Kane

Thanks very much for this great information and advice. I really appreciate it. I’m going to check it out soon, as soon as the seller and myself can find a time to meet from his busy schedule. Scud, I was following your ST3 and was hoping to get enough money together to check it out, but alas it was gone like a Christmas snowfall. This one is going for $1500 with the worn clutch....not too bad a gamble, but I have yet to see it in person. I’ll keep you all posted!

Phil, I see from your profile that you have a Ducati ST2. How is 1999 for the ST2? I have read that the early ones had electrical and alternator problems.......do you know if this was better by ‘99? Any particulars for this year/model?

Cool! Thanks so much, Phil! That makes me feel better about considering this bike.

I hope it’s okay to ask a question about Ducatis here. I know this is a Guzzi forum, but you guys are so cool and smart about everything I though I’d ask. There is a ‘99 Ducati ST2 for sale cheap in my area, but it needs a new clutch. The bike has 32K miles on it. Is this unusual at this type of mileage, or does that sound about right for a Ducati clutch? It’s a dry clutch. Also, is this an easy fix for a dummy with a box of hand tools, or what would a shop charge for putting in a new dry clutch? Thank you!

Just an update, fwiw: I just acquired a pair of very clean hangers in a lovely black powder coat. Thank you very much, Bill. Now I’ve got something to compare the suspicious perhaps bent ones on my bike to, and at least the option of adding a new look. The price was very reasonable, so what the heck. Thanks everyone for your help on this. Cheers!

Good man. Money comes and goes, but your Guzzi is timeless. And with all of the kit you have for it it’s legendary. She’s a real beauty!

Hi footloose, thank you for asking and sorry for the late response. I’ve been wrapped up with holiday/end of the year stuff and haven’t been here much lately. Thanks for the leads, but I’m thinking to wait until I can attend to doing some upgrades on the bike and then pull the exhaust system off and have a more detailed look at everything. The mechanic who did an overall inspection on the bike told me that they were bent, but after studying images it looks like left and right brackets are asymmetrical, and also the tabs on the subframe that they bolt to do not look completely straight, but I really need to remove the rear body work and the exhaust to be more clear on what’s going on. As is, it’s not really a problem other than something being bent and not perfect. Thanks!

That’s pretty sweet. You’re right in my backyard, too, Scud. I got the Xmas finance blues, but that would be a nice companion for my V11.

Very nice! First time I’ve seen fishtail exhaust on a Guzzi. Is the fork rake standard for a G5? Would love to see more pics!

That’s a good point of view. And so many riders try hard, in so many ways, to be seen!

Tom, I’ve never heard anyone advise to stay invisible in traffic. I know to assume that I am invisible to drivers, but why try to be invisible?

Thank you, thumper. It looks like a well written study that breaks things down into enlightening statistical groups. At first glance without really delving into the text, it seems like there are avoidable factors for the rider such as speed and alcohol. In most cases it looks like the motorcycle was the “striking vehicle”, which sounds like the fault vehicle. Of course if some idiot driver pulls a left turn in front of a bike and the bike slams into the car, the “striking vehicle” was not necessarily at fault. Not that the authors are trying to place fault; they use the term “Striking Vehicle”, “fault” is my extrapolation which I shouldn’t really say without actually reading the study. The study is from accidents in 2005. I wonder how much things have changed with the present day state of distracted driving from people using cellphones while they drive.

Kevin, my clutch isn’t dragging. It feels great. Thanks for the advice on the cush drive. My initial post was about the effect of staying in gear with the clutch lever pulled on the health of the clutch. I know much more know about what happens with the clutch than I did before! Thanks to all!

Thanks for telling me why. I got used to leaving the bike in gear as I thought this is standard practice (left foot down, clutch lever in) and is what the MSF recommends. I never thought twice about it with a silent wet clutch (on bike or car). It’s the continuous insistent rattle of the Guzzi dry clutch that got me to wonder about this.

This may be overthinking it on my part, but will leaving the clutch disengaged (clutch lever in, bike in 1st gear) while waiting at a stoplight overheat or damage the Guzzi dry clutch or clutch bearing? This is how I’ve always done it on previous bikes, with my left foot down and right foot on the rear brake, and I know it’s common practice, but those bikes had wet clutches. I am wondering if overheating the Guzzi’s dry clutch is a concern with this practice. Anyone had a problem with this? Thanks

Very nice. I would love to hear more details on what was done to your V11. Btw, what mountains are those? That’s a great shot! Cheers!

Lovely bike........Hmmm, Fried Pie. Sounds delectable! Is that a local dish?

Your LMIII is a beauty!

Very cool. It looks like it could come zooming out of the Bat Cave!

I only have my one V11, but I have been craving a second bike to compliment it. My first inclination was to go with a Tonti or loop frame for some diversity from the spine frame sport bike, but lately I’ve been pondering what having a second V11 could bring. So that the two bikes would not be redundant, and while keeping the primary V11 on the road as a daily rider, one could take the secondary V11 and do what ever with it. So, while enjoying your primary V11 as you already do, what would you do with a second one (or third, as the case may be)? And if you’re already there?

What a great looking bike. Love the “springer” front end! And the fairing, paint, etc. I would love to see the side car side. Is this your bike, Chuck?