GuzzBun

Haha - sorry for the mistake re location! I'll enquire the price for plastic and for CarbonFibre, and let you know. Regards, Robin

This was Melina - a project I completed about 4 years ago - and regrettably wrote off about 3.5 years ago - never mind, got the pictures and memories - and scars! What was it originally? What models did it get its various parts from? Bonus question Where was the photo taken?

There are some good pics of him at http://www.georacebike.com/ (still not found out how to make these into hyperlinks!) - the moulds (tank/seat, fairing and belly pan) that I had made are suitable for glassfibre or carbonfibre casts - the ones in the pictures are glassfibre with black gel-coat - they've not been rubbed down or painted (you can see the mould line along the tank. I think it looks fan-twattin-tastic in black. I had the moulds and two sets of glassfibre panels made for $4200 - so I guess that a set of panels in glassfibre would cost about$1200, but I'd have to check with my man - is that the sort of cost that interests you? Not sure what carbonfibre would cost - presume that's what you mean by "CF replica" - the moulds are able to make them, as I said above. I will find out the cost and let you know. Guess the shipping from UK to US would be significant though - not the weight, but the bulk. If you are interested I'm more than happy to find out and make the necessary arrangements. Robin (one of the happiest Corsa owners!)

Slightly off-V11-topics, but hope you'll be interested. My MGS01 (Akira) is being raced this season in the Thunderbike series - ridden by Gyles Fairclough who took the Top Rookie award in last year's Thunderbikes, riding a hot Guzzi Daytona. Our first session is at Snetterton on 12 & 13 April. Much work put into Akira to get him ready for the racing - had moulds made of the bodywork, and new bodywork (fairing, seat/tank unit and belly pan) produced - all in black - new footpegs and levers, Harris clipons, head protectors and the like- keeping the original parts in case of spills! The bodywork moulds are suitable for making plastic or glassfibre panels, and they can be in a variety of colours - if any MGS01 owners fancy a new set of bodywork let me know and we can produce for you. More importantly - if you can get to Snetterton for our first weekend racing Akira I'm sure you won't be disappointed - the lineup is very powerful! If you're interested then visit www.thunderbikeuk.com - see Gyles' site at http://gyles.thesmallagency.co.uk/news/ Apologies for the advert, but I'm very excited, and hope to meet some of you at the tracks. Robin

It was a dry, warm day, and the MGS had standard road tyres fitted. When I'd done my sessions the tyres were still showing a half-inch chicken strip (it was my first ever time on the track!), but when Gyles had finished there was no chicken strip, and the outer edges of the tyres were very sticky and starting to craze and bobble. He said that the tyres were limiting him as they were starting to let go - he reported at least one power slide - and he was not wanting to take them beyond their performance limit for obvious reasons! He also said that the bike just didn't stop pulling - the fastest he saw on the speedo was 150 mph, and it was still pulling like a train! I had it dyno-d last week and it showed 122bhp at the wheel at 8000rpm, and somewhere over 85ftlbs in a pretty straight line from about 4500rpm to 7250rpm - the dyno man was impressed! Book weight dry is about 190kg, so the power/weight ratio is quite good for an air-cooled shaft-drive twin. Perhaps unfair to compare Gyles on the MGS against the other riders who didn't have racing experience, but to my untrained eye, he was leaving everything behind - and the sound as he accelerated out of the 90 degree bend into the long back straight was spine-tinglinly good. All the above is my understanding - I'll ask Gyles for his written impressions and post them when I get them.

What a blast! I only managed the Track Day, but got to experience my MGS in its natural environment at last - my first track day, but definitely not my last! Perfect weather, excellent company and continuous pleasure. For me, the best bit was watching Gyles ride my MGS the way it should be ridden. I'll keep practising - I can only hope!!! No prizes for identifying which is Gyles!!!

I'll be there - it's my MGS01! I 've never done a track day before - my only experience was a few laps at Mallory last month at the 1000 Bikes Festival - I only wish I'd started tracking a million years ago! I've also booked in the Academy Group - need all the knowledge I can get. I hope to arrive on Sunday, and will be camping in the van.

Haven't tried Staintunes, but have had oval Mistral Carbon (which sounded good, and breathed well), and now have the factory Titaniums with Race chip - this is the way for me!!! Fuel economy improved markedly - now don't get the orange light until well into the 140s, sometimes 150s (OEMs lit the lamp at around 125!) - and the performance is markedly better too - crisp response, growls like an Azawakh on guard, and looks good compared with the carbon - lifts the rear end visually from the original overriding darkness - yes, I know Scura means Shade, but sometimes the contrast helps! Downside? Well, as other respondees have said, Titanium dents easily - don't carry pillions! The fixing is 'loose' i.e. the cans wobble slightly when cold, but they tighten up nicely when well-warmed (don't we all!?). They show up the stock downpipes, but that's easily overcome by cleaning the downpipes with a well-used Scotchbrite and Solvol-Autosol - fact is that stainless yellows when heated but Ti doesn't. Upside? They look fantastic, and sound fan-twattin-tastic! Go on get some - you know it makes sense!

Excellent recount Guzzista Joe - highly amusing! I train-in to Lunnun most days and see the New Wembley - had no idea it was the topping for a pile of crap! Thoroughly concur your observations of a Cali - I've had two (91 Cali III and a 97 1100i) both were consummate tourers with a real thirst for cornering and so responsive to input - oddly enough as I was riding my Breva 1100 in to Lunnun this morning, I reflected on its very bad throttle response, and toyed with the idea of trading it in for a new Cali - something about the Cali that demands total pleasure. I'm off to France in July on the Breva - this will be it's final chance to impress - if it fails then it's exchange-for-a-Cali-for-you-my-girl!

Thanks guys - got there in the end! Paul, yes you did tell me before - before my PC crash which lost most of my URLs DeBenGuzzi, as for trading your kidney or offspring be careful what you wish for!!! My Corsa cost me a wife of 31 years, two beautiful daughters and a great son. Three years down the line and we're all back on good terms, but it's been a very painful time for them. Me? I have my Guzzis, and although they never criticise me for any decisions I make, they also don't give me a big hug when I'm feeling crap. But you're right about the money - working for myself has been a great improver - now I, and I alone, decide what I do, when I do it, and on which bike Thanks again guys - I'm trying to get something similar to the Das Mototec bracket (without the indicators) made here in the UK, for considerably less than £650 - I hope!!! Guzzbun

Does anyone know who the German company is that is producing this tail bracket for the MGS01?

Must have been asked before, but I can't find anything - is there a way of restoring the Scura tank finish - mine has several shiny areas where leathers rub against it, and after 26K it's starting to look rather patchy. On a happier note I did 400 miles on the MGS on Sunday - he went like a dream, although he's definitely not an easy ride in traffic - very lumpy and quite hard work to keep from stalling - the clutch is quite heavy and almost as positive as a dog clutch - in or out! I forgot to take my earplugs with me and for the last couple of days I've been as deaf as I was after the Judas Priest gig last year. He is one noisy machine! GREAT FUN THOUGH

Hope it's not a problem me posting on a Breva subject - I do have a V11 Sport so I'm kinda excused! Anyone know how to cure the horribly snatchy throttle response on the Breva 1100 - at low speeds in 1st and 2nd gear it's impossible to open or close the throttle without effecting a jerk through the drive - almost as if it's an on/off switch. I've had a Quill exhaust fitted, doing away with the cat collector box, and that certainly improved the response, but it's still far from satisfactory. Is there a fix, to make it as smooth as the V11 - maybe a chip upgrade or re-mapping. OR is it a design feature? TIA for any assistance.

Thanks guys - got the tank off, and experienced all the symptoms you described (The reason for tank removal was to remove the Ohlins monoshock which is leaking) A few more questions are generated: 1. The underside centre of the tank has two 'nipple-like' gizmos moulded into it, but there was nothing attached to them - I did find one black hose that looked as if it should have been attached to something in that area, but wasn't! Should there be anything connected to them? My bike is a June 2006 Scura. 2. The manual petrol cock wouldn't turn off fully by hand so I applied a wrench to it (gently!!!) and in so doing disturbed the union seal between the cock and the tank - so - I removed the cock unit and dismantled it - there's a horrible nylon washer which sits between the cock and the tank outlet, which is badly crushed. Can this nylon washer safely be replaced with a rubber 'O' ring or a suitable sized fibre washer, or must it be another nylon washer? 3. The nut which connects the cock to the tank unit is both right and left hand threaded - I puzzled over it for ages trying to decide how best to tighten it, but came away feeling confused and rather stupid - any hints on the correct way to tighten this joint? 4. I thought of buying a complete replacement petrol cock, and checked the V11 parts manual, but there's no sign of it in there. The Motomecca parts list shows only one likely item - 01105330 Fuel Tap V11 (Series 1) at £65.20p - is this the right part for a 2002 Scura? Sorry for the barrage of questions - beers for answers

Sorry if this has been asked before, but if so I missed it! Got to remove the tank from my Scura - does it have to be drained first, or are the pressure and pump outlets self-closing? Perhaps a stupid question, but then I am a stupid bloke - so she says!

Brilliant - presactly what I wanted - thanks Randy!

Is there a V11 Sport Parts Manual available for download, which gives pictures/drawings and part numbers? I have the V11 Workshop Manual which has plenty of pictures but no part numbers, and the Motomecca parts catalogue which has part numbers but no pictures! What I'd ideally like is something which shows the 'exploded' drawings of various sub-assemblies with in-line part numbers like the dealers have - anyone know if such a download is available anywhere? Apologies if this has been asked before - I have looked across the Forum but couldn't see a similar topic

Still deciding on the plate for the breva...

Joe, the Breva comes from the Guzzi factory with a two-into-one exhaust system as original equipment, so the Quill system replaced that. What I got was a 'Y' piece which replaced the OEM collector box, and a much smaller and lighter silencer. The total cost was £355 (about $600?) and that included fitting and testing for leaks etc., My V11 Scura has twin pipes and silencers, as original, but Quill do a two-into-one system for that model too, works out quite a bit lighter, and from what I hear, gives very good performance too. I haven't tried it 'cos I have the MG race chip and titanium cans on my Scura, which do a brilliant job - I don't believe they could be bettered - and at just over £1000 that should be the case!!! I stress that the system as fitted to my Breva required no adjustments to the fuel/air/chip settings - it really was 'fit-and-ride-away'! Give Jim or his son a call on +44 (0)1942 721 744 - they're very helpful, and will no doubt be able to answer any questions you have. Hope this helps!

I put a Quill system on my Breva 1100 last year. I can say that: * The system fitted the bike perfectly * Weight was reduced by about 3 kilos * It required NO fuel or air adjustments at all * The performance of the bike was noticeably better throughout the rev range * Throttle response was much crisper * Fuel consumption was improved - not hugely, but definitely improved! * It reduced the snatchy throttle response significantly * The centre stand was able to be retracted about 2cm higher than with the stock exhaust, which entirely removed the problems I'd had with the centre stand grounding-out on lefthand bends * The bike's appearance was enhanced - subjective observation, but important to me as the owner and rider!!! - make your own judgement from the attached picture Most important of all - Jim Baines (Quill owner) and his team are a great bunch of chaps who gave me every confidence that their claims for the Quill exhaust were justified - and I have no connection with them other than that of an extremely satisfied customer

Just got room for three inside... and one outside! Combined bhp? Around 660, I think. Life is so good

I've just had a Quil exhaust system put on my Breva 1100 - brilliant decision! The system replaces the stock collector box and silencer - it's given the following improvements: * Got rid of the snatchy throttle response at low revs - now it's as smooth as my Scura! * Improved the ground clearance of the centre stand - now the first thing to touch down is the foot peg! * Reduction in weight of about 5 pounds - guessing this, but definitely a LOT lighter! * Much crisper throttle response throughout the range - not had it Dyno-tested yet, but I suspect several bhp up on standard. * Improved looks - this is very subjective, but I think it's much better looking than the standard system. * Improved sound - a definite sharpening of the exhaust note - not loud, but much more 'meaty V-twin' - if you know what I mean! The system is available as standard position, dropped to accommodate the luggage, or high level - mine is dropped to allow the luggage to be fitted. I ordered it over the phone and rode up to Quill (JB Racing in Warrington) to let them fit it - excellent day out, really great guys, and a really good price. This might sound like an advert for Quill, but I have no connections, just a very satisfied customer. Web link for Quill, if you fance a look - http://www.quillexhausts.com/

Thanks for the steers guys - I finally plumped for a Garmin Street Pilot 2720. Fitted it to the Breva initially and I have to say I'm extremely impressed. It's really easy to understand and use, the display is excellent even in bright sunshine, and it seems to be on top of things all the time. No more trying to read a scribbled route on the tank bag! Next deployment will be in the car, and then possibly on the Scura (though she's been around so long now that she knows her own way to most of my usual destinations!)

Late reply - I'm so busy riding my three Guzzis (one at a time, Malcolm, one at a time!) I used to claim that I needed three Guzzis in the garage in order to have at least one roadworthy - and it often seemed that way, with the odd little problem knocking one out of service for a few days whilst I puzzled over the cause of the latest idiosyncracy. But now, with a Scura, MGS01 and Breva 1100, I find that I have to set more riding time aside in order to ensure that they all get their essential daily exercise. Work is a four-letter word, and it gets in the way of play!

Had a very similar problem with a Cali a few years back - definitely a porous casting on mine - not a lot of oil, just a very fine mist - perhaps no more than a few drops on a typical ride of a couple of hours, but it still made a mess. I was told that it could be remedied by removing the head and after cleaning meticulously, putting some special stuff (can't remember the name) on the inside. I thought that would be far too much trouble so I took to pushing a piece of tightly folded toilet paper between the fins at their root. It stopped the oil dribbling and only needed to be replaced every few weeks. Eventually I got some liquid metal and after cleaning the area externally with brake cleaner, I applied the liquid metal with a cotton bud. That stopped the leak permanently. Hope this helps.