Mike Stewart

Does anyone have the paint codes for the 03 Rosso? I wanted to paint my Hepco-Becker bags to match the rest of the bike! Thanks, Mike

Yep, Had a trans leak for over two years and the shop has tried to repair them 3 times and I still have a leak. I will give them another shot at it when the recall is done. I hope my extended warrantee will cover the cost. Mike

Welcome to the other V twin! The best way to adjust the fuel mixture after any exhaust modification is with a Powercommander or PCIII. The best way to get a good tone from the exhaust while adding power and loosing weight is to replace the stock mufflers. Some have gone the drilling out route but ended up replacing the drilled out mufflers with aftermarket cans. Mike

I have about 1500 miles on the Corsa's so far and I luv them! The provide a nice ride, warm up quick and then stick like snot (which is a good thing). I have not noticed any wear yet and that is with at least 800 miles on the straight super highway slab. I was really impressed with the tires when I first installed them. I was riding two up with some folks at a rally and we were doing some pretty high speed riding, the bike just handled great and there was no chicken strip left on the rear tire when I got back to camp. The only thing you need to worry about is some owners of 00 and 01 V11Sports do not like the way the bike handles with either the Metzeler Sportec M1 and maybe the Pirelli Diablo. I have heard that these tires are made at the same plant and share the same design. The Corsa offers a different rubber compound. Now what 00 and 01 riders don't like is the quicker steering the tire offers. Works great on the 02 bikes and newer since the wheelbase is longer. I finally got the Metzeler Sportecs to feel right on my 00 Sport, but I had to slacken the rake of the forks to accomplish this. Thank god for the adjustable shock length of the Penske shock! Good luck, Mike

Alski, I have not run my 03 out of gas (knock on wood), it is not very good for the fuel pump to run dry. Takes alot of life off the pump. I can tell you this, either my 03 gets worst fuel mileage than my 00 V11Sport or the tank size is smaller than the 00 to 02 bikes. I can get about 30 more miles per tank on the 00 V11Sport. The claimed fuel tank size for 03 was suppost to be larger, but I wonder if that was with the fuel pump and filter installed in the tank? Mike

Doug, Give LE a call, check out their web site. Just go with springs, I did the whole revalve and respring and I was not happy with it. I ended up replacing the Zokes with a set of Ohlins forks to correct the problem. You can send them the forks to have it done (recommended) or do it your self (if you have the tools). http://www.le-suspension.com/index.html# Good luck, Mike

I think it depends on the tire. The Bridgestone 010 always cupped on me. The Metzeler Sportec's raise the tread slightly but not as bad as the Bridgestone tires. This has been a common complaint of the early V11 series and the way you ride. .While all my Bridgestones have cupping, the Metzelers only show slight cupping. I believe this is due the tire design (chevron). Mike

Yes. And yes. The springs are definately the way to go if you weigh more than 150 pounds. I'm 165 in street clothes and added 17mm to the spacer, then dropped the triple clamp 16mm to maintain weight on the front. It works *OK* but not an ideal set-up. Or you could install stiffer springs. It really depends on your weight. I went the long route which was very expensive. I sent my forks and shock off to be revalved and resprung but have not been happy since. What a nightmare trying to get the bike to ride like it was when new. The revalved/resprung stock suspension was way too stiff. $800.00 dollars down the tube! A revalve (for the 2nd time) for the front fork which was better but was still was tooooo stiff made the bike I loved run wide on rough roads. I changed the rear shock with a Penske and installed a Aprilli Showa front fork. The rear shock was way too stiff. I sent the Penske back (customer support very good) and with in three days, I had a shock to my specs. The bike still did not feel right. Very nervous at any speed. I installed a Ohlins front fork, which felt better but the bike still wondered and felt unstable. I lowered the rear shock length by 10mm. Whow what a difference.... The bike now feels much better than it has ever felt... So what the 00 Sport likes is the stock shock length and dislikes anything that makes the streering quicker. Man what a lesson! Mike

The Metzeler Sportec's will last up to 4 to 5,000 miles for the rear tire and almost twice that for the front. You might get more mileage out of them if you do more mountain riding verses the highway slab ( center of tire wearing out early). Mike

Taminatorv, How did you bend your sidestand? Mike

I just checked the Ohlins rear shock and I have 13 clicks out on compression dampening (remote) and 7 clicks out on rebound dampening (on the shock). Call me crazy but the Guzzi likes alot of rebound dampening. I think the weight of the rear wheel/final drive has something to do with it. Mike

I think you may be right on the Scura having too much high speed compression dampening. When one of the magazines did a write up on the Scura, they had the same complaint of harshness and had the shock revalved. It did help but was still on the stiff side. My 03 Rosso to me seems spot on. It did take me a few weeks to dial in (one high speed ride with the Ducati club helped me tune it to my riding needs). Mike

Docc, Pasadena is quite nice this time of year. Infact, the weather in Northern California has been fantastic this week with temps. reaching 85 degrees. Big change since we have be being hammered with storms the last few weeks. It is nice being able to ride to work once again and just in time for the skyrocket pricing of fuel. Mike

Dave, Take at least two credit cards with you, I ran into a problem two years ago when Chevron decided to only limit you to 3 purchases in a day. Humm, 600 miles equals how many tank fulls? Make sure you have your cell phone and charger. A Sagging Tit tire plug kit. Advil for those long hours in the Saddle. If you hit Northern California, we will have to get together! Mike

Yeah, I have 5.5 inch rims on my Rosso and 00 V11 Sport with 180 tires on both. I have tried the 170's on the rear of the V11 and it did not feel much different to me. I have tried Metzeler Sportec's two times on my 00 Sport and both times they have made the bike feel uneasy , meaning that the bike will not settle down and feels loose (this is due to the tire profile). I have tried just about every suspension tweak that I can think of (increasing fork rake, decreasing fork rake, different suspension adjustments and not one thing has rid the bike of it's nervous feeling. I guess I like a bike that feels like it is on rails through the turn. So back to the Bridgestones we go! To sum this up, the Sportec is an excellent tire and it works well on my other two bikes but for the 00 V11 Sport, the tire just does not work well in my opinion. I have spoken with the Avon rep last year at the bike show and he agreed that some tires do not work right on certain bikes. Mike

Let it hang, let it hang, let it hang. Just had a Beatles song go through my head Let it be! Mike

Oh Boy, Humm, with all this tire talk, I must say that with owning both a 00 V11Sport and a 03 Rosso Corsa, both bike like different tires. The Rosso with the added one inch. in wheel base loves the quicker turning tires, such as the Metzler M1 Sportec or the Pirelli Diablo Corsa. Now on the other hand, my 00 V11Sport likes a slower radius tire like the Bridgestone 010 or even the Dunlop 220 (which I am going to try next). With a quick turning tire on the early V11Sports, the bike feels very nervous and never really settles into the turns. One must bring an extra set of shorts when using the faster turning tires on the 00-01 V11Sports. At least, this is what my assometer is relaying back to me! Mike

Humm, both my Guzzi= 4 pipes and all the muffler/ pipes always have soot on them and the spark plugs are a nice tan color. Now all my other bikes in the garage dont have soot (Aprilia, Ducati). I still think it is from the poor combustion chamber design. Have you checked your valve adjustment lately? That is my only suggestion. Mike

Welcome Aquila, Where in the East Bay do you live? You must come to my garage so we can talk. So where did you buy your bike at? Speedsports or Moto Italiano? I also have a Aprilia Falco in my Garage besides the two Guzzi's. Yes, Italian parking only! Mike

Heck Mr. Bean, I retorqued all the bolts on my 00 V11 Sport when I bought it and never carried a tool kit with me for the first two years. Now that the wife rides her on bike (Ducati), I now carry a tool kit. You might have a tool kit to an older model if the wrenches don't fit the axles nuts. Guzzi is Italian after all. Have fun with your new bike! Mike

I have had very good results with the PCIII. With out the PCIII, both of my bike ran poorly (spitting, poping, stalling). Go to the Guzzi Tech site and email Todd Eagan. He does alot with PCIII's and Guzzi's and he should be able to make a map for you. I think he can email you the map. http://www.guzzitech.com/ Good luck, Mike

The next time it happens to you, try doing this. While on the bike with clutch lever pulled in, push on the starter button and turn the bars to lock to lock. If the bike starts, your problem is in the clutch switch connection located under the fuel tank. Just by moving the bars moves the harness ever so slightly and is enough to make a better connection. On both of my Guzzi's, I have bypassed the sidestand and clutch switch. Good luck, Mike

I had the Napoleon bar end mirrors and could not get them in past the threads of the bars. Some other members were able to get them in (must be stronger than I). I ended up cutting the part that inserts into the bar flush with the mirror base and mounting the mirrors through the hollow clutch and brake lever pivot using a longer bolt. Have had it this way for over two years now and am pleased with it. Mike

I agree, silicone and gaskets dont mix well. The slippery silicone sealant can cause the gasket to slide out and crack causing another oil leak. I had used silicone on one gasket on my Toyota Landcrusier transfer case many years ago and learned the hard way. Moral of the story is, I had to remove the transfer case one more time to replace the gasket. Now I just use silicone by its self or use the good old brush on sealer with the gasket. No more problems and I have been doing it this way for the last 25 years as a GM tech. I agree with Carl, I had talked to the past Guzzi rep. and he said the timing cover leak was from the paint being on the gasket surface. This caused the gasket to slide out and crack. A sanding block over the surface should solve this problem. Mike