dbdicker

Maybe I'm a fire waiting to happen, but I replaced the relays with the quality GEI relays everyone's been touting and then substituted these These Fiamm horns from the JC Whitney catalog. They fit as if they were stock on the stock brackets. I used one high and one low tone horn. Sounds great and makes me feel much more safe. Didn't bother with new circuits or anything, so if I blast a truck and my gauges catch on fire, I've got no one to blame but myself So far, however, all seems to be working beautifully..........sometimes the solution is simple Dan

Paul, You're right.........nothing cheap at all.........just wrong for the intended use. Apparently, MG wanted to make the Scura/Rosso/Nero their 'super sport' version of the V11. Ohlins took this to mean to equip with track-spec kit.......which they summarily did. For a guy like you, Paul, after seeing your site...........I can imagine that you were happy with the stock Scura suspension.........you look like a hell of a racer and your weight is correct for the springs. As for me..........ahem...........I'm a bit.......uh..........larger. At 6'2" and 240lbs., the stock setup is clearly very, very wrong for me. Also, I imagine that I'm not the screaming scraper that you are. I appreciate shock absorbers that, uh.......absorb shocks...........race tracks are noticeably smoother than the stuff I normally ride on. When I jump on other pals' bikes, they all feel better to me.......recently I rode my friend's Ducati S4 and I felt I could go faster and be more confident with it. His bike had Sachs suspension and, I believe, ohlins forks. BTW, I'm pretty sure that the equipment that Ohlins has been making for the MG 'sport' models hasn't changed since '02 and they continue to fit the new Cafe/Coppa etc. with the same race-spec kit; my service tech in NYC (Aprilia of NYC) told me that they are all the same..........(although he could be wrong). Dan

Hi all, I'm going to replay this post, which got started on a different thread on seats; I think it's important enough for other V11 owners with standard Ohlins suspension (Scura/Rosso/Nero etc...) to know about this other option: Hi Ralph, I know there's been some heated discussion on this forum over Ohlins kit so I've stayed away from it. Meanwhile, this has been my experience: I've owned Ohlins before on other bikes and found it to be the most compliant and wonderful addition to make to a bike, a major reason why I bought the Scura which came with the 'upgraded' suspension. However, from day one, I was really unimpressed with the ride from my 02: Harsh, not progressive, and generally giving less information from the contact patches. I never felt like I was 'sinking down' into the road, more like I was chattering across it. From the discussions here, as well as from talking to Todd Eagan and others, it's pretty much the consensus that the Ohlins kit was built exclusively for MG with track valving and springs suited for race 'built' guys of around 170-180 lbs..............not what aftermarket ohlins suspension is usually sold for most street duty. I called Ohlins USA to see who was capable of sorting out the suspension for me; of course, I was already annoyed that the 'upgrade' I was supposedly paying for was in reality probably quite inferior in practice to the 'standard' suspension on other V11's and LeMans's . I didn't sweat it much since I had bought the Scura as a leftover and paid peanuts for it; still it's been a hell of a hassle so far sorting it out..........we'll still get to see how expensive, too. Anyway, the Ohlins guys recommended Jim at propilot for my modification work. Very few people in the country have access to real ohlins springs and valve kits and are capable of really doing right by the job; My dealer, for example, as much as admitted that the shock was incorrectly valved but he was unable to obtain the correcting parts from Ohlins. However, just seeing Jim's workshop convinces me that he is one who Ohlins USA has wisely put their trust in to correctly modify their equipment: clean and large with measurement equipment and hundreds of springs lined up on the shelves.............neat. If you happen really fine wrencher (I couldn't imagine being able to remove my own forks and reinstalling them, although I know many of you can) , Jim offers a special box to ship your shock/forks into him and with static measurements you provide on a questionnaire, he will do what is necessary to make your suspension (even if it's not ohlins) perform to its best abilities. He's a race guy first and foremost, but clearly knows what's different about the street. Check out his website and give him a call. Most impressive. I'll be getting my bike back in about a week and will report again on the *hopefully* improvement along with costs. Todd's also asked me to write up the experience for his website and I'll do that after logging a few hundred miles on the new improved stuff...........assuming it's improved PRO PILOT RACING Dan

Hi Ralph, I know there's been some heated discussion on this forum over Ohlins kit so I've stayed away from it. Meanwhile, this has been my experience: I've owned Ohlins before on other bikes and found it to be the most compliant and wonderful addition to make to a bike, a major reason why I bought the Scura which came with the 'upgraded' suspension. However, from day one, I was really unimpressed with the ride from my 02: Harsh, not progressive, and generally giving less information from the contact patches. I never felt like I was 'sinking down' into the road, more like I was chattering across it. From the discussions here, as well as from talking to Todd Eagan and others, it's pretty much the consensus that the Ohlins kit was built exclusively for MG with track valving and springs suited for race 'built' guys of around 170-180 lbs..............not what aftermarket ohlins suspension is usually sold for most street duty. I called Ohlins USA to see who was capable of sorting out the suspension for me; of course, I was already annoyed that the 'upgrade' I was supposedly paying for was in reality probably quite inferior in practice to the 'standard' suspension on other V11's and LeMans's . I didn't sweat it much since I had bought the Scura as a leftover and paid peanuts for it; still it's been a hell of a hassle so far sorting it out..........we'll still get to see how expensive, too. Anyway, the Ohlins guys recommended Jim at propilot for my modification work. Very few people in the country have access to real ohlins springs and valve kits and are capable of really doing right by the job; My dealer, for example, as much as admitted that the shock was incorrectly valved but he was unable to obtain the correcting parts from Ohlins. However, just seeing Jim's workshop convinces me that he is one who Ohlins USA has wisely put their trust in to correctly modify their equipment: clean and large with measurement equipment and hundreds of springs lined up on the shelves.............neat. If you happen really fine wrencher (I couldn't imagine being able to remove my own forks and reinstalling them, although I know many of you can) , Jim offers a special box to ship your shock/forks into him and with static measurements you provide on a questionnaire, he will do what is necessary to make your suspension (even if it's not ohlins) perform to its best abilities. He's a race guy first and foremost, but clearly knows what's different about the street. Check out his website and give him a call. Most impressive. I'll be getting my bike back in about a week and will report again on the *hopefully* improvement along with costs. Todd's also asked me to write up the experience for his website and I'll do that after logging a few hundred miles on the new improved stuff...........assuming it's improved PRO PILOT RACING Dan

I went for the Rich Maund seat; it is styled correctly in keeping with the 'blacked-out' Scura look. It is ridiculously superior to the stock seat; I can now do 2 full tankfuls back to back (250 miles) without needing a good 'airing'. I also have the MPH cycles bar risers and the evoluzione peg kit installed. With all three, the bike is as comfortable as I suppose it can be made for someone of my .....ahem.....stature (6' 3" and 240lbs). If you'd like, I'll be happy to take pictures of the seat and set-up............but I can't right now. I rode the bike down to the middle of nowhere NJ and left it for suspension work at Pro Pilot racing. Jim will finally sort out the issues with the OEM Ohlins suspension on the Scura/Rosso/Nero etc.......... On that issue, I'm waiting with baited breath to see what he'll suggest to 'fix' the high-priced kit and I will of course report it all back to you guys...........I'm assuming he'll want to do a revalve and heavier springs, but I didn't suggest anything.........We took static measurements and I went on my way. BTW, ProPilot was the suggestion of Ohlins USA, and his shop looks like all business to me. We'll see how it goes................. Dan

Add me to the list. Mine whines in 6th, but I don't worry about it.

this is the first I've heard of the stock V11 bars being too HIGH and for a rider wishing to drop the bars down and forward beneath the triple clamp. Very interesting. I wonder, why would someone prefer a lower and more forward position unless you were thinking of racing the bike exclusively?? Dan

I'm not sure what Guzzi would want for a replacement Sachs Shock, but surely it would be quite a lot That would make an aftermarket alternative like Ohlins much more cost effective. I've put Ohlins shocks on almost every bike I've ever owned and it was a primary reason I bought a Scura instead of a different V11 model. I've always thought that suspension upgrades are worth a heckuva lot more towards enjoyment of a machine than power upgrades. Never regretted paying the admittedly high price for the Swedish kit. Still, there are other, more cost effective choices than Ohlins, some considered as good...........Penske comes to mind. In short, I wouldn't spend for a stock Sachs replacement. If you have to go that money, there are better alternatives available for the dough. Best of luck, Dan

Yes, can you contact the 2 or 3 highest bidders before the dumbass destroyed your action? You can tell them what happened and see if you can make an 'arrangement' with one of them. Try that before relisting Dan

Still searching for optimal mirror solution, but I'm glad you like the CRG's. Very innovative. Dan

I had same issues, tried the kill switch cycling thing, which didn't help and then this forum suggested the 3/8ths throttle method. That one works every bloody time -- no choke (enrichener) -- no fuss Dan

after the slow speed drop of my Scura, I needed new mirrrors. I looked upon it as an opportunity, perhaps I could find better (neater looking and better visibility) replacements for the stock mirrors. MG wanted over $50 bucks for a replacement for the stockers which aren't seemingly much. I found the catalogs for replacement universal mirrors little help. They didn't ever give good statistics about stem size and class size, whether they were convex or flat, how adjustable they were etc........... I have installed these rather pricey Napoleon mirrors which I think look great, have a large viewing area and are very adjustable. Only problem is, they don't extend far enough out to give me much more of a view than I had with the stockers. However, they are constructed in 2 pieces and screwed together, so that if I could somehow find an extender tube, with a male thread on one end and a female thread on the other, I could attach these where the stem ends meet and solve the problem. Perhaps 2 inches is plenty, certainly 3 would solve everything. does anyone know of such a small extender? Or, barring that, does anyone have an aftermarket mirror that they swear by (other than the bar end mirrors I don't want )? Any other great engineering solutions I've not thought of? Thanks, Dan

I've been doing weekly jaunts on Sundays that amount to 250 miles in a morning, about 2 full gas tankfulls plus a little in the space of about 3- 3 1/2 hours. I've got the bar risers from MPH cycles and a custom Rich Maund seat, and the only thing that's even approached ache level was my left shoulder blade, which I think is common only to me and not attributable to the bikes ergos. I heartily recommend both comfort upgrades. I've also got the Evoluzione peg relocator kit that I'll try soon, can't seem to loosen the peg hanger allen key bolts and I'm afraid to strip them........I'll let the shop do it when I send it in for the next service (I'll have someone to blame then when they do it......) What I'm saying (very poorly) is that the bike has worked out much more comfortably than I had imagined when I bought it, I can see myself making 500+ mile day trips without much problem. Like the guys say, about a tankful is what you can easily enjoy without a break..........but the way some of these guys ride on this forum, that could well be under an hour of saddle time at once!! :-) Dan

My Scura has most of these 'problems': rattling clutch at neutral, valve noise under load, and dicey shifting w/ many false neutrals. At 1350 miles, have not bothered to worry about any of them, they are all reminiscent of previous Guzzis I have owned, although I'd like to get the shifting issues out, seeing that others have claimed Jap bike shifting smoothness from these.........(hard for me to believe, however) Dan

For another great source for aftermarket tuning, springs etc.......I recommend Pro Pilot in New Jersey. They are ohlins specialists but will do anything you want and are racers themselves. They are the most knowledgable I've found on the East Coast.

just needed to order that, for my mini crash.......called a head guard, available in all colors.........$35 from Harper's, not in stock. Probably a 10 day lag from order to delivery. Dan

thanks for the input. Jaap, I'd love to read about/see photos of your tubular bar conversion. thanks for the williamsport comp option, I followed the lead and the pictures look very, very good. I will probably buy the scura and take a chance on the other issues, I'll keep you all informed. Dan

Hi alll, I'm new here but in another life I owned (and put enormous mileage on) an 850 T5. Never got Guzzi off the brain, although I 've ridden a BMW R-bike for the last 6 years and 25K miles. I looked at the LeMans 2 years ago and passed, because I didn't really fit right, I was too bent over the bike. Recently, with the creation of the more upright Guzzi's (Ballabio, Cafe Sport, Capo Itailia) I've gotten interested again in dumping my BMW for one of these. In my search for the best deal, I've come across a few leftover 02 Scuras, which dealers are really looking to dump at outrageously low prices considering their retail. The Scura has all the trick suspension stuff i've grown to require on my bikes (I did Ohlins upgrades to the BMW almost immediately after I bought it and never regretted the cost once). the question is whether the bar and footpeg mods that are done on the Lemans (and other clipon guzzi V11's) ever REALLY fix the ergonomic problems as well as the tubular bar of the newer guzzis. Clearly, Moto guzzi realized that they can't attract the 'old, fat man BMW rider' (like me!) until they eased up on the riding position, hence the new models. I'd like to (obviously) save the thousands by buying the leftover Scura, but want some people to tell me if they can longhaul the lemans and its variants with the MPH cycles or the Two Brothers riser mods. (are there other riser kits than these 2?) How much adjustability is really possible? Will a 3 to 4 inch rise require entirely new hydraulic and electrical cables and make the mod cost many thousands? Which riser system has worked out the best? Can any shop be trusted to do the work? Thanks for the input. I tend to keep bikes for many many years and therefore think about the investment for a while before committing. Therefore, any expertise from long time owners and riders of these bikes, both with and without the modifications are extremely valuable to me. I've searched the forum and found good information already, please see what else you can tell me. Thanks and ride safe, Dan