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Abbazia di Piona

Here the side cover of my V11 Sport. Production year 2001. (I dive into the month later this day)

Glad you regained control, @MattiGuzzi ! Good advice, already (rear brake, tire condition, road hazard). It also occurs to me to suggest inspecting the lower shock eye. They are prone to breaking on the Sachs shock, and that the swingarm pivot bolt can get corroded and seize. Also, to remove the rear wheel and inspect the wheel bearings. Failed rear wheel bearings can cause unexpected/unwanted shifts in the wheel position.

Yep, 100% the same as my 2003 that I assume was built in 2002, but I’ll dig the frame no out when I get home from my current overseas trip ..

Hey Art, I'm not 100% sure what was causing the rear caliper to hang up, but my suspicion is the corrosion on the slide pin. I never fully understood how the hanging pads are expected to retract freely on anything but a brand new pin. I cleaned it up well with steel wool and WD-40, but i probably should replace it. The pistons and seals all looked quite good - there is no dust boot. I bought a seal kit and replaced them. The pistons are aluminum cups and had no corrosion or pitting. I did gently run some fine steel wool on them just to make myself feel useful. I haven't ridden it yet as it has been too cold. I need to pump some new fluid through first. I'll report back if any issues.

I'm and idiot! I was confident the tires and air pressure are good because, "I know what low tire pressure feels like!" No. The pressure was down front and back. Probably due to the drop in temps and having not ridden the bike since warm weather. I'm an idiot for having not checked it at the nearest station! Hopefully I'll get another chance to test before snow!

@stewgnu shared this stunning image of his nicely modded Carryover Sport . . . @Guzzimax's Carryover Sport nicely compared to his beautiful silver RedFrame clearly showing the longer frame in front of the short tank: @motortouring's 2002 ("Pre-Carryover?) Sport: @LaGrasta's 2003 Carryover Sport . . .

Good to service our brakes, polish those pad pins! No petroleum products around the brakes! Silicone greases, only!

I did once harbor strange thoughts of actually doing this, and earlier this year I had to stop myself responding to a Ballabio advert, as I knew there would be a good chance in it joining the rest.. which are 2 red frames, the carryover, and 2 black frame long tanks. Bonkers really & I’d like to get a Triumph Scrambler in the next couple of years before I have to downsize to a Honda cub or something similar due to age & arthritic joints And the Griso isn’t going anywhere until the dreaded downsizing becomes a reality

Colin Bowden, passed away last year, here his is at 85yo 😀

Yeah, tires are the first thing to look for. My EV loses all the air in the front, so I have to air it up everytime I ride it. I'm considering to sell the EV. I'd like to keep the Greenie. That one needs a good going over, new tires, brake pads, new plunger for the clutch engagement, lube job, tune up and oil change. Someone reported on WG that the cheap sparkplugs are no longer available on these bikes, don't know. Anyway, a good once over of the basics like tire wear and pressure, chain adjustment are a good practice periodically or sometimes before every ride- particularly if the bike hasn't been ridden in the last three or four days. I find it best to clean the bike top to bottom and inspect everything. Even the least mechanically inclined person as myself will find something to clean or tighten up.

Hi 4Corsa, Thanks for sharing your conclusions, corrective action & pics, perfect! Art

What do your tires look like? What's the air pressure. I rode a Griso that wouldn't turn, then fell quickly and then wouldn't turn all at the same curve.....Bad tires.

The 1980 T3 California has made it out! It has been a long cold Spring around here. Still cold!!

Interested in buying a V11? See this faq and the 'most common problems' faq This addresses the changes in V11 Sports and LeMans motorcycles from 1999-2005 Thanks and credit goes to the many V11LeMans website contributors. Breakdown of changes in year models from 1999-2005. The V11 sport variants (referred to here as just 'V11') have been produced from about '99 to 2005. I understand that this model is now discontinued, and will no longer be built. That makes it a legacy bike, I guess. Major similarities: All the V11 models are 'spine frame' bikes. The name derives from the large square 'spine' that runs the center of the bike between the cylinders and serves as the main frame component. All the V11 variants have the normal Guzzi two cylinder, two valve/cylinder motor that is in a higher state of tune than the 'cruiser' model Guzzi's. The valves must be adjusted- they are not hydraulic. All the V11 variants have the six-speed transmission and a hydraulic clutch. Older spine frame Guzzi's like the 1100 sport, 1100sporti, etc. have a 5 speed box. Real changes in the bikes from inception to end are small and incremental. 1999-2001 models have a (shorter) red frame than later models. They handle 'quicker' or some say 'more twitchy'. Some say they are unstable at high speed- I've never had a problem. The 99-01 models have clip-ons mounted below the upper triple clamp and have Veglia brand (white face) instruments. They have a thinner rear wheel (4.5") and the brake rotors have circular holes in them; apparently the 'circular hole rotors' are more prone to warping than later rotors. My mid-year '01 has later model rotors fitted, so your guess is as good as mine here. Guzzi went to a longer wheelbase in late '01 or '02 to increase high speed stability. The '01 Rosso Mandello still has the short wheelbase of the 00 V11. Some folks have suggested that appropriate tire choice (Pirelli Diablo) gives a machine that handles like the '00-01 models. '02 and later models have additional bracing in the longer frame and a wider 5.5" rear wheel. New front forks with the clip-ons mounted above the triple clamp are standard. '02 and later models have black engine paint. The '02 model paint is 'fuzzy' and is prone to flaking and blistering off- so it looked horrible- and Guzzi offered new cases to those afflicted with it. New brake rotors (triangular holes) are stock. Late '02 models have commonly been rebadged as '03 models. True '03 models should have a '3' in the VIN and have 'satin' engine paint. Fuzzy engine paint on an '03 model is an indication that it is a rebadged '02 (with short/chin-pad tank, white face instruments and external fuel pump and filter). In '02 or '03, Guzzi changed the electric gas petcock out for a manual version. '03 was a 'big' year for changes in the V11; many improvements were made. Fork diameter is larger (43mm instead of the earlier 40mm), front axle diameter is larger and the axle is hollow. A front crossover or balance pipe is added above the alternator (improves midrange performance ?). The engine has a *claimed* higher compression set of pistons, which are now cooled by an oil jet (more on this below). The fuel pump was relocated to the interior of the gas tank, so '03+ models do not suffer from vapor lock like earlier models (see below). Several cosmetic modifications are present as well- the 'chin pad' is gone in favor of a smooth (longer) tank. The engine paint is satin black, the fairing (if present) mounts further ahead on a different 'gooseneck' mount. Gauges are now ITI/ hUr brand (black faces). This interesting trivia from the V11 board: "I would like to add a note about the speedo on the 02 - 03 V11 Naked. This may or may not be common knowledge. The original and replacement speedos on my bike did exactly the same. The bottom line is that the speedo indicates in MPH, the trip-odometer registers in miles but the odometer registers in 2KM increments. If you don't believe me and have one of these bikes, pull off and stop when the odometer just finishes turning to a new number and set the trip to zero. Drive the bike until the odometer just turns an additional "10 miles". You will find that the trip reads just over 12.4 miles or exactly 20KM. " All that said- Guzzi has been known to make 'parts bin' bikes out of whatever is left over. In that case, the bike may have parts from several year models. This can be frustrating, but it attests to the fact that most parts from one year will fit on other year models. Decoding the VIN number (thanks to Todd Haven of MPH Cycles) Z is for Italy GU is for Guzzi KRAKR designates 1100 spine frame 2000-2002(sport and Lemans) 9th digit is undefined 10th digit is model year(not production) W-98, X=99,Y=2000,1=2001,2=2002 11-16th digits are identifying serial number for your specific bike.

I have a2003 V11 Sport with custom bikini fairing. About two weeks ago I went out for a ride and took a left hand curve at a reasonable speed (nothing dramatic) but I experienced something like the rear end wanting to continue to drive the bike down to the left. I immediately cut the throttle and regained control. The bike stood up and I stopped. It was very unnerving. If it had happened under aggressive cornering, I would have crashed. I safety checked the bike (steering damper, loose bolts etc. Everything checks. I went back over the spot and it was clear of hazards. I have recently experienced a little extra play in the clutch and slippage (again, nothing dramatic) when accelerating hard. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

V11 handles bloody awful on low pressure tyres. I cooked a rear disc once on the run up to and wa-hayy around the Scottish rally, which i think was just a badly maintained caliper- clean that bugger once a year!

Ah, yes, finding oil between the engine and gearbox has numerous sources, some easy and others not so. Start with the nefarious crankcase vent tube and its connection at the top of that junction. My odyssey and the leak sources detailed:

I'm thinking with the Shift Extender, we will not get the "right angles" but should strive that both the "arms" (the extender and the shift arm on the gearbox) are parallel. Yours look good! Give us a ride report when the temps allow!

I shortened the connector rod to bring pedal up. Seems ok. Not sure I have the right angles. Probably need to continue to fine tune this.

And what is the last part of your framenummer? 3M111xxx?

The funny thing is, I have an air compressor right next to my bikes. I check my V85TT every few days because I know it looses air very slowly. I had ridden the V11 for many many months and just stopped checking it because it was good. My stupidity for not being thorough and growing complacent.

These are just spectacular machines to own/ride and drool over. I only hope they find worthy custodians. Ciao

Tire pressures? Cold tires due to temps dropping?

It's a little late in the season for wooly worms but I hit one with my front tire in a similar turn and it brought me down immediately. Like hitting a teaspoon of grease just right.

When I saved Rosie the Rosso, the rear brake disc was blue and sounded like a gun went off when I removed it. Need I say it had been dragging a bit? My guess is the brake line was routed incorrectly too near the exhaust and the heat pressurized the line. That is only a guess, of course. A new rotor, caliper rebuild, and rerouted brake line fixed it at any rate.

I'm thinking that might be an (early) 2002 judging by the original (1999-2001) Sport sidecover decals?

I would own every version....

My thigh feels better, already . . .

A review of official sales literature reveals the "2001" brochure that introduced the 2002 Le Mans, referenced above, showing the three Sport (short tank) colors over the braced, black LongFrame referred to as "Sport Naked ." The 2003 Sales Brochure shows the "Carryover Sport ", and a bright red monochromatic later configuration, called "Naked Sport." My 2004 Sales Brochure shows the later LongFrame/LongTank configuration with "Naked Sport " badging on the tail fairing (like @Kostarika's 2004 Sport, pictured above). From the 2003 Sales Brochure: The standing question remains: Were all 2003 V11 Sport in the 2002 LongFrame/ShortTank "Carryover"configuration or are there actual 2003 LongFrame/Long Tank Sports?

Courtesy of @KINDOY2, here are images of 1) Short Frame with Short (chin-pad) Tank: (1999-2001 Sport and 2001 Rosso Mandello with short/black frame.) 2) LongFrame/ShortTank [Image courtesy of @MartyNZ]: (2002, all models, PLUS the 2003 "Carryover Sport ") 3) LongFrame/LongTank (internal pump/filter): (2003-2005, all models, EXCEPT the 2003 Carryover Sport.)

You're not the first. This for me is a "sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug" scenario. If you check other brand bikes, decent aftermarket exhaust are all ridiculously expensive. One either has to pay the piper or figure a work around. Also consider that few are making new stock for the V11, too old a bike. The "work around" is going to save $ but cost in effort. #1 the easiest is 'hopefully' finding used in good condition, Slim chances, but possible. #2 Build it. with slip-on cans not meant for the V11 but are "close". So a straight through can of the correct/similar inlet diameter designed for a 600, 750, 1000cc bike, wouldn't technically be so different that it couldn't be used. Then what's left is the 45'ish' degree mid-pipe that will require fabrication. (and tuning) example, ...while waiting to find MG Ti pipes I found these... Kaw ZX 10 ?year? once very pricey, now on close out $175 each. Ti, nearly same size weight as MG Ti, has removable mid pipe (Kaw midpipe won't work) and an 'anywhere' CF hanger ...AND are usable on either side of a V11 with the logo being left off and the seam is at the bottom. I got some stainless 45 degree bends from a pipe maker and the id/od and od/id all lined up with a little work. The bend needed some finesse and while I was doing that I found the MG kit, and this project went back on the shelf. I had considered cutting the mids off the stock cans but.... I'll get a round tuit. So it can be done inexpensively but it takes some effort. bonus, these came with metal logos for rivet install, or vinyl stickers. bonus bonus, they're Italian

New rear light and indicators. Much better than the set up from the previous owner

Very happy with my Exan Exhaust Amazing build quality, eargasm sound. In the $650 range

I visited the Birmingham NEC Motorcycle live bike show on Sunday, which is the main UK expo for the manufacturers and Piaggio didn’t have a stand. Of all the main manufacturers they were the only one absent. Very poor IMO and shows lack of marketing support for their UK dealer network, Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, Triumph, Yamaha etc had massive stands, even BSA with their Indian built Gold Star were there, along with the relaunched Norton rising from the post Stuart Garner ashes