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Why a Guzzi? Why a V11? Well, I have enjoyed Ducati v-twins for several years, and wanted something different, European, but air-cooled. I have always admired the style of the V11 Sport/LeMans, but they were even more rare than Ducatis. I began researching V11 Sports here, and after a couple months, I set aside a sum of money and started my search. I searched for a motorcycle I had never rode, sat on, even seen in person! I put a lot of faith in having a V11 and enjoying it. Well, I found one posted on eBay, and placed a bid, and lost. The seller reached out saying it would go for less if we skipped the eBay seller's fees. So, for $5500.00, plus $650.00 shipped to my Guzzi dealer, I had my bike after a month. $2k for seals, tires, tune-up, and other maint., and she was ready to ride...and for winter storage. Just last week, I finally got to fill her with 93 and take her out, and I wasn't let down. I'm in love. I love my Ducatis, but a big Guzzi really is something special. No regrets. Get one...as they will never be cheaper than they are now.5 points
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A week ago I posted concerns about replacing my original fuel pump at 125,000 miles/ 201.000 km. Turned out that restart stumbling was a fluke, perhaps a bit of "vapor lock." Has not recurred, so I moved on the my 5,000 mile/8.000 km oil change/ tune-up interval. Some observations: > I use the filter access cover to change the filter. Last change was the only time I found the filter stuck. This time I LIBERALLY oiled the gasket, both the surface and the sides. I remembered to inspect the old filter to be sure it brought its gasket out with it and also shone a light up into the sump with a mirror to be doubly certain no old gasket remained in the engine. I did not remember to peel the WIX sticker off the filter, but have run the label before with no issues. I prefer to remove them. "One less thing," you know. > The Sport ran so great yesterday, I was mildly surprised the spark plugs looked so awful. The gap had opened from 0.0275" to ~0.033. One side of the plugs showed a nice coloration and the other side (especially the right) was all crusted with carbon deposits. I'm thinking signs of needy valve seals/ guides. > I've been concerned my valves are sinking into the heads, especially the left exhaust. Pleasantly surprised that I relaxed the right side I/E maybe 0.0005"/0.0127mm just to get a nice, loose slide on the feeler gauge blade. I found the left side both at 0.007"/ 0.018mm, so slacked the exhaust a thousandth and snugged the intake a thousandth of an inch. Very pleased. > My TPS had drifted from 157mV to ~134mV. For the first time, I purposefully held the throttle firmly closed to set the TPS. This looked to make about a 10mV difference. I feel like I should be indexed to the map better. Thanks to all of those who have patiently helped me understand this importance. > I have been skipping the Decent Tune-up step of removing and cleaning the air bypass screws/circuit. Not sure the last time I did that, but the tips of the air screws weren't just sooty, but crusty and a lot of black gook and particle washed back out of the passageways with throttle body cleaner spray applied repeatedly until the wash-back looked clean. Again, pretty sure my old Sport is burning its share of oil via the valve seals, but I won't skip that step again. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Out for a warm-up ride to balance the throttle bodies and, five miles from home, she coughs hard - sputters- picks up again- coughs - sputters- barely runs or idles as I nurse her in to a safe spot. She dies, making me think about that fuel pump again. Off the bike, I retrace everything I just had my hands on. There it is: I had left the TPS break-out harness connected and the bare leads had wandered their way to ground. Detached it, plugged the TPS in directly and motored happily away. Note to self: > After setting the TPS and removing the voltmeter, see that the break-out harness is removed and TPS is plugged back in directly. ~ ~ ~ " I won't skip that step again. " ~ ~ ~3 points
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Oh, I dunno, Docc. My biggest worry when riding is some brain dead texting (or playing games on their phone!) driver running me over. I'll be 4 or 5 hundred feet above those idiots with the breeze blowing up my shorts.3 points
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I too have opted for the Becker stand. I have been using one for the Griso for years and I've been happy with it, getting the bike on and off of it is quite easy once you've done it a couple of time. Once attached to the bike it pretty much functions as a good ol' center stand. I actually find it easier to attach to the V11 than the Griso. My V11 came with a MG factory stand that had been altered to work like a Becker with two 18mm sockets rather than having the support directly on the porkchops lower nuts and although it works decently on the ground, I didn't like to use it on the lift as the handle ends up outboard of the platform and requires to be supported by a block of wood about a third of the way down the length of the handle. The Becker is much more compact and doesn't get in the way when working on the bike. Also the MG stand in its original configuration had left some nasty bite marks in the porkchops from its (mis?!)use by previous owners... I toyed for a minute with the idea of modifiying the Becker stand I already had for the Griso and adapting it to the V11 which shouldn't be too difficult but that meant changing the fittings back and forth every time I needed it for the other bike and negating the possibility to have 2 bikes on the stand at the same time. Not worth it for the price of a second stand imho. I got both of my stands from Stein-Dinse in Germany at quite a bit of savings compared to MG Cycles. I actually received that last one for the V11 last week for about $120 including shipping, along with other parts I needed and it got to my door in 3 days...! Very well packaged and faster than most suppliers in the US.2 points
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2 points
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Vote number 3 for water in the tank. Let me tell you a story.. A guy called me one time saying the 65 hp engine in his Luscombe would be purring along, then suddenly miss, then continue running fine. He was getting afraid to fly it, and asked if I had any ideas. I said, "Sure. You didn't drain your float bowl during the last Annual inspection, did you?" Silence. "Er.. no." As mentioned above, water goes to the lowest point in the fuel system. Once it is in a float bowl, it stays there. Airplanes have sump drains and a gascolator that should catch the water..if.. the driver faithfully drains them before the first flight of the day. It's certainly not unusual for a motorcycle to have water sitting in the bottom of the tank.2 points
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I agree with footgoose. It could be something else, but it really sounds like water in the fuel tank. I had that on my Buell. The water sits at the bottom of the tank. When I would go up hill the water would run to the back of the tank where the fuel intake for the fuel pump was. It would misfire. Then once level or downhill again it would stop it after a minute or two. One of the joys of buying a used bike this old is fixing all the stupid stuff that is wrong with it. But this could be an easy fix if it is indeed water. Drain the fuel tank into a translucent fuel can and look for water in the bottom. If there is water in the fuel it will settle to the bottom. While paying someone a bunch of money to fix a motorcycle can work, it is often better to learn how to do it yourself. And with the smart guys around here and all their experience you can learn. If I can learn from these guys you can.2 points
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"fresh fuel" often means-- added to the old fuel left at the bottom of the tank. If it sat awhile before purchase, and under less than desirable conditions, it may also include condensation. Hopefully the tank was drained and rinsed prior, then you can rule out water. Sounds like water to me.2 points
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It is. I really love this machine, and my Ducatis are getting jealous.2 points
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2 points
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2 points
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Takes more than a BudLite to see kangaroos in Texas. That's mescaline territory.2 points
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I fell in love with the Guzzi's sound first, at the Vintage Days at Mid-Ohio. A guy with a 70s Ambassador was riding with a guy riding a Vincent Black Shadow and they shared a parking place with me at one of the hotels. They looked as relaxed as me having covered similar distances as me with my GS1100. The Guzzi guy was talking about the V11 as they were newer then. I thought to myself; someday....2 points
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There is no reason why not have one. That is the point. However, only a few chosen ones understood the call to get one. We still don't know how many V11 (all models) were ever manufactured, so we don't know how many understood the importance of getting one. I know, it is a futile argument. But Guzzi were never a popular choice; rather some kind of connoisseur decision. Even in Italy, there still are apart in their own niche. Myself I wanted a Le Mans since the 850 came out. I was based in Italy from 1981 until 1991. I bought a Harley instead.2 points
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Sounds like my holiday yesterday. Pushed the Moto Guzzis around and got the Husky and a friends KTM ready for a trip to the Sierra Nevadas. Just got a great little used Kendon trailer - can carry two street bike or three dirt bikes. And it folds up and stores vertically on the side of the house.1 point
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Hopefully just water, if not I woud ride it some more, see whats happening. More clues are good, and don't forget if you like the character of the bike, you shoud be on the way to learn your V11. Cheers Tom1 point
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Isn't it a pair for sale on Kleinanziegen.de under V11 to, if stewgnu sold his. Cheers Tom.1 point
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Lots of local wildflowers now blooming here in Texas. Location on FM362 between FM1488 and 105… Today’s run was a 160 mile loop with a friend on a Stelvio and his family in the Boxster with a stop at the local tavern…and something I have never seen…a 4 month old Joey (kangaroo) hopping around near the bikes. No V11 content due to awaiting a few parts to be installed tonight in my complete tank off maintenance process. Tomorrow off to collect a few stops on the Grand Tour of Texas…1 point
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I have a couple of errands to run this morning, but I should be on my way to get there around lunch if nothing changes. I am going to try to figure out how to carry my tripod o my bike or myself, because I want to do the Texas Flags Monument justice. I am a sucker for history, and I solemn up when on "special" places.1 point
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Ha ha true But you can't complain about the weather yesterday mate... An absolute beauty for this time of year, 28 degrees and sunny no wind...perfect So for only the second time all year dragged the cover off the ole girl and got out for a ride. Gassed up in Warragul and backroads through to Yarragon,Trafalgar up into the Strezlecki's ( Ranges ) a coffee in Mirboo North... Great riding through here and down to Meeniyan and on to Port Albert on the coast ( supposedly the best fish and chips in the state).Well being Easter long weekend and stunning weather it was packed! So we decided to head on into Yarram and lunch at one of the pubs. Headed for home back over the Strezlecki's via Gormandale and into Traralgon. Weather too good to drone down the highway so more backroads to Tyers /Yallourn Nth/ Willow Grove and home to Drouin. Left home 9.30am and got back at 4.30pm LOTS of great twisty roads, bike went well and the rider wasn't too rusty either! Cheers Guzzler Ps only downside is not having ridden much I really started feeling the bumps in the last hour.. Only cure for that is to get out more....ha ha1 point
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Oh, and next valve adjustment (130,000 miles/ 209.000 km), I really should replace the original valve cover gaskets. Get-me some o' those hi-zoot Valpolini . . .1 point
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I do not either. The "for Griso" Becker-Tecknik Central Lifter is different from that of the V11; different part number. The stand has two axial cylindrical struts to fit a 1/2" square drive. I believe this is to make it more versatile. You purchase the sockets that fit your bike, whatever size as long as it fits a 1/2" drive square. You can see that in the other pics that I had initially posted and managed to post again.1 point
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1 point
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As hard as this is to believe it was actually at the Tavern stop!! Disclaimer…I don’t drink while riding but at first glance I thought someone had spiked my Arnold Palmer!1 point
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A kangaroo in Texas? Was this before or after the tavern stop?1 point
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1 point
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Furthering our noble efforts to clarify the V11 nomenclature (we are the world's foremost experts on the Moto Guzzi V11) @FreyZI's current thread "Sign-up list for new carbon fiber seat cowls" has had some fun with "what-to-call-what" . . . I'm to the point of saying that your LeMans >might< have "PorkChops", but mySport : nope1 point
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Ok I will give it a go. Always loved Italian motorcycles but was put off Moto Guzzi's based on an experience I had quite a few years ago. It was a bit of nothing really. I was playing golf by a state highway and heard a bike coming up the road. Cannot remember the model but it was a Guzzi. I watched it pass as it revved out and accelerated through the gears.............but seemed to not be going anywhere fast. That put the thought in my head that other "motorcycle officiandos" echo that they are underpowered and heavy. So I dismissed them as a possible purchase. Mind you I was into track days back then and owned a few sport bikes. 999s Ducati, Aprilia RSV Factory. My focus was more on power and speed then. 3 years ago I needed to buy another bike as the Aprilia was written off due to a car pulling out in front of me. Well two in a row actually. I managed to avoid the first one but not the idiot behind him who blindly followed. So here I was, a little bit older and slowing down somewhat. Looking at bikes the Cafe Sport came up for sale. Took me a couple of test rides to be convinced. It coughed and spluttered at 3k revs. Didn't seem to handle that well. Having never ridden one before, the character still got to me and I purchased with the flaws. I added the TI kit with ECU and adjusted the suspension which was so far out it wasn't funny. Went through the bike top to bottom and replaced or tweaked everything including the decent tune up found here on this site. I love the bike now and looking for another MG. They just get you in a way no other bike has. Don't listen to opinions, you have to try things for yourself. Lesson learnt!1 point
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I remember in college a lecturer informing us fresh faced yoofs "You can never make anything idiotproof, because idiots are so ingenious"1 point