about 35,000 miles on it since then. It has started leaking oil a significant amount, from up high and in the front, in the last 2 weeks. It's being looked at, with the gas tank off. I am very weak mechanically, but took some pix of it tonight. Leaking from the neck where it meets the frame. Interestingly, some 2003 and 2004 EVs were recalled for oil leaks in the same place on the frame. Has anyone out there experienced this with their Rosso or other LM? Thanks, all. As I've written previously on this forum, I LOVE this moto, and have had SO many wonderful days and miles on it.... It pains me greatly to ponder the possibilities..... Here are the pix: from the right side - from the left side -

OK, JC - I am WAY out of my league talking tires with you, but in my VERY coarse way, my experience with the Q2s seems consistent with yours. I really appreciate you posting your impressions so far. I just finished a weekend roadtrip (some slab, but we tried to ride as many twisties and backroads as possible - Northern California coast was the locale) on the Corsa (the tires probably have 3500 miles on them by now), and they look amazingly fresh still, as you say. Wonder if once they start wearing, they'll go really quickly, or what... will be interesting to see. I'm going on a longer trip in 2 weekends, and of course, the question will be if there is enough left of them for the trip, or will i need to switch them out before I go. You know how that goes - you try to squeak by, and they go fast halfway thru the ride..... Would love to hear any continuing impressions, as you put miles on them. Love your moto (in your avatar...), btw..... Thanks again!!! , clear

Thanks JC. I'll look forward to reading your review.

After usually using Dunlop Roadsmarts for sport-touring on my Rosso Corsa, I had a pair of Q2s put on. Have about 2000 miles on them, and am curious to see what anyone else thinks of them. I'm a very average rider, so my impressions aren't very sophisticated, but so far: I feel NO transitioning in the curves - they roll over from side-to-side completely effortlessly. In fact, it was a little unnerving at first, till I got the confidence in them that they would hold/stick, and not roll completely over!! The profile is rounder than the Roadsmarts, so I guess it's not really surprising, but still.... I really like them, tho i'm sure I won't get the mileage that I got on the Roadsmarts. In general, they just feel - well, unnoticeable, I would say - the bike just goes. Just wondered what anyone else's experience has been with them... Thanks, all.

Funny, my husband and I were just "discussing" this tonight, after going head-to-head briefly coming back from a ride today - he was on his 2009 Speed Triple and I was on my beloved Rosso (stock except for PC III, custom mapping, and pipes). Unfortunately, my speedo has been non-functional for more than a year. He said he backed off at 120 mph because of the lack of any fairing/windshield. The Rosso was pulling away from him, and still accelerating at that point. Another time, based on some other riders I was with, I estimated the Rosso to be going about 130 mph, and not done. So I was wondering what top speed is thought to be for this bike?

Update on the RC and speedo issue: I bought a Sigma 1606L from REI last night, and dropped it off at the dyno shop just now, where the RC will be put on the dyno this afternoon for mapping. (The dyno shop knows how lame I am, and said they would install the speedo for me.) I'm hoping to pick up the bike tomorrow - needless to say, I CAN'T WAIT!!! Without the custom mapping, it was pretty damn good, but flattened out at the start of the top end of a gear. So if that is remedied.... OMG..... I'll post over on the RC registry site re final results? I am so in love with this bike.... My yammie (which has been dubbed the Soulless One) and even my Duc (which has become a bit of a beater bike but runs like a top) are languishing.....

my first post on the forum.... my 2003 RC I bought it from its original owner in May of this year - it had 750 miles on it.... has a few more now.... Visalia California (central CA) l In Kings Canyon Natl Park - Its first track day at Willow Springs CA, after the 2008 National Guzzi Rally in Malibu CA -