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There was, and still is, a lot of horse shit spoken about the 16 inched front wheel LMIV. I was working at a shop in south London when they were a 'Current' bike and well remember the whinging and whining about how badly they handled. Thing is I could never get one to misbehave. As time went on it became obvious that those that whined most had almost invariably changed the tyre profiles from those recommended by the factory, that makes a huge difference. As does not being super observant with tyre pressures. Even a pound or two off would transform a swift and for a Guzzi agile performer into a wallowing slug. If I wanted a MkIV I'd actually want it to have a 16 incher on it. I wouldn't want one though because of the horrid 'Big Valve' engine, the even ropeyer than usual gearbox and the propensity for them to loose crownwheel bolts. The 'Tall Head' frame makes them look like an adenoidal teenager as well, ugly as, bleargh. I always find it amazing they canned the MkIII, probably the best looking and certainly the sweetest riding Squarefin Tonti for the MkIV which vibrated more, carbureted worse, didn't go appreciably faster or handle substantially better but looked as ugly as a sack full of farty arseholes!

I'm reading your weight regimen, and I'm cringing,lol. I used to pound serious steel for many years,, but imo there comes a time when focused intense resistance training can be counter productive. I'm in my 60's now, the last thing I want to be be at this point is muscle bound, tight and inflexible. I eat well and take a variety of supplements, mindful as mentioned of potassium and magnesium to help keep muscles loose. Be mindful of gout and the subtle problems it can cause around joints. From a lifetime of sports and other injuries, I continually have to stretch and crack, neck, shoulders, ankle etc to keep limber, moving and pain free, recently I added minor core exercises to keep a hernia in check. Luckily a few years ago, when I had a flare up with a deteriorating disk/pinched nerve ,I found an extremely good chiro who literally straightened me out, and I only need his help and guidance very rarely to keep me going; your previous back injury is probably playing havoc down stream, a good chiro (can be rare to find) may help you work those kinks out. I'd be lightening and easing up on the weights and stretching that long nerve that runs down your back and hamstring. When I fist sit down on a tonti bike, the sharp knee angle usually causes my hip to go out, standing up and straightening the tension out usually settles things in place, maybe the next time you cramp, if you can, try standing up and working the tension out. fwiw good luck Kelly

Sadly yes. It now seems that Moto Guzzi are going to be condemned to making two wheeled Toyota Camry's for eternity. I suppose they'll be able to sell lots of accessories though like jars of beard pomade and ugly t-shirts with crossed spanners on them and similar junk.

Joined the cool kids Sunday. Woohoo!

Thx all for the insight. I had purchased a Stucchi belly pan faring for the Tenni Griso I owned years ago from Curtis. When I moved the machine along I was made a very generous offer from a gentleman back in the eastern U.S I should have not sold than piece of unobtainium looking back now. Any help on this adventure for finding the front fairing complete for the V-11Sport (early models) will be greatly appreciated. Ciao

I have not watched that video from them. But they are not a spoof and they do great work. They did a great segment on oil level, showing how too much oil not only costs horsepower but it also hurts oil pressure at higher rpm (the oil gets aerated by the crank and aerated oil will loose oil pressure). They are serious, and pretty smart.

I suspect it will be used in all the future small block Guzzi's. That is why they made it, to comply with emissions regs. Give them time, it will become the small block motor. It is a step in the right direction, a better small block. But it is way short of where it should be. I am not very optimistic about a larger displacement performance engine from Guzzi. And that is too bad. It seems to me they could borrow some of the design work from Aprilia and create an amazing Guzzi motor. Imagine a sideways V4 in a Guzzi, or even a sideways V2 using the old 990 V2, using the cylinder and head design from the Aprilia motor but in a new crankcase that turns the engine sideways. I would have to buy one of those, in a sporty chassis. But alas, we get a warmed over small block.

Greetings LowRyter, In a nutshell what you've described is more common than not as we age. For cramping, take a superB complex vitamin suppliment, it might take a week or so to see the difference but I've been cramp free for years now. As for your hamstrings, place a two by four on the ground and stand on it with the balls of your feet and toes, raise and lower your body SLOWLY activating your hamstrings you may or may not touch the ground at first with your heels and that's ok...slow and steady. May want to consult with a Pilates instructor in your area as they can make up a program tailored to your needs. My$.02 Paul B

Kelly, I am anything but muscle bound. I'm a fat butterball that is just trying to firm up. I had sedentary job and never worked out for 30 years. Once I retired all my "numbers" were going the wrong way and I finally had shoulder pain. After rehabbing my shoulder, I started going to the gym. Originally for weight pulls to work my shoulder. I usually go three times a week for 90 minutes. 30 minutes of elliptical and then light weights (heavy for me). I get my heart up to 150, sweat a lot, and take lots of breathers. But I want to be clear that I am no way a tough guy. I don't even like to take my t-shirt off at a pool. And every day I go the gym it's a challenge and sometimes I can't get through it; in fact, I am not back to where I was a year ago. But I figure if I'm doing all this, I might as well get my legs in gear.

God's teeth! If that thing was a baby it's mother would of strangled it at birth!

I wrote in another thread that I was impressed by the V85TT engine/gearbox. This engine should be used for all smal block Guzzis. Will we ever see a new 1100 or even 1200 ccm engine?

There was a "factory" colour-matched fly-screen option with the original greenies (made by Stucci ??) but not available for many years now ... I sold the one that came with mine a few months ago to a fellow greenie owner in Toronto (as have the Magni fitted) ...

Try some Magnesium supplements for the cramping. You want want to prioritise working on flexibility over strengthening, dont ignore the strengthening though. As you age your range of movement naturally reduces if you dont stay supple and the you pick up silly injuries doing nothing more than extending into areas that used to be easily attainable but are now beyond you. This happens unconsciously simply doing what you used to be able to do a few years ago when more flexible. Forget comparing yourself to women they are naturally a lot more flexible than men. Some of the leg and foot issues can be from lower back disk wear and tear. A little bit of compressed disk pushing on the sciatic nerve. I cant sit reclined anymore for extended periods. I have 2 crushed vertebra in my mid back from a Phillip Island crash and a lower back with issues after 25 years of manhandling heavy jet wheels and brakes and awkward working positions under engine cowls etc. Every day is a new adventure getting out of bed:) Ciao

And the bike that Changed the handling standard for Japanes bikes back in the 1980's the GPZ900 Kawasaki. I owned one as well. Oh and the first Fireblade Had a 16 on it I'm pretty sure. Ciao

Have you checked your pot (assium) level, John? Maybe eat some banannas? Just throwing a dart.