2000 Redframe on deck

[Pressureangle]

6 minutes ago, docc said:

Yessir. Thanks for posting those details. This is exactly what happens when the right outboard needle cage gets neglected.  That should be cleaned and liberally greased with a waterproof grease regularly. I do mine every tire change. For me, that is 3-4000 miles/ yearly.

Have you ever had a look at the inside of the inner bearing? You can't see it or remove it through the axle hole. When I reassemble this, everything in the rust-prone zone will be perfectly clean and given a good dose of Cosmoline, and I'll look into some way to improve the seal at the axle/swingarm junction. My drive has some scabs where apparently a non-stock washer was used with a too-big hole which allowed to droop out of the recess and mushed up the edges a little. While normal maintenance was done, the outer roller bearing in particular is either well-attended or had been replaced still with 60k miles it's seen plenty of heat cycles as well as probably rain and maybe even washed once.

[audiomick]

12 hours ago, docc said:

Aren't early V11 forks 40mm and later (like the Ballabio) 43mm?

Everything I have read here and elsewhere indicates that.

The link to e-bay further up (which got us onto Ballabio forks) claims the forks in the ad to be Ballabio, but the damping adjustment doesn't match. I "extracted" this picture from the ad. It shows comp. damping in one leg and rebound in the other

 

In contrast, the top of one of my fork legs, which are 43 mm. Both are the same, and both have rebound damping. 

 

Given that the Ballabio was later than mine, and therefore should have the 43mm forks, I'm assuming that the claim in that ad that the forks are from a Ballabio is simply incorrect.

[docc]

Scrolling down through all the images, the seller clearly shows the V11 sport they dismantled:

2003 "carryover" Sport (2002 specification like a 2002 LeMans), black 40mm Marzocchi.

[Pressureangle]

I've ordered sealing washers in both reinforced BUNA-N and UV resistant EPDM for the rear drive. We'll see how they fit, and then how long they last. 
And a 10-pack of Picker relays. This thing is still wearing all 5 originals.

[audiomick]

1 hour ago, docc said:

Scrolling down through all the images, the seller clearly shows the V11 sport they dismantled:

Thanks, I didn't get that far. 

Seems a bit of a shame to have dismantled it. It doesn't look too bad in that (rather blurry) photo. 

[Pressureangle]

Well, I guess I shouldn't have expected perfection... whilst cleaning up the rear drive, noticed the main crown bearing feels... old. So, out with the old and in with the new. Not too happy about the apparent quality of the SKF installed at the factory- the contact pattern on the crown gear shaft shows evidence of Chinesium. Nothing $200 worth of Timken and new seal can't fix. 

 

[gstallons]

What is the picture showing ?

[Pressureangle]

4 minutes ago, gstallons said:

What is the picture showing ?

that's the inner bore of the crown gear bearing. 

[gstallons]

ok. That looks pretty crummy

[docc]

On 8/22/2025 at 3:32 PM, Pressureangle said:

So, since I've ponied up a subscription to SuperGrok, I asked. This took about 8 seconds to return.

 

Which Moto Guzzi V11 models came with Ohlins front fork suspension?

 

 

The Moto Guzzi V11 models that came equipped with Öhlins front fork suspension are the following:

• V11 Scura (2002): This limited-edition model featured Öhlins suspension components, including a titanium nitride-coated 43 mm inverted Öhlins telescopic fork.
   
   

   
• V11 Café Sport (2003-2005): This model replaced the Scura and was fitted with a 43 mm adjustable Öhlins inverted telescopic fork.
   
   
   

   
• V11 Le Mans Rosso Corsa (2003): This high-spec version of the Le Mans came with a 43 mm adjustable Öhlins inverted telescopic fork.
   

   
   

   
• V11 Le Mans Nero Corsa (2004): Similar to the Rosso Corsa, this model featured a 43 mm adjustable Öhlins inverted telescopic fork.
   

   
• V11 Coppa Italia (2004-2005): This limited-edition model, built to commemorate Moto Guzzi’s participation in the 2003 Italian Naked Bike Championship, was equipped with a 43 mm adjustable Öhlins inverted telescopic fork.
   

   
   

These models are noted for their premium Öhlins suspension, which provided superior handling and performance compared to the standard Marzocchi-equipped V11 models. Other V11 variants, such as the standard V11 Sport, V11 Le Mans, and V11 Ballabio, typically came with 40 mm Marzocchi forks unless upgraded aftermarket. Always verify with specific bike documentation, as some owners may have retrofitted Öhlins forks to non-standard models.

 

 

 

 

Add the 2005 Scura R to the Öhlins list. 

 

[docc]

On 8/23/2025 at 9:16 PM, docc said:

Add the 2005 Scura R to the Öhlins list. 

And then there is the matter of what the V11 Coppa Italia may actually commemorate . . .

 

Crafting a separate topic for this Coppa Italia discussion. Trying to learn more about the elusive, and alluring, V11 Coppa Italia!

 

[Pressureangle]

@pete roper I've had some suggestions that this ~60k motor 'probably' needs main and rod bearings. What's your thought on that? Oil pump? Chain? Though this is a basket rescue, my kid is planning to do some long tours on it so budget isn't really the priority. 

Docc's bike has twice the miles and isn't coughing and smoking, though I don't know the specific level of maintenance this thing had over it's life. 

[Pressureangle]

Seems I recently read that someone had a good match for red frame paint. 

Bueller?

[audiomick]

7 minutes ago, Pressureangle said:

Seems I recently read that someone had a good match for red frame paint. 

I recently saw @Lucky Phil's V10 Greenie. He pointed out a bit that he had had painted, and it really was a very good match to the rest of the frame. I think he wrote about it here, but I don't know where. Perhaps he knows which paint was used.

 

EDIT: Phil was obviously writing the same time I was, see the next post... 

Edited August 24 by audiomick

[Lucky Phil]

7 minutes ago, Pressureangle said:

Seems I recently read that someone had a good match for red frame paint. 

Bueller?

I had it matched perfectly at the local automotive paint supplier. The guy there did it by eye, no fancy spectrometer. Re painted pork chop against original seat and main frame. The colour match is perfect but the lovely depth and gloss of the 2K paint is way better than the original paint/powder coat. 

Phil

 

Edited August 24 by Lucky Phil