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Eh, well . . . 15 months from the first post to the first ride combined with @Lucky Phil's considerable talent and skills suggests that the V10 Hi-Cam does not just simply *pop* into a V11 RedFrame. Probably the most subtle, yet impressively executed, V11 "custom" on the planet.

Griso is, without doubt, the ultimate iteration of the big block and what a glorious swan song it is. No, it doesn't speak to everyone and in stock trim is far from perfect but once mapped and suspended properly it is a 'Road' bike without peer. I like mine so much I bought another one in case something happens to my original one! I won't be buying another IC engined motorbike, at least not to keep, so my Grisos will be my swan song as well as Guzzi's as the firm now seems to be wandering off rudderless into the world of bland, uninspiring and uninteresting *Nothing* bikes.

For your reading pleasure, @VtwinStorm: A great chronicle, from beginning to now . . .

Had a fabulous ride on my Griso around the Derbyshire hills today. Did exactly the same ride on my Greenie 2 weeks ago. Reflecting on the contrasts, it reminded me what a gem the 1151 cc 8V roller cam motor is. Masses of torque throughout, and at high rpms it just keeps on pulling. The Griso 8V is a joy to ride, sure it’s long heavy bike, but I can hustle it along the twisties around here and make great progress, it countersteers well, and generally feels rock solid even when really pushed hard, I think it’s a lot more planted than my red framed V11’s, but that’s down to it’s longer wheelbase and stiffer frame. IMHO styling wise I still think a V11 is slightly ahead of the Griso, but the Griso was and still is an awesome package & finale to the big block Guzzi’s Will we ever see an as accomplished a Guzzi as a 8V Griso ?

PJPR01, you sir have summed it up perfectly!

Ha! Did the same today as well! Nice day for a run in the forest on the Griso…oodles of power…a bit more of a handful on the sweepers, but very long legged and fun to ride!

Just started to get this together after quite a few years. Prepping and painting engine components, what a PITA. Heads and crankcases to go. Used the kitchen oven to cure the paint today, hope the wife understands that needs must. Its slightly aromatic in the kitchen at the present:).Cylinder heads still require a light valve seat cut and grind after guide replacement. The grey turned out a little darker than I hoped for but what can you do. Ciao

This might be of interest to some here. I have heard reports of people being asked to pay outrageous money to have the tappets inspected on their early 8V motors. I made this vid several years ago but it recently got taken down off YouTube for a 'Copyright Infringement' that apparently related to the fact you could hear songs in the background from the shop radio! Anyway I did a voiceover and it's back up. https://youtu.be/MzAO_JV4gU4 [docc-edit: embedded the vid. Thanks, again, Pete!]

If I have a choice, a V11 LeMans. It already includes a fairing. My maximum budget is 6k USD for a low mileage minter. If not, a V11 Sport/Naked/Cafe would be great too. I'd just have to find a color matched Magni fairing to complete the look. Like the V11 below: Grazie.

What model are you looking for exactly? Ciao

Dear me, I did not realize this artist, Nanci Griffith, passed yesterday. R.I.P.

Four weeks out. Today, I rode 150 miles to spank mySport, work through the final Waddington Effect from the last tear down, and assist a fellow SpineRaider in preparation for the XVII. Something we have come to call "Bike Wash." Sort of a "Check My Work" session. mySport hates riding in the city. HATES high ambient temperatures 90-95ºF/30-35ºC. hateshhateshateshates *traffuck* - er, uh "traffic". Yet, she carried the day through some very challenging conditions. Not > perfect <, but roadworthy. SpineRaid or Bust!

I purchased that 3mm short drill in that optic, to make a pilot hole. As for pedestal drill, I checked with a workshop, but they said I would have to just bring the clamp to them, and they clearly weren't interested in going out of their way to help. Now that I have purchased all the tools, I will do it myself. Even if I am not perfectly perpendicular, I should still have enough threads to affix the instruments. I am not too thrilled with the option to hold anything by hand when you drill. For safety reasons.

My rubber bulb holders are knackered, so with no bulb in the contacts are free to wobble about and.... contact! Those little wedge bulbs are horrible, and those soft rubber holders are weird.

You’re right about the V11 Sport except the gearbox. You’re thinking about the five speed. The six is way different.

The breather hoses are a PITA. Thing is they tend to decay quicker on bikes that spend a lot of time inactive than ones that get run frequently or on a daily basis. Also it's always wise if you do get one that's cracking to replace the lot as one letting go means the rest of them are only a breath away from falling to bits too.

Hardly "bad." While working on it, my red firstgen "2v" was right there beside it. I continually "ass-u-me'd" various things about the latter would fit the former! Hmmmmm. Our next door neighbor is a VDOT facility. Lots of heavy equipment and mountains of "stuff." Some folks wouldn't like that as a neighhbor. Sure beats a Wal-Mart or the like. Plus, visiting grands like the action. Bill

Yeah, not sure what these two hoses are (crankcase ventilation?), but not "gaskets" . . . Good finds, y'all-boys!

Thanks for posting and sharing this. I had to "grab" a representative image from the slideshow link . . .

I love the finalé: "That's it! That's all there is."

What Claudio Dominicali says about the special affinity of people around the Ducati brand, is valid for other brands too. However I believe the charisma behind Italian bikes is special. There is a lot of enthusiasm with BMW and Triumph, and I am not going to ignore Harley Davidson here in the US. I have been to one of the WDW, and it felt like thanksgiving in the USA. All the family reuniting around the patriarch. I also attended the LoneStar annual rally in Galveston and the reunion was not HD centered, unlike in the case of WDW. Not saying WDW is better. Simply stating the celebration and team building were different. To some extent, the V11 forum here does it everyday. It would be interesting if Piaggio was compelled to organize a similar event here, in the USA for the Moto Guzzi fans.

What really puzzled me was the fact that mine started eating fuses even with the MPH S/I pigtail installed. Removed the pigtail and it popped the fuse. Installed the 20 amp fuse and that seemed to cure it for several days until the ambient air temps here in Florida got into the high 80's. Re-installed the pigtail with the 20 amp fuse and STILL popped the fuse. Removed and inspected the starter solenoid and connections, all like brand new. Since the starter motor was off allowing easier access, I decided to replace the orange/yellow wire up to the relay with the heavier gauge wire. Re-installing the MPH S/I pigtail, replacing that one wire and installing the new relay has cured the problem so far. My friends '09 Norge did not have the MPH S/I pigtail so I (we) ran two new wires. One from the battery directly to the relay, and the second from the relay down to the solenoid and that seems to have cured his problems also. Temps on the ride ranged from the low 40's to the 90's with only six days without rain so I am confident we have cured the problem. My main fear was stalling the bike at and intersection, not being able to restart it and getting run over from behind. Cant thank you guys enough for your help and guidance. Jerry

Well its been several months so I thought I would update this post. As stated above I replaced the 15 amp fuse with a 20 amp and the problem persisted with and without the pigtail installed. Next step was remove the starter and inspect the internals of the solenoid. Spotless and no indication of corrosion inside or on any of the terminal ends. OK, what is consistent on this bike and others that have reported the same problem? The skinny yellow/orange thin wire from the starter relay to the starter solenoid and also, the LI starter relay. Called MG International and learned they had been having a run on these relays recently. Hmmmmm. Ordered new relays. Two days later (kudos MGI) received two Mitsubishi relays in the mail. While waiting for the new relays I replaced the skinny 18-20 ga. wire from the starter relay to the stater solenoid with a heavier 14 ga. wire. I even went back to the 15 amp fuse just to be safe. Well I am happy to report that after 4,500 miles in a 22 day trip from Florida to Nova Scotia, Canada and back, I DID NOT HAVE ONE SINGLE STARTER ISSUE!!!!!!! During the trip the 2009 Norge also on the trip began blowing the starter fuse. Replaced the relay to solenoid wire and used my spare new relay and he had no further issues either. Conclusion, I think the "startus interruptus" problem was caused by faulty relays, the wrong wire gauge or a combination of the two. Anyway, thanks so much to Wayne and everyone else who contributed information on this issue.

Jerry, "Startus Interuptus" is caused by too much Voltage drop in the solenoid circuit, The MPH fix cures that by bypassing the ignition switch, other owners simply snip the yellow wire going to pin 3 of the relay and splice a new hot to the relay end. I have a theory the factory don't even know about "SI" they only work on bikes with pristine components and their starter diagram bears no resemblance to reality. The VII ignition switch is really easy to remove and clean I don't know about the Norge The early VIIs like my 2001 never suffered because the start relay was wired from a dedicated fuse http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/1999_V11_sport.gif Later VIIs suffer like all modern Guzzis from silly wiring. http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/2004_V11_Sport_Catalytic.gif Trace the wire from terminal 30 of the start relay back to the battery, you will see the difference Early bikes will still start with switches measuring 10 - 20 Ohms because the heavy current by-passes the switch.