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330km now, have a good feeling about clearances and everything. Winther project with a clean bill of health. Must admit she has an easier willingnes to curbs than myV11. I actually have a feeling for my keepers, yes IPA TIME. Cheers Tom. Sent fra min SM-S906B via Tapatalk

Following a weekend of riding on wet, sodden roads (another appalling wash out of a UK summer), I cleaned the filth off my burgundy V11 today

hah, exactly! of all places to talk about rational things, a V11 lemans forum… that’s beautiful! 20-some years ago when my good friend had a Lemans and I had an ST4 with factory side cases, I gave him an endless hard time about what a useless bike he had. It was a good natured debate we had, but I just laughed at his ridiculous choice of a moto guzzi v11, which he rode in all weather, putting the after market side bags on it (ugly… ouch), buzz in the handlebars, had mechanical problems he was always fussing with, had less HP than my ST4, didn’t handle as well, and so on. To me, the St4 was a real stretch on rationality, meaning it wasnt as rational as a Japanese bike like the FJ (etc), but I could justify it with whatever logic I used at that time. Oh, and I had my BMW 1150RT…. now there’s a bike that’s so rational it’s like a car, just with better fuel econ and easier to park in a downtown area. Now I own that same V11 he had, the one I scoffed at. Plus 2 more. The practical but boring BMW is long gone (after 80k miles). If we try real hard to rationalize the V11’s we can, sort-of, but its a stretch. but for me it’s pretty much because I just really like them, and they make me happy when I ride them or think about riding them.

my lower bolt was somewhat loose, makes me want to spend some quality time torquing all the little fasteners everywhere on the bike

I oughta print this diagnostic rundown and carry it on the bike and leave a copy in the shop manual.

Harpers I ain't had very good luck lately with fleabay new/used stuff for sale but what do I know. That stand bracket looks to be cast aluminum, bends one way but not so easily back the other way without breaking is a ferrous material. Definitely possible to straighten with heat I guess. I like the idea of checking securement hardware at oil change/annual checklist item or possibly using locktite (medium) or lock washers. Good luck.

Great thing about @TomH coming here to solve this problem is: This is the best place in the world for the care&feeding of a V11 LeMans/Sport . . .

A sound of thunder across the Frisian countryside.

Sounds like you had a disappointing day . Relay #1 is working because the starting motor works. Relay #2 is working because the headlamp is ( I assume) working ? The way to verify it is working (since you don't wont to lean over the bike) is to push the horn button. Relay #3 is working because the starter is allowed to crank. Relay #4 is working because it supplies +to Relay #5 Relay #5 would give you evidence of working when the fuel pump would (make noise) function . The #5 relay controls the + to the fuel injectors , ign. coils and the fuel pump.

https://briggsauction.bidwrangler.com/ui/auctions/122350

In light of the many instances of fuses being a topic for discussion, I thought I'd post this. I stumbled upon it tonight while having an emergency beer after work and thought it very very interesting. A detailed investigation into fuse quality. For our more electrically capable members, I am sure this isn't news, but for amateurs like myself I found it really enlightening. I hope it's OK to post this here.

Thank you ! While swapping out the fuses on both bikes , I found the 30a fuse on Greenie starting to melt the plastic on the fuse . SO , I start all over and bend the terminals on ALL connectors on ALL the fuse terminals and use a dab of NYE 750G "goo" to help the contact surfaces . I put the old fuses in a baggie and stuck them up in the hole behind the seat . When I got back from my trip to town I found the package from MG Cycle. Now I can install the pump , air filter and fuel shutoff . The strange thing about this shutoff , it does not need a 12 in pie wrench to turn the fuel off/on ! One of these days both of these bikes will be in riding condition !

I think life would be boring if viewed only through rational eyes.....

I would not ride my bike to the end of the driveway (1000') and back w/no oil in the transmission. You have no idea how fortunate you are !

On airplanes, the cylinder needing checked is put at TDC compression stroke. The prop is dangerous and is held tightly before turning on the air. The regulator sets the first gauge at 80 psi, and the second gauge shows the leakage. The prop then can be turned back and forth a degree or so to get the highest reading. A normal cylinder will be 75 psi or above. I don't get terribly concerned until it reads 70 or under. This will show leakage from rings at the crankcase breather, intake valves at the carb, or exhaust valves at the (wait for it) exhaust stack. It won't tell anything about valve guides, but since it is at TDC you can feel how much clearance there is by wiggling them around. Edit: I would put an on/off valve on the hose to the cylinder on the pictured rig. It makes things simpler.

I kinda want to continue down the Path of Denial about my valves and guides.

Love the Rosso Corsa, I have one myself

Docc, from the look of those plugs, I would do a leak down..just to have an idea of general condition of the rings/valves.

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen!! @po18guy, It occurred to me that the coils could be "tired" and contributing. @Joe, The tank heat shielding is intact. @gstallons, On the side of the road, I would liked to have had some freeze spray or electronics cleaner to selectively cool components, especially the petcock, fuel line, and pump. They were too hot to touch.

It is quite common the fasteners gets loose, making the bracket vulnerable to bending. The small, lower faster should be snugged up routinely (say, at every oil change). Realize that the larger, top faster torques to 70 Nm (!). I don't recall anyone trying to straighten a bent bracket back.

Docc, I’m glad you rode it home, just short of a miracle. I have a question, is the heat shield still glued to the bottom of tank? Mine had fallen off early on during ownership of my first 01 V11 Silver Sport. Off memory, that’s fading, it would act the same way riding in extreme South N’ humid heat coughing and dying while slowing down to idle. Cheap low octane or bad gas would make it have episodes too. Like Gene stated, the relay logic of the bike was functioning fine. I remember checking everything on the bike, then it would eventually fire up and be ridden directly home. Last question, how much impact does the heat shield have on extreme heat days, could the fuel be getting too hot?

They started plating the center / ground electrodes to prevent wear of the material and increasing the air gap. The better the plating material , the longer the lifespan . It ain't gonna prevent build-up like is on Docc's spark plugs . I am still "sitting on the toilet" musing about what caused the breakdown on the bike yesterday . the fact it was a no start after a hot-soak....hmmmmm. Chemtronics sells Freeze Spray . r-134a in a can that will COOL down any electrical component to diagnose "if" it is the fault. BTW , Docc , these smaller relays will get so hot you are going to think they will melt . Mini and Micro relays are used in everything and I cannot understand why they are put in high current situations.

Sad, indeed. I feel such a respect for Dr. John (as many of us do). While he never engaged with our community, I yet offer my respect.

Having a few bikes it's actually very recomended for a pensioner's health, shoud have been on blue subscription. Winther project started july last year, why not this year to with riding weather like this, -3 not far away. Gives me something meaningful to do since bikes always was a BIG part of life. Bit wet and on the chilly side here, but no thank you to 100+ in Houston. Remember well 43c in Barcelona with up north riding gear, TERRIBLE. Cheers Tom.

My location is now in the tail of Beryl, and let's say it was quite the experience, again! We had the Derecho in May, 6 days without power, and we also lost power this time; fortunately, it came back a few minutes ago, partially. The whirlwind was like mini tornadoes and a lot of foliage and trees have again been uprooted. Lots of cleaning will be required. Fortunately, this time we still had a semblance of phone network, so we could monitor the Beryl path. The gusting is the most impressive as you go from complete calm to a sudden force gale. Losing the Internet is really like losing your lifeline to communications.

And ready for more km [emoji16]. Cheers Tom. Sent fra min SM-S906B via Tapatalk

Mallory Park bike fest this weekend, weather poor with heavy downpours. My V11 in the Guzzi club tent

IPA time!

Seen at Moto International in Seattle in 2015. A nice-looking Rosso Corsa.

LiquiMoly is the choice of my trusted ///M roadster technicians.

On a lighter note : do you remember when one guy drained the trans. and refilled through the flywheel inspection (rubber) plug ?