Mike Stewart

I have used a set of teckno bags on my V11 Sport for years. They do fit nicely to the frame and seem to work well as long as it does not rain. Yes, the bags are lined but water will find it's way in through all the seams. I also had a problem with one mount cracking in the middle of nowhere. The bags expand outward, but I never wanted to expand them since I did not want a wider rig. I have gone on a weeks ride two up with these bags and tank bag, but it is tight. I suggest going to the Hepco & Becker bags. Water proof, strong rack, holds twice as much and cost at least three times as much . Oh, yeah, a tank bag is a must, besides being expandable, it can also be used to lay on to relieve the pressure of the wrists. Makes those longer days on the road more enjoyable . Mike

Whoa, Just made it back home from the rally Thanks for all the bugs I killed on the way home My hat is off to Todd E and his helping staff, the Power commander seminar was just one of the highlights. I see clearly now what the Power commander does and what is needed to get the best use out of the PC III USB! My 03 Rosso came home with a first place in the Spine frame sport bike class I will post more highlights and pictures shortly, Mike

My bags are packed, the racks are on, oil topped off, air pressure set. I will see you guys back here in 1000 miles Mike

The Supertwin that was at Moto Italiano a few years ago was from Britalia. John McCoy was the owner of Britalia before Jason of Moto Italia purchased the shop. John was the importer of Ghezzi and Brian in California. I was offered the Silver with blue striped Supertwin for $14,000 just before John sold his shop. I should of bought it but the timing was not right for me to shell out $14,000 cash. I also was not sure I wanted to deal with the bike being not street legal. There are a few G-Bs that have got through the California system. How, I am not sure but I think it is worth a shot. I know Tom Irwin in Southern California had one that was street legal, I will talk to him hopefully this weekend at the Guzzi Rally. Here is what the owner of the Supertwin had to say, Hi Mike and Janice, The Ghezzi is registered off highway. I ordered the bike through Britalia Motors in 2001 and let them manage the California registration. The bike can be made on highway with a brake and light certification. It is registered as a moto guzzi. In 2001 I let Nolan Woodbury from moto-euro ride the bike to Laguna Seca as he was writing an article on the bike. His article will give you an idea of how the ST1100 compares to the V11/Corsa. The bike has been garaged ever since. http://www.moto-euro.com/sample_article_7.htm I have a 2000 V11 sport with a stucci crossover and mistrial carbon fiber frictionless pipes and it's performance doesn't compare to the ST1100. The Folgare is pretty much the same bike as the ST1100 except the exhaust system is a bit different. Basically it is the same modified 1064cc twin and 5 speed transmission. The gearing is almost identical. Hope this helps. Mike There you go, Mike

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/65080858.html Humm, the price is right and I need a bike to do a track day coming up. I think the G B could fit the bill. Anyone want to buy the V11 Sport for $7000 and I will pay the remainder of $8000 for the GB Or, I should buy both of them and put the V11 Sport engine into the G B Mike

Thanks for the input Leafman The upper knob is the stock one that cracks at the end, the lower one is the one I machined up this weekend. The brass piece in the speedo head is a D shape and making a D shape into the knob was a bitch. Anyway, I am still looking for the screw size, I think it is about an 1.8mm or slightly smaller. The new knob fits really tight, a drop of loctite may be the solution. Mike

Some V11 owners have experienced the forks hitting the tank. The blame has mostly been after the bike had been dropped. I was moving my bike in the garage yesterday and I noticed that the left fork leg now makes contact with the left side of the tank at full lock. The bike has never been down and it did not do this last year. I can only assume it is from the looseness in the tank mounting points as the tank does seem a tad looser than when it was new. I guess 30,000 miles will do that. Mike

Unless they crack the 2nd set, I work at a car dealer and I have seen it happen before . Good luck, Mike

I agree, he is a champion in my book too! I have fond memories years ago when my friends and I would watch a movie of Kenny when he was flat tracking on a Yamaha two stroke (usually after watching "On Any Sunday"). You could hear the Harley twin engine sound out of the turns and then a two stroke engine shifting many times down the short straights. Kenny made his move just before the finish line and won! Mike

Weather permitting, I will be leaving sometime friday afternoon and I have arrangements for staying at Harris Ranch. Nothing like a big red steak . The wife and I will be on one bike since she hasn't rode very much the last 6 months. We will leave from Harris Ranch early on Saturday morning 5:30-6.00 am to get to the Rally by 8.00 am. Hope to see you all, Mike

Humm, I guess where in the States you live. In California it might be a bigger deal. Even when I bought a used bike out of state, going down to the local California DMV was nerve racking. They will check out the bike to make sure all the smog stuff is on the bike, including the smog hose label. Mike

David, The pre 03 models have the new gauges along with new problems. The knob is plastic and broke at the end that meets the speedo. There is a little tiny screw that is missing, I guess I can go to my local Guzzi dealer to pick one up , but I wonder how long it will take to get one . Mike

Jaap, Any idea how much lighter the wheels are? My front Dymag was only about 3 pounds lighter than the stock Guzzi wheel. Now the rear wheel was whopping 9 pounds lighter. Most weight savings from the rear wheel was from the smaller hub/cush drive unit. Makes for a faster acceleration . Mike

Hi all, My odometer knob broke last year and the screw is missing. I am thinking of machining a new knob out of aluminum, anyone know what size screw I need and what the thread pitch is for a 2003 bike? Thanks, Mike

Don, Do you know what hotels folks will staying for the non-camping type? It in not that I don't camp but there is just so much more to carry when riding two up. Thanks, Mike

I usually buy my tires from European Motorcycle Accessories (EMA) in Plesanton California. I pick them up to save on shipping since they are just over the hill from me. They come out to the same price that you paid but then there is the good old California tax . The plus is I have them in my hands sooner so I can mount em up. http://www.ema-usa.com/tires/tires_pirelli.shtml Mike ....BTW, I just went ahead and ordered the Diablos(not Corsas) and we'll see how it goes.... $219 delivered, a pair from swmototires.com al 46467[/snapback]

I dunno, Try reading about Gary Eagan and ask yourself if he needs a electric scooter. Better yet do the math and figure out his average speed and lets see who rides a bike? Maybe just maybe he is gentle with the throttle to make it across the country with out wanting to waste time finding tires. This concept has proven to be very successful, and many, many records have been set in our brief existence. While all the records were significant, one of the most notable of these is Gary Eagan's unprecedented breaking of the 1900-mile/24-hour barrier. In 1995, Gary Eagan of Salt Lake City, Utah rode a total of 1932 miles in 24-hours, accomplishing this incredible mark without the aid of auxiliary fuel due to the failure of his auxiliary fuel system at approximately the 310 mile mark. Or, http://www.ducati.com/od/ducatinorthameric...tml?newsId=5701 Mike

KB, I have not tried the Diablos yet, I have used the Metzeler M1's and liked them also. I think they are like the Diablos. The Corsa's just feel alittle better. I can't explain it, but my seat of my pants likes them . Mike I've got Diablos, I like them. Good grip, handling & even wear. I get 3k miles to a set mostly sports riding. Mike, have you tried ordinary Diablos? How do Corsas compare? Was thinking of going to Corsas - but thought mileage would be silly & heard they're not good in the wet? Don't know the Avons. KB 46421[/snapback]

I thought the same way too. But one morning I fired up the bike and rode to work and while on the back roads in the dark, the headlamp went out. I pulled to the side of the road and turned the bike off then restared it and the lights came back on. So now I am a believer of throwing the Siemens relays away. Humm, My Jackal still has the Siemens relays and they work great. Mike

I do have alot of highway miles on the tires, probably about 50/50 on highway and the twisties. I rode to Arizona last year on them from the Bay Area and also to a few other rallys. I just looked and the center section of the tire just has a hint of flatness to it. Not bad at all . I have talked to other riders and they have the same experence with good mileage of the the Corsa's. I talked to Iron Butt rider Gary Egan (loves the Avon tires) at the Ducati ST rally last year and he say's that riding style has alot to do with how a tire wears. For example how hard you use your brakes, how easy you are with the throttle etc. He is really good with the throttle and brakes and does get very high mileage out of his rubber. I tend to replace the tires every 1 to 1.5 years no matter how many miles I have on them just to make sure the tire compound is sticky. Meaning I do not trust aged tires for grip. I am not really interested in a high mileage tire. I would rather have a sticky performance tire that might save my butt, if things get out of hand. Mike

Al, I still love the way the Pirelli Diablo Corsa's feel. Nimble handling, grips hot or cold, wet or dry, even wear and has a nice ride, plus I have over 3500 miles on them and they are about 1/2 worn. I have pushed these tires hard also, rode two up and hit the triple digets a few times when I rode with the Ducati ST May Madness rally last year. Yep, even the Duc owners were looking at my tires The Avons are a hit with the Ducati ST riders but I have not tried them yet and I don't know if I will since the Diable Corsa's work so well for me. Mike

Check out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...4535923493&rd=1 It seems a bit over priced, what do you think? Mike

There is a dealer in Prescott (Encore Performance) which you can check out if you make it to the Arizona rally at the end of April. It is held in Prescott, I will be there and I hope to meet you! Many good roads in Arizona APRIL 29, 30 and MAY 1 16th ANNUAL MOTO GUZZI RALLY Place: Watson Lake Park, Prescott, Arizona, on Highway 89A between Prescott Valley, AZ and Ash Fork, AZ. Contact: MGNOC State Rep Tom Short, 602-285-1153; Nolan Woodbury, 520-723-4699; or Jim Knaup. For Lodging options call: Prescott Chamber of Commerce: 800-266-7534. Rally ad will have additional information, starting in the February MGNOC News. Mike

Yes, Dr John is back and selling the remander of his inventory on ebay. Check out: http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZdrjohnmg and buy what you have been waiting for! I would love the titanium rods myself Mike

I guess it just all depends on what day of the week the bike was made . or maybe only the bikes sent to USA were installed upside down Mike