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Oh geez, you might have me started on something else...

I hate to tell you all this but there's a reason Modern espresso machines and modern coffee grinders exist and it's not purely for extracting money from your bank account. I also have one of these at home that I retired 20 years ago. It makes nice coffee but doesn't provide hot water for long blacks and isn't really much good to make coffee for more than 2 people as it has no delivery temp control. More than 2 cups and the water is too hot for a nice coffee. Beautiful but not practical for consistency or more than 2 cups. https://dipacci.com.au/products/la-pavoni-professional-prg-copper-gold-le?variant=44020080705795&country=AU&currency=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArva5BhBiEiwA-oTnXc4KzrW4t1LFyzBm5TMsOAUVoXiMgsHndDTfNpCSboq8UP6NovIrSxoCd5cQAvD_BwE

Yet, you have an Aermacchi (and an 1100 Sport-i), already? A.L.F.A. syndrome . . . "Always Looking For Another" . . .

Look for the brand "Leinbrock". I hadn't done any research, but a quick look just now reveals that it is (was) a German manufacturer in eastern Germany, which means it was in the DDR after WW II. The one in the photo further up is a Leinbrock that my girlfriend brought into the relationship. She had actually only bought it as a decoration object. I decided it needed to be used, and screwed it onto the wall the first time nearly 25 years ago. I suspect that all the neighbours in the building can hear when we grind the coffee, but I don't care. The grinder is great. On a whim, I went looking for grinders at a very big flea market here in Leipzig. The idea was to have more than one grinder at home, in order to be able to grind my own blends. That hasn't really panned out yet, but the very nice "table-top" grinder that I found at the time is the same brand. Shortly after I bought it, I found a stand on the flea market with a whole table full of grinders. They were all, or at least nearly all, "Leinbrock". I have the impression that this brand was a market leader in times when hand grinders were the normal thing.

Reminds me that if I come across a nice Bultaco Streaker or Metralla GTS, I'd have it.

"It Takes a Lot of Medicine to Go This Fast " . . . . So, @MacMcMacmac, can you get the Sport out for a ride? That Tango might just seal the deal . . . [edit: oh, yes, yes, we are a "technical" forum. Once we get past the passion and unbridled enthusiasm. "Let's ask the other inmates on the ward if I should bring this orphan V11 Sport home " . . . ]

Anybody who rode a SX650 for more than a couple seasons is probably the right guy to own a V11. For a lot of reasons...no wait, for *all* the reasons.

I've been looking for a very nice vintage coffee grinder for a *long* time. The only ones that aren't rodent-infested nesting boxes are the huge ones that came from some General Store. I suppose few people outside the New England area had the wherewithal to own a nice one. Bialetti Stainless is the best, though I have one I bought in Uruguay that's ceramic coated inside and out I like best- but my son pilfered it because it's smaller than a 2 cup Bialetti but uses as much coffee. It travels well.

Y'all know "It Takes a Lot of Medicine to Go This Fast " . . . (skip to 2:14 for the horn solo)

The V11 is a very different animal compared to the vertical twins "a la Briton". If you are looking for an easy going motorcycle, a 20+ years Guzzi that has not been run for an undisclosed amount of time will take some effort to restore to that careless status. I am saying this because the two Guzzi I purchased had most likely been ignored for some time. My V11 took some looking after before it became reliable. But once I ironed out the typical issues every V11 are known to have, it just works like clockworks. I went from 8k miles to 40k miles. I purchased the bike in December 2020, but only took possession of it in April 2021. The major part of 2021 was used to fix the odometer, the starter motor circuit. Thereafter, it is now a Swiss army knife.

Incidentally, they got the quote wrong in the Video. It should be "better, stronger, faster"... My goodness, that is 50 years old.

@Lucky Phil I really hope the machine delivers all it promises. I've gone down a different path. Coffee is a luxury that gets shipped halfway around the world before I get to see it. I want it to be a ritual. This is what I have at home. I know how many times I have to turn the handle on the grinder for each Bialletti pot, so the beans are ground fresh every time. A Bialleti pot for every occasion, a metal pot to warm the milk for my flat white. Amazing how in-depth one can get with even the simplest of equipment.

True. I managed to watch 52 seconds of that video, and that was an effort. Wont be watching the rest...

So that would be the Philosopher's Stone then, right?

I've got a Breva 750 i.e. that pretty much fills the bill on that. It had less than 10,000 km on it when I got it for a good price. The catch is the "20 year old bike" bit. It had run a documented 800 km in the ten years before I bought it, and has the whole "change all the rubber bits" thing. So if "cheap and cheerful" is what you are after, go for the V9, if that's your thing, or one of the new V7 range, i.e. not twenty years old. If you want "interesting" as well, go for the V11 and put in the effort to get it good. It is worth it. I haven't got mine good yet, and I still love it. The Breva 750 is all good, is fun indeed, and runs beautifully, but it isn't really "interesting".

All I can do is reiterate what others have said. It’s a seemingly low mileage machine that has likely spent a lot of time parked. This is more likely to be a curse than a blessing. If you do go ahead do not expect it to be a simple, ‘Turnkey’ proposition. On any machine like this I’d be taking the back end apart and checking stuff like the driveshaft alignment and the state of the outrigger bearing in the bevelbox which are notorious for getting water in and rusting out. The timing chest weep will need fixing but that is a simple gasket swap and most of the breather hoses will likely need replacement. Then it will need a full service and tune to make sure it runs correctly. That includes brake and particularly clutch fluid as V11’s, (And the CARC bikes.) are absolute murder on clutch fluid. I haven’t owned a V11 in a long while and never owned one here in Oz but I’ve ridden and worked on many and if I wasn’t ageing out of larger bikes would still dearly like to own one. They are comparatively rare here though and command higher prices than in the US/Canada. Put very simply, if you are just looking for a cheap and cheerful ‘Everyday ride’ that you don’t have to put any effort in to? I’d look elsewhere. If you are really drawn to the V11? Fill yer boots!

I remember seeing Hendrix live on Cavett. As well as Janis, Lennon, Jefferson Airplane. His band was led by Bobby Rosengarden. The show's theme was "Candide". Cavett perhaps educated me as a young teen as much as any news, lit or humanity study I ever had. There were some nasty feuds as well, like Mailer and Vidal. I recommend Gore Vidal's US History Series (aka "Narratives of Empire"). My favorites were "Lincoln" and "Empire". Chronologically, the series begins with "Burr".

Yeah, don't try calling me a @#$$#! We gots software for that kind of thing!

Love this expression!

I tried to correct Mr Cavett's name but it would not let me

Still boxed up until Christmas day. It's my wife and I's Christmas present to each other. Phil

Definitely not LeMans, the 5 speed trans has the shifter 90* to that one. The brake side is interesting, made for a shaft so I'd say it's for something with mechanical rear brake- could be literally any japanese or british bike up to the 80's, maybe somebody can ID the peg mounting to get a fit. ....Aaaaaand they'd look really nice on my Aermacchi.

20 years old is a pretty new bike by my standards. My previous bike was an 83 XS650 I rocked as an only bike since 2018, and owned since 2008. Believe me, I am no stranger to repairs or maintenance. I'd still be riding it if we both hadn't been squashed under an Ecosport back in June. I have been riding mostly non-stop since 94. The price is right on a very desirable model. I was looking at a V9 Roamer, a W800 or maybe a Bonneville to replace the XS, as it had given me a deep affection for twins and classic bikes. The XS showed me there is a lot more to riding than droning around at 1/8 throttle on a litre bike. The V11 promises an extra bit of performance and handling than those other bikes, while still being fun at sane speeds. I have a 1200 Bandit I'll be selling on in the spring, sporting carbs and pipes worth more than the bike unfortunately!