Greetings from the Southern Sierra

[SierraTango]

I'm reintroducing myself to this forum. I was on it around 2004 or so when I owned a V11 Ballabio. I sold that bike to help with the down payment on a house. Since then I've had several bikes mostly Ducatis including a black 2005 999S. At 69 y.o. that bike, although I loved it dearly, was just not working for me at this time of my life. I sold the 999S and had always wanted a V11 Le Mans. I searched around for a really nice example and located this stunning 14,000 mile 2002. Rode it home from Sonora via hwy 49, one of my favorites.

Looking forward to re-joining the group.

[gstallons]

Welcome Back Kotter !

[Speedfrog]

Oh, and welcome back to the fold @SierraTango   

[docc]

10 minutes ago, Speedfrog said:

Oh, and welcome back to the fold @SierraTango   

+1 !

   

[Scud]

Welcome. Nice LeMans. I love Hwy 49, and all the passes to the Eastern Sierra. The photo I posted yesterday in the "no words" thread was on Mammoth Scenic Loop. I just rode Caliente-Bodfish and Sherman Pass recently, which was a "shortcut" between Carlsbad and Mammoth Lakes. About where in the foothills are you?

[SierraTango]

I'm in Springville, so the 190, Western Divide, Parker Pass and Greenhorn Pass/155 are home turf. I've also done Sherman, Tioga,Sonora etc but not for a while since the 999S wasn't much of a distance bike. There are some fantastic under the radar rides around here!

[guzzi323]

1 hour ago, SierraTango said:

I'm in Springville, so the 190, Western Divide, Parker Pass and Greenhorn Pass/155 are home turf. I've also done Sherman, Tioga,Sonora etc but not for a while since the 999S wasn't much of a distance bike. There are some fantastic under the radar rides around here!

190 east out Springville is my favorite asphalt on the planet.

[SierraTango]

Agreed. The 190 is right out of my driveway, so it's my backyard ride. The 190 has had some challenges in the last few years, specifically in March of 2023. We had a severe fire that previous Summer, and when a warm rain came in March, mudslides took out huge sections. 190 was closed for a year or so. Then, on top of that one of my favorite spots, Ponderosa Lodge, burned to the ground that Winter. The owners couldn't get insurance and now only a slab remains. 

I'm happy to report that CalTrans did a excellent job on the repairs, and many sections have been repaved. Don't know if it's allowed, however here is a photo of my 999S on the Western Divide Hwy on a stellar day (I haven't had the Guzzi up there yet). Also a photos of the 190 between Camp Nelson and Ponderosa after the storm and Ponderosa Lodge on fire.

P.S. The 245 out of Woodlake is great too!

[gstallons]

Things will never be the same

[SierraTango]

On 8/11/2025 at 8:39 AM, guzzi323 said:

190 east out Springville is my favorite asphalt on the planet.

Today on the Mighty 190. This time of the year it's better to get a early start up to Ponderosa. Not many cars, pretty much have the whole road to myself-except the occasional very large Kenworth grill out of a blind corner hauling dead trees. Used to it. Where my Ducati 999S was in her happy place in the tight twistes, the LM seems happier in the long sweepers. No worries we have plenty of both around here-and I knew that going in.

 

[LaGrasta]

I rode Highway 49 back in the 80s a few times, riding a 1985 Honda Interceptor 500, while I was stationed at Travis AFB. Lake Bariessa is where I first learned to counter-steer.

You mentioned "the LM seems happier in the long sweepers"; true. After acquiring a V11, I was surprised by how slow the steering was compared to my 2010 V7 CC. I raised the forks 15mm, made all the difference, so much better, yet still very stable at speed. I arrived at this height with much back and forth trials. After I was happy with this, I discovered Todd at GuzziTech had clearly posted this 15mm recommendation, duh! 

[Pressureangle]

19 hours ago, SierraTango said:

Today on the Mighty 190. This time of the year it's better to get a early start up to Ponderosa. Not many cars, pretty much have the whole road to myself-except the occasional very large Kenworth grill out of a blind corner hauling dead trees. Used to it. Where my Ducati 999S was in her happy place in the tight twistes, the LM seems happier in the long sweepers. No worries we have plenty of both around here-and I knew that going in.

 

My first trip longer than a couple hours on my '97 1100 Sport was 10k miles. Rode up to meet the guys at the SSN, rode the Dragon etc. Big long heavy bit of work, that. But generally nice. 
Then I got to Hwy 2 from Kalispell to Spokane. Man, the sweepers... 70-90mph and so, so stable... one long right hander, going *very* fast, saw too late a set of deep groves in the pavement where a semi had overturned, crossing the road at a shallow angle to my path. I didn't have time or space to make a correction. I thought 'Welp this is the end of the trip, at least' but the bike went across them as if they were simply shadows, leaving me stunned and amazed on the other side. Never rode a better bike for 50mph+ riding. 

[guzzler]

I haven't ridden a long frame, but we have some pretty good but crappy in parts roads round here, gotta say though I'm constantly surprised at how well the short frame handles them....

I've mentioned my set up elsewhere, but 01 greenie with correct weight linear springs, Guzzimoto fork fix, + 12 mm up thru triples with Hyperpro shock and 160 rear tyre. She steers quickly but is still very stable.

I recall reading an article in Classic bike a few years ago about Dr Johns spine frame racer. It mentioned how well it handled bumpy circuits at lean if you were committed and not shy with the throttle and I find this is true now with my bike set up properly. The racer had a wheelbase of 1460mm from memory so not far from our shorties!

This wasn't always the case though as prior to sorting I clearly remember one particular corner scaring the bejesus outa me when the forks couldn't handle it and bounced up a couple of inches and deflected sideways about the same....I made it but I've never forgotten it ha ha. HUGE difference in road handling now and love the way she goes about it now!

Cheers 

  

[docc]

1 hour ago, guzzler said:

I haven't ridden a long frame, but we have some pretty good but crappy in parts roads round here, gotta say though I'm constantly surprised at how well the short frame handles them....

I've mentioned my set up elsewhere, but 01 greenie with correct weight linear springs, Guzzimoto fork fix, + 12 mm up thru triples with Hyperpro shock and 160 rear tyre. She steers quickly but is still very stable.

I recall reading an article in Classic bike a few years ago about Dr Johns spine frame racer. It mentioned how well it handled bumpy circuits at lean if you were committed and not shy with the throttle and I find this is true now with my bike set up properly. The racer had a wheelbase of 1460mm from memory so not far from our shorties!

This wasn't always the case though as prior to sorting I clearly remember one particular corner scaring the bejesus outa me when the forks couldn't handle it and bounced up a couple of inches and deflected sideways about the same....I made it but I've never forgotten it ha ha. HUGE difference in road handling now and love the way she goes about it now!

Cheers 

  

Fascinating. I see Dr.John's first SpineFarme was 1460mm wheelbase with 26º steering angle, versus the short RedFrame Sport: 1471mm/25º.

It would be very interesting to know the fork offset to the steering head on the Dr.John racer as very early production V11 Sport were 45mm and changed to 40mm to increase trail/stability. [edit: Some careful measuring on an image of the racebike in the MotoItaliane.it book "Dr. John's Moto Guzzi" suggest the racebike's offset was likely similar to the 45mm Sport 1100.]

There were, yet, more changes to the V11 LongFrame and its triple trees . . .

 

[SierraTango]

22 hours ago, Pressureangle said:

My first trip longer than a couple hours on my '97 1100 Sport was 10k miles. Rode up to meet the guys at the SSN, rode the Dragon etc. Big long heavy bit of work, that. But generally nice. 
Then I got to Hwy 2 from Kalispell to Spokane. Man, the sweepers... 70-90mph and so, so stable... one long right hander, going *very* fast, saw too late a set of deep groves in the pavement where a semi had overturned, crossing the road at a shallow angle to my path. I didn't have time or space to make a correction. I thought 'Welp this is the end of the trip, at least' but the bike went across them as if they were simply shadows, leaving me stunned and amazed on the other side. Never rode a better bike for 50mph+ riding. 

WOW! 10,000 miles! That must have been an epic journey.