PDoz

The stock springs on mine were bizzare - way too soft a rate up front, but paradoxically too long, and the rear spring also seemed too soft when I worked out the sag figures. I started by investing in a decent shock with appropriate spring, and this transformed the handling. Getting better fork springs was the icing on the cake. Now she's rock solid over imperfections, jumps smoothly, yet changes line mid corner almost too quickly if I want her to. I reckon there's nothing wrong with the bikes design, but the stock suspension was specced by an apprentice with a really bad hangover. Apparently he now works on the ducati scrambler project.....

When I saw " Doc" post re the AMA I thought you guys had an equivalent to the Australian Medical Association , but then I saw Scud mention lobying for motorcyclist rights.... NOTHING like our AMA!!! For what it's worth, at our clinic 4/6 of the partners ride motorbikes but I think only 2 are AMA members. As for riding in NZ...it's been a decade since I last nipped over there....I really should go again! Motorbike heaven.

Original pipe

You just convinced me to swap from my great sounding but too shinny madass pipes back to the original black ones. She loses a lot of midrange, doesn't sound anywhere near as nice, but looks better. I'll see how I feel about them after a longer ride.

My new number plate

If you get a custom made cable, consider a teflon inner liner so you NEVER NEED TO LUBE ! I used to get them built up for my v50 clutch / throttle, they made it much lighter and lasted the lufe of the bike (100000 km plus) Unfortunately my tamed engineer guy finds making v8 motorbikes / helicopters etc more interesting than fixing v50 guzzis now...

Get yourself a cable repair kit - if the cable breaks in transit you can thread a new cable down the old sheath, and screw whatever ends you need on. I've carried them on my dirt bikes for about 20 years and fixed heaps of other peoples clutches / throttles - they're a guarantee your own cable will never snap

Perhaps just have a chat with the mechanic and insist that HE does work on your bike in future and remind him how much you used to trust him? I had a similar event when my rear axle wasn't tightened post tyre change - it was the first and last time the apprentice touched my bike, and I gave the mechanic a choice - at our medical clinic we have apprentices as well- they're called interns. If he wanted them left unsupervised......

Thanks for the pics Tom. Food for thought... I'd also like to add a big THANKYOU to motobits - I lost the little cam adjuster for the rear brake and they're sending me a replacement for a VERY reasonable cost ( postage) - great service!

Tom, how did you add folding pegs?

I've got the motobits pegs http://motobits.com/guzzi.htm and rich maude seat , it's a VERY comfortable combination so long as speeds remain above 90 km/hr, and it works well in the tight stuff- recently did 3x600 km days of corners with nothing but smile muscles hurting. The pegs made my knees a lot more comfortable but left my hips a bit too cramped, this was fixed with the slightly higher seat. I love the adjustability of the levers - infinitely adjustable for possition as well as having 3 different spots to attach the tip ( for different length feet) . Gearchanges seemed to improve, I'm not sure if this was from better ergonomics or less friction. I HATE the non folding pegs. Realistically, my pipes and pegs touch down at about the same time, but if I'm relaxing through corners I sometimes find my toes dragging back onto a rigid peg - I hope they never get caught under it!!! Edit, 5'11" and longish arms

If you don't mind second hand, this guy - it looks like they are wrecking an 01 v11 http://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-MOTO-GUZZI-SPORT-V11-OIL-PAN-MOUNTING-FLANGE-/361301086495?hash=item541f39111f

For those of you who have removed the front cross over, can I just make absolutely sure you never noticed a difference in performance? My cross over started coming loose on Monday, and 1500 km later there was a noticeable flat spot from 2500 to about 2800 revs - if this is just from the exhaust leak I'll do the remove and patch thing, but if that flat spot is going to remain I'll make up some shims to seal it. (03 lemans, stock fuel injection, madass aftermarket pipes)

Allowing for the crazy oz second hand market...nice grey balabio! http://www.bikepoint.com.au/dealer/OAG-AD-1707276/2003-Moto-Guzzi-V11-Sport?cr=4&psq=((Make%3D%5BMoto%20Guzzi%5D)%26(((((SiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20available%5D)%7C(SiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20in%20stock%5D))%7C(SiloType%3D%5BDealer%20used%20bikes%5D))%7C(SiloType%3D%5BDemo%20%26%20near%20new%20bikes%5D))%7C(SiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20used%20bikes%5D)))%26(Service%3D%5BBikesales%5D)&pso=0&pss=LastUpdated

Roy, mine had 5000 km on it when I got it - the original owner got cancer just after buying it, eventually passing the bike on to a woman who knew very little about motorbikes. She rode up and down the street but didn't like the way it handled so decided to sell. EIGHT psi in the front tyre will do that.....

I've just looked into this via this site because I'm on the other side of this decision- considering buying a rich maude modified early seat for my 03 LM. There is reference to corbin seats not fitting post 02/03 because the fuses sit higher, as well as a reference to cutting a section of the seat pan out to allow it to fit. I couldn't find any references to modifying the standard pans but there are references to the standard pans being different post 02. I'm trying to decide if I invest in finding out.....so if you find out please let us know asap!!!!

What Doc said, plus I think the corsas came with titanium mufflers instead of the black stock mufflers? Oh, and a little plaque telling you what number it is....if you're a collector these things might be important to you. Cosmetically, I really like my 03 lm with black rocker covers, black forks etc. Functionally, it would have been nice to start with decent forks / shock / pipes , but I still would have needed to upgrade the suspension to my taste anyway ( at least I tell myself that) . I keep trying to tell myself I'm glad I bought my 03 lm when I did rather than the rosso that came up for sale a week later at over twice the price. I keep trying to ignore all the $ I've thrown at her in the past 3/4 years... If you're looking at buying and there is a good ohlins equipped bike on the market then have a look at it - suspension is expensive to upgrade ( I've sunk over $2 K oz into my suspension, and am VERY happy with it,...and I'll keep telling myself that...)

I looked into this last year , from memory the ducati forks were all shorter stroke, and you were still looking at new springs to suit the guzzis weight. The stock post 03 marzochis came with a very soft spring, getting this upgraded to suit your weight makes an amazing difference. Unfortunately it's a tapered spring, so it'll take a bit of negotiating to find the right one. My wilburs guru got it spot on with a much shorter spring, but he died before he was able to tell me the details. The dampening cartridge is effectively sealed, so if you remain unhappy after respringing it's time to look into a new cartridge. To be honest, if you're this fussy it's probably time to consider better forks. The marzochis themselves are a bit primitive - eg only one set of bushes , no compression dampening adjustment, etc. But they look good in black and with decent springs and fresh oil they're at least better than that crappy sachs rear shock will ever be.

Phil, take a look over on horizons unlimited for importation advice. Personally, I think you should leave it in the uk and go riding it there!

Can you post a picture from behind? I know on my perfectly set up ktm640 adv I get a weave around 160 k with panniers, but that's because the panniers are asymetrically mounted and that's the speed at which the buffetting sets up an evil dynamic. Most noticeable on dirt, because the sway is coming from the back - the rear tyre actually starts sliding!!! Other things contributing to asymetry will also contribute to weaving - your mechanic will be unlikely to be familiar with the swingarm bolt adjustments, so do the stringlining yourself. The pipes aren't symetrical , so you may be getting turbulence between them and the panniers? It may even be you ( I'm a bit twisted so need to set up my bikes carefully to avoid high speed wallow....I'm often amazed at how simple things can trigger the wallows but my twisted spine makes them show up for me whilst other people might not notice them - I slide left on greasy clay)

Have you checked steering head bearings and wheel alignment? I found transitioning was helped a lot by getting the bolts through the rear swingarm correctly set / wheel alignment correct. Nb by this stage I already had perfect suspension ( wilburs back / resprung front) , fresh tyres ( pirelli angels) , etc. The other thing that comes to mind when you mention the bike tying itself in knotts , do you have too much rebound ( or unmatched rebound)?

Phil, about 6 months ago there was a rossa advertised in Melb. it didn't even last a week! It was the first I'd seen in 3 years. Are you looking for something to ride or collect? My 03 LM has a wilburs shock + resprung forks, I'll probably be riding up to the ruptured budgie if you want to see how well they handle c/w the tenni . Obviously not as collectable, but she still makes me grin

Czakky, you've already got the 6 th lemans. My vote is a v14 series. Slot the 1400 motor into a tonti style frame , offer a basic v14 styled like the v7 specials , and a lemans with mk 1 styling? WITH DECENT SUSPENSION

Whilst I love the fairing, I keep wondering how much of the total visual appeal is due to the rest of the build? I love the polished forks / wheels / tidy rear end/ de emphasised pork chops + motor, even the rearsets look neat. Don't tell my lemon....

Are you interested in another stock unit to cut down? If you know someone in the us to ship cheaper, there is a v11 being wrecked http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOTO-GUZZI-V1100-V11-V-11-SPORT-01-LEMANS-REAR-OUTER-FENDER-LICENSE-LIGHT-MOUNT-/371116405816?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item566842f438&vxp=mtr