docc

A clean switch is happy switch; and the RedLine will probably help as well. Cure for a sticky switch? Disconnect it? No, only if you're selling the bike on. Leaving the neutral light on activates the (middle/"sidestand") relay full time. Better not to. If a clean up doesn't fettle it, then in with the new switch.

Hmm, the spacers go on top, no? They can be changed without removing the forks from the triple trees. I had made the mistake of increasing the fork preload too much on my stock Marzocchis to where there was little rebound travel left. The answer was "correct springs" instead. Stock spacers in black behind the LaPhroaig Single Malt and Silkolene fork oil (don't they make a nice couple?)

Don't be apologetic. It looks so good you can't even qualify for a Bodge Point.

Simple load test: Turn the headlamp (etc) on high for three minutes and check the battery voltage. Over 11.2 vDC is good. On oil, I've found that Mobil 1 makes a lovely diesel truck full synthetic rated 5w-40 for 15w-40 applications (whatever the hell that means) with a CI-4 plus rating (the next best thing to old fashioned SG). And, yes, lighter cranks easier.

When you lift the cap, there is a small rubber nipple at 1:00 (looking at the cap upside down) which seals the tank vent. SOme have removed theirs to let the tank vent under the cap instead of out the plumbing. Sounds like you should check your hose routing.

And I thought all the '99 - '01 drivelines were silver. I guess "new owners" Aprilia started slipping the black drives in early.

I didn't see quite so many Guzzis this year. Having ridden down with Josh's Sport 1100, we saw a Quota, a champage LeMans, an Eldo, and a really nice metallic green LeMans/CX. There was a 1200 Sport at the motel. There were three amazing cafe Guzzis in the Classics show. And there were a couple Guzzis in the paddock waiting to ride in anger. This remains an extraordinary event; can't wait til next year!

Bad boy, Murray! It's a *foul* not to show your location in your profile and taunt us with your good riding! I can say, here in Lower Middle Mule Town (of Tennessee, USA) the Guzzi loves this dry, dense 60 degree F air. She howls, she idles, she gets good fuel economy. Who could ask for more?

My wife and I run our business together. Today, the nice ladies that work for us got us a gift certificate to a local eatery for Boss Day. I tried to amuse the wife with the whole knob thing, but she didn't get it. She's seems rather steadfast in her view that she's the Boss and I'm the Knob and that, in fact, there is a difference.

In the Darwinism of Motorcycling, Guzzi has yet remained. Let us hope it stays so, but remember it is about being the "fittest" and evolving to meet the demands of ever changing environs. Ford Motor Company (perhaps the only real, surviving American global carmaker) once noted that (and I paraphrase) "an enthusiast is worth ten sales." (or some such); as a satisfied Guzzisto, I suppose Piaggio's only hope in me is to provide me with a proper parts and service network that I can espouse the glory and fineness of Guzzi to all in the land. Here's to my hope in their prosperity!! (ok, so I'll drink to just about anything)

Hey! Who you callin' a knob? Worse yet: I see that this Friday, here in America, is National Boss Day. Is that the same as National Knob Day?

I was thinking your specification fit the latest generation Triumph Tiger "Roadie". But, no, hey, that Valkyrie . . . nice ride! But who's the then? (Kidding, DBG! Just be sure to fit a big windscreen since you'll be sitting back on your bum.)

I only know of one "Chatanooga" and it ain't in Bungendore. When would that put you here in Tennessee/USA? And is there any chance of buying you an ale? (Chatanooga is a couple hundred miles from here, but it still isn't like popping up in Bungendore (sounds like something that could happen to Harry Potter). oh, Gawd, yer not having it shipped?

Oooh! It makes me want to fiddle with it, tune it , fettle, make it "better', cause a leak, short it out. Order parts. Drink. + =

Agreed regarding the correct voltages. How old/what model is your battery? I found my poor running problems to improve immensely by freshening the charging system. The ECU does not operate well at these low voltages.

Thanks for the reminder. I'm in! Here in Lower Middle Mule Town, people ask, "Where do you get that serviced?" "Why, at my *local* Moto Guzzi dealer in Seattle, Washington, and V11LeMans.com." and and don't forget:

I'll bet my mV at idle is on the high side also. Last time, I set the idle "by ear." Seems like last year I passed you on the way out of Barber's on Sunday. It's always fun to see you burning up the roads on that LeMans! Better fun , yet, to sit and chat and bend the elbow. Hope to see you again, soon! Ride well, Perfesser! docc

There seems to be no downside (oiling, charging, or otherwise) to a higher idle. Docc (with the Veglia tach that reads 300 rpm too high)

What are your voltages 1) key on 2) idle and 3) at 2500 rpm?

My CO was -27 and we moved it to 0 (zero), which settled the idle and helped the running immensely. Does the VDSTS read degrees opening? Where is your millivoltage now that the TPS is set at 3.6 degrees? ridetobarbersridetobarbesridetobarbers docc 68,338 mile Sport

Cold we just continue this on the original thread? All the history would be there . . .

The "little ball" goes in the hole of the brake lever bracket. It wants to be there. It is "its purpose." Without it, the switch is on full time.

Whups! Six posts there now while I was trying to choose words. One of the strangest things is I see Greg saying that "Some know how to slay them" which I take to mean that the difficulties and challenges of these bikes can be addressed/tuned/managed. Then I watch Ratch' try to force the issue and get Greg to admit that the suspension challenges can be tuned; that there are no mysterious flaws; no completely unexplainable bad v11 Sports. I'm not sure we're watching a disagreement as much as two guys that refuse to agree. So, are there unexplainably bad V11 Sports? Or should we otherwise get down to detailing the process of setting them up properly?

I always consider it ungood when the last five posts are back and forth between the same 'contenders.' My apologies for (again) offering "moderation" unasked for. I support the (RH) thinking that these machines could be properly set-up to ride reliably and safely. I do not ascribe to the idea that some units are somehow 'flawed' or otherwise defective to the point of being unridable. There are a finite number of parameters that could be systematically tuned. I acknowledge that there are many riders that just can't get it done and don't have access to tuners that could do it for them. (I believe) this is not an easy bike to ride hard. I trust the judgment (GF) of a guy sitting in the cat bird's seat of Guzzidom. Greg sees and hears and helps keep serviced many more Guzzis than I'll see in a lifetime. Sad that where I live, there are a pitiful few of these bikes compared to the Pacific Northwest. So, if Greg says he's seen or known of four bikes to have crashed out, I accept this. I believe we've 'discovered' quite a number of the contributors to difficulties in handling the early V11. If there weren't any 'contributors', none of us would have had to work our way through any "set-up" to begin with. The real conflict, and perhaps the entire impetus for this thread, revolves around the assertion that (I paraphrase), some of these bikes are just 'bad' and the position that effective and thoughtful tuning will resolve contributing issues. While I remain in the "tuning" camp, I would not dispute that some riders crashed their Guzzis out, but because they never, or couldn't, achieve a proper set-up. At this point, I wonder if we've reached a Darwinian point in the evolution of the V11. All the riders whose badly set-up V11 with the soft tires, soft springs and too much sag have pranged themselves into the tarmac and sent the riders back to R1s and VFRs where they belong. For us, the fittest of us, that remain, seeing to the complex set-up of your early Sport is a very satisfying experience. Yet, one which you cannot safely neglect. You simply do not want to become Number Five.

And the time has come again. I can't believe this thread is three years old! I hope many of you are planning on making this event. Two or three of us are riding down from Columbia, Tennessee, (about an hour south of Nashville) Friday noon. Let me know if you're going to be in the neighborhood. (We're going the "back way", no Interstate Highway). We're staying in Irondale (Hampton Inn) about 6 miles west of the grounds. I really hope to see some of you there. No question, this is a World Class event!