Scud

Thanks Chuck. I think we're "crowdsourcing" this and you will not be out of pocket by the end. If you need some cash for supplies, tools (or stiffer suspenders) let us know.

Having just picked up a Ducati ST3, I've been reading a bit about it. This Sport-Touring comparison included a Moto Guzzi Breva in the mix. Interestingly, they noted that a V11 Sport with bags would have done better in this test, but it had been discontinued by that time and they were only reviewing new bikes (Norge was not available in US at time the article was written). https://www.sportrider.com/ducati-st3s-abs-vs-honda-interceptor-abs-and-more-sport-touring-machines-torture-trek

Well, I think of it like this: I sold the LeMans so I can keep the Greenie. In fact, I moved a lot of stuff from the LeMans to the Greenie (Ohlins shock, GB rear fender, the new Ti pipes and high-hangers... long list. Then I got the ST3 so it could take over the BMW's job as commuter and airport runner. But the ST will probably do most of the two-up riding and long-hauls too. You should come over and take the ST3 for spin. I think you'd be impressed.

Fabulous water-cooled motor with 3-valve heads. Quite a bit more powerful than a V11 and quite a bit lighter. It makes cool whirring sounds with engine braking. Everything just seems spot-on, fueling, brakes, suspension. I rode about 450 miles today. To Yuma on the LeMans, and back on the ST3. The ST would beat the V11 on any objective performance measure, but the V11 still has the advantage in the subjective arena for me. Being lighter, and having a full fairing an bags, the ST is a little more susceptible to side winds. The ST has a fuel gauge that reads empty and lights up the low fuel warning light at about 1/2 tank... made me laugh. The ST is comfortable too - I think I am not as tired as I would have been if I did all 450 miles on the LeMans. But to be fair, I also took a longer mid-day break than I normally do.

He's on WildGuzzi. Also has a Scura... attended the recent rally in San Diego, where we took a pic with 3 Scuras together.

Sad to say, my time with the LeMans has come to an end. She really didn't want to leave. As soon as I talked about trading her for a Ducati 1000SS she broke a shift spring. Fixed that and another interesting trade opportunity came up. And look at the poor girl, trying to tell me something on the way to Yuma this morning. But she has found a good new home near Phoenix, AZ. We made the trade in Yuma, AZ today - both rode out in the morning, did the paperwork for both bikes, and both rode back home. The Ducati ST3 is a fabulous bike. I think we're going to get along just fine. And my BMW K75s is now in search of a new home.

Dipstick thermometer. Totally unnecessary. But kind of fun. http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1937 How about some silver Rizoma fluid tanks? I might pick up a pair of those tomorrow. Provides absolutely no performance enhancement. But they are pretty. "Ornamental" perhaps? http://www.rizoma.com/universal/fluid-tanks/ct137-wave/en

Yeah, she's still banished. Wrench time recently devoted to a broken shift spring on my red LeMans... and other bikes need to get ridden.

The V11 Greenie is a Ding an Sich. The color cannot be perceived through photographs. My kids call mine Dewey. I assume it's in honor of the pragmatic philosopher John Dewey. Definition of Ding an sich - (in Kant's philosophy) a thing as it is in itself, not mediated through perception by the senses or conceptualization.

...from a guy with recent first (and oily) hand experience. A parts manual is really helpful for reference with questions like this. You can download from this site or use Harper's online diagrams.

If you still have your take-off levers, you can compare where the screws were set. For the calipers, you can cut a block of wood so you can work one piston at a time. You do not need to remove the calipers (as in my picture). Instead, you can use the brake lever to push out one piston at a time for cleaning. If you are not rebuilding the calipers, don't push the pistons all the way out.

Ducati is doing well with the Scrambler Family (Scrambly?). I see quite a few on the road here. And it looks like an 1100 cc version is on the way.

Well, to close out my potential trade... I rode the 1000 Supersport this morning and quite like it - both looks and performance. I find it attractive in person - better than the photos. Although this particular example had some nice features, there was too much wrong and it would become a big project for me to get it to the condition I would want it. So it won't be coming home. Besides that, I really want an ADV bike anyway.

All in good fun. You can help me ride 'em too - if you get bored of winter and feel like traveling. And Pierre Terblanche. He gets criticized for some designs... but he also gave Ducati the MH900E, the Sport Classics (including the gorgeous Paul Smart version) and the Hypermotard.

Glad you are still digging the 2-stroke. And yes, there are many good used bikes available for low prices. But this thread started off looking at V11 Sport Rivals. I wouldn't have the Ducati instead of a V11, only next to a V11. But I can think of some local roads where I would prefer a Duck over a Goose.

Glad you're OK. It's rare that we have a cause to celebrate the slow-moving traffic in LA. Have you been messing with the adjuster screw on the brake lever - the one that pushes into the master cylinder? If you've removed too much freeplay by turning the screw in, it can stop fluid from returning. I did this on my clutch and had exactly the same symptoms at the lever - but the clutch just slips when that happens so it is only annoying, not dangerous like the brakes. At a minimum, you should flush the front brake system. It might be time to rebuild the calipers or master cylinder too. Sometimes a brake line can deteriorate on the inside. You might also check if the rotors are warped. If you want to be super-sure, you can rebuild or replace everything in the front brake system pretty affordably (most expensive is new rotors if needed).

Well, Brer Rabbit, I'd hate to have to throw you into the briar patch. Translation: Thanks, I will gladly send the preselector to you.

Hmm... the Ducati 1000 Supersport is a polarizing motorcycle. Lucky Phil has a yellow one and likes it. It think it's a good looking bike, but not as good looking as several others. I bought a Sport 1000 when they came out. I enjoyed it for a while, but they are way overpriced and collectible now. It had the same motor (1000DS) as the Supersport and it was plenty fast for my riding style. It was miserable as a commuter but close to perfect in the mountains. I assume the 1000 Supersport would be an even worse commuter, and potentially even more fun in the mountains. I wasn't out shopping for a Ducati; this just surfaced as a potentially interesting trade when somebody asked if I would sell my LeMans. I was thinking I might like to try riding the track and this could be a good bike to do it on - and still be useable on the street.

OK, I'll hold... and I'll try to get a more precise measurement of spring travel. It's hard to see the exact angles of the springs when they are installed, so I assumed a right angle for the short arm. As I calculated on the last page, a little less than 2.5 coils translates into more pressure (which I've been calling preload, even though that's probably not the right term). Using the variables you provided, I can find the degrees of travel with the thinner wire to produce the same pressure as the original spring (in the at-rest position). That works out to an 886.5 degree coil (just 13.5 degrees less than 2.5 coils). What's that funny quote about being a member of Moto Guzzi's post-production R&D program?

Got it - went back to edit the instruction above.

I'm going to send a new spring for reference. Are you suggesting something different than the original for that end? If so, can you describe it more clearly?

Yeah, they'll make one or two springs, for about the same price as 50. Gotta pay for set-up. I'll call the guy again tomorrow and share our final specs: Make it like the sample (including same inside diameter of coil), but with the following differences: Use .071" piano wire (I'll ask what the "spec" is) Make the coil 895 degrees, instead of 540 90-degree bend on short arm should have bend radius of 2x wire diameter I can have them all shipped to me, and then send you a bunch of springs along with the preselector, which you can torture. Edit - to include point # 3 per Chuck

I think I have a spare rear master cylinder with the switch. If you post a more complete list I will go check my stash.

Sounds worth trying. I don't think that the lever needs much pressure at all to be pushed back into position. I'd be willing to invest $300 from my Play-Pal account on 50 springs. Fine-tuning idea follows: I estimated travel for downshifts at 38 degrees. The extra coil gives us 48 degrees range - but carries the potential risk of a too-weak spring. What if we use half of the 10-degree excess available travel for preload? 2.5 coils is 900 degrees. Therefore, 895 degrees would be 2.48 coils. I reckon that would give 5 x 1.8 inch/lbs as pre-load to compensate for the weaker, thinner wire. Does that make sense - or is that too small of a difference to mean anything? The at-rest spring would appear a little more open - the opposite of the fatigued spring in your earlier picture, which is 12 degrees closed. If I understand this correctly, these are the pressures applied by the two springs when installed: Stock (1.5 coils): 2.9 in/lb x 22 degrees = 63.8 in/lb Thinner (2.5 coils): 1.8 in/lb x 22 degrees = 39.6 in/lb We could get to 48.6 in/lb with 895 degrees of coil (5 degrees extra preload), or to 57.6 in/lb with 890 degrees (10 degrees extra preload) Gosh, this is more analysis than I signed up for... but I want a spring that won't break.

Those Termis look exactly like the Moto Guzzi Kit Racing Titanium exhaust - even the hangers and rubber straps look the same. Same brakes as V11 too (but 100 pounds less bike to stop).