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The problem is people don't understand the difference between engineering, designing and fabricating. Many of these crude and impractical creations are all about fabrication (often quite good) with a pinch of usually bad design thrown in and scant regard to the engineering. Anyone with some basic tools and hand skills can strip components off a motorcycle (usually the stuff that makes it a practical riding proposition and road legal) and call it a "custom" or an "interpretation" of god knows what. The truth is motorcycles are not "art". They can be beautiful and an expression of a designers philosophy but if they don't adequately fulfil the design brief then they are just a piece of crafted machinery of limited utility. When I see a "customised" motorcycle like some of the examples shown that are intended to be road ridden then I'm with Pete. These bikes don't fulfil the design brief of a real world road rideable machine in the 21st or even the 20th century in most cases. The other issue is a cultural one. An interesting observation I have made watching many many US based car and motorcycle shows is Individuality is valued above just about everything else in the US and that includes practicality in more cases than I can sometimes believe. Most of these types of bikes are aimed at the American market and the US market is also where the dollar is to spend on such things. And if it's aimed at the American market then these days by default it's aimed at us as well. If you want to study the most brilliant motorcycle designers on the planet then just call into your local motorcycle shop and see what they are selling. With all the limitations and regulations they are lawfully bound to observe in every country in the world and the necessity to make the product real world road rideable you can't help but be impressed. These people make "customizers" look like the backyard hackers the vast majority really are. Phil

Would you be mad at me if I did? Chris, from my Australian point of view, Pete is light hearted and tolerant. Narrow-minded reactionary arseholes is a bit of an Australian speciality, at least in the time of my youth and in the countryside where I grew up. Going by what he writes here, Pete isn't one of them.

Ok, I may have been a bit *off the mark* when singling out Pete for his delivery. It seemed a little harsh when I first read it, late at night and perhaps lacking clarity. There is a lot of wisdom in that post. The thing is, when I’m looking at a nice bike - read unique, different & appealing to my sense of taste - an object of desire - it is for entertainment purposes only and the dreamer in me doesn’t want to be reminded of all the mechanical shortcomings, engineering oversight or design impracticality that comes with it. A left brain / right brain kind of thing. I’d like to think that if I were to build it myself - or buy it if I could - I’d have a more pragmatic approach in considering all aspects, but I don’t have the skills nor the tools-time-space-money-knowledge or fortitude to undertake a *build* like that, so yeah, I respect anyone that tries, even if the result is far from perfect...

I would be interested, in a subjective sort of way, to find out why anyone chose a specific tire in particular. Furthermore, it seems that once one decided about it, one sticks to that choice. At least, this is what transpires from discussions I had over the years. Excepted in 70's, when the only tire of choice was the Dunlop K-81. I am the opposite. I try to install new brands and new models on all my vehicle, to test my ability to feel any difference. Recently, one of my Yokohama rear tire failed on my 911. The shop only had on tire brand that matched. "NITTO", made in the USA. I replaced both rear tires and my first finding is they make more noise than any of the other tires I ever installed. I am going to check them a bit more, and replace them sooner than later. I had Pirelli, Michelin, Yokohama, Bridgestones, and I could not tell which is better.

And that from a man who builds aeroplanes from scratch. ignore the wisdom at your peril.

This..

It's a bit more complicated than that. It's essentially a four track TPS that constantly compares the readings against each other and a known baseline to regulate throttle opening. Being RBW there is no direct connection between the twistgrip and throttlebody. If the ECU sees a discrepancy between any of the parameters of any of the four tracks it will throw the bike into limp mode. If it sees a discrepancy between two or more tracks it will shut the engine down and, thoughtfully, put on the brake light!

It makes me wonder, how many of us have ran their V11 with Premium when it could have gotten away with regular all along.... However, higher compression ration should mean detonation retardant fuel... Why wouldn't 9.5:1 not work with 87 Octanes US, if it is required for 9.8:1? only because the piston is cooled by an additional oil spray for cooling?

That sticker you posted says "91 RON". That equates to 87 (RON+MON)/2, which is the rating system used in USA & Canada.

What year Cali 1400 is this? If it's throwing an 'Urgent Service' warning and going into limp mode it is most likely the demand sensor. If it's an early bike it is even more likely. There was a duff run of them at the very beginning. RSV4 Aprilias had the same issue. There was a recall for them.

What people choose to do aesthetically or 'Artistically' to their bikes concerns me not a jot and I fully agree with your assessment that such things are subjective and if people want to do such things? Knock yerself out! That doesn't mean that I can't mock them as ugly and most importantly it doesn't mean that what they have done will be either 'Special' or indeed work in an engineering or mechanical sense. So many people make absurd and impossible claims about performance and functionality it just shits me to tears. I've tried to explain many times why the 8V 'Nuovo Hi-Cam' can't be made to make power and torque figures that can genuinely only be made by much more sophisticated engines but this is either ignored outright or some picture of a 'Dyno Chart' will be produced to 'Prove' the point! Sorry, but trying to use the laws of physics to argue against ignorance and stupidity is a fools errand. Dunno why I even bother apart from the fact I don't want the gullible being taken in by charlatans. With the old pushrod lump it's even more frustrating. Especially when stuck in a Tonti frame with a five speed gearbox and pre V11 final drive. You can, reliably, make mid eighties RWHP from an 1100. The factory erred on the side of conservatism and the donk makes about 76 in the V11. Yes you can get it to make more, but at a price. Now imagine what it's going to be like putting that power, or more, through a clutch, gearbox and driveline designed to handle not much more than 50? Its life span will in the words of some nineteenth century philosopher, be Brutish and Short! So what does that mean? Either these people have managed to change the laws of physics and the sciences of metallurgy, and engineering! Or? They are full of shit! I reiterate, if people like these things as 'Art'? Fine. Knock yerself out. To me they are obnoxious gobshitery! NOBODY HAS TO AGREE WITH ME!

Up here Shell V Power 98 octan, it says E5 on the pump, but has no bioethanol. Shell E10 95 octan with 10% bio. Esso also have 98 octan. Circle K only E10. Some of the rescue organizations have started to complain about like an ATV or similar been sitting for some time, and having starting problems, water. Well I use 98octan, probably not neceseary when I read what some of the smarter guys explain. Something from earlier days hanging in there, leaded fuel and 104 octan in the RB Mopars . Cheers Tom.

Do you know the compression ratios? is there any difference? maybe the internal head combustion chambers have a difference geometry?

@MartyNZ Therefore, I have been running my V11 with Gas that wasn't required. Good catch!!! Who knows, maybe that will solve my 3000 fuel injection issue?

I think it is an early one the VIN number is ZGULVA0260M111443. Demand sensor is the same as the throttle position censor, TPS? What goes wrong and can it be repaired or new unit.? I don't think he has had any recalls done. I remember I had to sort his key switch out. Totally burned out. They wanted about 500Dollars for a new one. I bought a metal barrel for a Toyota and modified his for a tenth of the cost. And it is far better quality!

All this talk about more power and faster...it has a place. But no one rides a Guzzi for that. It's the "feel", the inertia of that locomotive flywheel pulling you, the steady feel in corners. I ride my Ducati and it's almost too good. Some times it's just boring. I get on one of the Guzzis, it still gives me a smile. I like all my bikes but I spent so much time on the Duc, I get on the Guzzi and it's a nice change. Lately, the Duc has been sitting. I don't have enough curvy roads for it.

It's a copy of the V11 Lemans but not a good one. In fact, .........

I looked at the add, and as ever, only two photos for a vintage motorcycle, minimum narrative too. 1000 km since 1986; 6500 EUR ask price.

Sold

Funny co incidence that this thread is running and then his bike shows up for sale https://www.leboncoin.fr/offre/motos/2370559273 It's the same bike as on the short youtube video but the original "silencer" has been replaced. That's the third of the 17 Baja's made that I've seen up for sale over a span of 15 or so years and each time the price goes down which in some ways surprises me due to the rarity of them.But as one friend says , they are basically very tall smallblocs ! I'm unsure of the final drive ratio as the whole rear end UJ downwards is big bloc...the rest being a 500 ratio gearbox mated to a 650 engine.As far as I know no special tuning either.This one looks as if it has the standard plastic NTX tank on it...some of the baja's had hand beaten very large capacity aluminum ones.

Right on point @footgoose ^^^^^^ The critic is easy, I think anyone's efforts to modify, embellish or otherwise improve a vehicle to satisfy their own vision and desire is highly commendable and should be respected, be it a motorcycle, a car, a bicycle or an airplane... As beautiful and satisfying as production designs can be, there is always room for improvement and personalization, one just has to look at how extensive the farkle market is. The result might not be to everyone's taste but, as I said before, if we all had the same taste, life would be rather dull. And isn't that the essence of customization in the first place -"a modification made to something to suit a particular individual". Of course there are times where some efforts might seem misguided >>>

Haha, me too, tho quite a few years earlier. Same heart and soul, just a different day, and look. On topic, we have a few makers of spine frame customs on the forum tho the names escape me. They made some beautiful personalized versions. Altering bikes is not everyone's cuppa. And, truth be told, most factory bikes need improvement. Comments about this or that alteration can sometimes, shall we say, diminish ones enthusiasm for sharing. I always try to support someone's endeavor at art. Even if not to my taste, respect is usually due. It's not my fkng bike is it? "well let's see what you can bloody do mate." usually rings in my head before I nit-pick. A recent custom example is @Lucky Phil 's lovely greenie project. More of an engineering custom than a "look" custom, but certainly looks the part of what he wanted to accomplish I think, beyond just sticking that gorgeous motor into a relatively standard Sport. My guess is you were going for 'the Sport they should have built' ? The Sport/LM is a very unique design. An anomaly in factory backed releases imo. The Italians are known for it. Some work some don't. (cough centauro) The Daytona and early 1100 Sports will set the mark for value in the spine line. Eventually our beloved Marabese versions will be "discovered". Close ... but till then... it's your bike isn't it.

Ha ha I remember this craze... There were quite a few OUT THERE versions in sixties early seventies ChCh NZ! Bloody hell, I can still see my mate pedaling like mad up our steet back in '73! This belongs in a Nostalgia thread ha ha Cheers

If I was suspicious, and I am not , why would Bridgestone order a third party evaluation between their main competitors? UTAC does not specify how/who provided the tires. Did Bridgestones supply the tires to UTAC? shall we trust that Bridgestones picked random tires for every brand? I am surprised at the somewhat subdued performance of the Road 5 CT2 in the rain when Michelin has two patents on the new sculpting and design of the Road series for just that.... Obviously, the data of the test seems to indicate they are not as effective than the Battlax. But my experience in heavy rains and poodles and water does not match what the tester seem to allude to: hydroplaning? I think I am going to send an email to Bruno Destoop. Also, no matter how hard I pull on the lever, the ABS never engages on my V11!!!