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But I doubt very much the V100 is sold in either country.

Bummer! the guy finally answered to tell me someone was flying from Seattle to drive it home this week-end. It all makes sense now; someone just said "I take it", so the seller was not really motivated to answer my silly questions, until I really insisted.

Strange... My experience, insofar, is individuals stopping their truck and parking to admire the gem and speaking to the owner. Rolling down the window to tell me they love the bike. Youngsters with pilioned girl friend on a 300 cc bike crossing roads and railways to talk to me. What I am missing are the 30 years old ladies getting an interest.... YET!

I have leisurely searched the usual places, and for some strange reason, I only found QUOTA for sale on that "smartcycleguide" which each time I have attempted to use, including back in 2020 when I was looking for a Le Mans, absolutely nobody ever answered. There are like six QUOTA for sale on it, but some of them have the wrong listing name, or the wrong photos, making me think it is not a reliable source. I found several of those with a location in the same town in UTAH. Which is too big of a coincidence to be ignored. The only one that seemed legit was the one on Facebook. However when I made my inquiry, the guy did not answer, and when I checked, he had changed the listing to "pending". Someone with a little bit of education may have replied telling me that the bike was spoken for, but not labelled as such. But you can read the body language in the narrative. This the kind of guy that may shoot me for ringing his door bell. Thank god, I don't like the color! not a big loss; but at 3,250 USD, plus the bike is in Texas....

As with any other rubber, there is a shelf life, beyond which the tire's performance is no longer per specification. The shelf life of an o'ring is written on the package. Parker specifies that an open package should be used quickly. Storage conditions too. And of course, in an opaque environment. I have discussed this here with the tire shop where I get my car tires. I always order my tires. I don't like how they store theirs.

Time is what I have the least amount of.....

This is really strange. The place of manufacturing does not usually change anything to the quality of the compound. In a tire thread, we discussed how important the storage of rubber/elastomere compounds is critical. The tires should always be left in their individual wrapping, and stored in a temperature controlled environment until they are ready to be installed. Another possible issue is the vulcanization process. Temperature and time are so important. When I was a student, I visited the Michelin Plant in Clermont-Ferrand. The guide told us that any breakdown in the process equates to failing QA/QC and resulting in discarding. You should definitively have your dealership to make contact with Pirelli to make them aware.

I noticed that riding a Moto Guzzi often has that effect on people. Now we can add animals too....

Does anybody know of a way to make contact with sellers that don't answer on "smartcycleguide"? https://www.smartcycleguide.com/L51233797 Is the site a good way to purchase anything? If you follow the link above, you will se that this QUOTA is listed as a "California Stone" from 2002. The title contradicts the details of the add. There are at least two of these bikes listed from UTAH Bountiful. I have sent email to each and everyone of them. Is this site legit?

I wanted to bounce back on your remark; You can probably change the springs inside the front fork, and put stiffer ones? not going to say that you can also upgrade the front fork, but there are probably some other ways to improve. Maybe put a more viscous oil too.

Sounds like the Stelvio 1200 NTX remains the front runner. The one that I checked in San Antonio Texas sold for 7190 USD from about 8k posted in January. Gives me an indication of where the market value those. 30k miles and 2014.

Thanks for your thoughts.... 1000 or 1100ES, at this point any would be fine; but silence is all I got from those who posted their bikes for sale. I am 6.0, but what really is important is the inseam. The Stelvio I tried was with the seat in the high position, and only the front of my feet touched the ground while sitting. I was not aware of the low seat position at the time. I am used to ride without ABS, and with drum brakes. Not saying that ABS is superfluous, but I have done emergency braking with the Le Mans including one that should have required a fresh set of underwear. I am riding on Road 5, so maybe this as something to do with it. Not sure I would like the QUOTA, but I am intrigued.

There are so many different versions of the panier, but indeed, it derives from pain; Initially, used to deliver it so it was longer for the Baguettes. Wickerwork exclusively. Pain and the panier to transport it was one of the major staple of any French mean, starting with Breakfast. Back in the days, at each restaurant you would find bread on the table, with butter. Later the panier was replaced by a paper sleeve for transportation. Kids would go every singe day to get the bread. Putting those on motorcycles? who came up with the idea to call them Panniers?

So far, did not get a single reply from the sellers of QUOTA. The one Facebook Marketplace is in Sherman Texas. Not only the QUOTA are rare, but they also play hard to get. I mean, at 3000 USD, there is no way curiosity can kill the cat!

@ScuRoo I found one; even with the correct color for my taste! However it is on one of these sites which sellers never update after they have sold their bike. Since it is an old listing, I don't keep my hopes up. But I sent an email; just in case. 4000 USD I can afford.

Thanks for the tip! I had not considered the QUOTA. To be honest, I have never seen one up close and personal. The Stelvio NTX and its "paniers (I really can't get acquainted with this designation)" offers some benefits as I have been starved to carry some of my photographic equipment on the Le Mans. A quick search on the usual web sites yield zero QUOTA; I am guessing they are going to be rarer than the Daytona 1000... But I like the crude look of the QUOTA!

While browsing the Internet, I came about this shop: Vectriq They are based in Sydney Australia; if you follow the link, you will find out the turn around for a repair or test is four weeks. They offer some layman's technical information on their website. There are probably many others, but since I found this one, I put it here, for the record. I did a quick search of the Forum, did not find any existing thread about Vectriq; hence, this post.

Let's see how quickly you will be able to realize your dream....

To illustrate my narrative further, closer to home, I would like to propose this video. Skim through the verbiage, just look at the landscape and picture the most appropriate Moto Guzzi to do it....

That was my initial thought too.... the market is not pointing towards this though. Besides, I do not think Moto Guzzi will ever be able to recreate the patina or aura of the Le Mans; at least not with the V100 engine. I personally am stuck in the rut, seeing a radiator on a motorcycle shills my prospect to get it. I do not want an iteration of a glory from the past, I want the real thing. I have gotten it anyway. I am reasonably certain that if and when, it will be a Stelvio 1200 NTX; for a little while, I thought the Daytona, but it would be too close to my Le Mans to provide me with a very distinct feel. I mean, past the initial discovery stage. The Stelvio makes perfect sense. It is a different perspective, far from the café racer spirit, indeed with a 19" front wheel, and 600 lbs. An great change from my Le Mans, but keeping enough of the Guzzi atmosphere I like to feel when I ride. Maybe even providing some new sensations which I have not yet discovered with my Le Mans. You are based in UK, it may not make much sense to you. The same way it never did to me when I lived in EUR. But Texas gets to you. I say Texas, I should say the USA. This is kind of the rider's paradise here. As I am typing this, I picture the Chihuahua desert in West Texas. There are plenty of bare terrain roads there, leading you to the stars above. Don't get me wrong, I have ventured on these strips with the Le Mans, but it was a go around, a mitigation, a worse go. Suddenly, an adventure bike takes a new meaning when you are riding alone, without crossing a single soul for miles and miles. It feels like the mythical "I am free", compounded by the no cell coverage. That's right! it is part of the complete loneliness. Nobody can reach you. I want to get even closer to the meaning of Lone Star State.

Indeed! and Minarelli was selling a load of "racing only" parts for it. Cylinders with improved transfers, Pistons, admission pipes, Dell'Orto, exhausts... these engines were completely customizable. Maybe it was a good thing they stole mine after all.

If you search YouTube, there is a German aficionado taking a 1200 Stelvio through its paces in a very bumpy terrain. It held its own....

I do not see a Stelvio in your herd.... Have you considered getting one? or a V85TT? I would imagine the beautiful, wild Norwegian terrain would be the ideal playground?

I am going to get to the bottom of it this year, after I complete the Texas Tour.

No surprise there as Moto Guzzi had officially shown a "Coming Soon" landscape ideal showcase an adventure bike. The Moto Guzzi V85TT is Guzzi's best selling motorcycle; it makes a lot of sense. The Stelvio would be my number one choice if I had room. Not the the V100; the 1200 Stelvio NTX. I want my cylinders air cooled.