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When I was in Italy, a colleague had the 930 Turbo. The distinctive flat 6 sound of the air cooled version is unmissable. Before the 996, I had an S2000, and the handling was superior! Alternatively....

Does the starter cranks on demand?

Have you read "Sully's" book? he stated how the FBW commands contributed to manage the A320 glide successfully.

I lived ten years in Italy, and had the opportunity to drive the 500 (not the Abarth though) and a Duetto (the Alpha Romeo convertible two seater). I would happily have a 500, however they are very expensive (I am talking about the original, not the recent models). This is my current ride; 22 years old, 50,000 miles.

I have done about 5k miles since I got the Le Mans. I did some long runs you can check the reports in "Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas". Excepted for the no crank that happened when the temperatures was in the 40's, so far the V11 worked pretty well. I trust it anyways. I am planning to do the Texas grand tour again this year, so I am hopeful it will even do better. I carry the strict minimum with me, what fits in the small bag on the luggage rack.

Just to give the V11 more space to rest.

If you like incredible engine sounds, here's one among the best! the Matra 650 12 cylinders. Rumor has it that is particular sound came because the exhaust pipes were cast and not welded which is the standard way today. Thus, the pipes vibrates like a horn instruments and make this incredible sound. Jump to 2'; this car was auctioned by ArtCurial and the presentation is irrelevant.

My issue is: can you trust the workshop to do the work as carefully as you would expect it to be? I am always referencing to the past, mainly because this is where my experience lays for the most part. In the 1970's, when you brought your motorcycle to the shop, you could speak to the guy that would actually work on it. Not to a "Service Manager". There were no "signature required". The guy would treat your bike as he would his. At pickup time you get a run down of what was accomplished, eventual troubles and suggestions. Not a rubber stamped check list. With MPH Guzzi here in Houston, I would say that we are privileged. The shop has a proven history in Guzzi bikes, and the current mechanic that works on your bike is accessible. After I got the Le Mans last year, this was my first stop for a full assessment. The bike was healthy excepted for the odometer disease common to the V11s, so far, so good. My V11 is afflicted with the common hiccups reported in the technical pages here: I have purchased all the necessary equipment to verify the setup. I have a cranking problem, which I have not yet resolved, but I am confident I have identified the problem. My main concern is space. I do not have any space to work on the bike other than doing menial tasks. My plan was to sell my car and purchase a SMART for two; even I ran all my errands with the Le Mans, there are times when I need to be able to have a bit more cargo space. Due to the chip shortage, the used car prices have gone unacceptable; It does not make sense to purchase a car that used to cost 6K for 15k or more today. I will wait, or if push comes to shove, I will go MPH.

Is riding a Guzzi, a V11 inherently different though? what makes a Guzzi special to you? is it just another motorcycle, or do you feel different? Guzzi says you are not the same when on a Guzzi. Is this a valid point? What criterion/criteria made you pick one, and a V11 in particular? Back in the times when I was in my good years, we identified with bikes according to their engine architectures. Such as the Kawasaki/Suzuki triples, the legendary Honda CB 750 four in line. The BMW only came with the flat twin, the British bikes where parallels, the Guzzi with the transverse V twin and Ducati with its L engine. Today, the Guzzi seems to have remained more or less the same. Ducati too, even if they have added two more cylinders and moved from the distribution they are so famous for. What is it then?

What strikes me the most in this documentary, is that a motorcyclist who gets a Guzzi is special for specific reasons. Why did you purchase a Guzzi, but more importantly, why a V11 in the first place. I know that not everyone on this forum owns or rides a V11; still, it is the rallying call of this site. We all our reasons, but some of those describes in the video resonates strongly with me. They may belong in the previous generations behavior. Today's world is so different in so many aspects. I had the opportunity to be a witness of many of the changes. I noticed that I enjoy the raw pleasures that were those available to me several decades ago. My association with joy remained unabashed throughout the years. I wonder what the newer generations will enjoy doing tomorrow? riding a V11 or getting therapy?

@ScuRoo The rear wheel seems to be protruding from the bike. It makes it look "unbalanced". Not for me....

As we are heading for some freezing days starting from Sunday, but only lasting into Monday, the local TV channels all made videos about how December 2021 broke all the temperature records since they are kept. I don't know if we should be happy, sad, or both.

You cannot call anything "Champagne" unless it comes from that French region. The non trade name is "Bubbly"...

Self Explanatory!

The Armadillo is one of the Texas official animal;

This M60ATTS battle tank was deployed in Vietnam and participated to the Desert Storm operations; HINT: the M60 has tracks...

It is my accent. A lot of people don't understand anything I say or mean.

Soooooo.... you post Triumph pics on a Ducati forum, and they don't kick you out? Seriously, looking at the fairing shown on the top pic, I don't like the "V" shape by the headlamp.

You forgot the Kawasaki KZ1300 in your 6 cylinders roster. The two strokes, you have missed out on something, that I can assure you.... Of course, the legendary Kawasaki triple, Mach III, H2, S1, S2, S3, S4. And later, the Yamaha RDLC and Suzuki 2 strokes four cylinders.... I have not looked for one here in the USA, but if you could get your hands on an Aprilia 250 RS, you would have a hard time leaving it alone!

When you say "sit", it means just that? no ride correct? What makes me cringe is the price tag. Its just insane to pay 20k+ for a pair of wheels.

I remember the power outage, and the desperation and losses it caused. I do hope we are not going to get a repeat of this. Losing power and water is something I have experienced during my ventures, so I know how to cope with that. Now people that have not been accustomed to rough conditions have difficulty to accept them. We only had a little taste of what it means. Most people in my neighborhood have their own generator now.

Don't let it go!

My Six cents; There is a thread of my looking for a right end bar weight because it fell off. I rode with no weight because it took a long time to locate one, and I can attest the vibrations are unsustainable. Very easy to compare between the left and the right hand side without weight.

I personally apply Murphy's law; you know if it works, don't touch it. Although the temptation to intervene is there, simply because you want to keep up with curiosity, or self satisfaction that you did it too, I have scaled back my ambitions to make my personal V11 closer to the perfection it aspires to be. Of course, I have multiple excuses that I comfort myself with. The main one, is the bike runs reasonably well; and I use it as much as I can. Immobilizing it if not completely necessary does not sound the healthy alternative to me. The current Houston weather is an invitation to do everything on your Guzzi, and that's what I am going to do. My front tire is ready to give up, and it was brand new before I fixed my odometer...

Eat your hearts out!!! riding has never been so pleasant with the Guzzi loving this temperature. Not even a cough at the usual 3krpm. And it has been like this excepted for I think three days of cold in November. But check it out, from Sunday, we finally are going to see some winter days...