Lex

OK, I've gotten two PMs on this post. I agree it is weird but I can't see any SPAM. OTOH, if you think it is SPAM let me know and I'll delete it. Democracy rules. Lex

Will that filter work with my older (2001 V11 Sport) V11? TIA for any info, Lex

One of the things that has come out of owning my Harley is being constantly reminded that many (most, actually) motorcyclist don't really care about engineering. I have given up trying to explain why the damper rod forks on Harleys (including, I think, the $34K SVO Electra Glide) should be replaced with cartridge forks. I keep hearing "My bike works fine" or "I'm not a racer, why do I need that?". They have no frame of reference so they just don't understand. If you could get them a ride on a bike with good forks on a bumpy road they'd understand, as is they can't grasp how much better the ride and handling could be for a very small increase in price. My point is that I'd wager money that azccj would "get it" if he rode a GL1800 with an upgraded fork. What I finally figured out is that azccj and the Harley riders are right. If the bike is dangerous that is different but up to that point it really isn't for someone else to say what is right. I know the Harleys aren't dangerous in spite of really cheap forks, they just could be a lot better. The Honda must work fairy well in spite of a really badly engineered front end. I've run across one well ridden GL1800, I was having a good time annoying a couple of sport bikes on my K1200LT ( I really miss passing them with the CD player going) and only made a little ground on him. I certainly reserve the right to make fun of bad engineering on other people's bikes (mine, of course, are perfect ) but all that really matters is the bike meets the owner's expectation. Lex

First, my reason for posting the item was not to say Hondas are garbage. The real reason I posted it was simply that I thought it was interesting. I think most people would say Honda is the top engineering company in motorcycling. Nobody would be surprised to see a Gilera with a weak fork, a Honda mistake this big is interesting. You are entitled to your opinion about Honda always supporting their customers but Honda has had seven model years to fix this, so far nothing. They may have been too busy fixing the other problems with the 1800, this bike has been far from problem free. If you think Honda always fixes problems you might want to ask a VFR750/ 800 owner how Honda fixed their voltage regulator. My long time VFR riding buddies' "warranty fix" was to buy the part out of his own pocket. The second or third time he got a new part, same part number, completely different part. Specifically, a much bigger heat sink. Honda has never acknowledged the problem, they just fixed the regulator on the QT. I'm not anti-Honda, I don't think it is an exaggeration to say Honda invented the modern motorcycle. If you are dumb enough to buy a Guzzi or a Ducati you expect a few bugs, fixing them if part of the fun. When you buy a Honda that can run over $20,000 you'd think the bike would be pretty well sorted out, especially if it has been in production for this many years. The good news is that Honda doesn't make many mistakes, the bad news is they made a big one here and they will not do anything about it. Lex

All, First, let me be clear I have no experience with the GL1800. I do, however, have a great deal of respect for MCN. I have no personal experience with Traxxion Dynamics but everyone I know who has dealt has come back with very positive reports. That said, I'll point out a few things that might make some of this make more sense. The MCN article goes into more detail on some points. First, there is another inch of suspension travel in the GL1800 front end, it is just very stiff due to the anti-bottoming system. Also, don't forget the GLs use big, soft front tires. The tire is the original suspension system. Are the claims in the Traxxion Dynamics video true? Basically, I believe they are. Is the speaker in the video sighting worst case to make his product look like a necessity rather than a luxury? Probably. Even if you view the article and the video with a large grain of salt this is a terrible piece of engineering. One interesting point from the article, the fork bushings (the ones that wear out quickly) are the same (Showa) part number in the GL fork and older GSXR600 Suzukis. A bike that weight just under 900 ponds (without rider, passenger or luggage) and a bike the runs a bit over 400 pounds without rider. A bike that commonly runs 100,000 miles Vs. a bike that will be on the scrap heap in 10,000 to 20,000. Sound like good engineering to you? JMHO, Lex

This isn't Guzzi related but if anybody thinks Hondas all have brilient engineering shouldn get a copy of this month's Motorcyle Consumer News. An artical on the Goldwing forks reads like "how not to make a front end" story. A set of forks does three things; the springs suport the bike, the dampers control the springs and the fork needs to conect the riders hands to the front wheel to provide good steering. The Goldwing does all three badly and adds a poorly concived anti-dive system and under designed steering head bearings to the mix. My "German Goldwing" (K1200LT) had poorly set up shocks at both ends but it seems it was a masterpiece compared to the GL1800. Even the Marzzocchis on my Sport sounds pretty good next to this mess. If you can't get a copy of MCN you can check out this vidio on the Traxion Dinamics web site. This is, obviosly, and ad for Traxxion Dynamics but it does a great job of going over the problems. Traxxion Dynamics GL1800 Seminar I warn you this is long, about 50 minutes, but pretty informative. Lex

Wheel, What have you heard wasn't good about the Multi? I can't say mine's perfect but it it works pretty well. FWIW, the 1200 4V Guzzi motor (I'd hope 100 HP with good low end and Guzzi soul) in a bike with a chassis as good as the Multistrada would seem like a great bike. The best parts on my Italian stallions in one bike. I'd be interested. My only negative from the picture is the cast handlebars, why would you use a heavy, expensive solution when regular 'bars are cheap, adjustable and have almost infinite options to change.

Owning a V11 Sport and a 2005 Multistrada 1000 I understand completely. The Ducati is a fine bike but just doesn't have the soul of the V11. Completely the other end of the spectrum but my Harley is much more like the Guzzi, I can't explain why they are so much fun, they just are. The Ducati is good machine and, like the Guzzi, it responds well to a little engine tuning it also handles better the Goose but it tends to stay in the garage unless I'm riding with some of my faster friends while I find myself looking for a reason to take the Guzzi or the Harley for a ride. Lex

Try: Gerbing Widder Warm And Safe fot controllers. Lex

All, I've a had the pleasure of one visit to this Guy's house, it is truly amazing. I have never thought of a MV F4 as pedestrian but the one parked in Guy's laundry (yup, right next to the washer and drier) room looked pretty low profile compared to the bikes around it. I didn't see this posted here recently, if I missed it my apologies in advance for the double post. Guy Webster Video Lex

Well, I am depressed. I just got the Goose back on the road (found a used rear caliper) and I'm way up for a ride but I am free the following weekend and not this one. Damn You guys have fun, Lex

Just a guess but I'd say the engines in the background are Heron headed 750s. A four valve sure would be nice but I don't think this is it. Lex

Paul, What would you ask for the one you have? At this point I'm interested in a better solution then the stock part, if you have one you can sell I'd be very interested. I tried calling the shop Ouiji mentioned but they will not take my call and the instructions for getting around their stupid call blocking don't work. I guess they don't want my business. Lex

All, I've been trying to replace the caliper on the rear brake on my 2001 V11 Sport for some time. I tried working with one of the Brembo distributors last year and got nothing but words. Anybody know where I can get a new or used rear caliper? Any suggestion for a distributor/ dealer who might really get me the part? I'd be happy to rebuild it but, according to the people I've spoken to, there are no rebuild kits available for any of the newer calipers. I'm open to suggestion, this is the third time this stupid part has failed. The rebuild kit for a mid-nineties Ducati Monster has one pair of what appears to be the right square O-rings (and another seals that is of no use) and I've used the best two left in the caliper plus the two in rebuild kit to get the bike back on the road before (possible bodge point? ) but I'm getting tired of the failures. Twice it locked the rear brake on, the most recent time I simply had no rear brake after the fluid drained out (some of it onto the rear tire!). Help, Lex

Just in case there is any doubt left about open face helmets being safer I'll add my one and only helmet test. I screwed up going in to turn 8 at Sears Point (now Infinion) at roughly 80MPH and wound up on the outside of turn 8A. I don't remember much about the parts inbetween but based on accounts and my helmet I flipped end over end, I have three sets of scratches on the helmet, which I keep to remind me to wear a helmet. Two of the scrates are in the back but one is across the top front, face shield and chin bar. I'm no prize in the looks department but all of the parts are in roughly the normal positions. If I had been wearing an open face helmet that day and had, somehow, not been killed I'd have a face so ugly it would make little kids so scared they cry. It should be illegal for these morons to keep repeating obvious crap like the helmets are dangerous or full face helmets are dangerous. If adults choose to not wear a helmet I understand they have a point but sending out lies like this is not far from shouting fire in a crowded theater or advocating driving drunk. Second, in one of the rare times I'll disagree with Pete Roper, the helmet standards are only partly the result of bureaucratic bungling. You have to remember two things: The first is that they were developed for race car drivers (see Snell Foundation) and the second is that nobody knew much in the fifties and sixties. At least here in the US we still have standards based on the orginal standards and ideas from back then, I'd be surprised if things were much different in the UK. I'll stand by my advice: Buy the best fitting, most comfortable full face helmet you can afford and wear it every time you ride. Lex

My apologies to all, I've been busy and not logging is as often as I used to. Since I've decided to keep the Goose (if I can find a rear brake caliper) I'm back in Moto Guzzi mode. Again, sorry for my inattention, Lex

Orson, You wouldn't know it from the self-serving articles in Motorcyclist but this is nothing new. I read the same thing back in the late seventies or early eighties. About the same time I read what I thought were words of wisdom from (IIRC) Doug Thom, one of the people who worked on the hurt report and a person who has done a huge amount of research on the subject. He said something like if the best helmet is a 10 and no helmet is a 1 any helmet* is at least an 8. In other words, like so many things these days, this is a manufactured controversy. The old British standards had plenty of critics, Snell has critics, The ANSI standards have critics, etc. but any helmet, properly fitted and in good condition is so much better then no helmet the differences between them are minor. Buy the most comfortable, best fitting helmet you can afford and spend you time worrying about more important things like will Nicky hold on to win the MotoGP championship or will Guzzi really come out with a new Sport/ Le Mans platform with a pumped-up version of the new 1200 motor. Lex *I think we can throw out the "starched beanies" the H-D crowd so often wears, they aren't really helmets.

Dlaing, Man, you are fast! I was just about to write a post and when I got back you said everything I planed to say. About all I would change is that I would suggest looking into having you stock seat rebuilt by a specialist. Corbins better then stock but far from optimum. I would see if Rich Mound (is he still doing seats?) or some other person can rebuild your seat before I would go with a Corbin. Besides being VERY firm Corbin's customer support sucks. Lex

Tires are definitely very subjective but here is my I've now used 4 sets of tires on my V11 Sport BT 57: Sucked, very poor feel, just doesn't seem to work with this bike. BT020: Sucked, very poor feel, just doesn't seem to work with this bike. Has worked well on other bikes. Dunlap 205: Pretty good feel, decent traction, lasted about 5K mile/ 8K KM. Pirelli Diablo Strada: New, maybe a little better then the 205s but not a huge amount. I haven't ridden the Goose in the rain with the Diablos but I was caught in a several hour downpour on my Diablo equipped Ducati, mostly on a twisty two lane road and had no slides or other problems. Lex

Seconded. I haven't tried the BT014 but everything I've used has been an improvement over the 020s. I'm about to try the Diablos on the V11, I've been very happy with them on my Ducati. Lex

FWIW, I think Nicky is still adjusting to MotoGP riding. The race was the first time I've seen him push people around, he seems to be finally riding as aggressively as everybody else. I'm still hoping he gets a win besides Laguna and I think he has a fairly good shot at doing so. You also have to remember style, Nicky has always been a rider who thinks about the big picture and his success has come more from consistency then fire. He won the US superbike title with only one win that year but very consistent podiums. If he ever wins the MotoGP title I think it will be the same way. A nice guy, yes; Mr. excitement, no. The Ducatis were hot a Mugello but A. they don't work as well at other tracks and B. other races aren't the home race. As much as I like Capirossi (some friends met him at the USGP, they said he was really funny and very friendly) and want to support my fellow Ductisti I don't think he has much of a chance for the title. Melandri, Pedrosa, Hayden and, of course Doctor Rossi are the people who are going to fight it out at the end of the season. I still think the smart money in on the Doctor but any other the other three could do it as well. A great race and what, I think, will be a great season. My DVR is loaded and ready and my tickets to the USGP are all setup. Lex

It looks like nobody is getting a Norton. City Bike says they just folded. Truly sad, Lex

I have the Convertibars on my 2001 V11 Sport. Pros: Comfort, I have the bars back about 3" (~75 MM) and up about half that. The difference is amazing, my bad left wrist and hand are no longer painful for days after a few hours of riding. Cons: More vibration, I have the "heavy" Throttlemiesters and have filled as much of the bars as possible with lead, it doesn't have much high frequency vibration left but there is a noticeable throb. All in all I'm happy but the Convertibars are not perfect. They are just better, for me, then stock. If I had it to do over again I might go with the Convertibars or I might drill the top clamp for Tonti frame bar mounts and then use something like an R90S bar to get about the same position without the vibration. Lex

One of my favorites. If it ever stops raining that would be a great ride. BTW, some of the locals introduced me to a nice restaurant that is actually on Fort Hunter Leggett. The food is better and cheaper than the places on highway 1, the only down side is that it is pretty hard to match the views from Rocky Point or one of the other places on the coast. Lex

Another thanks to Mark for setting things up. Aside from some poor planning on my part (we should have met at 11:00 or made a longer loop) it was nice to get to know Thang, a good day for a ride (OK, a little wet but this year I'll take any day without major rainfall) and nice see everybody. I was hoping we would have more time together, while he isn't Marty the Bonneville guy Tod just got back from test riding the Breva 1100 and Griso at the factory and I'm sure he would have been happy to talk about the adventure. I don't know if anybody caught it but the sweater he was wearing was a gift (bribe?) from Guzzi he was given while he was over there. I want that job, fly some place interesting, test to cool bikes and be given bribes to write nice things. Lex