docc

Good comments, all. My V11 Sport is my "sport-tourer." But I don't do my sporting and touring at the same time. I rely on the reasonable position, good airflow management and highway stability to get me quickly to the twisty stuff without wearing me out. Then find the exceptional ground clearance, intuitive handling, fantastic brakes and responsive motor rewards my sporting experience. I'm guessing the LeMans is more comfy on the tour side and no less capable for light sporting.

The V11 Sport ws returning 37-38 mpg until I tweaked the TPS this last time and goy it down to 36-37. That's a combination of all roads but mostly rural curves, very little traffic. I like to crank through the gears up and down. Music! I have a 750VFR for a critch bike while the Guzzi is in 'restoration' and it's getting 36-38. Could the roads and riding style be the biggest influence on our mileage? I'd think so. Stuck at lights, idling, your fuel consumption will drop precipitously.

These rear brakes do seem problematic. First, they are hung under the swingarm in the worst of the weather. Very likely the outer 'flat' o-ring goops in its groove hindering piston retraction. A regular cleaning is in order. Second, (this is noted in another thread) the hanging lever exerts constant pressure up on the master cylinder. The Sport1100's don't seem to do this, but why? Finally, the master cylinder is mounted above the exhaust and may be heat sinking causing fluid expansion and applying braking force after the bike is heated up. This was noted by one of the magazines on an Aprilia Tuono with similar brake mounting. Time to design a heat shield?

Some guys have all the luck!!

That seems like a very tempting price. Do they charge extra to fit the correct valving and spring for the rider's weight or is it 'one size fits all?' Also, I couldn't find forks for the V11 on that site. Which Ohlins forks are the right ones for the V11 sport?

The shield fell off my original headlamp. Peering through the lens one day I spotted it resting in the bottom of the housing. When the replacement lamp came under warranty I found the beam pattern MUCH improved, fuller and better aimed. I was surprised, really, how much dufference the little shield made. I ran a hi-watt H4 on my H***a for several years but it cooked the connector. Had other troubles with hi-watt H4 bulbs on autos. I shy away from them now. Electrical problems aren't so bad if you can figure out how to get the smoke back in the wires.

That looks like a great ride! And 'close' by US standards. Of course those 'little' mountains might slow your average speed a bit. Weren't the crossovers introduced in '03 presumably for better midrange? The pipes on my 2000 are separate. So separate right now, in fact, that they are lying in different parts of the garage.

Bill, Headed to the Ozarks with a group of sreious sport-tourers I ride with every year. Last year the Sport coulcn't make it as it was 3 months in the sh pfor a cracked gearbox case. This year i've crashed it and just beginning to source replacements. I am between you and Kentucky. Maybe you you stop in on the way home and say a few words over the propped up sport?

Gentlemen, Is there a fender eliminator compatible with a set of high pipes? I'll go back to 'dlaing's' thread on available exhaust, but . offhand , is there a good looking set of high mount pipes available? Let me echo the hospitalty of this board toward all who will post useful experience here. We are rather in the minority, folks. Only by sticking together, sharing and supporting one another will we be able to enjoy these machines to their full potential. Thanks to each and all of you you for your generous participation.

Is there a famous hill climb or other motorcycle event held there? Also, Jaap, I am curious. How far is it for you to ride to Mandello? My friends and I will soon take a sport-tour to a neighboring state. In three days we will travel perhaps one thousand miles (1600km). My average ride is about 100 miles (160 Km if my conversion is correct).

OK. I admit. I'm I bit in the dark on the "Ballabio' thing. At first i read it was a guy. A champion hill climber. Then I read it was an event. And even a place. So what (who) (where) is b-LOB-io?

The fender chops look tough. But don't the bikes spray a big rooster tail on a wet street? Or has anyone chopped a fender outside of California?( Cuz, ya know, "it never rains in . . .")

Welcome Bill! I've always enjoyed your wit and wisdom on the Wildgoose site. I was rather amazed to see you have added the Billabio to the stable. Enough of that mountain cruisin' - time to get down to some real carving!

Purportedly, one of the original design directives of the Sport 1100 was that it be a tuner's bike. A platform for customization. Look at the Ducati Monster. Is it the longest production run of any Ducati ever? A platform for personalization. I am so hoping the V11s/LM is the "Monster of Mandello." A sound ,long running platform for each of us to personalize, hot-rod, breath on and otherwise soup-up. Parked side-by-side the three or four silver V11 Sports I know of have grown to be nothing like one another. These V11's, perhaps the Sports more so, epitomise the quintessential cafe rocker theme of the early ton-up scene.

for those of us who are prone to riding medium-olderr japanese thingies, a bit more specificity would let us know just how eccentric you may be. Not that it will help get your bar-ends off but just in the interest of comraderie.

When my sport was first delivered it was very picky about fuel. Sounded like a Jamaican steel drum band on "Shell." Like an Offenhauser on "Amoco." After tweaking the TPS, balancing throttle bodies and jettisoning the evaporative fuel vapor system, I notice no difference between fuels. Which was just in time since "Shell" absorbed "Texaco" and "BP" sells "Amoco" fuels.

John, Usually setting the CO, the TPS and CAREFULLY setting the throttle body balance is enough to take care of your troubles. Also, be sure the tip-over valve in the fuel vapor system is not suctioning your tank. The whole fuel vapor recovery system seems to work best in a cardboard box. Finally, be sure you run the highest octane premium fuel. Good luck!

Andy, I have the factory manual and "Guzziology" as well as a digital meter and Mercury sticks. Bring the LeMans down to Columbia and let's see what your base line is. Some fanaticaL tweaking and balancing always makes Guzzis happier. :luigi: E-mail me if you would like to hook up. docc

My EBC rear pads just went to metal after 6000 miles. The originals and some Galfer blacks went 10000 each. And I've been consciously staying off the rear brake to avoid cooking the wheel bearing. So, I figure, "the caliper pin needs a lube." But, ,there is no caliper pin! Not only does the disc not float - - the caliper doesn't either! I thought something had to float. Is it by design that these bikes eat their rear brakes? Can they be converted to a semi-floating disc?

The sales brochure for the 2000 V11 Sport also specifies WP rear shock. Sure the owner's manual specifies "either" but you've already bought it by then. Bait and switch?

Evidently the short spacer is common. I remember reading about it in "Guzziology." Time to go back and see what Dave said . . . . I think you guys are on the right track. I mentioned this before but while experimenting with rear braking into corners I cooked a rear bearing. The bike is just happier with LESS rear brake. It won't fix the short spacer or the drag but overbraking the rear will aggravate the bearing failure in the brake side.

David, I wonder if you have acracked intake beween the "TB" and the head. It's quite common and would explain why your bypass screws would be so different. I, too, would like to know what my CO actually is. It's tthe one wild card that colors all of our information sharing on tuning the FI.

What grade steel wool are you thinking of using? In outdoorsmanship we've found 0000 steel wool to be an excellent fire starter. Even when wet, one spark will ignite the stuff into an aggressively burning mass. Is that a good trait for muffler packing?

Awright, now! This cat business has gone a bit too far! Stuffing a cat in your bell housing? I happen to like the little felines just fine. Especially the way they do 'em in that little place up the street with the Sechuan chili sauce. hmmm . . . tastes like chicken . . .er, I mean, goose . . .

I found a great color match for the painted side plates. Really just needed a touch up ( don't ask) ajnd spent three days looking at finger nail polish (don't ask) with no luck . Best match: Testor's (the model company) Italian Red spray paint. It's a good quality enamel and applies very evenly. It can be sprayed onto a card for a little brush work ( chips, nicks) if need be.