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In the interest of science, I recruited a friend to go on a short, but twisty, ride with me this afternoon for the purpose of conducting a rigorous scientific experiment. The null hypothesis was: "OP Griso owner should not buy a Moto Guzzi V11 Sport or LeMans." Methodology Our study included suburban traffic, stoplight filtering, 40mph lane splitting, extraordinarily tight and narrow roads cut into steep hillsides, high-speed sweepers with uninterrupted visibility, and steep ascents and descents. We did not test any freeway or long straight sections, because that would have been immoral and would have violated the personal integrity of the test riders. Test riders switched steeds partway through the circuit, but did not liberate any oranges from the orchard. Findings: We were unable to disprove the null hypothesis, and therefore recommend that the OP should buy a V11, preferably one outfitted with Ohlins (or other suitable upgrade) suspension and the factory Titanium Kit Racing exhaust. Statistical significance was determined via the application of Scud's constant: intuition squared = objective reality. V11 LeMans = Sport Bike Griso = Sporty Power Cruiser Additional Findings: Riding the V11 caused rapid growth of chest hair, while no measurable effect on chest hair was noted during Griso riding. However, some light tingling in the wrist was noted on the LeMans, which was remedied by switching to the more relaxed riding position on the Griso. The LeMans exhibited a flagrant disregard for speed warning signs at the entrance of curves, while the Griso was arrogantly dismissive in similar situations. Furthermore, the acquisition of a V11 is projected to improve, rather than risk, marital satisfaction due to a logical syllogism. If buy V11, then ride more by oneself. If absence, then heart grows stronger. Therefore, If buy V11, then heart grows stronger. It follows that investing in motorcycles is the same as investing in a primary relationship. Disclaimers: The Nero Corsa is mechanically stock except for the Kit Racing exhaust. She has not been given a "decent tune up", and therefore suffers markedly in comparison to her Scura stablemate. The Griso is significantly upgraded. She has Matris forks, Wilbers shock, titanium exhaust, Marchesini wheels, Beetle map, upgraded Brembo master and rotors, Corbin seat, and every other bit and bauble that caught the PO's (Kindoy2) discerning, yet wandering and somewhat impulsive, eye. Additional Findings: This research study finds that if @KINDOY2 offers a motorcycle for sale that he has personally modified, it should be purchased immediately for the asking price. Finally, OP does not equal PO. This demonstrates that the commutative property of mathematics is not applicable to initialisms. In fact, in this case, OP = FOV11. Original Poster is a Future Owner of a V11.

Not to far from Rotterdam, on the bank of the river Lek (that reaches the Northsea in Rotterdam), in the little town of Tienhoven we have an International Guzzi Rally the 3rd weekend of June. I help organizing it and all of you are most welcome. Registration is not required, always enough space to pitch your tent. Relaxed atmosphere, Friday BBQ, live music on Friday and Saturday night. Small band to help us through the Saturday afternoon. Food en drinks availble. Small ride out on Saturday, booth sale/used parts an all. We always lack a good portion of spine frames.

Interesting topic and love the idea. About twenty years ago, I organised two V11 meetings: 2004 in Varsseveld (hometown) and 2007 in Sibbe (South Limburg NL). Great fun! And lots of international guests from allover Europe. I've kept in touch with a few of the attendees; beginning of June I'm meeting some Brits that attended in 2007. I've been playing with the idea of a 25year Anniversary rally in 2027. But, at the moment I'm still way to busy with my small business, being a city councillor and my lovely girlfriend (randomly ordered), so this year is not going to happen. BTW, that hotel is about 500 meters from my home! Docc, sorry to correct you but Leipzig > Varsseveld is about 550 kms.

Glad you did the road test and all those calcs...too much figuring for me though. I took the easy way out. I judged the book by its cover.

With the challenges of bringing our Chief Whip to a South'n SpineRaid in Tennessee, USA (we've tried! ), I shamelessly propose we take the party to him. Varsseveld is "relatively" centrally located in The Netherlands and yet striking distance for much of our European brothers, and those in the UK. (Listen to me, talking a big game from across the pond . . . ). Quoting MojoFuzzi in the Post a Picture thread, "there’s a lot of Dutch spinies on the forum 💪🏻. " (To name just a few) . . . @Tinus89 . . . @MojoFuzzi . . . @Jaide . . . @motortouring . . . @Admin Jaap . . . @Paul Minnaert . . . @sport1100 . . . David Konings . . . @Dadparent . . . @Walterg . . . Best wishes, gentlemen! I noticed this cozy place that looks just right for a SpineRaid . . . https://www.hoteldeploeg.nl/ [If this topic suddenly disappears, it may be that The Admin has deemed The Moderator positively off his rocker. ]

My V11 was my first ever owned bike. I looked at 3, rode on one. After 5 min of test driving, the shop owner looked confused and a bit disappointed. Don't you need more time? I said: no, what I need is a cup of coffee to discuss your asking price over. 10 years ago, still my best bike (own 3 and have owned 2 more, rode 10+).

Lots of maintenance over the winter (wheels off list, tank off list, swingarm bearing re-grease, new breather hose, fork oil, brake fluid, electrics cleanup etc.) The only drama was losing the BB that actuates the front brake switch and both U-joints loose, all sorted and ready for test ride when the old Odyssey battery gave up the ghost. Fortunately the nearby NAPA had a new PC545 on the shelf for $147. Ready to ride just in time for the recent nice weather, 200 mi loop to the coast without a hicccup. Thanks to all the info from the fine folks on this forum!

500m . . . 500km . . . It's just the difference of one silly letter!

Scud, your self-sacrifice and altruism never ceases to amaze me.

Had my v11 about 5 years, never missed a beat, now I want another one 12 X bigger. Also have a disreputable 850T3. Full size. Live Sydney Australia. Active in the NSW Guzzi owners club.

WHAT caused you to do something as absurd as to create a forum for something as laden w/foibles as this ? I do know w/o this , I would not own my V11s and I certainly not appreciate them or have a relationship w/a task force of other addicts .

I bought mine w/a picture only. I can't remember how I found it . it came out of Fla. Did I want it? Absolutely . I had only seen one in person out at Gerald's shop. Did I think I would like it ? That was irrelevant .

Well it's working, but maybe only a band-aid, not actually corrected. @Tomchri I ran a direct wire from the RR to the battery, took it for a ride and it now has higher voltage at higher rpm, as it should. Thank you. (The RR I bought came with a long power wire just for this reason, but wanting to keep it OEM, I had originally chose not to use it.) The problem now is this all started when my 30a fuse started to melt at the base (not blowing). I replaced it with a CB, but that hasn't helped other than allowing me to push the button rather than replacing a melted fuse. As it is now I'm concerned that there is still a short in that main harness. A friend tells me the additional wire will help add resistance and may in effect make up for the fault. To truly repair this, I believe I'll need to remove the tank and replace this power line. For now, I'll see how this fares.

Good luck and welcome mate. Cheers Ps would luv a mini me Green V11 Sport to go with my big un...

Yeah , you have something extraordinary . google pics from M/G sales brochures for a lot less $$$ . Can you post the last 8 characters of the VIN ? Can you post pics of the top of the forks , pork chops , clip-ons , etc. I assume yours has a black foam insert in front of the fuel cap to prove it is a external fuel pump .

500km on a V11 feels like 200km right? @Admin Jaap this year may be too soon, but I would happily help you organize something for next year? Would be great to get some faces to the names of the forum I roam around on for 10 years next year!

Had mine for years. The only problem is you can't lower the shifter and brake pedal low enough to match the lower height. The offset toe pedal available for the brake pedal does help thought

After a 50 mile ride yesterday, I decided to bite the bullet and I ordered a pair of these. https://knightdesignllc.com/motorcycle-parts/moto-guzzi/2005/v11-cafe-bellagio-1100-2003-2005/1-inch-lowered-regular-width-foot-pegs/ FYI They only have the black (in either style) or the silver Quadtrax tread left in stock.

That' s the spirit.I rode back from Berlin to Utrecht allong the coast of the Eastsea Danish border and Northsea coast. All together 1600km in an afternoon and the next day (08:00-24:00 and a bit). ...with a Cali 2. It would have been 4 days on the V11 Sport 😅

Gene I agree 100%

@Drew G'day mate. Welcome to the forum, and good luck finding "your" V11. There's at least one other member here in Sydney. I'll see if I can find his name. Can't remember off hand... EDIT: found him. @Tennitragic. He had a thread here with a wiring problem that turned out to be something simple, but produced really weird symptoms.

@docc what Jaap said... https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=51.3406321%2C12.3747329%3B51.9438019%2C6.4636436#map=7/51.887/9.421 But conceivable, given that I can get enough time off. In 2016 I worked at the European Soccer Championship in Lille and Lens. If I remember rightly, we stayed in or near Seclin. I rode there on the Kawaski GTR 1000 in one day, in the rain. https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?engine=fossgis_osrm_car&route=51.3406321%2C12.3747329%3B50.5452102%2C3.0252819#map=7/51.031/7.707 The V11 Le Mans is not the dedicated long-distance tourer that the GTR is, but Varssefeld is about 300 km closer to Leipzig than Seclin.

This V11 lives in the northern part of the Netherlands , there’s a lot of Dutch spinies on the forum 💪🏻

This V11 Le Mans is a beautiful birthday present for your wife. It is a very matury ellegant ballerina with an astonishing first impression, it ages like a flower in her prime. All of it resembles your beautiful wife. How else could you honor her.

Gotcha! what about the shoes?

You need a V11 because you don't have one

Almost true...the 2V 1200 Norge engine is significantly better than the 2V 1100 in the V11 series. However...having said that, owning and enjoying a 2002 V11 Scura, a 2008 2V Norge and a 2015 4V Griso...all I can say is: N+1 is the correct # of motorcycles you should have, with N being the current number! By all means delve into the V11 series...worst case scenario, you could sell it, but I doubt that would happen. The V11 series of bikes are extremely intuitive to ride, love the twisties and are very easy to work on, with the exception of some oddly placed zerk fittings...but to be fair, all of the Guzzi bikes have something unique about them. I have yet to find a reason to sell any one after having acquired another one.

The penny just dropped. You're right of course.

I have, very recently, performed some very bad math. Yet, consider that if #111111 was the first bike, that there was no production through 111110. 111456 - 111110 = 346

So, the VIN refutes my theory that it was late production 2002 and may have benefited from some 2003 "transition" parts as this is #346 built for the 2002 model year. (First V11 of each model year = 111111 edit: Nothing wrong with the new thread, but good to have them linked for cross refeisdictionsrence. * I share your curiosity. While we will likely never know, it is a fun exercise to ponder. I considered that a PO may have wanted handlebars (many have gone this route over the clip-ons) and, perhaps the fork upgrade. Yet, there are is also the later Long Tank (along with non-2002 color scheme), the grey side plates, and ITI /hUR instruments. All of this, at odds with the VIN, could suggest an extensive rebuild. In many jurisdictions, this would be notated on the title.

Lacking a crash, the later forks/brakes are actually a decent upgrade. Any way to trace ownership back and speak with the prior owners? That name or names might be in any paperwork which came with the bike.

It's a longish trip, but I could concievably actually ride to that. Should it happen, and time constraints allowing.

Mmmmm. Yeah but w/heat transfer every amount matters.

I'm seeing under 200 kilometers from Leipzig to Varsseveld. Striking distance!

If you have EVER used a thermal imaging camera , you know what heaven is.

Because there aren't many bikes as beautiful. Pretty simple for me.

And that, sir, is the correct answer.

I also questioned "less practical" as I typed it because the V11 Lemans is not an impractical bike overall compared to many other more specialized bikes. Perhaps I should have instead said, less versatile. Yet again, it is more versatile than many other more specialized bikes. The Griso and V85tt both simply happen to be excellent do everything bikes. The most obvious answer is @Oxfo-Moto needs the V11 Lemans so as not to miss out on it's extraordinary riding experience. Very very different experience than riding my Stelvio which I love in a different way.

@Bill Hagan, @KINDOY2, and @Guzzimax also come to mind as having, or have had, both Griso and V11 SpineFrames. @Guzzimax might be an especial influence as Derbyshire looks to be some 130 miles from Oxford . . .

My comment about them not crashing well wasn’t so much a criticism as a simple statement of fact. They don’t! Thing is they aren’t designed to be crashed so in terms of their performance and ability as a motorbike it’s an irrelevance. If I was a few years younger I’d be seriously looking for a V11 now but I’m old and unhealthy and don’t have much money for fripperies and toys any more since I retired and with my current stable of bikes I certainly can’t justify another one! The biggest issue with the Spineframe series to me is that they were designed and built at a time when the factory was very cash strapped and therefore some of the design features, (The outrigger bearing in the bevelbox casing is a good example.) are a bit ‘Poverty Pack’ and poorly thought out. Other parts though like the four shaft gearbox are a delight! I wish that had been carried over into the CARC series as a good one is a real joy to use! Look, they are what they are. The only way to know if you want to buy one is to ride one. So what are you waiting for?

We do have several members here with, or having had, both a Griso and V11, like @Scud. I would be curious what MisterÜberGriso, @pete roper, has to say about the comparison. I was surprised to see him express some admiration for the SpineFrame V11 recently having previously only noted him saying, "The V11 doesn't crash well. " The question being, "What with a Griso, then why also a V11?"

V11 Le Mans is less practical, more engaging, and more fun.

The amusement park is overgrown, the gates are padlocked and the whole area is patrolled by Rottweilers

The V11 will give you a more sporty and crisp-handling bike that is still comfortable for distance. And it will give you the chance to hang out here with the cool kids. The V11 represents an entirely different era of Moto Guzzi. You have a modern trellis-framed V85 and a CARC bike (the Griso). You obviously need a spine frame (the V11). BTW, you will probably need to add a Tonti-framed bike soon. And you can keep going back one generation at a time with your ensuing purchases... a loop frame would be next.

Argh! I have more motorcycles than she has handbags.

I am currently going through the same ordeal... I own a V11 Le Mans (2004), a Quota 1100 ES (2000), and would like to acquire a Stelvio 1200 NTX (2013) which I have already sourced and am lacking the physical space to purchase. It's all academical anyway; how can you justify owning several motorcycles? what would be the rational explanation, since you can only ride one at a time? The pleasure of possession? I have them, so they are mine, and I can do what I want with them? I like to think of it in the practicality way. I don't do leisure motorcycle riding. I ride my bike for errands, whatever those maybe. Here in Texas, it is actually the standard practice to have one or more "weekend vehicle"; you have your commute vehicle, and then the leisure pleasure one or ones. My Quota is my daily rider. Whatever I need to do, it gets first call. Short or long distance trip, the Quota has just filled in the spot. The V11 is different, and has been a purchase from the heart, for multiple reasons. When I was working in Sicily, the Work overs/completions Superintendent of Agip who was one of main work provider owned one. At the time I was running a Harley Davidson Sporster, the only one on the island, possibly. I took to the Le Mans immediately. I had a company car, but I left it at the base and used my Harley for everything. Rain or shine! I never had time to purchase a Guzzi, because I got transferred. I decided to get one now to make it a late dream come true. The Stelvio 1200 NTX is the second Guzzi I sought. It was replaced wiith the Quota since the first Stelvio I checked had the seat in the highest setting, and at the time, I did not know there was a lower position. The Stelvio 1200 NTX being a diplodocus, you don't want to drop it if you need to move it around in your garage. I have posted enough photos of how I am setup, and I need to move two motorcycles to get to my car. With the Stelvio, it would be three. The Stelvio would be the long distance runner. Not that I have not done that on the V11 already, or the Quota; I have done the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas since 2021, and I have used the V11 up to 2023 to make all the stops. The Quota joined the Le Mans in 2024, so I used both. This year, I have so far only used the Quota. However the Le Mans comes out for errands too, since I use the Quota for the tour. So what do you tell your wife? does she need all these handbags? does she need all these shoes? how many perfumes can she wear at any one time? how many coats, outfits does she need to own, some of them only came out once from the wardrobe? The Guzzi passion is just like a religion. Once you have adopted the cult, you need more than one catechism to understand its wisdom.

Nederland Spine Raid!

I've officially ridden my first 1000 kilometers on the Lemans now!

Some months ago…a request was made by footgoose for a photo of the three Tenni’s…..now the V11 is assembled…. Regards from tennitragic!