docc

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!

I'd have to go back and do some reading, but, were those Ambassadors or Eldorados? And, finally, are there any absolute reports of 1999-2001 V11 spine frames causing that same level of instability?

Just to make you (well, ok, and me) feel better, I must admit to being "mechanically inclined." (i.e: "I can screw up anything!") While it can be most poignant to throw sparks, bleed, or otherwise double your vocabulary while doing some (seemingly) simple task, there are greater measures of true shade-tree knuckle dragging. (don't ask me how I know): -At 2am before taking your family on a 2000 mile round trip (to visit the Italian in-laws), pungent smoke with a green flash (yeah, that one) bursts from the back of your car's instrument panel as you (*wisely*) have attempted to repair the dash illumination. For greater safety and all. You find it is all hell to get the smoke back in the circuit board. It makes getting smoke back into wires look like a cheap parlor trick. -While a friend graciously dismounts your (awful) Pirelli Dragon, you decide to take the silly bracket off that held the doubly silly double hoses from the double charcoal cannisters. Removing the 6mm bolt above the exhaust crossover spews the most beautiful red fluid (from the gearbox) you've ever seen back lit by a drop light. Your only option is to stick your finger in the dyke, rather Dutch-like, and advise your helpful friend that you think you've wet your pants. -Trying to save a few bucks, you spend a week dismantling, cleaning, ordering parts, and reassembling a hateful garden maintenance device (that doesn't love you anyway). Upon reassembly (fifteen man-hours of labor), it will not roll. Your twelve year old son suggests, "Did you put that one-way gear in backwards?" (Of course, I had). I let him live, but he's still on thin ice ten years on. -Your Guzzi sticks in 'second'. You cleverly nurse it into 'first'. Now, it's stuck in 'first.' You long for 'second' and the kind of predatorial mindset that would have prevented you (while leading ten other bikes) from sticking your gearbox in 'first'. You ride at 6000 rpm with your carbon Mistrals through an (otherwise) sedate neighborhood on a Sunday morning profoundly affecting ordinary reasonable pedestrians and their pets. Reaching a safe stopping point at a major highway, (and sound in the presumption that it is The Pawl Spring) you bring the group to a halt and crouch to inspect the appropriate linkages. Whereby, the leg zipper on your Aerostich pops open from the ankle to the crotch. This (new) development requires that you lie down in the road beside your Guzzi (stuck in 'first') to forcibly coerce your leg zipper to release you from its cruel and untimely clutches. Your "friends" refuse any offer of help. In fact they rather turn away and pretend that your not lying there writhing on the tarmac in a hopeless wrestling match with Team YKK. Motorists begin stopping. No explanation seems complete; although I think I heard the words "withdrawal" and "lap-dance." I'm not sure what they had to do with one another. I rode home alone. In 'first.' Within seven to ten days I had a new pawl spring and a new Aerostich. And new friends. -You decide your plumbing makes too much noise as the faucets upstairs (where the Real People live) are shut off. You begin anchoring them with a big bag of special pipe fasteners and a big hammer when you make a big whack into the little/brittle pitiful PVC pipe which begins to demonstrate just how big the water pressure really is. In the greatest of fortune, your toolbox catches most of the water. Your wife is curious what was actually wrong with the pipes before you started beating on them. The pipe glue takes three hours to dry. You take everyone out to eat. I work on lawn mowers and gas grills, too. Oh, and then there's the Volvo. Save us, I gots tools. :luigi:

Okay, well, swapping the springs (unfortunately) puts the stiffer return spring on the fast idle, making the seat easier to remove (and it does). Trouble is, this will just push your fast idle off with more gusto. I'm not so sure what "holds" the fast idle on. It is easier to deal with a "stiff" lever by lubricating and swapping springs. To me, it feels like all the friction is in the handlebar lever itself. You say you had the bars apart?

S'E: Have a look at this thread on the leaky Bitubo: Bitubo Steering Damper . . .

I really can't see the difference between the "fork tube angle" and the "rake." Isn't that the rake of the fork (tubes)? Anyway, I am not not aghast that Guzzi may have tried some interim changes leading to a substantial frame change in 2002. And, yet, I am (aghast). In fact, it is quite surprising to try and catalog or otherwise comprehend the continual development in this series. I'm impressed with the factory's attempts to address "issues" with the product. Whether it is press, or customer feedback, or nasty crashes we, perhaps, will not know. Nonetheless, Moto Guzzi has continually addressed and improved its product. I like my RedFrame and appreciate its "compromises." Sag this, damp that . . . I still believe its greatest drawback "as delivered" was the Pirelli Dragon Corsa tires and soft springs. Weavy devil woman at 90 mph; like dancing with a really large, drunk woman on very high heel shoes; somebody's gonna get hurt and it could be you.

Paul, congratulations on the new ride!! Has the tan and black "TT" with all the accessories ever officially become available?

As much as I like graphs, that one makes me a little dizzy . . .

That, I agree! I'd like to see one of these skewed-triple RedFrames. Any one ever see one? Have one?

"Sleep" works for you? I always have to drink when shit doesn't go together right on my Guzzi.

Last time my Sport wouldn't behave, I found the right coil wire munted:

All right . . . this is really challenging thinking ( and good ale) . . . (and I didn't get to ride 1000 miles in this tropical weather system, as planned), so, I've been reading and giving this a lot of (foggy) thought. First, I think it's time a *couple* of forum members came to terms with "some iz an' some ain't." While there are numerous parameters and a myriad of adjustments and changes that can be effected to these bikes, this is , after all a mechanical device, however complex. So, while the whole Demonic Vampirette thing has been fun, it's no longer productive. Let's get on with the fact that a thorough and productive set-up is critical. (Don't let that deter you from linking hot images of Vampirettes; that last one reminded me of a "girl" I dated in college . . .) Second, if increasing trail increases stability, why did my Sport get better by raising the rear ride height, fitting a smaller rear tire, and dropping the triple clamps (thereby decreasing trail?) I would suggest it's about weighting the front, a trait for which Guzzis are not known. "Damn the (trail), full speed ahead!" (desperate to ride again, docc)

The Bosch relays (one per horn) checked out okay. I recrimped connectors, groomed harness, and the trumpets blow their beautiful 135 dB tune!

It might would have been good to remove and clean your switch while the box was drained. You could try putting it in gear and tapping about on the switch (or just give it a proper *whack*). The fluid level may be low enough, on a stand or upright, to remove the switch with the gearbox full. Get a look at the switch level and compare to the fluid level in the window on the right side. (Don't try this on the side stand). The starter will have to come off to do this; watch out for the hot lead from the battery. This would also give the the chance to inspect the wiring to the switch. They've been known to get pinched.

"SOP" - Standard Operating Procedure Greg, is it possible to identify the triple clamps of a particular bike? Are the parts numbers visible? Maybe it's the "twisted triple clamp" bikes that are nervous?

I didn't mean to point the finger at anyone, although I was probably responding to your post at the time. I was just pointing out that when these posts degrade into our opinions of one another, rather than our opinion on the topic, the threads seem to get closed

Henri, There is a good tune-up procedure pinned at the top of the Tech Forum page that you can do without the Axone or computer software. It does require a good digital multimeter. How long since the gear oil has been changed? Many have found Redline gear oil to be good medicine for the gearbox. It will be important to resolve the gear whine quickly. Oh, not all Americans use the Power Commander.

Wasn't there a nifty Ford heater hose that could be trimmed to fit and more durable?

Why, that "LSL" is exactly the damper I bought as "Shindy!" They are Japanese, no? Using the lock nut under the upper bracket leaf is a clever solution versus the "spacer" I used to fill the space.

That's a nice install, Ratchet! Very neat to retain the originals for "neighbor duty." MZNYC, that is a good write-up, although I'm no fan of crimp connectors and Posi-Locks; more of a lap-solder and heat-shrink guy. Still, my new high tone won't blow. I can only hope the Bosch relay has played up; maybe from the FAIMM that went bad on that circuit(?) Tuesday, off with the tank and try the spare GEI. Ratch, what are you using for a relay?

Durn, even in the PNW y'all can make folks a'skeered just by makin' 'em ride yer goozie. Down-yonder-just-here we have to resort to twelve gauges or, at least, Ton Trucks. *HONK* *HONK*

Nerts. I'm exposed. Don't tell my feathered patients! The geese will be especially dismayed. Does that make me a "honk?" instead of a practitioner-of-the-duck? So be it; worse when you see my posts on "Serious Horns." *HONK*

Frankly and honestly? No. That stuff is just all "silly banter." What will get this thread closed is the "you're so stupid" . . . and "duh, ain't you a twit" and "if you had a clue and one oar you could at least go in circles" kind of language. I haven't been the only one trying to diffuse it. It may even be the design of this particular thread. In reality this isn't a technical thread. Oh, I think it's interesting; the whole study of the Litany of Fear and all. But, it isn't "technical" and it promises to degrade into further ranting and name-calling. Say it ain't so. Save us. On top of that, I have to say: I appreciate folks posting references from other sites. I don't get to surf around alot and find it interesting to read what people are finding. Especially worldwide. Don't ever let me say, some one doesn't "know what they're talking about" because they posted an excerpt or reference from another site. I spent the day with four other riders helping to refurbish four old bikes belonging to our late friend and great rider Bruce who passed on a few months back. What a great bunch of guys! I can't believe how much they accomplished on these old (Hondas) in just a few hours. Beyond that, though, was their unerring sense of humour. These guys can't be kidded into an angry fit. Quite unfortunately, the tolerance for kidding is not universal. I found it extremely hard to get away with when I got *home*. Ooh, and internet forums , kidding and frolicking could be construed as absolute subterfuge. Sabot-tage. I've thought this to be a rather tongue-in-cheek thread all along. Will it get closed? Only by the posts of people that can't seem to reach their cheek with their tongue.

You California guys should be glad there's no active moderator on this forum. Of course, we're drifting the thread somewhere between "24/7 V11" and "Silly Banter . . ."