Scud

2. When you search, notice the little grey box inside the search box. If it says "this topic" your search is limited to the thread you're in. If it says "forums" you will search everything. You can click that box to change the breadth of your search. When my search yields nothing - it's usually because I was only searching the active topic, not the whole forum. 3. I paste some links into a Word document to save them for future reference. You can also click the "Follow this topic" button - then you can display a list of "topics I follow." You can also choose to be notified when posts are added to topics you follow. 4. You're welcome.

Mine's at the powdercoater (flat black) - along with a swingarm, lower subframe, and bunch of stuff for my K75s. Gotta cut down on that visual clutter... I've got my LeMans shifting pretty well, but I am search of perfection. Further updates as events warrant.

+1 on the importance of setting suspension sag. A lesson I learned on this forum - but wish I had learned many years ago. If you can't adjust sag within specs, then you will benefit from new springs.

Agreed - I recently suspected my main seal was leaking, but it miraculously stopped leaking when I put the clamp on the breather hose. If there is even a small crack in your breather hose, oil will work its way into the clutch housing area - and out the tiny weephole between engine and transmission cases. Glad the tranny arrived safely. Remember - it's from a 2002, which is the year that some had issues with Pawl boss/spring. Since it's out, it's probably a good idea to take of the shift pre-selector, replace the springs, and do the shift-improvement polishing.

...and my diesel truck is a dinosaur (in both size and age) 7.3L V8 Ford - so I'm not really up on the current technology. I've seen a few other diesel motorcycle projects, so it can be done. I imagine it would produce torque that would put even the biggest Harley motors to shame.

Perhaps the rumored lighter Stelvio - maybe a V9 motor... Something to enter the Dakar Rally. Dakar finishers get a lot of respect - not just winners. Having recently got a diesel truck I've been thinking about some of the challenges that a diesel motorcycle would present. High compression means huge battery and starter motor. My truck has 2 batteries - I think that's also because the glow plugs take a huge electrical load. My truck takes 4 gallons (not 4 quarts) of oil. That's 3-4 times the amount of oil for a similar size gas engine. Despite all that, a diesel Stelvio would be a bold statement. I think it would prove popular with people who pull trailers behind motorcycles. Why not just go BIG: Diesel motorcycle trailer-pull competitions on the moon.

I just ordered a roller from Harpers. They didn't have it in stock; they show it as available, but "low inventory" - and not sure how long it will take to get one. Craig, if you do find a compatible part, please advise.

Now that's a compression fitting.

Looks like a blast. Great pics - keep 'em coming.

LeMans got an O-ring on the cam position sensor... and a bath. But the Scura got naked. I removed the flyscreen because she needs the mounting hardware powdercoated. Paint was coming off the little support arms... and that just won't do. She also got a new pair of Napoleon mirrors. The prior pair had some lane-splitting scars (and an oops on the RH). The scarred mirrors found a new home on the K75s, which got to shed the nasty lollipop mirrors. And happy news... it appears that my speedometer works. I assumed that it broke earlier this summer and I just assumed it was the speedo - but it was the cable. When I turn the input by hand I can see the needle jump. So I guess I won't be buying Speedhuts just yet (I nearly did).

Reviving thread after a couple years dormancy... I was almost discouraged from even trying to remove the swingarm bearings by reading this thread - and I'm posting to say it can be done. I was able to get the bearings out with heat on the swingarm (not directly to bearing) and a slide hammer that I bought today at Harbor Freight. There was absolutely no movement without heat. After I applied heat they came out with about 20 impacts. I did bend the slide hammer shaft - so I'm taking it back tomorrow for a refund. I will buy a higher quality tool next time I need one. I'm going to take the swingarm in for powdercoating.

My shifting is much improved, but I still have occasional difficulty getting into third gear - it is most common when I want to drop from 4th to third to accelerate. It's pretty smooth on engine-braking downshifts, and I missed a 2 to 3 upshift (at the time, I was just seeing how little effort I could apply and still get it to shift). I think the extension on the external shift-linkage arm will amplify the effort. Craig - good explanation of how the 2 springs work together/against. When I first noticed the difference in effort I had a new pawl spring, but a tired selector spring (so perhaps the new one overpowered the weak one). With two new springs, the difference was much less. This now makes me think I should replace the third spring (on the roller arm), and that it's probably a good idea for anyone doing this job to just plan to replace all three springs at the same time. I also noticed that my roller had some wear (new roller is $5.00) - but I did not inspect the surfaces that it rolls against. I am encouraged by this - and will get into it one more time (when I get a new spring and roller). Will polish some more contact surfaces then.

The new lever spring is wider, and much stronger than the one that was in there. All my filing and smoothing and shaping almost worked with the weak spring, but after replacement, it shifts perfectly on the bench - ups and downs - quick and crisp returns. My ThreeBond 1194 didn't show up yet. I have some 1211, I suppose I can use that today - for filling and riding tomorrow? And here's a close-up photo of how the pawl spring fits - so MartyNZ can engineer a better one.

Did the oil line seat fully before you tightened the nut? I suppose it's possible that the little O-rings are damaged, but I think they're pretty tough.

How many miles can you get out of a rear tire on a Moto Guzzi V11? I believe it's the same line of questioning as in this video. Let's find out when we ask Docc, the wise owl:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mcy/5767484371.html Here's a low-mile champagne LeMans with a $4,750 ask price.

Haha. I feel your pain - having experienced some of that recently with the Roper Plate shipments. Thanks for the hard work. I await payment instructions (total with shipping and fondling).

But officer, I just improved my shifting and needed to run through all the gears. 5th and 6th are illegal in every state...

Good to know - I think I'll try the Michelin PR4s on the LeMans when it's time - or maybe pair the rear with a softer, grippier Michelin front.

Thanks Docc. I just placed an order for a 180 GT rear and a 120 ST front. I've run two GT 170s on the rear (about 5,000 miles each). I read a review, some guy claimed 9,000 miles on a GT on a ZX-14 Kawi. To that I say either "no freakin' way." - or - "the throttle is on the right." Rear: I'll try the OEM size rear along with the slightly softer front. I suppose the 180 will last a bit longer than the 170 (5.9% more tread). Front: I really just want to watch the Angel on the ST turn into a devil as the tread wears... I'll scrub those nasty little halos off in no time. No tax, and free shipping on Amazon - and 5% back with the Amazon Store card. Net $250 for a set of tires. Those guys are dominating e-commerce... and now they're opening "brick-and-mortar" bookstores. I like new tires.

So you see no significant difference in tread life between Angel ST and GT? Looking at Pirelli's website, they still list Angel ST and Angel GT as current tires. About the GT, they say "longer distances" and "the new reference for mileage." That would imply the STs wear faster (and would therefore be stickier). Could you notice any handling difference between the ST and GT?

But Docc, that cycle conveniently gives you the winter to change tires, fettle brake calipers, etc..... and start your next season off fresh. Do you also find that there is some life left in the front when the back is worn? I'm running mismatched brands on my LeMans right now (Michelin PR2 rear and Angel GT front) and it's fine. Mismatch of type within the Pirelli Angel family seems like it would be no big deal. I do like the idea of a stickier front and - just maybe - wearing out both tires at the same time.

Tire talk time. I'm looking at tires for the Scura. I generally replace them as a set, even though there is typically a bit more life left in the front when the rear is done. Which got me into my dangerous habit of thinking... Assumptions: GTs are generally longer wearing than STs - and therefore STs are a bit higher performance. I was thinking of using Pirelli Angel GT on the rear and Pirelli Angel ST on the front. Then maybe I'd have better performance, wear out both tires at about the same rate - and the ST is $30 less than the same size GT. Good idea? Bad idea? Experience?

Loaner used TPS on the way for testing porpoises. Keep it as long as you need to in order to isolate your problem.