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Many thanks to Pete Roper, down-under Guzzi guru from the Wildgoose board. My dealer assured me the procedure to change the gearbox is to sling the bike to the ceiling and lower the driveline out of it. Pete had put me on to the technique of tipping the frame forward ( "crabbing") for access to the box and the clutch. I chocked the front wheel in a 'sport chock' and strapped the frame to the ceiling. After releasing the rear frame elements and loosening the front frame bolts , the engine could be supported on a broad support under the sump while the frame is tilted up to expose the gearbox, and thereafter, the clutch. Once the new gearbox was in place the frame was tilted back down and buttoned back up. Much less hassle than splitting the frame off the driveline and disconnecting all the harness, lines and cables.

We've all been so respectful to one another on this board. Here we are from all over the world, in so many different cultures and political climates and yet we come together to enjoy these motorcycles and help one another enjoy them to the maximum! Here in Tennessee there are so many armed that if it were that great a threat we would all be dead already. Opening fire on the neighbor (or his dogs) is not very commonplace. The pepper spray in the tankbag is surely a good 'training method.' And the subject of horns will probably always bring up the subject of dogs. I know of riders killed or injured by fur magnetics. The stock 'squeekers' just seem to cry out, "here boy! Something fun to play with!" The black Fiamms in the stock location don't seem too obtrusive for the added safety and effectiveness.

No question, those of us who like to toss these rides around need to be serious about getting some bite on the front. KB, maybe a "FAQ" on this topic?

Well, Al, me neither. The guy's homeowner's insurance immediately took care of the gear and the bike. But when it came time to settle on two months of rehabilitation on my shoulder they went cold. So I figured I would go with whatever the Judge decided. Of course now dogs in the road kind of freak me out. One of the things I'm really missing about the Sport while it's on blocks is those Fiamms. I've seen 'em singe the hair right off a canine's ears!

I just went to court yesterday over tripping on a dog 18 months ago.. They tried to get a dismissal but the judge said, "$7500." That's in addition to the $3300 to fix my GB500 and $1100 for my scraped up/ bashed up riding gear. If these people only knew their stupid, loose dog might cost them 12 grand!

I'm anxious to hear how your treatment holds up to chipping. That cover really takes a beating up there!

Very astute! I predict many beers to be consumed late at night reading through all the old suspension threads. I'll be looking forward to more of your good observations as you and the Guzzi get to know one another.

What should we say, primary sag and secondary sag? Regardless, david is right about 2" being on the high side. One inch would certainly be on the low side and may allow the suspension to 'top.' A bad thing while cornering on a rough road and the suspension runs out of 'reach.' Just like Goldilocks we want it 'juuuust right.'

I recall a thread on horns in the FAQ. It's more about Fiamms and relays which i found desirable for impressing dogs that I may be a one ton truck instead of something to play with. :!:

Pretty exciting , wheeling home a new ride! Congratulations! And you have the good fortune to be on this forum right from the start. So far we haven't heard of any changes for '04 except for paint. As for the upgrades, my advice would be to ride it for a little while and settle in to it. Then when you make a change you'll have a good feel for what it does for you and the bike. You'll definately appreciate the pipes! That'll give you time to search the board's archives. There is so much discussion on exhaust and ECU upgrades to review. ride well.

After experiencing my shift quality degrade to the point the dealer demanded guzzi-US replace the complete box, I intend to shift the thing like it has glass springs and hope it lasts forever.

At anything more than four beers per hour make sure the job gets done in the first 1/2 hour.

There'll be 2% difference just from the time a tire is new to the time it's shot.

I've run out of beer reading suspension threads. A couple observations: 1 Kg is 1 Newton. (there's more to it than that) The spring rates must specify a weight and distance (Kg/mm, N/mm, Lb/in) The rear spring rate of 85 must be Kg/cm. (475 Lb/in) a 550 Lb/in spring is 98 Kg/cm It does seem awfully stiff for a 500-550 lb bike and , say 200 lb rider. Some percentage of the weight is on the front ( anyone know how much??) and some of the weight is unsprung (wheel, tire, brakes, bevel box, and part of the swingarm and shaft).

I got a reply from my dealer today on my swingarm I ordered three weeks ago. I had asked him if it was going to take four months to get it . To this he says, "who knows?" I guess I' m assuming it'll take 3 months since they are apparently not stocked in the states. Very frustrating not knowing. It could be the dead of winter before I get the thing. Well, you asked for it. I'll try the knock on wood thing to see if that helps.

Al, all I could find in my Sport manual were the standard values by diameter in mm: 4mm 3-3.5 Nm 5x0.8 6-7 6x1 8-12 8x1.25 25-30 10x1.5 45-50

You've got a great helmet and you've had your head examined? We should all be so lucky.

600 grit wet-dry sand paper gives the surface a really uniform shine. follow this with "semi-Chrome" polish or "mother's" for the polished almost chromed look. Immediately they will begin to color again based on your tuning and riding style. I agree with John on the 'honey' color. That uniform bronze is a sign all is well. Any bluing makes me think the exhaust valve may be turning blue as well. :!: Worse yet when one is more blue than the other.

I found the Arai to be ' head and shoulders' above the Shoei which was a real nat catcher. The Arai is lighter too. The little Stucchi flyscreen really cleans up the airflow. I usually don't like windshields but it seems to clean up turbulence around the instrument pod. If you look, the naked instruments angle forward perhaps contributing to some lift at those Seattle freeway speeds. When I grow up I'm getting one of Goren's fighter pilot helmets in case I have to bail out in the northern Swedish jungle.

I can't imagine that there is something about a V11S/LM that someone on this site hasnt experienced and shared. Sure there is plenty about the gearbox that is suspect. After all, isn't this Guzzi's first new gearbox in decades? We'd be dreamin' to think it'd be perfect from the start. But what to recall? Return springs, front and rear seals, neutral indexer, heat treatment on the gears, cases that crack? Maybe that olive oil based sealant they were using between the cases? But pushrods? I haven't heard that one before. Soft valves, yeah, but what's with the pushrods?

This is completely true. The only difference i noticed was in the low beam.

My clutch also changed its tune after the gearbox was removed and replaced. Since then I've ridden it 10,000 miles and gotten used to the new sounds. The change worried me at first.

The experts disagree.

Not only will my keyboard not do that , I'm having trouble getting my mouth to do it. I'm assuming this is the same for "Goran" and , perhaps, even for "Opel?" And then ( to we isolated Americans), one the great V11LeMans forum mysteries: How does one pronounce "Jaap?"

Mike, Thanks for the feedback. I know there are several of us who are watching your results to make a more informed decision on suspension changes. I'm hearing "Ohlins." So, where are you setting the sag on the Ohlins?