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Stop #15 to #24 of 50; Houston to Paris. Etapes 4, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, 34, 35, 36. Summary: Started Friday 22nd Oct 21 at 09:10; Back home on Saturday at about 17:00. 1138 km for you the metric guys. Gladewater had three étapes, but I only did one. I took a picture of 17 (Derrick) without my bike in it;the rules allow for 10% of the pics without the bike. But the stop 18, Gladwater Museum I missed completely. Entirely my fault, as the organization stated the map may not be accurate, and riders should only use the stop list. Highlights: Spent the night in Paris in the city center for $55!!!! this is the cheapest night in Paris ever... Many admirers of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans, especially at the King's Inn Motel! Departing from Paris early in the morning, I had the road for myself. Lowlights: Missed two stops in Gladwater; Arrived in Paris after both South Main Iron and Paris Harley Davidson were closed. Lots of wind on the way back, it seems my neck resisted better... Etape 25: Visitor Center in Palestine; Palestine used to be a major train hub; you can see vestiges of its glorious past all over town. There is still plenty to do if you like trains and history. More to come at my next stop and in the video. Etape 24: Train depot at Rusk; They have a tourist train that runs from Palestine. I caught it on the video. Etape 16 and 17 at Gladewater: This is where I messed up. I only took a picture of 16, got an excerpt from the video for 17, and completely omitted 18. Gladewater seemed to be a nice place, I took a break from the ride and explored a little bit. Etape 20; South Dairy Museum Sulphur Springs. Another missed opportunity, I arrived at the Museum at the time they were closing. There was a football game taking place close by, and the place was absolutely swarming. You cannot miss the entrance of the Museum, as you can see in the pic. I am kind of sore to have not been able to visit as I am certain there were plenty to learn. Sulphur Springs, what an interesting name for a city... Etapes 34, 35, 36; Paris Texas. Everything was closed down when I got there. Fortunately, I met a lot of interesting people at the Motel where I stayed for the night. The cheapest I could find. 50 dollars + taxes. As I parked the Guzzi to get to the reception, people started to come out of their rooms, and congregated around the bike expressing awe. One guy went back in his room and came back with some beers, and we sat and spoke about Guzzi for a long time. Obviously a guy born in Paris and riding a Guzzi was intriguing. Lots of interesting stories in an unsuspecting place. In the wee hours of the morning, as I was doing my pre-departure checks, I found the Guzzi low on oil. I spent some time perusing the forum for advice on oil, and ended up purchasing a quart of Castrol Power! at O"Reilly. Etape 4; Texas Sidecar Company. This is completely out of anywhere, in a little village named Donnie. I did it on my way back from Paris. The sole stop of the way. The place seemed totally abandoned. I shall see you on my nest Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas 2021 trip. I am cutting it close, the hard stop is November 15th. Fortunately, you only need to have done 25 stops to be declared a tour finisher. But I had more ambition when I signed up.

And it’s nice to see a mechanic, that would be allowed to touch my bike. Cheers Tom

Sure, we all know about the very few hundred of Rosso Mandello and Scura (600-700, respectively?). And less than two hundred Tenni (170?) Perhaps just slightly fewer Coppa Italia (150?). But then it has been reported only 18 (of a planned 20?) V11 Scura R. Are any of those models outside of Europe/ UK? Never exported to the USA? The rarest V11 of all? Likely the V11 Playboy Exclusive Edition (EE). Here it is at the 2003 Brussels Salon presented with Playmate Tanya Dexters . . . Was there ever more than one built? Was it prepared by the factory? Where is it now? And are there any other images from this photo shoot or presentation?

Hey Weegie, I'm in agreement, my head is still spinning trying figure out the logic in the design. The OP's KS forks, as described in the info provided by Lucky Phil, match what you've just described above. A nice balanced design, imho would be with both bearings located and loaded by the edges or interiors, a combination of those forces from the get go on the drawing board, seems unusual. You have to wonder if at the time, they would alter design to match whatever parts they had on hand in the warehouse or were surplus from suppliers and available cheaply. fwiw idk

I'd loosen everything, get it about where it looks good. Then snug-up the top triple. To help put everything in alignment, you can spin the front wheel while the lower triple is loose, then hit the brakes hard. The sudden stop of centrifugal force will snap things into pretty good alignment - better then you can do by eye-balling it. Then you can go around and torque down everything (including the top triple).

Mee too. I have learned to trust this person, he is also on other German forums. Rides himself with a modified Centauro, a 4V and Spine Frame -specialist. I understand that he did work a long time within the official Guzzi organisation servicing Guzzis. He “broke in” all the new test bikes by riding them, so he was also “hands on” that way. It is very interesting to read his comments on spine frame Guzzis, he knows lots of details regarding different models and their technical solutions, including of course the V11 models. Had access to Piaggio data sources. A “scary moment” was to see the Scura number he mentioned. It has been mine the last 10 years (bought it from Germany). I have the complete owner history and he could tell what happened to this bike before it was sold as a new Scura originally (manufacturing date in Mandello, showroom time at the importer, etc.). Regarding the manufactured numbers; I tend to believe the numbers used here. Rosso Mandello, OK, 300+300 made, the first set numbered. Scura, 700 made, well registered here in “Scura registry”.

Just still trying to get my head around this Does the bearing spacer in the middle of the wheel slide into the 25mm id bearing on the left reducing its diameter to 20mm and on the right the bearing spacer just butts up against the bearing? I'm thinking there must be logic in it (or is there?) On my planet I'd have thought that the spacer should either butt against the bearings OR slide into both bearings perhaps to tighten up parallel alignment of the bearings. Every day a school day

Seems we just can't get enough of a great Guzzi. This one is done much more nicely than so many hatchet jobs out there. Would love to see it cross the scales.

this has been posted earlier. Magnificent bike great minds think alike.

I was thinking after clicking it thirty or forty times, it might come through. Held my tongue right and everything.

Hi Folks. Thanks for all your input on this. It was the wrong R/H bearing. Should be 20mm int dia. on right, 25mm on left. Bought one, fitted and ridden. Obvious really. Thank you @Lucky Phil. I think my bike fits your description of for the KS although the engine number is prefixed KR........ I can add that the clip ons are fitted above the triple clamps. But two further points of interest. (to some?) 1. The bike came to me with both, clip ons (in a box) and what look to be MG full handlebars with riser clamps, and the necessary drillings in the top triple clamp which led me to think that my bike is actually a Ballabio, but why the MG marked clip ons?...... I prefer it with the clip ons and but with lowered foot pegs. 2. The rear bevel transmission box is painted Black, but has definite signs of bright red under the black which makes me wonder what's been occuring? First registered in UK in March 2003. 3 former keepers so who actually knows? A few people have suggested that things were in flux at this time at the factory. Feels a bit like it. On the plus side the bike rides well and feels good...so..

Very true. I personally think they made more Scuras and Rosso Mandellos than they said. I was at Marcus Dairy one time and 2 guys showed with Limited Edition SportClassics with the same number. That was hilarious. I wouldn't be surprised if there are duplicate number Scuras and Rossas out there. I don't think the US even ever got the Scura R. I've never seen one in the flesh. Even any pics I've seen they've all had Euro plates on them. As for the red seat? So very very true.

I kept pressing the "More" button on the bottom left, but no joy . . .

It is certainly a fast bike, but not a looker like the V11. Some Ducati's are good looking, but some aren't. That one is probably fun to ride, but not one you would look at your own reflection at a traffic light and smile.

Pretty nice looking scooter, certainly no Greenie but pretty nice. Docc, where do you find this stuff? You're a little bit Spineframe obsessed? Those cold hands still on the keyboard? Jus' sayin'.

So, that image is not entirely the factory configuration (looks like an added belly pan and maybe a Quat-D exhaust). Let me find one more representative image of the Scura R. So, yes, this is the Coppa Italia/ Café Sport configuration with handlebars and headlight/instruments frame mounted (unlike the 2002 Scura which is fork mounted). Anyone paying a premium for the V11 EE should insist on the stack of magazines that came with it….

Frankly, this is a very familiar and fantastically sexy formula . . . Missing = 1) Exclusivity , and 2) Tanya Dexters (Instead, a concrete pillar)