Scud

They're going quick. If you're thinking about a set, I suggest calling today. I think it's pretty low risk, as you could easily re-sell the set for the same price if you change your mind.

Could somebody please give this Rosso Corsa a home for $4,995? https://www.motointernational.com/catalog/used-motorcycles-and-scooters/used-2003-moto-guzzi-v11-lemans-rosso-corsa-1100

Yeah. Under=appreciated band. Did you notice Docc's Little Feat CD in his picture prior to my post?

Shock is with RoxLemans now, who, incidentally, was also hoping to buy the bike when it was on Craigslist. The Sachs shock was near perfect - hardly even dirty. I listed a different, leftover shock for sale from my 2003 LeMans - that's the one that originally had the shorter spring and has not been treated very well. Subframe is straight, but the small bracket for the rear tank bolt was ripped out - forward. That means something hit the tank with enough force to push it forward and not only rip out the bolt, but also force the tank mount rubber bumper through the gas tank. Ouch. PM sent.

Thanks - good advice. I have looked at a few parts and thought "nobody's going to want this..." nearly binned them, but held onto them anyway. When I worked as a dismantler in a Z-car shop (high-school job), they wanted me to keep everything unless it was crumpled, shattered, or otherwise FUBAR. Almost everything from the front was destroyed beyond repair - for example the forks were bent so badly they won't even move, but still I thought somebody might want the adjusters/caps, which are pristine. I'm not sure how to tell if the triple clamps are good. One of the pinch bolts was actually bent (lower triple clamp), although the bolts came out easy from the top clamp. It's sort of funny - I happened upon a dead BMW RT on Craigslist recently, which I dismantled and am continuing to part out - and now this V11. By comparison, taking the BMW apart was like an autopsy: clinical, impersonal, find out why it died. Taking the V11 apart felt more like hospice care: easing her last days and letting her know nothing would go to waste. This was a tricky disassembly too - the headstock on the frame twisted and nearly severed, so the front wheel's contact patch was about a foot to the right of the bike's center line. I could not use a rear or front wheel stand, because it wouldn't balance securely. I had to hang it from a beam in my garage. My camping trailer smells like motorcycle parts...

Bike is totally disassembled now - except that I have still not split the engine/tranny to extract the flywheel and dual plate clutch (which was one of main reasons for getting this bike in the first place). Her starter found a new home in my '03 LeMans and it cured my hesitant starting issue. The LeMans is going to get some cosmetic upgrades too - including the rear wheel as soon as I burn off the current tire. @Rox - great to meet you today. Thanks again for the help getting the frame off the motor. I'm glad we were able to get you what you need to get your LeMans road-worthy.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. - Charles Caleb Colton

I was thinking about you while I finished dismantling the bike I got for parts. I have a new appreciation for the V11 harness. I can't really see where you would make it much smaller. Other than installing a 30amp MAXI fuse and potentially changing the starter flow, the stock harness seems pretty good to me. To aid the discussion - here's a complete harness - main and front section. Missing from this: regulator, controls/bar switches, side-stand switch.

That cracks me up. I love that the tractor is going the opposite direction too.

By side cover, you mean the porkchop? If so, then no, that stays on. But it's easiest to do with the shock reservoir out of the way - one nut on the back of the porkchop. The long bolt goes through the porkchop, then through the widest part of the shift lever (on which it pivots), then threads into the tab on the frame, then there is another nut on the back side of the threaded tab. To remove the bolt (and lever), you first have to undo the nut on the inboard side of the threaded tab. Docc's picture shows the threaded tab clearly - and the hole in the porkchop where the long bolt was removed. I used waterproof grease - same stuff I use for axle lube.

Tourists here often ask where the Carlsbad Caverns are. "You just go South on the 5 to the 8. Then go East for two days. If you get to Texas, you went too far." Back to wiring - it does seem that you could reduce it a bit -especially if you use smaller connectors - of if you don't worry about making the main harness compatible with a front-end sub harness. What I mean is: just make it one harness without a huge under-tank connector to separate the two sections. Of course, if you eliminate things like side-stand or clutch switches, you don't need anything in-harness to accommodate those. What if relays and fuses were in-line where you need them, instead of in one location under the seat? Would that reduce or increase the amount of wire? But would that also potentially expose them to heat and/or elements? Just for comparison, you should see the wire harness I pulled out of the 2000 BMW R100RT. Amazing - with the emphasis on maze. ABS, power accessories, lots of gauges, connectors for stuff you might add - stereo, etc. The fuse/relay box is as big as the V11 airbox. The V11 wiring looks svelte by comparison. Run a spool of wire down the "rabbit-hole" so you can find your way back out...

There's a long pivot bolt for the shift lever - you mentioned you cleaned the linkage, did you pull that pivot bolt out and lube it while you were there? I found that mine had gotten a bit corroded.

This makes me want a tractor seat, a teardrop tank, ape hangers, straight pipes, and highway pegs.

Have some Jumbo Shrimp at the First Annual, Good Light Beer celebration. Or perhaps you'd prefer a Dry Wine? Same Difference. Sorry, man. Bummer.

Rock & roll, docc... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEOlTZGuLKM

It sounds as though all that "research" to find the appropriate mandrels has really payed off. Maybe you should pour yourself another.

Will do. Thanks, Pete! Would one of you fine gents be so kind as to explain what "closed and ground" means? Is this different than having them balanced?

Yeah, getting into the clutch is a commitment. I don't have any words of wisdom on the clutch internals. But on the lever side of the equation, I assume you've already tried the adjuster on the clutch lever and still can't get it where you like it. I got Pazzo shorty levers that have 7 positions for adjustment. It was easy to find a comfortable position.

Thanks Noble... I'll do that when I get a little more organized... and after I decide what to keep... and after everybody here has had a chance to get what they want. Since some parts are really hard to find, it just seems right to offer them up here first - to the, shall we say, "enthusiasts" from whom I've learned so much. Meanwhile, let's have a quiz. Does anybody recognize this rear bracket? Perhaps for some type of saddle bags or top case? Moto Guzzi or aftermarket?

Absolutely best in person. Your description reminds me of the first time I saw a Grand Prix race in Long Beach. The speeds, sounds, and smells are intoxicating. When I first moved to Carlsbad, the Carlsbad Raceway was still active, but in decline. There was a time when it was a world class drag strip and motocross track - even making appearances on "ABC's Wide World of Sports." My first house in the area was very close to the strip and I could hear the races every Saturday - and sometimes went to watch. Toward the end it was purely a "run what ya brung" sort of event. Really fun to watch all the hobbyists. http://www.carlsbadraceway.org/Drags.html Now it's a bunch of industrial buildings, stores, etc. As the song goes, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot:

Like this?

I think those are "the usual suspects." Funny that of 600 Rosso Mandellos, 700 Scuras (not aware of an early/late Scura distinction), and fewer than 200 Tennis you mostly hear about problems with the Scuras. BTW - are these three also the only bikes that came with limited edition number plates on the triple clamps? I read somewhere that someone thought the single plate was a good design, but that there may have been a bad batch of flywheels (which cast doubt on the whole concept). OR maybe Scuristi are just more abusive. Whatever the case, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that replacing the flywheel/clutch is good insurance against a potentially catastrophic failure. So... grab yourself a parts bike to go with your number plate.

Rosso Mandello with less than 10,000 miles on e-bay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-V11-Sport-/141793316837?forcerrptr=true&hash=item21038a4fe5&item=141793316837

Glad it worked out well for you. The Speedhut gauge makes the ITI look like the ugly sister, doesn't it? If you decide to the tach and prefer different options (colors, logos, etc), they will rebuild your speedo to match at the same time for a very reasonable price. Get the remote button on the tach too. But there's no reason to mount that one anywhere, just use it once for set up.