rbt1548

Here's my A65 Lightning Clubman.........10000 euros?????? nah sorry!

There seems to be a pile of them on Craigslist, but very few here in the UK.....still looking!

Who knows, you may be right!, the colleague I got it from, who had it from three months old, said it had been fitted with an over headlight plate rather than the blade plate, like so many cafe' type bikes in the sixties, when he got it, and when the law was changed in 1975 to allow bikes to do away with their front plates he took it off. It would be similar to the one below. Anyway, doesn't really matter, 'cos it's not lying somewhere rotting and it's fun to ride. Cheers.

It was actually fitted across the headlight I believe !!!!!!!!!!!!

These people are everywhere, ride something out of the norm and be prepared to get questioned. Last year I took my 1965 BSA A65 Lightning Clubman out for a run and stopped in town, it started to get a bit wet and I decided to head home as I had no wet riding gear with me, I was just getting back on when I was approached by two guys who said my bike looked nice but should it not have 'Ace' bars, should the rear brake system linkages not just be steel and not made from stainless steel, and my pinstriping was slightly out on one side of the tank. I told them it was MY bike and I'll do what I want with it, I then proceeded to tell them that I had probably committed heresy by taking out all the electric gubbins, points regulator etc., and replacing them with modern electronic wizardry, including relays and fuses. "But it's not the way it was built and that's changing the whole character of the bike" came the reply, to which I just looked at them and said, " well the 'character' is now easier to work on and is now more reliable than it ever was before, anyway where's your bike seeing you are so knowledgable?". The reply............ "I don't actually have one just now and if I did I certainly wouldn't have it out in the rain". The last bit just summed him up, an arse of the highest order! Here's a before and after picture of the offending bike:

Not in the UK unfortunately

Hi, still looking around for a V11,was looking on here and noticed a fair few q&a's regarding the Power Commander, can someone please explain in simple terms, what it actually does, and is it advantageous to fit one? thanks

I'm not sure what the reset knob looks like but I had to do it on my Mk1 le mans many years ago, this may or may not help you. I didn't remove the piece that was inside the speedo, what I did was used a small drill and bit in a pin vise. I drilled the shaft coming out of the speedo and epoxied,(Chemical Metal or similar will do), a small panel pin with the head cut off into the hole,leaving a piece protruding out, I then drilled the shaft that was attached to the knob and epoxied and inserted the other end of the panel pin into the drilled hole, left it for a day 'til the epoxy had set solid, by using a small nail or similar it re-enforces the strength of the shaft and makes a solid join. I have used this on a number of occasions, it's basically using a 'dowel', It has worked on my BSA speedo knob too. Hope it helps Robert

Thanks guys for your informed answers, it's certainly given me food for thought, yes, I do like fairly straightforward motorcycles that don't require a degree in space technology to do any necessary work on. As for, "Ride it no further than you can push it back" with regards to my Norton and BSA, I must be pretty strong as I tend to ride them fair distances, it depends how they are set up, even a Rolls Royce not set up properly won't get you very far! Thanks once again guys

Hi, I am thinking of buying a V11 Le mans soon, I have looked in Faq's and need some more info before I do, so any help would be appreciated. I realise it has a plastic tank but how robust would it be in the event of the bike sliding down the road or being involved in a collision? I noticed a few comments regarding tanks stretching, how big a problem is it, and is there a prevention/remedy? I am fairly capable with spanners, (and occasionally a large hammer), having restored a number of bikes over the years, inc. my present Commando and Clubman, but it's all the electronic gubbins that tend to frustrate, (terrify!!!!), me, ecu's, TPS etc., are they fairly straightforward to deal with? Is there anything that I should pay particular attention to when going look at a prospective purchase? Thanks in anticiption!

Hi all, Just joined forum as I am thinking about getting a V11, I live in Glasgow Scotland. I have had a Guzzi before an 1978 850 Le mans, for the grand sum of £70, ok it was a burned out wreck and only an engine, gbox, frame, forks and a wheel, I totally rebuilt it but, family, one wage, 2 children, a mortgage, and a new central heating system meant it had to go many years ago. I have just sold my BMW Rockster edition 80 due to ABS problems and it having too many electronic bits and bob that only a dealer can fix(sic), I still have a 1977 Norton Commando and a 1965 BSA A65 Lighning Clubman, both of which I have restored. I want something a bit simpler so my thoughts went back to Guzzi's, thinking of a V11 le mans or a 1000s. I have a number of questions on the V11 that hopefully someone can help me by answering, not sure whether to post in this introduction section or there is another section, I'll have a wee look to see where to post, ifthere isn'tanother setion I'll edit this. Looking forward to gleaning some knowledge from the members. Thank you Cheers Robert