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The Scura goes quiet when I pull the lever in.Seems like it's not clacking as much when moving.

Thanks guys. The circlip seems to be fine and intact.There was a twisted piece of thin metal all chewed up sticking out of the bearing.I mistakingly thought it was a retaining clip,but appears to be part of the bearing unit.The clip on the outside of the wheel is the only one in the assembly?Correct? Tom I got the links and will be ordering bearings and nipple from them.Right and left are the same? Now if I could only find that circlip tool I haven't used in years! Thanks, Michael

Took the Scura out for her first spring ride.Felt a little weird,so pulled over and been hit with the dreaded shrapnel italia.Circlip on the left rear wheel bearing was sticking out,bent and broken,with a lot of play in her.Happy that I got home safe.Better lucky than smart! Where should I get highest quality bearings and clip?I did a search,but eyeballs were spinning from all the numbers and sources.Assume most bearing sources wont have clip,so would like to get from the same place.Also would prefer not MG part as the bike only has about 14k so confidence isn't high with theirs'! Thanks,, Michael

I swear my card carrying Honda supporter,VFR riding ass didn't do it! But I wish I had!!

Nice comparo of a Guzzi and VFR. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=g9-Wqmnykgk&...feature=related Both 2-up,cool! Stock exhaust on VFR,still sounds more Ferrarri-ish than big blocky.They do rumble nicely at idle but because they rev high ,their scream seems more Italian car-like to me ears.Unfortunately ,like a Guzzi,they really don't breathe in stock form.

Anybody have any experience with out new sponsor Euromoto?

+1 There are several sources for used headers,Classifieds here,Reboot in France,Ebay,or Racer X's new headers. Probably 90% chance ,this is your problem.

Hey Nance, How bout callin' er , Bella Verde!

Have a few days off,so I figured I'd give myself a few hours of play in between sorting paperwork for taxes. Still cold here in the Catskills,low 40's and snow flurries all day ,sand in some corners,but a lot of sunshine and no one on the roads,... Went by my mechanic ,who's working on my Jeep ,to check the status of the work and he curiously looked at the Scura and said ,"boy that's noisy".Euro spec valve clearances,Ti cans, and a clacking flywheel will do that! Can't wait for warm weather! Unfortunately she's due for shaft lubing,tranny/brake/clutch fluids,tires,wheel/steering bearings inspection/replacement,replace potential exploding clutch,get that Racer X PC3,tighten all those sweaty gaskets the previous owner left me,................

Hey SavageHenry,your entirely too busy and MUST sell me your NC! Is that a Sport Classic in the back? Hmm on second thought I might be able to help you with that one too. Nancy,Your more dedicated than the average biker,I average 15-20k a year here in NY,depends on what kind of winter we have,sometimes we get a lot of snow(like this year) and others fairly mild(none till late Jan last year).So agree that most people don't have the dedication or other responsibilities prevent riding every day. I also think that a lot owners feel that their Guzzi(s) are a cherished possession,like a vintage sports car,where the best time to take her out, is a perfect Sunday afternoon. OK ,now is the Republican speaking on Real Time With Bill Maher portion of our show. Like a vintage MG,I don't look at the V11 as a commuter type bike.I know some people do commute on them, but the vast majority of us here ,don't.Not because they're not reliable,but they do have quirks.And if you need a part,most of us don't have a local dealer that we can run down to,and if we did ,it would be unlikely that they would have what we needed in stock most of the time.Also being an air-cooled motor,stop and go(about every city nowadays) in hot weather for an hour or two and she won't be happy.Some people have reported bike not wanting to run after getting wet. There have been some "know issues",most of which can be fixed easily and cheap.Since your bike is 7-8 years old it's quite possible the previous owner has sorted them already or it never showed any problems.If any problems do show up ,you'll be amazed at the wealth of information and kindness here.

Hi Dimitiis The coughing off throttle and unstable idle are symptoms of a compromised intake boot.Happened to me , and they are a common problem.It still may be your A/F mixture but make sure there are no cracks in the boots, Michael

This would be a good candidate for a technical topic especially with a lot of us doing our spring fluid flush.

I guess Dave is what a senator SHOULD be.Representing the Guzzi contigency that doesn't have a voice in Mandello del Lario.Unfortunatley like the current US administration they ain't listening! How bout we pool our money and do a hostile takeover! According to Wikipedia,here are some of technical innovations that Guzzi has made in the motorcycle world, * First prototype motorcycle shaft drive (first production credit: BMW) * First linked brakes on a motorcycle * First cartridge forks * First motorcycle manufacturer to use AGM batteries * First motorcycle center stand: the 1921 Normale Also Wikipedia source,historic sales numbers,the 1971 numbers are mind boggling considering population size and how many people per capita rode a motorcycle in '71. i# 1929 2,500 units Italian Moto Guzzi Entry # 1971 46,487 units (historic high) # 1994 4,300 units (approx). # 1997 5,600 units (approx) # 1998 5,647 units # 1999 6,275 units # 2004 fewer than 4,000 units # 2005 fewer than 5,000 units # 2006 greater than 10,000 units Come on Piaggio,Harley pulled themselves out of the depths of the AMF days,so can't you!

Yup,it's high-jacked,Sorry Nancy! This is what happens at the social center of the virtual MG old cogers home! Hope we can set it up Tom,my first street bike and only new one I ever owned, was a Magna VF700,yup great motor essentially a no-maintenance bike.Been hooked to the V-4 since.

Hi Hal, Definitely,I'll be on the road a lot in April/May so if I cant find time then, we'll do somethin in June.I'll post some ideas in the meetings section in a couple of weeks,Hoping to get some of the other NE guys to come,TomM,Ryland,falconlion,Weeg,etc.PS anyone not in the area thinking they would want to check out the Catskills,(stones throw from Woodstock)I have several bikes so I could set you up with a ride.$-euro is so good for U lucky EUers, would be a cheap flight to NY area just get yerself here and ya gotta place to crash er,ah,..sleep and a bike. Ya Ouiji I'm with ya.I take Chuck any day over Eddie,black Vansons over fancy Dianese,and V11 ov'r CBR.Inlines are not my thing,smooth but bland(I own a CB919 as my beater) Ive had three VFR's and they are awesome.They are not you dad's Honda.People who buy them are like Guzzi owners ,the numbers don't matter.They are way down on power to weight compared to all-out sport bikes.They put a great motor/comfortable/bullet-proof/sexy package together.They've won BOT many times in their class and no ordinary bike can say that. The V-4 motor is a perfect design.Low grunt,and rumble of a V-twin at low RPM's and scream at higher ones.That's why in the WSB's of 80's,90's and now,in GP, the V-4's are ruling. The throb of the motor is not unlike what pulling a string of pearls out of Scarlett Johansson mouth might sound like.Power everywhere, with character.Low maintenance, reliable.Once you ride one,you won't dismiss them.May not be for everyone,but I had a Harley friend over visiting and he took the ST1100 and loved it.This is from a guy who thinks the motorcycle world begins and ends with Harley,that's how infectious they are,not unlike a Guzzi in their charm,because they live outside the norm,kinda like a lot of us here. Hey if we can hook-up this season maybe the Guzzi will down and you can check er out! Michael

I can't stand the arrogance of some bikers that their skills are beyond reproach.That their talent can get them out of any situation,gear or no gear. I didn't know him. But this guy had a name, Brandon White, He had a mother,maybe brothers and sisters,maybe children,maybe a girlfreind or wife that loved him. RIP Brandon

You mean that the Roper Time Machince is a scam?

Hey Ouiji, If you were talking about the VFR it's a V-4 with 100 HP/55lbs of torque and sound like a Ferrari when you twist the throttle,far from pathetic.TheV11's generally put out 80/65 with minor mods. Two completely different animals but equally as fun! If you wern't talking bout the VFR, in the worlds of George W Bush about the Iraq war,"Oops my bad!" I think my friend might have done that spring ride,Mark from Millbury Mass,I think he has an Eldo.He said it was a blast,great roads and good people. I'm hoping to host a couple of 1-2 dayrs up here in the Catskills area this year,hope you can make it, Michael

bought a copy of Guzziology some years ago, and 'till yesterday I imagined Dave as wearing long hair, rolling his owns and wearing a red, in the meantime better pink, Guzzi overall. Seing him pictured somehow made him quite mortal again... Ha,ha, I pictured long white hair,white robe,and white pointy hat,with blindingly white aura around him. I guess we'll have to settle for his love,passion,and dedication to the brand we all love so well.

"Are you saying there are no performance/reliability limitations to a 1000-1200 cc air cooled V twin?" Exact opposite.As the one who pays them(the buyer/owner is essentially their boss)I do not accept this excuse.In my line of work people put me in situations that are seemingly impossible to sort out and it is my job to be inventive enough to resolve problems.This is what I and Guzzi get paid for.I,like my bosses don't want to hear excuses,just good results.I'm saying that they MAY have to consider a liquid cooled machine.In their heyday they were thought of as innovators.Now to many,they are dinosaurs,kinda like an Italian Harley,(who have finally given in to the dreaded LQ). A 12,or 1300 higher compression air-cooled may do the trick. Don't have a preference of L or A cooled,just a bike with a little more bollocks,thats also sexy,clean and reliable. " You're asking them to move forward and not stand still, and by most peoples estimation, they have. The CARC system is supposed to dramatically better than the setup we have on our V11's,etc,etc," As I said here,"Don't get me wrong,I think the Breva,Norge,and Griso are cool bikes that have some evolution improvements in them" .I am aware of the improvements,didn't think it was necessary to list them. I guess after re-reading your posts, I'm not sure where you want Guzzi to go "I'm not asking for a 1098 beater,just a reliable,modern bike, in a classic roadster package(simple good looks,comfortable,low maintenance" I might not give up my V11 for a Breva, but I would consider the 1200 Sport and definitely consider it for an 8v Sport When you buy yer Black Breva,can I have your Ballabio?I promise not to put a LQ kit on it.That would be like putting a mustache on a Picasso,

Ooh,it's very niiccce!!! Love those greenies.always makes me want to have a margarita,..or two.On second thought,I pretty much want them anytime! You got some great roads out there ,spent about a week in Arizona whenI went X-country a few years ago on the ST1100,and loved it.Wish I had a lighter bike for the twisties tho ala the V11. Don't give up your VFR yet as you make the V11 your own,waiting on parts sometimes is a test of patience.Fortunatly we have several sources here that are sympathetic to our needs(addiction) as much as a volunteer at a methadone clinic. The tech section is great for questions for maintanence and repairs.Lots a guys with a lot more nolige than me willing to help. Now,all ya gotta do is get a Rich Maud seat,MPH risers,Mistral X-over pipe/cans,Guzzi CF fairing,Todd eagan PC3,etc,etc,etc,..... Welcome to the family!keep chanting,Moto Guzzi,Moto Guzzi,Moto Guzzi ,enjoy!!

"have to accept that there are performance limitations" Yes and I'll start drinking the koolaid Mr. Colannino tells me to drink,....Just go along with the flow,don't ask questions or challenge and demand anything and we'll all be safe! Cant speak for anyone else,but I'm not angry,just dissapointed.Don't know if he feels the same but Dave's words mimmick my feelings almost verbatum.It's possible he was mis-quoted or taken out of context. And who among us knows more about Guzzis than him.He'll know more in his little finger than I'll know in all of my Vanson 2-piece.. I understand why we buy them,er,ah,....I own one! But I,and dont know if anyone else here ,would trade in their V11 for a Breva,Yukk! I'm asking them to more forward,not stand still. If we all say a Guzzi has certain characteristics we shouldn't change,then we might not have,Fuel injection,single shocks,or alloy wheels.Adding these on didn't take away the character of the Guzzi one bit ,IMO.Does the MGS win at Daytona not count because it was,oh please God not,....liquid cooled.Oh the sacrilege! I'm not asking for a 1098 beater,just a reliable,modern bike, in a classic roadster package(simple good looks,comfortable,low maintenance).I think the Sporti,did that very well. It appears the MGS is a phantom,that wont see the light of day on the showroom floor.But it is also in a class that I think most of us don't want,superbike,ala the 1098. I rode a a liquid-cooled Monster last week and it was a blast and had character and plenty of good vibes to go around! Don't get me wrong,I think the Breva,Norge,and Griso are cool bikes that have some evolution improvements in them.If I had unlimited funds I'd own all of em,ooh well not a Breva.But I think V11 owners are looking for a little more oomph and sex appeal ,than what they have to offer. Can't there be a happy medium?

Thanks Ben. This is great to get to get opinions from one of the biggest Guzzi supporters in the country ,if not the world. Great to get the inside story of the relationship of the dealer(probably the most important in the US) and the top man at Piaggio(Guzzi). This sums it up for me(and seemingly Mr Richardson), the frustration I have with the current Guzzi offerings "The place they put Guzzi in the market isn’t the best. For example: The Breva 1100. I characterize it like this. There are four ways to build a bike. You can make a modern looking bike with modern technology like Aprilia’s sport bike. You can make classical style bike with classical technology like Harley. You can make classical style bike with modern technology, like a Japanese standard bike or cruiser. What doesn’t make sense is to build a modern looking bike with classical technology. That’s what a Guzzi is." He was also critical of the Norge, "Do you characterize the Norge the same way? Yeah, all it is, is the Breva tarted up. That’s fine. It’s the best selling thing they’ve had in a very long time. I would have to guess the reason is, in its market, large displacement, Sport Touring, it is entirely viable. The look, the feel, the performance, the comfort, the price, and what it does are all competitive in that market. Most of what Guzzi does is not. They are low performance and high price." The V7 Classic,my feelings exactly,I would buy the Ducati on looks alone,but it zooms past the V7 on performance, "That’s great. Give the guy what he wants. For instance I was pushing them to make something like Ducati makes with their Sport Classics. But don’t copy your own sport bikes. Don’t just copy an old Le Mans or V70 sport. So many people take their old touring standards from the 70s, T3s and bikes like that, and make them into cool café racers. So emulate your customers and not yourselves. Then you What came out of that? They’re making something called a V7 Classic, which is a little 750 with a gas tank that sort of looks like an old V7 Sport. The rest of the bike looks like an old Triumph. It completely ruins the idea. Based on a 750, sure it’s cheaper and lighter. But the guy I’m thinking about is not looking for a 50 hp 750. He’s looking for an 1100 with a lot of horsepower." Like I said in the Ducati ride post,Guzzi better wake up,the Italian and rest of the motorcycle world is passing em in the left lane,turning into a blur in that there horizon.

Hey Nancy, Hope you don't mind if I post this pic, as this lot is long in the tooth and we best give em a gander before we loose any of em to old age, Michael

Get that fresh rubber yet??? This is from a man that posted this! Had my new tire shipped to my friends house...75mi away...because he has a tire changer. I didn't get up there right away, put on a few hundred miles around town...then a few more...ooooops!! Now I just gotta figure out how the machine works. ..