Lloyd67

Good comments, all pretty much spot on. Here's what I do know... One of the beemers has already had a new rear drive and a clutch and an alternator and I think it's maybe 4 years old. If that were a Guzzi we'd all be wailing and gnashing but beemer riders seem to brush it under the carpet as 'unlucky' as if they're the only one it's ever happened to. The year before last a Futura packed up at the most westerly point of the British mainland as if to some script and the gsxr has already been in a ditch. One of the Triumphs liked to flash it's lights and horn at will until I fixed it's crap wiring. The sportster has already done a few long rides quite well so I don't expect any comedy from there. The kwacker blew a brake seal last weekend and we've got an American that's never ridden on the left on one of the beemers so it's a script you couldn't really make up. Oh and one guy destroyed a Triumph sprint by hitting a road sign before we'd crossed county Durham which got him a free ride in the air ambulance. One guy honestly believes he's a world class road racer but he's always last and another rode last time in a full wookiee suit which caused much fear/laughter among the natives and the attentions of a lovesick highland cow. The honda has a 90 mile tank range. I look forward to this all year. As Chuck Yeager said, "If you don't lose a few you're not trying hard enough." Bring it on......

On Thursday this week myself and 10 other blokes are going on our annual 1500 mile round trip ride from York up to Mull, Ardnamurchan, Skye, Applecross etc on various bits of two wheeled madness. I am taking my v11 while others are going on a Honda firestorm, kawasaki zx9, gsxr 750, two Triumph 955s and a 595, 2 1150 gs bmws, a trick 1200 sportster and an Aprilia Pegaso. Every time we've been before we have at least one major league breakdown. Two of the Triumph owners have changed from an aprilia mille and sportster within the last couple of weeks because of doubts about their suitability/reliability. Question is, going on a mix of unreasonable bigotry and prejudice, which of the other bikes will break down first?

Looking for soft / hard luggage and rails for 02 V11 le mans. Prefer genuine MG but anything considered.

CARC unit from an '06 Griso for sale. VERY tiny mark on the underside. Less than 3000 miles on it. Mechanically perfect. Offers. Cost new £2000+!!!! Also right hand y piece footrest plate from same with dished recess in the middle as opposed to the earlier hole and cup/bung arrangement. As new. Again, offers. Cost new about £90 Hope they're some use to someone. Parts are in Yorkshire, UK. No probs shipping at your cost but CARC is very heavy.

I've no issue with them using the picture. It was just a surprise to see it since I had no idea that the image existed. Apparently Moto Strada took the picture and sent it to Mistral. They've got it on their web site under v11. I guess MGcycle just took it from there. I'm more flattered than anything else but I can't take any credit for the photograph. As for product placement, maybe it'll get on the Hozelock and Karcher websites too. I've also noticed that MGcycle have removed the image. Oh well, it was a brief but bright moment of glory....

FAME!! I was looking at the MGCYCLE website this morning and was mildly amused to find that my bike has been on a secret holiday the US and A. Under the Mistral exhaust/silencer section is a right tarts handbag sat outside their store. Only it's not. It's Motostrada. In Shipley. As in wild West Yorkshire. I guess the UK numberplate is a bit of a giveaway on the bike in the shop. Anyway fame at last! I'm still pleased with the picture tho.......... http://www.mgcycle.com/product_info.php?pr...14ddb75935e6228

For what its worth I've just had the fairing off my Le mans to replace the headlight bulb. While it was off I set about sorting out the wiring around the headstock. It only took for me to move any of the connections ( and there seems to be about twice as many as it needs) for the lights to start going mental. Especially the indicators, neutral light and charge light. There are a lot of cable ties and long wires with aggressive kinks in them that would cause the internal wires to be under more stress than necessary. I agree that relays get a bad press and are not always the source of your woes. I would strongly suggest you check out the mess under the headstock first. It should be noted that a lot of the electrickery occuring on my bike is self induced from using a Guzzi tankbag that secures around the headstock and fouls these connections very badly. Hope this helps.

Absolutely spot on mate. These are not, and are not intended to be, the finished product. they are like a showhome on a new housing estate there to suggest what they COULD be not what you will be offerred. Just like the Griso was when it was shown. I showed these pics to a mate that thinks I'm mental to have these 'old school bikes' and he was amazed that they were from Guzzi. I agree that they look like a pigs ear in parts but they are well on their way to becoming silk purses and a LOT better than I dared hope for.

Come on guys, these are fantastic in both senses of the word. If it excites younger riders enough to at least consider Guzzi, it must be a good thing. I for one applaud Terreblanche and Guzzi for their balls. This time yesterday it would have been unthinkable for Guzzi to do this. Well done. I like the future because I'm going there soon...

I might be going off at a bit of a tangent here but am I the only one to notice that quite a few of us here have a Griso and a v11? I think that says it all. How many owners of other lesser marques would own such seemingly similar yet fundamentally different bikes from one manufacturer? A mate once proclaimed his bewilderment that I had three bikes that were "exactly the same". I gave up any thought of trying to explain since I knew that he just wouldn't get it...as he climbed onto his Honda twintub.

Pete, You are absolutely spot on with your comments on the suspension. I've continually softened up all the settings over the couple of years that I've owned the Griso but I've only adjusted the preload maybe half a turn on the rear. I've just kind of got used to it I suppose. Now I know that 5mm isn't unreasonable I'll do it as soon as possible. Why on earth does it come like that from the factory? After all I said about the two bikes, I'm riding to the Pyrenees from York in a couple of weeks time and I'll almost certainly take the Le mans.....it'll be more of a challenge.

As an owner of both an 1100 griso and a v11 le mans I would say that the two are pretty different from a riding point of view. The griso is a lot more refined and a lot easier to live with but the rear shock is way too stiff even for my 16+ stones. The v11 is much more of an involved ride, maybe more rewarding and feels like it comes from a much earlier time, moreso than 5 years difference would suggest. I actually went to buy a Ballabio but came home with the Griso. Really glad I did but I can't tell you whether one is better than the other but if I could only keep one it would be the G. No question.