al_roethlisberger

...heh heh... "inside" joke Ray Docc found that he bent his frame a while back, and didn't realize it for a while al

Hrmm, dunno.... I've seen some "one offs", but that's it It would be nice to know if so. al

Gary, Have you had much experience with the GEI relays Dan is selling now, instead of the Bosch? I don't think he's run into any failures yet al

If no one else can come through.... I can almost guarantee that Pete Morcombe at Reboot Guzzi Spares will have the part. It will be used, but cheap I've got many odd parts from him. Shipping will be a bit more due to its coming from the UK, but for such a small part it shouldn't be too bad. al

Heh Docc, Your frame looks bent in this photo ...sorry couldn't resist Thanks for the decals BTW al

Here's the thread on the aftermarket "touring" windscreen: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...6&hl=windshield Sorry to hear about your drop. I know that's disappointing al

There aren't really any problems endemic to the Scura specifically per se, as beyond the Ohlins suspension and single-plate clutch, the bike is essentially the same as any '02 Sport/LeMans. Here are some threads on the single-plate unit, and how it compares/contrasts with the standard dual-plate setup: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=3035&hl=clutch http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=2343&hl=clutch http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=2659&hl=clutch The other difference, the suspension, is... as you know, the Ohlins components front and rear versus the standard Marz/Sachs on the other '02 bikes. Being the "first generation" Ohlins fitted to the V11 Sport, the Scura suspension has been reported(but not confirmed) as having slightly harsher valving than later Ohlins in the 2004+ models, that also include new larger diameter hollow axles. I have no idea if this is actually true WRT the valving though, but it is true that this suspension is quite sensitive to accurate spring-rate. So if you are a heavier rider, say over ~190lbs, you may want to look into new springs to get the benefit of the better suspension if you can't seem to get the correct amount of static sag(the first and most important step in suspension setup) dialed-in. Other than these differences, which aren't problems, the only "issues" per se might be: As an '02 bike, the "fuzzy" engine paint will probably begin to bubble off within the first few 1000 miles, if it hasn't already. If the bike is still under warantee, MGNA is warantee replacing these cases, or giving the owner several hundred $$ worth of Guzzi swag.... your choice. If this bike is used, and the previous owner chose the latter option, you will be stuck with the leprous engine cases. With the "fuzzy" engined bikes, one should take extra care to check all the fasteners on the engine. Specifically the "fuzzy" engined bikes seem to be susceptible to the timing-chain cover gasket blowing out/leaking early on. So one should inspect this area for the first few 1000 miles, looking for any signs of leaks or the gasket pushing out from the mating surfaces. If you check the fasteners and keep them tight, it's much less likely that this gasket will blow-out. Theories are that the paint got into the fastener holes, or on the mating surfaces, causing the gasket to not adhere properly. Typically once fixed, this problem does not repeat itself. Also, I'm not sure if any Scuras are included in the transmission recall, but you might want to check with your dealer and have them check your VIN. This isn't a major problem, although it potentially represents a safety issue, and does require the transmission to be rebuilt. But most good shops are "geared up" for this recall work, and can get them in-and-out fairly quickly. Some threads: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=1916&hl=recall http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=2920&hl=recall http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=2548&hl=recall http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=2212&hl=recall http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=1837&hl=recall http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=2045&hl=recall http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...=1692&hl=recall Another consideration: Vapor Lock and Tank Suck FAQ And of course, you should look at upgrading the relays post-haste: http://www.dotnet.com/~pyrodan/relay.htm ....now all this being said, these are all minor issues that once sorted leave the bike in fine shape. Just like anything else... cars ...stereos ...or other bikes, there are lots of other things you can do to "improve" the bike from here, but generally the bike is well sorted and reliable "as is" I hate to offer so many "concerns" , but hey, you asked Most owners love their Scura's, and I'm sure you will too Have fun! al

I keep seeing MANY pre-order ads on cycletrader.com for the MGS, so some dealers are certainly "selling" them... them and Griso as well. Now whether they actually show up Caveat Emptor Who knows, maybe I'll buy an MGS one day(probably not), but it'll be 5 years after the introduction so I can get a good "depreciated" deal on one

...or just drop the pan, as it's a good idea anyway Glad to hear you got it all back together with no mishaps al

Nope, the Evoluzione gizmo is an old style "manual" device, and I've good and bad things about those.... the TwinMax is electronic: http://www.calamander.co.uk/twinmax/twinmaxmk2.htm I think they sell for a bit under $100. Major al

Heh, good results, although for a moment there I thought a BIG error had been made when you quoted torque increasing from "90 to 94", when these bikes make mid 60's lb-ft at best ...then I noticed/realized that you were in Europe Anyway, with regard to his making a new chip, are you sure he was talking about 15M equipped bikes like the V11 Sport? As far as I know, the 15M cannot be "chipped", but bikes with the 16M ECU can. Bikes like the Sport1100, Centauro, etc.. al

....am I the only one that thinks the solution looks very odd with the exhaust hangar brackets and passenger pegs sticking out further than the sides of the rear bodywork? I understand the engineering and what was required to get the exhaust cans tucked up and under the way they are, but I think the solution they used, shimming out the OEM hangars, is aesthetically unappealing and uninspired. Maybe that seems harsh, and I don't mean it to be, but I think that some creative bracketry could have made for a much more appealing solution. al

.... as is often the case following, and the impetus of oil threads.... after all these posts in this and the other "oil thread".... I think I'm left even more confused than when we started And doing research on the Motul site doesn't help much either, because every "model" oil they make is apparently the "ultimate" *sigh* I think it's more helpful to clarify the "type" of oil these bikes are supposed to use, and I don't mean synthetic or dino ....and then maybe give a few examples of brands that owners can choose from like the Motul example. Then the readers can go comparison shop those examples, their merits and pricing, on their own al

Well, I got my headlight all rewired with new relays, a dedicated hot lead, and augmented ground(added another)... and the headlight is definitely brighter One note, for LeMans owners, the wiring color coding and connectors are much different than the Sport/Naked, and we have 4 wires for the headlight, instead of 3 for the Sport: LeMans: Brown - High Beam Green - Low Beam Yellow - "city" light, "marker" light inside headlight Black - Ground My installation was a bit more complicated by the inclusion of my hard-wired Kisan headlight modulator, but it was still a relatively simple install. However, since neither end of the LeMans harness is the type of standard connector one would find down at the local auto-supply house(as *is* used on the Sport ), one would either have to do some searching for said connectors(the 4-plex molex?? connector at the headlight end would be the easier to find, versus the application specific AMP at the harness end) to make a clean connection into the harness, or do as I did and do some cutting and splicing. In any case, bottom line, it's a bit more cumbersome to do on the LeMans due to the extra and odd wiring harness connectors, but still an evening's job if you have all the parts ready. BTW, I ended up using "mini" relays as opposed to our "micro" relays that the bike comes with, and is illustrated in Gary's diagram. These are the more common relays one finds coming with horn/lighting kits, a bit larger, and probably more durabe in the long term. I picked up a dual socketed version at Summit Racing(VIA-80238) that is prewired, and worked like a charm for the purpose. Although the color coding for the lighting, and the Summit relays were different than that described in Gary's diagram, a few minutes writing down the x-reference of which terminal does what, and which colored wire transposes.... made the final assembly quick and without error. It actually worked the first time Anyway, hope that helps any LeMans owners that embark upon this experiment al

Well, I hear ya, but dunno ..... MI really wanted to get these recalls done in the off-season during the Winter. So it was to their advantage to have tried to get it done ASAP. I think they really tried, and they kept me in status... it just took forever. In their case(no pun intended ) they had to ship back a couple of broken/damaged cases during this time-frame, so I think actually received 3 sets before the "acceptable" ones we've got in hand now arrived They completed one swap before me, and still have about 8 more to go. But anyway, I'm just glad it's here finally. al

I was going to, but then had a baby ...and with the bike going in for the case swap any day/week now... well, I didn't want to tear into the box quite yet. So, it's still on my to-do list

And, one more:

Another:

Another:

Another shot, from the rear. Two observations/concerns though... 1) The "feet" on the stand seem quite small, and might have the same issues as a side-stand with regard to sinking into soft pavement, etc 2) There is very little reinforcement of the legs at the lower extremes, and this is a relatively heavy bike, especially if loaded for a trip. I haven't personally seen/handled this stand, so it may indeed be very very sturdy, but just from these photos, I might worry that it would be easy to bend a leg But on a more positive note, I am pleased how the armature/bracketry for the stand seems to well concealed. Now, again, if we can just see a photo of the stand stowed in the "up" position, that would give everyone a good and complete "picture" of how the stand fits the bike.

I've still not seen a photo of the centerstand stowed in the "up" position, but here are a few more photos of the unit installed on a V11 Sport.... TX's old Sport from what I hear to be exact

Well, I don't know if it helps put it in perspective, but Moto Italiano and I started this process about 10 months ago, and were actually "scheduled" to have this done last Jan/Feb So depending on when you started the process....

If you are installing horns like these, you really should use a separate relay. To answer your questions.... 1) No, just one relay supplying power to the horn(s) 2) Any standard automotive relay, such as those found at your local Kragen/Autozone/etc.... that is used on horn, foglight kits. They are usually 20 or 30amp, but even these are probably overkill... and super-cheap... and usually include a mounting hole/bracket, so they are easy to mount just about anywhere. 3) yes 4) maybe, depends on size/location of various components on the bike(which can vary) and the horns themselves, but generally "yes" 5) No modification to the stock wiring is required, other than running a new hot lead from the battery, and perhaps a new ground as well 6) These horns come in "tuned sets", of a "high" and "low" toned horn to achieve the tone you hear when they both blow. 7) The thread you referenced above pretty much has all the steps and components required, although the information is spread out among the posts. Basically, you are simply mounting the new horns to the stock location, and after removing the wiring connectors from the stock horns, hooking up one of the hookups from the old horns to the trigger/switch connections on the new relay. Then you need to hookup your new power source to the relay. The relay will come with instructions on which terminals you connect what to, and there are tons of online examples of others that have done similar on other bikes, such as: http://www.armchair.mb.ca/wings/relays/ That's really about it Hope that helps al

...I'd get it outta there. That's awful

I have to concur... $1700 for just "cans" They do look like a lot of work went into them, and I'm sure the fella is well known, but I'd be very nervous about even scratching them at that price. Heck, the $700ish I paid for the Leo Vinces made me very "nervous" And to be honest, although they do look like a lot of creativity went into them, I can't say I personally like the swoopy lines of these exhausts on the Sport But that's just my opinion al