VA Sean

I can't quite tell from the pics and never paid much attention to the ads I have seen... but does that have a single disk for both front wheels, or just the one visible on the right front wheel? hope your wife enjoys it -- it does look like a hoot.

I was riding a bit in downtown DC today and noticed that even in moderate braking situations my front end really dives (compresses) a lot. A bit more so than it used to - 2004 Coppa that has about 5,000 miles. Is this normal because it is finally "broken in" now? Is there an oil issue (in the forks) that I should be concerned with? Or should I just be adjusting something to stiffen them up?

Try as I might - I could NOT get one of those to fit me... none of the sizes felt comfortable. Of course, my wife was able to fit perfectly in the ONE lady's size that the dealer had for her.

If you are looking for a LeMans, Mike Haven from MPH posted on Wildguzzi the other day that they just received a Nero Corsa -- the black checker-flagged themed LeMans, with all the Ohlins bits... plus I believe those came with red anodized head covers and red pork chops. http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=11344.0 FYI - MPH is a sponsor of this site - so look UP and click on their link!

Joe- I heard from Greg at MI in Seattle that they have a Cafe Sport for sale right now- has the Ohlins and other bits you like... and it is coming from a top-notch dealer Give them a call. 206.297.3822 or 800.949.MOTO 2 year warranty, +/- 4K miles for $7,490 http://www.motointernational.com/HDB_7_05.htm http://www.motointernational.com/main.htm PS: Please for the love of all things sacred, do not re-paint the Coppa!

Ouch- That looks bad. Sorry about that. You are right about the bikes and friends. I hope the friend heals up alright. Total bummer. PS: the bike looks so sad lying on her side with her plastic bits spread out around her like that.

Big time bummer, guys. Sorry to read about that. heal up fast and well. Don't mean to sound like the grim reaper, but I was just on ebay and noticed some parts that each of the guys may want to look at since they are the types of bits that usually get demolished in crashes like that: for the red/silver lemans: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moto-Guzzi-...1QQcmdZViewItem for the greenie V11: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moto-Guzzi-...1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Moto-Guzzi-...1QQcmdZViewItem

Made my wife breakfast, fed the dogs, gathered up all of the "winter" stuff (sweaters, sweatshirts, flannel-lined pants) to clear the drawers and closet and make room for summer. Hopped on the V11 for a short ride to the office... And now sitting in the friggin office while it is sunny and gorgeous outside Oh well - having a nice Mama's day dinner planned at our favorite Italian restaurant tonight.

I'm glad you said that Carl, because it might be the only logical explanation (not saying that IS what it is, but it at least is plausible). I NEVER have the gas cap open except when filling the tank - and I literally sit on the bike during that process in order to make the bike level (off the side stand), and since I have the MG tank bag the gas cap does not stay open unless you hold it open.

Sorry for the cross-post. When I filled my tank this morning, I noticed a bit of dirt and debris (read mostly pollen and a couple dry pieces of grass) around the rim of inside portion of my tank under the gas cap. I used some papers towels to dab up the dirt and gunk being careful to not let anything drop into the tank itself. I was wondering, first, how all that stuff got in there, given the fact that I don't ever leave my gas cap open except for the few minutes it takes to fill the tank -- and I am usually sitting on my bike during that time and would be able to see anything dropping into it. Additionally, I park the bike under a pretty tightly fitting cover every night. The more I thought about, the more I began to wonder if all that stuff was around the rim, is it possible that quite a bit more has actually already dropped into the tank - and if so, what will be my sign, and what I should do. Have any of you experienced this - or am I the oddball?

Good first step... I wonder why they didn't also pick up Laguna Seca.

Damn shame Richard. Sorry about that. I dread the day that we have to put down one of our two four legged children, or come home to find that the journey is already over. I don't have a good pic of both of them -- but here is one that shows Beef and his brother Otto's rear end. I'm the goofy looking one on the end of the leash with two legs! Best wishes. Sean

Very interesting! Just searched it myself... not that I didn't believe you, just that I couldn't recall having written of him on that site before!

I agree with what has been said. Happy to see this thread here, too. Vonnegut was one of my favorite authors when I was a teenager - and I read most of his (then-published) novels at that time. My uncle gave my Breakfast of Champions in 1981 or 1982... after I finished it, I quickly bought and read most of the rest of his books. This morning, while drinking my coffee and eating breakfast with my wife, I heard the news of Vonnegut's passing, and I was nearly sick. This afternoon, I spent a lot of time searching for stuff of his online. I am happy to report I purchased three books of his that he published long after I stopped reading his works. They are: God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian A Man Without a Country Fates Worse Than Death I am very much looking forward to receiving those and reading them as soon as possible. I am kind of shocked, given that this board is probably read by and contributed to more by Europeans than Americans, that I can find a thread about Vonnegut here, but on Wildguzzi, where the readership and contributors are the opposite, there has not been one mention of his passing. So it goes... RIP-

I have a Coppa Italia (basically a tri-colore Cafe Sport) with the bikini fairing. It provides a bit of protection, but not a lot -- not really an annoyance factor, other than some recent buzzing that I have been unable to solve. I am in the process of purchasing a LeMans fairing both for the added wind/weather protection that I want and to give the bike the "look" that I want. The other big difference is having actual bars vs. clip-ons. Sport has bars, LeMans has clip-ons... you be the judge of what your body can handle. I like the bars for the up-right seating position and less pressure on my wrists.

Didn't those come with your Cafe Sport (if you bought new)? Or did they only come with the Coppa Italia? I have my set of MG Ti cans waiting to be put on this year... when I get a round to it... Don't ask why I didn't have the dealer install them.

Wow- Hope I was consistent in my opinion... if not, I guess people are capable of change!

I like it!

Well done! You bought a V11 and that's all that matters.

Can't argue with that! If you are considering ANY Guzzi, especially one from MI (or one that will be serviced at MI), why not listen to the horse's mouth?

Another vote for the Cafe Sport. I have a 2004 Coppa Italia -- it's just the tri colore version of the Cafe Sport. LOVE IT!

Yep- ball-end allens are on my list of "tools to buy" I just didn't know I needed them so soon! Like you, I will be installing a relay soon (meaning, when I get around to it) for the Freeway Blasters I bought.

Man I wish I had read this thread prior to replacing my battery... Since the Odessey uses a hex (allen) wrench to fasten instead of a screwdriver (like the stock battery), getting the connections cinched up was a total pain in the ass! Oh well -- Oh - my stock battery (on a 2004 bike) lasted only until December 2006. POS!

On a dead cold start in the morning, the idle is about 900 rpm. After riding for a while, it seems to idle in the 1,100-1,200 range when I pull up to a stop. So I think 1,500 is still a bit high.

Joe- There was a guy up around Vallejo or Sacramento trying to sell a burgundy V11... I'd think by now he'd be ready to make a deal. I've seen it on Craigslist several times over the past year or so. This isn't the one I was thinking of, but looks to be a good one -- no relations to seller. http://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/301496929.html more pictures on link. One more, a 2000 V11 Sport (red frame) -- this one is down in San Diego area... again, no relation to seller http://sandiego.craigslist.org/mcy/304021928.html he's asking $5,000.