Kickeroo

Ok, Guzzistas....I need professional knowledgeable assistance here. The shop I chose, and the machine shop THEY chose, have tried unsuccessfully to order obtain, steal or manufacture the correct bushings/bearings/shims for my connecting rods and the subsequent crankshaft. They have advised me to get a NEW crankshaft ($900..which I don't have) and the standard bearings/bushings/shims. While logically, it would make sense (and extend the life of the bike), but on the surface of everything else, I have already PAID to have the crankshaft machined, AND paid for 4 shims which the machine shop and the bike shop say are wrong. On top of that, they have "exhausted" their relationship with the two primary parts suppliers in the USA (Harper's and MGCycle). I have asked them to allow me to do as much research as I can on the subject and locate the shims if I can. I will have spec's by the week of 12/8/14, or so. Can I enlist any help here? This sounds like it should be solvable, right?

Going on 18 months....and believe it or not, still not fixed. The incorrect bearing shims that are needed somehow keep getting sent. Beyond frustrated.

The rod bearings.. as shown below.

Bearings on the left piston shattered, as high speed and rpms (um, yes, that was me) cooked the oil and let friction take over. Crankshaft has been verified to be ok by a very competent machine shop, and both pistons and connecting arms are still within factory spec (gotta love how tough this thing is).

NEWS FLASH!!! It's going back together. ...but it'll be awhile until I can actually afford to bring it home.

It's been more than two months. Rumor is; spun bearing. Sounds hopeful. All I have to do now is wait for all of the other Euro-bikes ahead of me to be serviced. At least my trusty Triumph Thruxton is still around. I know. Nice problem to have.

Still waiting......Bike is at Velocity Vintage in Richmond VA. Good blokes, so that part of it I am not worried about. I'm in no position to work on it myself, so I will have to trust these guys. The oil starvation issue may be part of it, and, yes, I know I am about to learn an expensive lesson.

Lost power at about 70 mph the other day. Ominous knocking coming from the engine, like one piston was along for the ride and nothing more. Oh no. Had it towed and am now awaiting the diagnosis. This is gonna hurt.

2001 Moto Guzzi V11 Sport $4000.00 (PRICE DROPPED. GOTTA GO!!!) The good: "Guzzi Green", so you'll always be able to find it. New Pirelli Sport Demon "Angel" tires, mounted November 2011. K&N washable air filter. Aftermarket exhaust with Dynojet Power commander III,easily surpasses 91 bhp. Comes with Pitbull stand. Brembo brakes. All grease fitting have been attended to. Differential oil changed 6/2011. The Bad: Main Odometer stuck at 17,071 miles, but trip odometer does Actual milage estimated at 22,000. Tachometer has power, but does not function properly. The Ugly: Has tip-over damage from prior owners. Scratch on rear tail, and speedometer. Front fairin was removed, but is avalaable, but also featured scratches. [Divorces are expensive. Located in Richmond, VA

Picking up my rental trailer later TODAY, and heading out by no later than 3:30am from Richmond VA to Robbinsville NC. I'm taking both the Sport and my Thruxton, if only to have a choice for whatever condtions present themselves...and to get both onto killboy.com. Pictures/commentary to follow, but admittedly will be first posted on monkeyriders.com from 7/4/11 (or 4-July-2011)

Damn, Peter, why not just have both....like me

My commission for listing the light-up sign

I am listing this for friends of mine who are in the motorcycle business, but are no longer Moto Guzzi dealers due to circumstances beyond thier control. For sale is a wall-mount Moto Guzzi flourescent dealership sign that hung on the outside of their building, but was protected from the elements as it was mounted under an awning. It was advertised on E-pay a year or two ago, but did not meet its reserve price. The asking price is $500.00 (U.S.) and it is the buyer's responsibility to arrange for shipping. The shop is in Central Virginia, and directly off of an exit of I-95, if someone were to arrange for thier own pick-up. P.M. me if you are 100% interested, and can agree to the asked price. This is a family-owned dealership and quite literally, they cannot afford to haggle. Thank you for considering, and I hope you like it.

Back to proper cafe' form.

nevermind. got it.

THANK YOU!!!!!! One hateful 8mm cap later, using moment arm torque courtesy of the drag-around handle on my lift fitted over the socket wrench handle, and the "Testa Forcella" is free

Anyone want to tell me how to take the cap off of the triple tree top without gauging the living crap out of the tree? I'm looking to undo the handlebar conversion, and I'll tell you, whoever has the solution can HAVE the LSL kit

Any tricks to getting this cap off? I have a history of destroying things while trying to remove them.

a few little issues; the speedo works, but the odometer doesn't. The tach doesn't work either. The battery was dead this morning, and after its chargred I'll check the fuses, although I don't think that'll be the issue. Any ideas?

Two years later and I am now the owner of this 2001 v11 sport, with 17k, just in time for a full fluids and filter change (already ordered everything except the 27mm hex wrench)

24 hours to go, and the Kool-Aid will be drunk. A preview:

Alas, my run to this region (Dragon, etc.) is scheduled for July 7-12, where I'll be leading (gulp) a pack of my riding buddies from my high school. We hatched this plan back in September '10 at my 25-year reunion. I had ridden my Thruxton from Richmond to Pennsylvania, and the local ones and I arranged a ride the next day. So, strictly on a budgetary basis, I cannot attend this year. Besides, I have a bad habit of annoucning things before they actually happen, and this is no excpetion. So, if a dude looking like the Blue Power Ranger glides silently up to your group on a blue Thruxton, well, that's me. Otherwise, let me get organized with my other projects and I'll look forward to seeing Guzzi puctures on killboy.com in then next few weeks.