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And a bit further to the east (50km) is Herberg Hutterscheid (similar name but that is a coincident). Also the possibility to pitch your tent or sleep in the Bunkhouse. https://www.herberghutterscheiderhof.com/

High Chapparal in Heiderscheidergrund Luxemburg is a nice place to go in our area. You can pitch a tent, so no trouble having a nice Belgium beer. https://www.camping-moulin.eu/faciliteiten/high_chapparal

Nah, I’m fully aware that Piaggio/Guzzi aren’t going to be making bikes for me. I pretty much lost interest, apart from a morbid technical interest, after the CARC series. That’s fine. I’m also a heretic because I think they should bulldoze the shitty, rat infested factory and move to a green-field site. Everyone hates me for that as well. Below there is a picture of the precise number of shits I have to give….

perfectly describes why I sold the DRZ, even though it was the DR 650 that threw me down, jumped on me, and broke my leg. The one I didn't sell. I'll never learn.

I still miss my DRZ400SM. I even had a dirt set of wheels / tires for it, along with a big bore kit and card. It was a hoot.

Must also test hot. Mine was good cold, but failed open at about 150º.

The thing that strikes me about this video, and so many others, is that the notion of 100 horsepower being something less than fast, is ridiculous to the point of being absurd. My '87 Suzuki GSXR 750 had probably 90 horsepower, and ridden to it's limit *on track* was terrifying. So the remaining 110 horsepower of todays superbikes is simply wishful thinking and posturing under the pants-covered ego of anyone riding them on public roads. It's not so much about downsizing your bike, it's about downsizing your presentation and focusing on your personal reward from riding. My Aermacchi 350, at ...um... maybe 35 horsepower, is the most fun to ride in my entire garage. No, it won't go cross-country comfortably. No, it won't handle 90mph sweepers like a locomotive. (yet) No, it won't power wheelie, it has no brakes, and no, it isn't reliable enough that I take it any farther than I want to Uber back to my motorcycle trailer. (Yet) But it is the most smiles per mile, because it *never* cuts into my fun by being too heavy, or too thirsty, or too pretty with impossible to find parts to worry about crashing off of it. This is why it's on my keepers list. There's a huge fun reward in driving a motorcycle to it's limits, and when those limits are attainable (and exceedable, be careful) on public roads without breaking many if any laws those rewards come with little or no consequences.

Pleasant video. I couldn't tell if he is thinking of downsizing from or to the Zed. Or if his concern is physical size or power. Maybe both.? I've been downsizing ever since a gust of wind blew over my precariously parked 600lb K1200RS. The Guzzi is now my only remaining weighty vice. Only 450lb or (much) less weight bikes are my future. The new Triumph Scrambler 400 X has my attention. I like the Enfields. My most insanely fun bike was a DRZ 400SM. I thought it might kill me so I sold it.

It appears to be. I didn't step in to phone anyone having no quid in hand to pay the call (I am, honestly, quite vague on what a "quid" is, but it is fun to say. ) A terrific gathering place in the unlikely place that is the town square of Gainesboro, Tennessee . . . https://www.bullandthistle.com/

There are other differences. I don’t think the V7-III and onwards have the semi-dry sump arrangement of the V85 although they all have the ‘Built in’ windage plate. From about 2021 the V7 series have a pressed up crank with one piece rods but they also adopted the roller tappets as used on the V85. From 2024/5 the V7 series also have variable cam timing. I have no idea of the details. Presumably some form of centrifugal advance mechanism. V100 is essentially a ‘Generic’ Piaggio big twin turned sideways with the gearbox on the side rather than underneath.

A model T ford is simple as well but you wouldn't want to drive one now in the modern world. Phil

.0073152mm Mick you sound engineer you Phil

Cardboard Aided Design..... now thats funny!

Thought it might be interesting to share pictures of our beloved V11's as we enjoy another popular pastime ... having a beer. Not encouraging drinking and riding at all... and I just want to reiterate how important it is that we are responsible motorcyclists. 1 beer is my limit if we are on the road and have lunch somewhere. On a longer trip we always make sure we get to the hotel early, park the bikes, then walk or taxi to a couple bars, pubs or breweries. Here in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. we are spoiled with hundreds of breweries and bars. Washington state, Oregon, Northern California and British Columbia all offer amazing riding, scenery and fantastic beer (and wine). Would love to see some interesting bars from around the world, if anyone cares to share. Pictures below are of the Last Frontier Saloon in Fall City, just 40 minutes east of Seattle. A very typical "dive bar" in this part of the world. I hope this thread is permissible and seen as being responsible. If not I apologize.

Oh my, did we really get into an espresso thread with an Australian on V11lemans.com? It’s about damn time! phil clearly likes finer and/or vintage things (he has a V11!), and he’s Australian, a land full of wonderfully finicky espresso drinkers, so it’s probably safe to say he has no problem with model T’s, but that if you really love to drink espresso, then the model T is going to produce a whole different product than a what a proper modern machine & grinder will do. Less-so for the espresso machine, which is an easier target to hit than a good grinder. (Almost) no matter how skilled you are, pulling a perfect shot using a “model T” grinder is damn near impossible, and at the least requires a lot of work, and some luck. of course it all depends on what you consider the perfect shot, the question which overwhelmingly colors the whole conversation. I’ve owned and used wonderful vintage espresso machines, which looked the part, and with considerable effort could produce a fantastic shot, but never without the right (modern, bloody expensive) grinder. The temp control, plus pressure & flow control of Phil’s new machine is very difficult or impossible to replicate on an old machine. if you like drip, or have taste for old-world coffee, then no big deal….. life is much easier for you! for those who like both old world simplicity and the benefits of modern geek-driven (beautiful) madness, are not worried about budget, the Weber HG-2 is spot-on. And it's not made from wood, for those inclined that way :-> No room in my kitchen for that (lovely) monstrosity, plus for espresso I prefer a flat burr. For the flat burr fans, spend double the already large price and get the EG-1, a fantastic unit, that I’ve only used at a friends house. Fantastic, and consistent. Just imagine, for only $4000 you can get a nice grinder for your counter that your friends will think is a NASA telescope! sad that in Italy, where I learned to love espresso so many years ago (as an eye opener compared the Folgers at home back then), where even the little hole-in-wall places did decent espresso, is now largely overrun with the disgusting automatic machines. Undrinkable, except for medicinal purposes…

Well those that own them, a model T that is. I worked with a guy who's father had a pristinely restored one and I aske him about it's worth. He said about $6000aud at the time and I was shocked. I asked why so little and he replied that they are so impossible to use on modern roads that people aren't interested in them even as a sunny day drive proposition. Backed up by a few other I know in the veteran motoring world. Phil

I was getting to know my K1200rs on my first spirited ride with it and fellow vacationers on the beautiful stream-side roads in North Carolina one fall day. Flat, but pretty twisty, 60ish mph +/- and I was at the tail of a 6 rider line. I thought I was doing pretty well keeping up with more seasoned sport riders. I was surprised when out of nowhere I was passed (with extreme prejudice) by 3 loud single cyl motards with riders standing on the pegs as they swept and in and out and passed us all. I recall thinking "I should re-evaluate my priorities maybe"

No way , why did you get rid of something that perfect ? I had a K100RS and still regret my decision to let it go ! It was the most neutral bike I ever owned.

And the rev/timing sensor. Works fine cold, dies when warm. Easy to ohm, 600/700ohm when good. Cheers Tom.

happy boy

An issue like that is probably best figured out by getting it to stop running and then tracing why it won't run while it won't run. Once you know why it won't run you should then be able to figure out what is causing it. The side stand switch alone should never fully prevent the bike from running. For example, if the side stand switch says the side stand is down but the neutral sensor says the bike is in neutral the motor should still run. Or if the neutral switch says the bike is not in neutral but the clutch switch says the clutch is pulled in the motor should still run. So, a problem with the side stand switch could stop you from being able to ride the bike, it should not 100% stop it from running unless there are other issue as well. You could manipulate that by, for example, tricking the neutral sensor into saying the bike is always in neutral. Not something I would do long term, but something you could do on a temp basis to test if the issue is your defeat of the side stand switch. When it stops and you try to restart it does the basic things happen when you turn the key to on? The fuel pump should run for a couple seconds, for example. When you try to start it does the motor turn over but not run? The side stand switch and it buddies the neutral sensor and clutch switch should prevent the motor from even turning over if they are to blame. My gut reflex to this is issues with the relays. Either the relays themselves or poor connections to them. In my experience they are the achilles heel of the V11. But there are also issues with the wires that go to the ignition switch and the ignition switch itself. Also, if you measure voltage on a 12 volt wire that is making a circuit without interrupting that circuit you will typically get a reading of less then 12 volts. Also, ground issues can screw with your readings if you are not grounding directly to the negative terminal of the battery that is providing the 12 volts. Meaning, if there is a chassis ground problem and you are measuring the voltage by grounding your meter to the chassis your reading may be lower or even zero volts depending on how poorly the chassis is grounded back to the negative terminal of the battery.

It sounds strange, unless you have a loose connection, the switch is either close or open. Couold it be one of these pesky relays with intermitent failure?

Apples to oranges. I've been a simple carpenter for over 50 years with an affinity for things well built from wood, especially when they are old.

Is that a genuine Brit telephone booth ?

The romance vs. the reality. I don't even want to imagine how much it will cost. It would have to be really really good, and with all the other iterations in the recent past, I'm kinda having flashbacks to seeing the stuffed "Trigger" at the Roy Rogers museum...

Settle down, Pete. It works ok, and what "retro" model these days can afford to ignore the Hipsters?

It’s fine until it gets to the swingarm pivot. Everything behind that goes to shit! What ‘Serious’, ‘Non Hipster mobile’ has twin shocks in 2025? Get outa here with that crap!

I'm sure it is. I took a test ride a couple of years ago on a V7 Special. I found the level of mechanical noise a bit surprising, but otherwise it was an extremely pleasant motorcycle. I don't expect that Piaggio has gone backwards in the intervening years.

Me too.

Bottom line, just don't be a @#$$#!. If you're gonna be a pecker, I'll have stay up late and moderate your pecker-ism. Gladly, we just don't have that here with this community of gentlemen. A decorum I am ever thankful for.

Yeah, been there and done that with another forum where I am an Admin. You go with what you got. No worries.

I have no control over the forum software, but it's fine if you want to be a pussy here, just don't be a @#$$#!. (dee-ick)

So somewhere between a bee's @#$$#! and a poofteenth. Thanks mate.

Agree with the others here...Theres going to be a lot of work to get that bike into good condition (although we all have different standards so your expectations may be more accommodating). Interesting that the brake and clutch fluids look new too,... and so with the tires and the other maintenance items you say were done, it seems someone has taken a "little" bit of care with it. Was it the towing company that did this? If it were me I would want to get this for less than $4K Canadian because I figure I'll have some expenses in addition to the obvious; new battery, complete service, new relays and voltage regulator, plus what could be quite a few days of fiddling and messing around with stuff. As previously stated the seat cowl is missing. The rear needs a repaint as well. Have you heard it running after it is hot and does it stumble or hesitate? Didn't see whether you have ridden it... (but don't ride it if the tires are more than 5 - 6 years old) I'd pull both spark plugs and check them out. Run the VIN number through every data base you can...does it have ownership paperwork? Either way, the guys here are a fantastic resource and super helpful so you do now have access to a lot of knowledge. Good luck.

Phil It's not written as a disclaimer,... it's just reaffirming common sense. It might seem a statement of the obvious but ya know,... old riders don't get that way by accident. It's what I thought when I first started riding 50 years ago and it will always be relevant. Just my 2 cents...

The Norton is more expensive because at this point, they don't have any market, very few dealerships, all located in UK. I was only comparing the spirit of the V7 Sport reissue versus the Norton Commando. I have a feeling that, because of the so many iterations of the V7, Guzzi/Piaggio was very careful to make sure the V7 Sport would not encroach too much on the other models. I have no idea how much the Norton Commando costs; not even sure it will be produced en masse, and imported in the US.

The only real difference tween the V85 motor and the V7 850 motor is the stupid TI valves isn’t it? I think this *New* Sport uses the big throttlebody as well? Personally I think TI valves are more of a negative than a positive and anyway the 80 HP figure is a drug-addled dream, even at the crank.

Drink a pot every morning. $20 Ham Beach. Throw in 3 scoops plus 1 hazelnut. Let her rip. 10 minutes and pour. Don't overthink morning.

Can you do that one again in metric, please? I'm getting splinters under my fingernails trying to convert it.

I find that mileage number to be believable. The stator cover, behind the front wheel, shows very little stone damage. I'd also check the date code on the tires - if they were made many years ago, it supports a low-mileage claim. It's likely that you will want to replace the tires due to age and sitting outside - even if there still appears to be good tread. If you just want a fun ride, I think getting this bike at a deep discount could be it. But as others have said, it will take some work, starting with a thorough degreasing to see what you've really got to work with/on. So if this is what you want, I agree with the cash-lowball offer suggestions that other have made. But if you are hoping to make it a real looker, you will be soon frustrated with the crinkle paint on the engine, transmission, and final drive. It is a large and labor-intensive process to strip that off and repaint it. I've done it twice, and I will not get another model with that paint on it (unless it is an otherwise spotless 2002 V11 LeMans-Tenni for a good price). The community here is also part of the joy (and occasional shared misery) in the ownership experience.

Yeah mate, I know. I just like using the manual grinder, and the Bialettis. As I wrote further up, I want it to be a ritual, and those things do it for me.

Also, based on what was said here and in the Norton thread, I feel I should add that any proper cafe racer is built, not bought. You could by a V7 Sport and make a sweet cafe racer out of it. I personally don't think it is supposed to be a cafe racer from the factory, but it does seem to be a decent platform to build a cafe racer, as long as you aren't expecting an overly powerful cafe racer. Remove as much as you can off it, add a solo seat and a small flyscreen, some clip-ons, and higher footpegs. If you have the money, add better rear shocks. Done.

Oh geez, you might have me started on something else...

I hate to tell you all this but there's a reason Modern espresso machines and modern coffee grinders exist and it's not purely for extracting money from your bank account. I also have one of these at home that I retired 20 years ago. It makes nice coffee but doesn't provide hot water for long blacks and isn't really much good to make coffee for more than 2 people as it has no delivery temp control. More than 2 cups and the water is too hot for a nice coffee. Beautiful but not practical for consistency or more than 2 cups. https://dipacci.com.au/products/la-pavoni-professional-prg-copper-gold-le?variant=44020080705795&country=AU&currency=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArva5BhBiEiwA-oTnXc4KzrW4t1LFyzBm5TMsOAUVoXiMgsHndDTfNpCSboq8UP6NovIrSxoCd5cQAvD_BwE

Leave the tire and oil threads to the amateurs. Here at V11LM.com, we take The Valve Adjustment from a maintenance task to the level of Philosophical Ritual.

All prosecco is cheap, why do you think the Venetians added Aperol?

There is a bar in Italy where the Moto Guzzi serves as lounge chairs. They are drinking Prosecco.

This is where I will eventually take a picture of my Moto Guzzi xxxxxxx (not sure which one it will be). This is the location where the movie "Badgad Café" was shot in Newberry Springs, CA. The town of "Bagdad" vanished as many others that did not survive the decline of Route 66.