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Here is a photo-show ride report of a(nother) run from the top of Virginia to Owensboro, in western Kentucky and back for — yes, really — mutton. Oh, and for bourbon, beer, and more. Why? Just because, of course. On Tuesday, 21 September, Larry flew in from Ormond Beach, Florida, and Bob rode his V7 III from Rochester, New York. Lannis (Appomattox, Va.) and Dennis (Atlanta, Ga.) joined us along the way. Then, Sarah, Doug, & Tina — Kentuckians from Glasgow and the first two on Guzzis — met us at St. Mary’s picnic in Whitesville. Two others had to bow out, but are likely attendees for the next Mutton Run. So … as Wednesday was an all-day drencher, we launched on Thursday morning. Kathi spent most of the "Guys Gone" time in Erie with her dad. The photos pretty much tell the story. And, yes, of course, as usual, “too many pix;” you don't have to open it. But I did cull the original bazillion pix — seriously, 500+ something! — into a much smaller slideshow. Link below. The run from here to Owensboro and back was about 1300 miles, plus another 200+ or so of local riding. I also added some with my backtracking to Lexington for that new tire. Bob, with his r/t from New York did 2200 miles! As with most of my photo stories, this opens in “landscape collage,” so one sees all at once. You can see captions when hovering cursor over pix. Can also just go to larger pix by using the slideshow option. Here’s that link: Muttoneering in Kentucky I’m still grinning about these past several days of riding for mutton and more with some grand friends, the Muttoneers! What a wonderful memory Bill

Let me start in saying I lurked this forum for months before deciding that I needed a V11 in my life. I will admit to being reluctant to take on a more niche motorcycle, even compared to the Ducatis I'm used to. I thought if I bought a Moto Guzzi, it would be endless frustration, waiting five-ever to just LOCATE parts...not to think about shipping from the EU for everything, save oil filters. I thought it would be hell, like owning an MV Agusta. I am here to say, my fears were nearly entirety unfounded. Namely, MG Cycle, AF1 Racing, and eBay have helped me find every washer, seal, gasket, bolt, so far, that I have needed. Please, spend your money with MG specialists, so they can keep working with us to keep going. They deserve our support and encouragement. I think most of this fortune stems from a very small and cultist group of riders and suppliers who keep these elegant machines humming. Admittedly, some parts are a little spendy...but, I'm pleasantly surprised I'm able to locate what I need with little drama and a pinch of patience. A lot of parts are downright cheap! So, to anyone on the fence about getting a V11, I'd say go for it! Just do yourself a big favor and only buy the nicest example that you can afford. Don't buy a project bike unless you have very deep pockets and endless patience waiting for parts. A huge thank you especially to @Docc, for giving me buying advice and not letting me talk myself out of one of the best experiences in all motorcycling! I really look forward to next year when I can put my V11 Sport through her paces!

New fresh gas, star-tron, rode to work and back.

That is surprising!

MGCycles has a Lot of my money. I go there first. For replacement oem stuff AF1 or Harpers. Harpers used to have many items in stock, not guaranteed anymore these days. I always call if I think it's something they are just going to order from Italy AFter I pay for it. Sometimes they come back to me with "NLA." Some items are laying around in obscure dealership parts bins and that takes some work and patience to find. For something "unobtainable" I will always get the p/n and put it into my ebay search notifications. It has served me very well. As far as Guzzi goes, as long as you keep passion for your bike, you won't be disappointed.

(Settling around the campfire, tamping corncob pipe..) Reminds me of my old friend Bill, that told me of a rescue operation of a DC3 in Mexico. The electrical system was inop, so they knotted a big rope, wound it around the prop shaft, put a bunch of Mexicans on the end, and started pulling. Dang if it didn't start, but the rope didn't come off, and the knot was hammering the side of the fuselage. Started the second one the same way, and flew it out. Bill is *quite* a character.. need I say? and has had some adventures in his 97 (!) years.

Czechmate? Sorry... As to technology, we could say that weedeaters and leaf blowers use Ducati technology - fan cooled, two-stroke, magneto spark.

Beat me to it, po18guy! I was going to mention the Tatra.

Well, like adult diapers, it Depends. Here is an air-cooled Tatra hemi V8 with front exhaust (OK, it uses a manifold). Known in Europe since the 30s. And the car into which the ultimate DOHC/fuel injected version of it went in: The little-known Tatra MTX. And here is a 2.5 liter version with a rope start(!) I must note that this is an option for us Guzzi owners when the starter acts up.

I am installing the Roper Plate this winter. It is a "must"...if it saves my oil pump from cavitation and my bearings from failure, it was well worth it! I may just score the stick to make sure it is reading at true "FULL".

@VtwinStorm I tried using a Sharpie to mark upper and lower levels, but it never really worked for me, I hope you have better luck. Using the a Roper Plate, which is a highly recommended, inexpensive and not too difficult mod to install when you're changing the oil is a good idea on its own. It also solved all that dipstick m'larky for me too and I have plates on both the Sporti and HiCam. I don't own a V11.........but there's still time

Great insight! Thank you, Weegie!

@Chris Wilson I sympathise, I also find the dipstick thermometer almost impossible to read. Mine isn't chrome possibly stainless. I also have a Roper Plate installed on the bikes I have which tends to make it a little harder to insert the stick cleanly into the oil. Previously I used a seperate dipstick when I wanted to get a good reading, sorry a pretty useless answer. Even using a flat metal or plastic stick, I never had too much faith on the accuracy of the readings. The Roper Plate makes it a little harder, but that could well be my lack of dexterity. I've never had any issues with the bikes consuming oil between services, so I didn't dip it that regularly and when I did found it to be well within acceptable parameters Later I realized that with the Roper Plate installed into a Broadsump the dipstick can be rendered redundant. All I do now after recommendations from @Lucky Phil , @pete roper and others on the Centauro forum, is to fill the sump to just below the Roper Plate. This put the oil a good bit above the OEM dipstick high mark. The oil level can be seen through the hole with a flashlight. I've never experienced any pressurization issues, or additional oil consumption using the higher oil level and will continue to use it Not much of answer but best I can do

If this has a polished chrome dipstick then I found that hard to read an oil level with the oil simply running down every time it's retracted and giving a false reading. And how does one get a reading when it really matters, riding and in the saddle? Chris.

Cool. I'll be amazed if it's a 2021 manufacture. Ciao

Sticker shimicker, this is the only way to tell the manufacturer date. Left column top to bottom 98,99,00,01,02. Columns to the right divided into separate divided blocks representing the months of the year. There's 2 dots one will be the month of 1999 and the other I'm not sure about, one may be the cast date and the painted date. Someone here smarter than me may be able to advise. So this one was definitely made in 1999 in either May or November, probably May. Lets see a casting image image of you 2021 labelled seat. Ciao

You might not find a side stand kill switch.

Yesterday I got my NOS single seat cowl rubber pad from a nice person in Italy. Today, I got my black OEM V11 seat cowl from AF1 Racing in Austin, TX. It is heartening to see the build date sticker on the cowl: Feb '21. So they find it in good business to keep making plastic for a 20 year old Guzzi... probably in batches when the order is large enough to justify running the machines. Thank you, Guzzi and Acerbis!

I knew somebody had a thread on this. I don't close it regularly, and it has never leaked; If it starts to leak I'll get into it again. The knob didn't want to come off without a fight after leaving the threads, I didn't want to risk destroying anything so went with what I could do. I'll bookmark your thread and get the proper sized o-rings into inventory if there's a measurement in the thread.

Looks like he ran out of funds when it got to the front wheels, lol Ciao