Steve G.

It's tough being on the west coast, by the time I get home, Martin's nailed the thing. Thanks for letting me get it Martin, I know you had it, this was an easy one. Ciao, Steve G.

That MV in the background is stealing the show there! Ciao, Steve G.

It's got to be a Wooler. From the side I can see the resemblence to the Douglas Dragonfly, but the flying banana tank is the give away. Ciao, Steve G.

Honda gave Mick Doohan one of these for winning the 500cc GP championship. I think it was 1999. Nice present. Never meant as a true street bike, hence the lackluster performance. Honda has the might and R&D to make a world killer, but chose this particular machine as another example of Honda showing the world it can make anything it wants. Oval pistons, no problem! Ciao, Steve G.

Do me a favour Jim, tell me where these speed tax individuals hang out. If this is the new method used to get into ones wallet, maybe it's safe to do 70mph again downtown. Ciao, Steve G.

The guy is from a display bike group I saw at the TT. Can't remember the name. But the bike, well it used to be a Honda. I think a CT 90 Trail, or 110 Trail. Wrong front fender, and tires, but a Honda. Ciao, Steve G.

What a majestic old company Moto Guzzi is! Ciao, Steve G.

Enzo, You mentioned that your friend made use of a lawyer to get off clear of a speeding ticket. You failed to mention how much the lawyer cost. If he's a good buddy then I understand. If he's an aquaintence, then you've had to pay him, or owe him a favour. In my life, I hope never to owe a lawyer who is not a good friend, a favour. I'd rather pay the ticket. Ciao, Steve G.

Plugs look good Randy, stick 'em back in, actually don't, now that the sealing washer is flattened. Stick the same type in and leave them for 10,000kms. Ciao, Steve G.

Enzo, The V11 is quite stable compared to some bikes. To others, in particular the '02 and never Guzzi, it is twitchy. Last summer I was doing 115mph along a long sweeper in a certain jurisdiction [is there such a thing as post-incident speeding ticket] that I have taken with 3 of my other bikes. The Guzzi did offer feedback at least, that it wanted to tank slap, whether I rolled on, rolled off, or kept steady throttle. This was not the case with the others. In my experience anyways, my V11 is not unstable, but seems to inherently have what I'll call a "quick head" steering geometry, with the inherent characteristics. Ciao, Steve G.

Ah Ben, It should be every motorcyclists goal to offer his or herself the utmost in the passion of the motorcycle. Be this one machine, great. More, also great. The humble little group of bikes I have include some bikes that I got for a great price, often because the bikes were modified cosmetically to such and extent that they were unsellable, and I got them because the owner just wanted it gone. As well, while my passion for bikes does include keeping them all up and running [collector plates here in B.C. mean really cheap insurance], a third dimension of my hobby includes trying to predict which bikes have a fair chance of at least holding or increasing their value, bikes that of course I would like to own/ride/maintain. I am far from a rich person, I'm totally blue collar and red neck. Just buy right, and spend right. Perfect examples, my Laverda cost me $3200 cdn, Norton I got for a trade, in exchange for a tired 66 BSA and a very tired 64 BSA, the CBX I got for $2000, and the V11 and GS I got new, though I waited them both out so a reasonable asking price was offered to me. Back to the 850T in question, ultimately If you want it, get it. Just be under no illusions that will never be a '76 Lemans, with it's pedigree keeping it's price strong. It is an 850T, a great bike yes, but a modified 850T is worth less than a standard one, especially in this case. Ciao, Steve G.

Surely Moto Guzzi with Piaggio's help could improve things at Mandello if needed. Considering they have been there since the beginning, they could use this as a positive marketing spin, just like our lads down in Milwaukee. Ahh, there's that word again, marketing! Come to think of it, I have seen adverts extolling the history of Mandello. Lets think about the one advantage moving the factory would be. It has to be a higher tech assembly line. But this would mean Guzzi production would increase to levels never seen before. The one big question then. Would they sell all the extra Guzzi's they would make? I don't think so. Would the cost of building a new plant ever be recouped with small production? I wouldn't think so. Ciao, Steve G.

You actually banned someone from your site? Ciao, Steve G.

The points above by Baldini are correct. Unless you are smitten by this one bike, avoid it. You should always bear in mind that unless a bike [or car] can be readily and easily returned to stock form, most importantly cosmetic , it is actually worth LESS than an "unpersonalized" original. This point is emphasized even more when you are talking about a motorcycle which is starting to show signs of impending collectability, with a corresponding rise in asking prices [convervative signs with the 850T]. Last year, a bike shop in town was consign selling a mint 916 Ducati. This bike had all the right things, Arrow pipes, plus the originals, custom seat plus the original. One BIG problem however, was a custom painted pirates face with pirates crossbones flag on the tank. Now the paint and the application were absolutely flawless! But this seriously detracted the value of the bike. Not only that, but this fellow was asking more for this paint. Now, a small consideration can be allowed for Arrow exhaust, but just a fraction of their worth in the asking price of the bike. Always better to sell aftermarket exhaust separately. A long story short, the bike sat there nearly a year until the shop owner finally got sick of the thing and the owners insistance that he thought it was worth what he was asking. Getting back to the 850T in question, I think it is overpriced, considering the cost to return it to original. Something I use as a guidline, whether a basketcase, or a modified bike like this one, determine the current price of a near mint example of the model you are looking at, then determine the costs needed to return it to stock. If the original purchase price, cost of parts, and cost of farmed out labour [you can't consider your own labour] are more than the current worth of the model, turn around and walk away. Or if you like, go ahead and poor money into it, so guys like me can buy a freshly restored bike for less than you put into it. Ciao, Steve G.

May I recommend a grade 8 typing class? Well, maybe grade 7. Ciao, Steve G.

Uh, What? Ciao, Steve G.

Not only on the short list as one of the ugliest bikes ever made, one of the worst bombshells in the sales dept, but the worst name by far: Suzuki MADURA If you were lucky enough to buy one of these puppies new, you would have realized a 50% depreciation in one day! and 75% in 1 yr. Ciao, Steve G.

Very few Sports were painted that color. I love that look. Ciao, Steve G.

Ok, So I installed it by trial and test on the electrics. Thanks for the expanded wiring schematic. KJAJ offered a good bit of advice to modify the new light wires to suit the original loom plugins to the original rear light. I did this, and everything works fine. The LED lighting is quite unique, and it seems quite directional in it's light emission. It's direction of light appears to be aimed high, perhaps higher than the average car drivers view. Analizing the light itself, the unit appears to be upside down, as in the lettering and such on the lens, as well as the 'Schumacker' manufacturers name on the led circuit board inside. As well, the reflector has a bevelled shape, so it does have a top and bottom I'm wondering if this is the way it is supposed to be? The ss plate it attaches to has the bigger hole to the right side of the bike, for the wires coming out of the light unit. So I know I don't have it installed wrong. Either the thing is supposed to be installed this way, or the hole in the ss plate is in the wrong place. Another problem I have noticed which will have to be rectified, aside from the possibility of spray coming up off the tire onto the back of the bike, [which I can deal with] is the 4"by4" hole access up into the electrical and toolroll holder area. This is something which will have to be taken care of, as in a piece of plastic shaped and stuck in there, with small allowance area for the rear electrical wires. The possibilty of road crap collecting up in there will not do. I'm glad I installed the unit, and the look without the obtrusive [but usefull] stock fender is I would say better than a fender eliminator kit on the average sport bike, because of the V11's somewhat unique tail section. As for the elimination of the Techno pannier kit, I'm sure I can make some kind of small bracket to make use of these with the Ferracci eliminator. It is too much work to change this stuff back and forth all the time. Maybe I'll just be using my back pack and tank bag more when I go on weekend outings. I was at the dealer on Saturday, where he showed me a just arrived Stucci crossover and carbon slipons. If they were stainless or titanium I probably would have given him the Visa card, so just as well they were carbon. Taxes in $2000 for all 3 pieces, ouch! Ciao, Steve G. Ciao, Steve G.

Mastering proper shifting technic? Golly Janusz, you're almost as funny as Mr, Robson I'm getting face aches now! This thread should revert to "To Serve and Protect your Gearbox". Might as well shoot a 44 into the case. Ciao, Steve G.

Brian, I love your sense of humour. It's Sunday morning, I've just read your last post here, you're classic man! Ciao, Steve G.

Before I start taking a razor blade to the stock wiring harness, I thought I'd check with the forum. I just got the kit, and it has no instructions. Which is not a problem, as I've got it installed [finding out I can't use the techno mini panniers with this kit], and I have hooked up the indicator plugin. Problem I'm having is the brake/running light, which has different hook ups than the stock brake light hook ups. I guess it's possible that the attachments are way up into the wiring harness, but I'd like to make sure before I start cutting the wrapping of the wiring harness. Ciao, Steve G.

Geez Pete, leave the rock open, the fresh air will do yu good. There seems to be a question on that forum whether this is fake or not. None of us can really know for certain. What is clear are two things. 1, whether it is real or not, this Seargent fellow is not just venting, he is clearly [here's my term again] an attention whore in the first degree. In follow ups regarding his little story, he is clearly loving this. Yup, he's a sickie either way! 2, If it is true, then the squid who stole the bike and ran deserves the result of his own actions. This ultimately comes down to the watering down of this society by "those bleeding heart types", who are trying their best to make a society that would cleanse everyone of responsibilty of their own actions, no matter how bad they may be. Think about it, it's happening. Back to the guy who ran, the scientist Charles Darwin has a certain theory which makes this kind of occurance make sense, and unfortunately said, usefull to society in a positive way. Ciao, Steve G.

This isn't fair Jaap! You guys in Europe and points east are nailing these things before we in the west coast get a chance to see them. I'm nailing these things without looking at books or the internet! Ciao, Steve G.

NO, you are not crazy! Excepting those out there who are absolutely rabid about one particular brand of machine, it's pretty clear that no one machine can do everything well. Go out as soon as you can and get that R1, or whatever you want. Take it from me, having an assortment of machines that really are working for you will not mean one of them is permanently pushed into the corner. On the contraty, after a short time, each will be calling to you to use them, dangling their own particular attribute that originally caught your attention. A motorcycle harem, if you will!!! Each riding season, I find myself missing events or rides that I would really have wanted to engage in, with overlapping occasions associated with different brand loyalties. As far as I'm concerned, this self-inflicted problem is one I wish on everyone who is as passionate about the motorcycle as I am. This season is shaping up to be another tough decision making time, but someone has to do it, so I volunteer! Go and get that R1 now, time's wasting! Ciao, Steve G.