Steve G.

Thinking of doing an Iron Butt challenge this coming weekend, the 2 border challenge, Canada/US/Mexico, and possibly a 3 border back to Canada if the body/mind are in good order. Has anybody in southern California have any thoughts about insurance or lack of in Mexico, when we get fuel and confirmed ducumentation, before heading back across in the USA? Is there a real bad time to try to cross at Tiuanna, Mexico? Ciao, Steve G.

I'm paying cdn-1.12 a litre, or $5 a gallon for 87 octane, and 94 octane is $6.35 an imperial gallon, or $4 a US gallon. No worries, it's still way cheaper than Europe. And western Canada has more of it than anywhere else, so tons of money coming in. And all this is pushing our dollar up, so the Staintunes are getting cheaper, YEAH! Ciao, Steve G.

The news that Staintune is not making ones for the V11 worries me. I've got my sites set on them, the quality of the stainless is unmatched. Neptunes? That's a maker you don't see much where I live. Ciao, Steve G.

I have and continue to ride extensively in Washington state and Oregon state. Having been ticketed many times in Washington, I'm thinking I've been given a "grace speed" of just under 10mph, though literally zero tolerance in towns. Generally I've found the farther you get away from the coast the less the traffic, and as a result, the less the cops. There are some unique counties that truly are using traffic tickets as general revenue, with Ferry, Skagit, and Watcom counties being the worst by far. Ferry county is a real shame, as there are real great twisties out there, but the coppers stick close to town and give zero tolerance in them. As for riding, if I lived in your area, I'd be flying around Mt. St. Helens probably every weekend. And all of my motorcycle tours would be in north east Oregon, the best of the best with these 2 states. Ciao, Steve G.

Soft valve guides is not one of the things that come up when talking about the "character foibles" of a late 1100cc Guzzi engine. I have 30,000 on mine, and it actually is running better now than when it had 50-15,000 on it. Silly old things really. Ciao, Steve G.

I guess the two main reasons are to do with comfort only. I find the handlebar layout to be a bit better for long days. And because this engine has the ability to cruise quite effortlessly at speeds over 135kmhr, the fairing just makes more sense to reduce fatigue. My riding tends to be of longer jaunts, rather than town "cruising". I still believe the asthetic design of the Lemans fairing could have been made nicer looking considering the country of origin of this machine. To me this fairing shares some design elements with the fairing of the early 80's Suzuki GS1150 ES, which is widely regarded as one of the ugliest machines ever put on the road. That said, I will say that other elements of the fairing are borrowed from the Magni fairing, which I find to be very nice, and works well with the existing V11 bodywork. Why Moto Guzzi didn't borrow more elements from the earlier developed Magni kit we will never know. But what an opportunity they had to make a real show stopper! I think the V11 standard in flash green will always be the V11 people remember and think about when asked about the V11, and will end up being the one collectors go for in 10-15 yrs. Puting a fairing on these was the natural progression of the V11 format, and I think has made the machine easier to use, and easier on the body, which, considering the average age of the motorcyclists these days, is something even Moto Guzzi must be thinking about. Just look at the comfort level of the Breva. It's just too bad the Breva, at this point anyways, just doesn't have "The Look", if you guys know what I mean. Sure it's probably a better bike that the spine frame V11. A Breva is not a bike that makes me look back for a final look before I close the garage door. The Griso? Well, this machine I consider a bandwagon jumper. Another in the new "power cruiser" format, which for the most part I find rather silly as a concept. But they have to go where the market dictates I guess. It will be interesting to see how Guzzi's old pushrod girl stands up against some of these significantly higher output "power cruiers", like the V-Rod, and the like, which apart from what your thoughts are on looks [ I think the Vrod is stupid looking] there is no denying the grunt they are getting out of them. I'm thinking that, much like previous Guzzi models, the Griso will attract primarily 'Moto Guzzi people', and will not attract others, because the stats will not show the big power/torque of others. Ciao, Steve G.

That ride in the rain has probably done something with the connections. Best thing you could do is to pull each and every one apart, and squirt some dilectric grease in each one, which will eliminate this problem happening ever again. Ciao, Steve G.

I would'nt trade my V11 for any of those. I must admit though, given time to get used to the Lemans fairing, I would trade up to one of those, IF, IF, the color scheme was all the same color, not the two tone red/black or gold/grey. Otherwise, the green V11 is a keeper for me. Ciao, Steve G.

If you absolutely positively must have the best available, price not a consideration, and leather is the priority the group is small. In no particular order, Nankai! Dianese! Kushitani! Manx! Bates! Vanson! Ciao, Steve G.

Callison, I much admire the road rash on the centre stand on your California. Very well done, it's good to see men getting their monies worth out of the tires. Ciao, Steve G.

The main cause of these things cracking is that the fuel tank rests on them, and causes pressure on the scews. The fix is to add a couple washers at the back bolt of the fuel tank, raising it up and away from contact with the side covers. Ciao, Steve G.

Are there any words left with this guy? Ciao, Steve G.

I hate to say it, I think I remember. Isn't it Don Messer and the Jubilee? Ciao, Steve G.

After a year of use with the FBF eliminator, I have mixed reviewes. The kit allows water spray to come right into the electrics, totally overlooked. The wiring was not as it was supposed to be, it took time with a multi tester to figure out they had the colors all wrong. The LED light is trick, the probelm is it is aimed to shoot for the sky, raising my chances of getting rear ended by some squid in a Honda Civi with a cell phone in his ear. The light, because of the alignment tangs on the back, is unable to be flipped unside-down/right side up for proper alignment. And, take my word for it, the LED light is not vibration proof, as you just have to look at my half empty bottle of super glue. On the positive side, I enjoy the look of it, it has cleaned up the back end well. Although, I must admit, sawing off half of the factory fender, as Ryan did, would have sufficed, and still had $160cdn in my pocket. I guess I was so impressed with FBF's airbox kit, I thought him infallable. Oh well!! Ciao, Steve G.

Another thing about bearings. While it is commonly thought that "sealed bearings" are sealed, they can and should be opened up to re-introduce fresh oil into them. The rubber end seal does come off undamaged if you are carefull with a slotted screwdriver. I've done it for years, even on new bearings. You would be surprised at the lack of grease in a new bearing. Last Saturday I had a new tire installed onto my V11 wheel, and after I got it back, I made sure to repack the front bearings before installing the wheel back on the bike. Ciao, Steve G.

The weather here on the west coast has been brilliant, no rain for almost 2 months, warm every day. That's how it is here, and the winters are dark and cold, but ridable with good gortex. Ciao, Steve G.

I am so in agreement! Only ten fold more! Ciao, Steve G.

My V11 will only be happy with 94 octane, and that is only available at Chevron here in Canada, and only in big cities. Spent a day and 300kms in Washington state Sunday, and 92 does not work for the crude combustion chamber of a Guzzi. Ciao, Steve G.

My V11 will only be happy with 94 octane, and that is only available at Chevron here in Canada, and only in big cities. Spent a day and 300kms in Washington state Sunday, and 92 does not work for the crude combustion chamber of a Guzzi. Ciao, Steve G.

Don't worry Richard, I feel this narcotics thing is just for someone to revel in all the attention. This isn't about any RC51, it's all about a very lonely Captain Nemo. And for the seat of your pants comparison regarding your two machines, either you have a very inacurate ass, or, you are again just trying to stir it up, pathetically I might add. Go ahead, I'm in a rather good mood these days, you can respond in the usual manner, I'll find it simply amusing. Regarding the sale of your bike and the seemingly low offer, always remember that while it is certainly within your rights to "personalize" your machine, almost every time, you will be reducing it's worth to the general market. So, I feel the 10 grand you have put into it may respectfully be worth 10 grand to you, but utterly worthless to most everyone else. Ciao, Steve G.

So ratchethack, what exactly is your point? You agree or disgree with organ donor sources? Ciao, Steve G.

F%@*, does it ever end!! Ciao, Steve G.

Yeah, mine does the same thing, only at sub 25 mph speed. I guess it's another one of those "character" things we all seem to like with these silly old bikes. Ciao, Steve G.

I think the 1100 Sports are about to make a move up, as with most small production machines, they appear to have bottomed out, and will be moving up in value IMHO. Ciao, Steve G.

I've hit the rev limiter a couple times, and this Marelli CPU does take 2 seconds to "re-ramp", just as when you start it up. Why yours is shutting down at 6000rpm is a question for an electrical engineer, as most electrical components are re & re units, not servicable. Ciao, Steve G.