Mike Stewart

Tap plastics carries the different types of the carbon fiber weave and also the hardners and resins that you will need. Working with carbon fiber is just like working with fiberglass. A mold needs to be made which to me is the hardest part. I always wanted to make a few things out of carbon fiber (fairing, alternator cover, fuel tank pillow) but the time needed is just not justified at this time. I ended up buying a carbon fiber buell fairing for $89.00 rather than spending that on just materials. Good luck, Mike

Joe, It is a piece of cake. There are two 8mm. nuts that hold the tach in the dash. If you have a windshield, it would be best if it is removed. After the two nuts are removed, the tach will slide out. For removing the speedo, the speedo cable needs to be removed and then the two 8mm. nuts holding the speedo in place. Be careful when reinstalling the speedo cable. The speedo has plastic threads and it is very easy to cross thread the cable. Good luck, Mike

I don't think you can get away with a soot free exhaust outlet. You would have to go way lean to get a nice burning plug and a soot free outlet. Too lean for a Guzzi. I also think the combustion chamber has something to do with the way the plugs look. You will notice one side of the plug being more wet (I believe that is on the fuel injector side) while the other is or should be a tan or brown color. As far as changing the exhaust or air filters, both of my bikes needed the PCIII to correct the flat spots and coughs that the lean condition caused. Mike

That would be the one! Now I wonder if it makes the throttle a 1/2 turn or a 1/8 turn? Mike

If I remember correctly, the Guzzi Sport Jingushi place in Japan had a different throttle lever where the cable attaches to. I think that would be a better solution. I tried to get on their web site but failed. Guess their web address changed. Good luck, Mike

Like this one? I did purchase the fairing and windshield. The problem is besides cutting out the headlamp hole larger, when mounted the windshield comes in contact with the gauges. I think I read that Jaap had purchased the fairing from inteam like the one in the picture. Is that true Jaap? Thanks, Mike

Welcome to the V11 site! I have a friend that put a Stucchi crossover on his stock 2002 Lemans and he said that there was no noticeable power gain. I had the Mistral cans and PCIII when I install the Stucchi crossover and the power difference was noticeable. Since you have an 03 bike with the front crossover, you may not need the Stucchi crossover. I did however install one on my 03 Rosso with the PCIII, carbon cans and lidless airbox. Runs nice! By the way, I live up in the Oakland Hills if you would like to hear what my bike sounds like with the Mistral mufflers. Mike

Some of the tires I have tried on my 2000 V11 Sport Note, On my V11Sport, I have installed a wider rear wheel (5.5), so your bike might be effected differently. The 2000 and 01 bikes might have a different head angle, which was brought up a few months ago. So the 01 bike may also handle differently than my 00 Sport. Bridgestone 010 (works well if you can still find them, are being replaced with the newer 014, front tire does cup). Dunlop D220 (works very well on dry roads, feels greasy on painted lines, sealed lines on roads etc. this is the tire I am currently running. Last weekend, the tire did slide on me twice, mainly over the tar sealing lines). Metzeler Sportec M1, Pirelli Diablo ( I have used this tire for many miles, it does stick well and has a fast warm up, however, I never liked this tire on fast sweepers, the bike just does not want to settle down and is very nerve racking, the tire is very sensitive to uneven road surfaces and will follow them). The Pirelli Diablo Corsa is my favorite so far on my 03 Rosso! Metzeler M3 (I have heard this work well on the V11 Sport, I may try them next). New Avon touring tire (has a great review, another tire I would like to try out). What I have learned on the 00 V11 Sport is, it is very sensitive to the tire profiles. The more rounded the tire is (Metzeler Sportec/ Pirelli Diablo) the more nervous the bike becomes. The Bridgestone 010, 020 and the Dunlop D220 have a slightly less rounded tire profile which makes the bike slower turning while making the bike less nervous. Mike

When I was much younger (in my teens), I always used Craftsmen tools. I would break them and return them on a regular basis. Since I have been working as a Auto Tech. the last 25 years, I have been using mostly Snap-On tools. They still break and wear out but are replaced weekly by the Snap-On dealer that comes by. One of the nicer features of a well made tool is that the sockets and wrenches are thinner to get into tighter places and they also tend not to round off the heads of the bolts when torque is applied. Also, Sears is not what it used to be. Everytime I bring in a box of brokens (from home), they either need to order them or they want to give you the cheaper new stuff. Mike

Droydx, Go with the Metzeler Sportec M1 or the Pirelli Diablo Corsa's (my favorite). You will not believe the difference. I had the stock Bridgestone tires on for about 200 miles and changed them out to get a faster turn in rate. The tires do that and much much more. I have over 3000 miles on the Pirelli Diablo Corsa's and the rear tire has at least 60% more life in it. Mike

When in doubt, throw it out! Repairing a flat is one thing, belt seperation is another. I always replace the tires if they ever get punctured. My life is not worth a few dollars..... Mike

It seems to me that the 2000 and 01 bikes need the steering dampner more than the 02 and newer bikes. My 2000 V11 Sport does shake its head (a few times today) when on the throttle hard (full throttle) and going over bumps (front end gets light?). My 03 Rosso shows no signs of head shake at any speed. I guess the one inch. longer wheel base helps out here. Mike

Paul, Great idea! This would also fix the problem with the Hepco-Becker bag/heel clearence issue. Thanks, Mike

No Goldwing for me. I have done a few 500-600 miles day rides two up and fully loaded, my type of sport tourer. I do get some weird looks pulling into the first few Guzzi Rallys, everyone thought my wife was a real trooper. Mike

Al, If you go any shorter in the rear it will be very hard to carry a passenger for any length of ride. The stock rear pegs are pretty cramped for my wifes 5' 3" height and I do hear complaints from her on the longer rides. Mike

Al, Having ridden my Rosso pretty hard, I don't think the bike really needs a steering dampner. The stock dampner is always backed off in its setting, you could say the Bitubo is just going for the ride. Mike

Droydx, With a cold engine, place a shop towel under the fittings. A shop towel around the fitting might also be helpful just incase there is pressure in the fuel system. Watch out for fuel spray (meaning your eyes). Push inward (toward fuel tank) on the hose being removed and while holding the inward pressure, now push the gray retainer toward the hose. You will not see any movement of the hose going toward the tank or the gray coupler moving toward the hose. Just pull the hose and coupler off. Give it a try and let me know My 03 Rosso had a bad case of tank suck and I also ended up taking the tip over valve. I also thought the valve was in backwards but I am not sure. Just a small amount of vacuum will shut the valve and cause the tank suck syndrome. Mike

Butt they look a little rough! Or I would buy them myself! Mike

MG cycles also carries the carbon fiber alternator cover. I think the carbon fiber cover will hold up just fine. Just clean it up and clearcoat it once and a while. I plan to purchase one myself (gram junkie)! http://www.mgcycle.com/charging.html Mike

Do the lights on the dash come on when the key is turned on? If the lights do come on, try pushing on the starter button while turning the bars lock to lock. If the engine starts to crank, your problem lies in the clutch safty switch circuit. I had this problem from day one on my 03 Rosso. I ended up bypassing the clutch switch by removing the fuel tank and disconnecting the connectors that lead up to the clutch switch and splicing them together (frame side). No problems since then. Mike

The best way to use the PCIII is to have the bike dynoed and have the map made for your bike. If everything was equal in life, then a few maps would cover most bikes. But with U.S. ecu maps and European maps and adjustments to the stock ecu by dealers plus now the factory performance ecu's that came with the Ti cans, this throws another wrench into the equation. I think there are even a few different ecu maps from the factory on the early 2000 V11 Sports. So if you have a U.S. bike, then a map made for an European model will not work. It will be lean (yes I have tried this a few years ago on my 00 V11Sport). If one bike had the stock ecu tweaked by the dealer, then there is a good chance a PC III will need a different map than what is available. Also, it seems that there has been an evolution of maps since the early 2000 models and every year got better (running wise) than each previous year. My 2003 Rosso ran perfect in stock form but with an exhaust change a PCIII was needed to cure the sputtering, surging and dying conditions. The first map I tried on my 03 Rosso was one from a 02 lemans and the bike ran very lean. I had to richen up the mixture through out the rpm range to make the bike run right. I have not had any of my bikes dynoed to have a map made but I aim to have it done sometime this summer. Hope this helps, Mike

I hate to pop your bubble but the Red Anodised porkchops are really painted. The anodised red color can chip also. Mike

Al Anal? Mike

Due to a neck problem, I missed the Guzzi Dinner (bummer). Hopefully I can have it straightened out tomorrow so I can ride by Wednesday! Mike

I have the same problem on my Rosso but not on my V11 Sport. I think it has to do with having a larger wind screen on the Rosso which blocks the wind in aidding to hold up the upper body. The height is fine and I would not want it to come up anymore than stock. I am thinking of trying another set of clip-ons such as the Sato clip-ons which have an adjustable bar angle of 2 to 8 degrees (comes in a cool gold color to match the Ohlins forks!). This will angle the bars down slightly instead of being coming straight out (90 degrees). http://www.motostrano-store.com/saraadqucl.html Mike