p6x

So I went to Dime Box Texas, and back; about 200 miles. This morning I did 35 psig front and 40 psig rear, and I completely loosened the dampener. I did not touch the fork. While the 290 was kind of boring, I kept a high pace. The reward was FM1697, even if the first section from Burton had some loose gravel. There were tighter turns, and the Guzzi handled like a charm. I only did 39 mpg, as my low gas warning light came on at 170 miles completed. Lots of fun, even if the heat was sizzling in full gear. I have another question, but I will create another thread since it is off topic on this one.

Fourth stop, Stop #46: world largest Dime in a box, Dime Box, Texas. In the suffocating heat, a quick back and forth to a little village named Dime Box, where you can find the world's largest Dime... or so it says. The town feels really lonely... thank god, they had Moto Guzzi feed! It was 1:12 when I reached it. The last part of the road from Burton was a lot of fun.

I try to not write anything compromising but mainly, I am still in my discovery process of this bike. I am going gradually and increase the limit bit by bit. I am wary of anything that could go wrong. I need to get confident. Texas is one of the best playground for 6000 rpm. Since c19, the posted speed limits seems to mean nothing anymore...

You never "lean out" of the bike? I live to "drive" from the rear, a bit like Jorge Lorenzo did when he was racing. I did enjoy hugging the tank, but with my butt wedged on the cowl. But it is not comfortable long term because my legs are at an odd angle. As for the weight on clipons, I am with you; I don't like to be too much "on the front".

So true! thank god, I will never carry a passenger, so I just need to find my best setup.

I have not yet experimented with tire pressure. Not until I settle on a tire brand and type. But this morning, I will check 38 on the front to see if it improves putting on the angle.

I need access to a racing track, to adjust and test... the highways here are not ideal for that. I know where to find a set of twisties. I favor a set up that will have to be a compromise between stable in long fast curves, and agile in the tight ones. I never had a motorbike that heavy before.

I run a similar arrangement on my tire pressure. I am on Michelin Pilot Road, but I cannot tell which version. I think they are version 2, but I am not certain. I

I have not yet touched any of the settings. I like to be smooth and I don't really fancy wrestling the front. I will check the damper before my next ride. On another subject, not a single cough or sputter and it was really hot... I rode from 10:30 until 1:30ish pm.

Today I rode 160 miles non stop. Nothing fancy, just trying to get a feel for the handling, and the best way to sit on the bike. I was on the I-10 towards San Antonio. When negotiating curves the handling is more responsive if my back is against the cowl. It also helps to lean inside the fairing to cut the wind. Now it has one major draw back. I am six feet tall, and my legs are locked underneath my body when I crouch, so if I want to do a quick change of trajectory, it is difficult to lean out of the bike. If I seat directly behind the tank, it is easier to lean out to negotiate the curves and to sweep left and right. My legs are not locked, but the bike is less maneuverable that way. I have not yet tried tighter curves. The Le Mans is very stable at speed while curving, but it is not really agile or easy to get out of the initial angle. I went briefly up to 6000 rpm, and did some quick changes to check. It is like a rail, but you can't really move it from its chosen glide slope. Is this more or less the consensus here?

I am not a specialist of powder coating, but I know more or less what it is. Most of the powder coating kits, I mean the cheap ones, are around $100, with some at $90. Then you need to purchase the paint, another $20. Just for the one time.... Not sure it is worth the while.

Here is the answer from "on-bike" customer service... this guy exudes confidence and appears to be annoyed by people seeking clarifications: lol.... After his reply, I feel so much more confident in his technology.... should I ask him if his designed has been reviewed by an certifying authority?

Spanish girl.....

I hope that I am not going to offend anybody.... This is an old "for adult cartoons" French magazine, which only cost six Francs, so a very old one indeed. As you can see, the choice of the bike and individuals correspond; Prolo is short for Proletaire or Proletarian in English... the guy wears an overall, which symbolized that.

It appears that the plates reach underneath the foot peg anchors, but you would not want it to slip from underneath. I have asked the question, and we shall see if they have any feed-back tomorrow. I found strange they don't seem to have photos of the system installed on a V11. I mean they must have tried it on a V11, no? or even, they could have asked one of their customer "with nothing but praise" to send some pics...

If you follow the link he provided in the quote, and you look at the foot peg mount, you find that the plate that goes underneath the foot peg would reach underneath the anchoring of the foot peg. Why not a U shaped support that you could slide underneath the foot peg pivot? the bracket is only there to prevent horizontal movement.

I can relate to "home made" special tools. I was in the battle tanks industry, and a lot of the stuff we had to tear down after the tank had been used in the field could no longer come apart as described in the service manual. So we had to devise our clever ways...

I can understand using a cheater pipe. The OEM stand is no longer available though. Because when I add up the costs of purchasing the on-bike lift + foot peg mount + shipping, then I come close to the price of a good scissors lift. Which I would buy without any hesitation if I had the space.

Good catch Docc! I watched their bracketing system again, and the only way it could work, is if they would lift from the pivot fixture, and not on the collapsible foot rest. I am going to ask them to comment on that. Since he quoted they sold about 65 of those lifts to V11 owners....

I found two bar end weights for my Guzzi from Boonstra in the Netherlands. Used, but for 40 Euros + 20 for express delivery. The powder coating quote I got was not specified exactly but above the 100 USD mark.

I believe showing up would have tipped the balance in your favor; it is obviously more difficult for them to turn you down when you are in their faces. It is always easier to be stringent when "protected". There is always the sympathetic component too. I mean these guys make a living out of those who like motorcycles, they should understand when it is time to forget about brands, and simply provide assistance. I find that today, we make everything too "virtual", impersonal. I don't do that, but this is because I have time at my disposal. I don't phone the shop, I drop by. It is only 15 minutes, but I know that I will speak to the guy that works on my bike, and not the admin which does not really know what's the plan, and will possibly tell me something she made up to make me feel better. In person is the best way. Although sometimes you may bump into someone who is not going to like you just because it is human nature; you can negotiate, and you know whoever you are speaking with is focused on the conversation, and not answering the phone mechanically while trying to solve the problem you just interrupted with your call, which induced him to get rid of you as fast as he could by just saying no!

Formotion shipped the set yesterday, I am just waiting for the instruments to reach me. Yesterday, the temperature outside was about 102 degF in the afternoon. Today only 88 degF. True about silicone oil. Most of the Bourdon tube pressure gauges we had were filled with silicone oil for pointer stability. We also used silicone oil in buffers, so there must be a reason.

wow! that bad... What I find unacceptable is that the shops did not want to make an exception for a rider in need of help. I always thought that in case of emergency, people would help you. Or at least, this was my experience. But most of that was several decades ago; I suppose it is all different now. You can never be 100% certain you will not need assistance along the way. You may be able to anticipate normal wear and tear, but in you cannot predict everything in advance. I am going to verify with my insurance what they mean that I get a free tow to the nearest mechanic....

I got the replies from Boonstra; they have never tried the JMP lift on a V11 Moto Guzzi. However, "on-bike" said they have sold many of their lifts for V11 Moto Guzzi. Here's their answer: Is there anyone reading this thread owning one of these? Those of you with "motorcycle lift" experience, any opinion on the "footpeg" solution?