Guzzimax

80XC100 asked me how I feel the MT01 compares to my Guzzi’s It’s very difficult to pigeon-hole the MT01; it’s no sports bike, it’s not a cruiser (but it’s got a cruiser engine), it’s not a tourer. Perhaps that’s why when it was in production from 2005 ~ 2011 it was a sales flop. They’re as rare as hens teeth here in the UK as well, but now rapidly achieving cult status. I think they look incredible - Mad Max meets Godzilla, they have massive road presence, and wherever you park it, it always draws a crowd usually with “what the hellisthat” questioning. Some folk confuse them with a Yamaha Bulldog 1100. Firstly I have to say I’ve never ridden any Buell, in the UK they are also as rare as hens teeth, so I can’t use that as a benchmark. The MT01 is a torque monster, 2000 rpm = 60 mph. It’s only a 5 speed box, but unless you doing 80 mph+ you rarely need 5th. Overtaking anything up to close to the ton is easy, open the throttle and the wall of torque pushes you forward like a warp drive. At 4500 rpm it’s all over! But it’s a very tall heavy bike, something like 260 kgs wet (574 lbs), and it feels like it carries it’s weight high. You have to work hard in the twisties, at the time of its production, some road testers praised its handling, but you can’t forget it’s bulk, it turns in slowly despite not having a massively long wheelbase (1525 mm; V11 black frame 1490 mm; Griso 1554 mm 61”). I think the suspension is a little under damped for it’s weight. After an hour or so in the saddle, you need to take a break from the vibration. On the plus side the finish is incredible, polished pushrod tubes, the extruded aluminium frame looks like a work of art, mine is 16 years old and still looks terrific Today I took the MT out on the same route I did on my Griso 8v last Sunday, and my Greenie 2 weeks ago In terms of ride satisfaction my scoring is (1)Griso 8V (2) V11 (3) MT01 I will write a more comprehensive comparison when I have more time. My conclusion is the MT01 is too much of a niche bike - great to have in your stable if you can indulge yourself with several bikes, but too compromised to be a great all round riders tool. The Griso 8V is a great all round riders tool, and the V11 is a worthy runner up, just edged into second place by the fabulous 8V Guzzi big block. I have to say that if I could only have one bike I’m my garage it would be a hard choice between an Öhlins equipped V11, or a Griso 8V, but it wouldn’t be the MT01

Bike cleaning afternoon today, Greenie & MT01 out of the garage, and treated to degreasing, bug removal etc to smarten them up. Reminded me how heavy the MT is pushing it around the yard, makes the Greenie feel like a lightweight. Two roper plates arrived yesterday, got to order some sump gaskets

The relative weight (heavy or light) is what you get used to. I’ve been recently riding my MT01 and that’s 265 kg (584 lbs) wet. Getting back on a V11 (around 540 lbs wet), and it feels like a 250 cc in comparison. Despite the MT01’s cylinders being a conventional in-line Vee, the tank is bulky, it has a high C of G, and great care is required when wheeling it around a carpark or garage. I don’t find a V11 bulky, but if I usually rode a V7 it would seem huge In our local riding “community” there are 2 female riders, one has a V50, the other an Enfield Himalaya. My daughter started learning to ride a couple of years ago, passed her CBT and I bought her a little Yamaha YBR125, then she was promoted at work & had to move to London, with no secure parking at her apartment, and the YBR was unused in my garage so I sold it. She always rides pillion with me when back at “home” I think a V7, or V9 would be an ideal Guzzi for female riders, low seat height, not too heavy, and low C of G. Rarely see any though……

Excellent choice of machine. Went on a ride out around Derbyshire today with some friends, I was on my Griso 8V, seen here parked next to a friends fabulous MK1 Le Mans, whilst we were stopped for tea & bacon butties

2003 Rosso Corsa, 04 Le Mans, and my 05 MT01 the Master of Torque

My 2003 Rosso Corsa

Thanks for everyone’s valued replies and opinions regarding my tyre question. Over recent years I’ve also had several Triumphs (including Speed Triple 1050 & Tiger Sport 1050) using Michelin Pilot Road 3 sport/touring rubber and always been happy with Michelin’s grip/handling/wear performance Equally my Greenie and Gen 2 VMAX have Bridgestone tyres, and in the case of the Greenie almost new Battlax BT021’s. These feel OK when they warm up, but warm up takes a long time and they don’t feel so good at colder temperatures

Where did you source your Roper plate kit from?

It’s getting time to replace the Pirellis that my 1999 silver V11 is riding on. This has lead me into browsing what brand/spec of tyres I should choose Both my black framed V11s with 180 rears have Michelin Pilot Road 2 sport touring tyres, and I’m happy with their performance, although Michelin now offer newer versions Does anyone have any recommendations for the red framed V11s with 170 rears? My Greenie has Bridgestones, and I feel that they are more touring than sport, the rubber seems harder and takes longer to warm up yesterday I was taking to a guy I know with a 2015 V7 II Special originally fitted with Pirelli Sport Demons (bias ply). Hated them, said white lines and poor surfaces unsettled them very badly. Changed to Avon Roadriders & reckoned it’s transformed his V7 handling Now I know that V11s with 17 inch rims would have more modern radial rubber compared to a V7, but whats people’s recommendation for rubber for a red frame with a 170 rear?

I was all set to buy a Monster 1100 earlier this year (last of the air cooled), then this Greenie came up for sale, only 5K miles, and with a lot of money spent by the previous owner (new clutch, frame & swing arm powder coated, belly pan and lots more including a LeMans style bikini fairing that I’m yet to fit). The price was right, next thing I know it’s in my garage next to the others. The Monster will now have to wait until next year….

I’m lost for words, what a way to butcher a V11, awful, styled by Lego

And here is the exposed frame of a 2003 Sport, it’s slightly longer than the earlier red frame (@ 25 mm from memory)

I’ve never really been excited by cruisers. I’ve got a Gen 1 & Gen 2 VMAX but they’re not real cruisers (standard bars & foot pegs) and in the case of the Gen 2 they handle well for heavy (310 kgs) bike. The feet forward & foot boards of the Cali 1400 don’t do it for me. Also doesn’t the 1400 motor have a single throttle body, and I recall reading some where that the 1400 head design is very restrictive ? Narrow ports / poor gas flow compared to the 1200 motor? Fully appreciate that the 1200 roller tappet motor in the Stelvio is the same as the Griso’s and if adventure bikes were my thing I’d probably rate them above the Griso, but IMHO aesthetically & dynamically the Griso 1200 is the ultimate big block development for me

PJPR01, you sir have summed it up perfectly!

Had a fabulous ride on my Griso around the Derbyshire hills today. Did exactly the same ride on my Greenie 2 weeks ago. Reflecting on the contrasts, it reminded me what a gem the 1151 cc 8V roller cam motor is. Masses of torque throughout, and at high rpms it just keeps on pulling. The Griso 8V is a joy to ride, sure it’s long heavy bike, but I can hustle it along the twisties around here and make great progress, it countersteers well, and generally feels rock solid even when really pushed hard, I think it’s a lot more planted than my red framed V11’s, but that’s down to it’s longer wheelbase and stiffer frame. IMHO styling wise I still think a V11 is slightly ahead of the Griso, but the Griso was and still is an awesome package & finale to the big block Guzzi’s Will we ever see an as accomplished a Guzzi as a 8V Griso ?

Last weeks Derby area Guzzi meet (I’m on the black Griso) We’re all upside down

Most of my photographic efforts are fairly rubbish, I usually forget to hold the IPhone the correct way up, thus resulting in an inverted image Shiny side down, rubber side up doh

I can honestly say I cannot ever recall seeing a real live black V11, or even an advert for one in recent years, it would be interesting to see the actual production nos

When it comes to the red frame V11’s, the Greenies always seem to get the attention. What about the “Silveries”. Rarer than the Greenies, but classy & subtlety understated in their traditional silver finish. I don’t think they are drab, they have a classic cafe racer look, and the color really suits the V11

The Greenie’s no quicker / better to ride than the other short framed V11’s but I cannot think of a cooler looking motorcycle, it oozes class I’ve also got an early silver V11; it got me thinking, I see a few Greenies around, the occasional silver one - they seem to be rarer, but cannot remember the last time I saw a black short (red) framed V11. The black ones must be the rarest

Steve, I haven’t sold a V11 recently, but I have bought two over the past 18 to 20 months, which may help. I’m currently maxed out with V11’s as I have 5 of them at the moment. I bought a Rosso Corsa in March 2020, and I do plan to sell my 04 Le Mans, but haven’t got around to selling it yet, so I am interested in learning more about the current pricing situation if it’s any help for you I paid £6K for a mint 2003 Rosso Corsa with 14k miles on 18 months ago. The previous owner was downsizing his collection, and had paid considerably more than that from a well known Guzzi main dealer around 18 months previously. The Ohlins bikes are rare and I was happy with my purchase at that price. I bought it from an ebay ad. A few months previously I purchased an early red framed 1999 Sport, near mint with only 4000 miles and much money spent by the previous owner, I paid £4.2K almost 2 years ago Guzzi’s are always niche bikes, and I think the size of the potential market is relatively small, but may grow as these bikes approach classic status. I do try and keep an eye on prices, and I know a local main Kawasaki dealer sold an immaculate 1999 Greenie with fairly low miles in April for around £5.5K What I would ask though, is why change a V11 for a V85? A few weeks ago I left my silver 1999 Sport at the local Guzzi dealers for a throttle body balance (I’m not great at doing that). Later that day I walked back to their workshop to pick the bike up, the dealer had just taken delivery of a new black V85 demonstrator, and I was looking this over as their mechanic rolled into their parking lot having road tested my V11 after setting the throttle bodies. He saw me looking at their new V85 and said, you don’t want one of those, your V11 is way more fun to ride, he then spent the next couple of minutes explaining why he thought I’d be disappointed with the V85 knowing I usually ride V11’s and a Griso 8V I will book a test ride on a V85 just to see for myself, but I think you’ll miss the grunt of the V11, and as it’s a Ballabio it does have comfy bars rather than clip ons, which for me as I approach my 7th decade, are hard on my back after too few miles just my thoughts …. I have sent you a PM on ebay about your terrific carbon fiber belly pan