FuelCooler

FWIW, USA 1991 - 1992 Suzuki GSXR 750 and GSXR1100 had/have shims that are between a rocker finger and the valve tip, held in place by the valve retainer. Sliding the rocker to the side allows shim replacement without removing the cams. I haven’t seen this new Guzzi set-up, so I don’t know if it is similar. Would be neat if you didn’t have to pull cams. I still have a couple of those shims in my toolbox…..since 1991!

I went ahead and installed one bearing so that I could measure the length that my spacer would need to be. Sure enough, it needs to be .014 inches longer to not bind. So my new bearings would have had a shortened life. I’ll get some .015 shim stock and make a shim.

Mine measures 4.428 inches, or roughly 112.5 mm. I have a 0.8 mm bearing spacer to bring it to 113.3 mm. I believe that should work, what do you think? Too long?

Unknown mileage, it wasn’t the original wheel. It was the brake disc side that went. If I recall correctly, I thought there was something weird going on the rear brake at the end of a 500 mile trip. I jacked it up and when I spun the wheel it was immediately obvious.

Thanks doc, Will do! I made sure the front spacer was ‘proud’ of the bearing bore inner face before tapping the second bearing in place. I know the rear bearing spacers are the more troublesome of the two. I had a rear go in my old V11, back in 2009-ish.

I replaced my stock (tire) valve stems with 83 degree angled stems, replaced the front wheel bearings and disc hardware (now titanium). Rear wheel bearings and disc hardware coming up next.

Finally installed my Lucky Phil Extender. It really looks nice and fits perfectly. Nice work Chuck, and nice design Phil! Can’t try it any time soon, because the rims are off for bearings and such, and the rear shock is getting swapped.

Okay, fronts measure M8 x 1.25 and are 20 mm long. Rears are also M8 x 1.25, with a 20 mm long threaded portion, then a 4.5 mm long shoulder that is 10 mm in diameter. If that jogs anyone’s memory! Easier to just contact Race Ti? I will be forced to buy more titanium if I go that route……….you know, to err, justify the shipping.

I am in the process of (carefully) taking all three brake rotors off my V11 Sport and like to use titanium for my front and rear rotors bolt replacements. My guess would be similar year Ducati, or mid 1990s era FZR 1000. I know the front and rear bolts are different sizes on these Guzzi. Any one have direct experience with this? Thanks!

14 years later, I just gave this a re-read! I remembered most, but all the little details covered will help this time around! Maybe it will help someone else.

LaGrasta, I see you have a black frame 2003. They were more stable from the factory!

‘’…..my surprise at the V11 slow steering, as compared to my V7.” Lagrasta, I only used Michelin sport bike tires on my old silver V11. My understanding is that sport bike tires are more of a triangular profile than sport touring tires. Apparently this helps with turn in. Also I ran the ohlins rear shock, which raised the rear a bit. This should also help turn in. But these red frame bikes have pretty aggressive geometry from the factory. Be careful. I plan on trying 5mm first. There is something else I did to my silver bike that I am also doing to the black one, which is worth mentioning..…..it was a bit controversial back in 2006 or 2007, but it worked great and probably added some stability and slowed the turn in some….. I wonder if anyone here remembers……….

Perfect timing. After putting 1500 miles on my black V11, the 1st upgrade I am planning for it is dialing in the suspension. How lucky I feel that all of you folks have carried the torch and advanced the technical knowledge for this quest while I was away. Winning! This is one (of several) great thread(s) on these early forks. My own experience had me chasing compression damping 14 or so years ago. I never tried welding up those holes, or messing with the cartridges in any way, but I used thicker oil in the compression side fork only. It still lacked feedback. So those holes in the cartridge are the likely culprit! I think feedback is a product of compression damping and spring rate (in that order). On my silver bike I changed springs and set the sag on both ends (500 lbs/inch rear, progressive fronts) and now believe I should have went .90 - 1.00 kg/mm in the front (as guzzler did here). I also had my tubes above the top clamp by 10mm. In the end I could ride it pretty hard (I ran the old Pilot Powers), but I never really trusted the front. It would stick, but it wasn’t confidence inspiring! The rear shock is the stock Sachs and spring. The front appears stock as well. The forks will come apart this winter. I will take photos and be asking which of the holes need blocking. The big name US aftermarket companies don’t have much info listed, and need some (a lot?) that I can trust! Anyone recommend a U.S. based expert on the forks?

Firstly it turns out to be the perfect mix of mechanical beauty and, what I personally consider, a somewhat ‘functional oddness’, for a fellow like me. Also it was part of a slow attitude shift. I’d like to think I was leaning into some much needed wisdom, but realistically I was tired of the constant risk exposure of fast street riding. The worn out knee puck style of street riding. I remember seeing a 1000S in the parking lot at a racetrack in 1993 and falling in love. I still have the photo of it stashed away somewhere. Then in the pits there was a Guzzi racebike. Square barrel as well, and it was tiny, red and the motor looked huge. Dominating. I have several pics of that too. The engines just look fantastic, especially the square barrels. But, I was still too into repli racers to commit to buying one. Fast forward to 2002. At a closed dealership in North Carolina, on a Sunday, I look in the window and see a blackframe V11 Sport. I knew I’d have one. It was just way too cool looking! It took a few years, but I found a slightly tired 2000 Silver V11 Sport. I loved it. In 4 years of riding and wrenching it never disappointed me. For me, riding it at an 80% or less pace was magical, especially if I got it right, carrying some good corner speed and using that upper midrange torque coming off the turns. Dive-bombing into the turns, hard on the brakes, and flicking it in just doesn’t suit the bike (to me). Even with the correct springs for my weight, and Ohlins shock. Too be honest, when I tried to ride it over about 90% it just progressively scared the shit out of me! Plenty of warning. Could be the nature of the red frames, but I think I would like it less if it was utterly confidence inspiring at 90 mph through a slightly bumpy sweeper with my knee on the ground. For the record, I never tried to get my knee down on my Guzzi. You folks that have deserve some sort of award. Or you need to be locked up for your own safety! Thankfully I have lived long enough to finally be too old to try it. What makes me happiest to report is that my black 2000 speaks to me in the same ways. It’s already well sorted, thanks to the previous owners.

I’m in for one. PM sent!

I replaced the crankcase vent tube. It was disintegrating on each end and leaking bad enough to let me watch the hot oil run down the right side of the crankcase and onto the hot exhaust. Smoky. I had done it on my silver bike and recalled that it was a bit of a struggle, but this time, oddly, I enjoyed the struggle.

Sadly, the oak floor is just an illusion. What you see is vinyl plank flooring……over concrete! It’s actually pretty nice and durable. We all know that the possession of a spine frame is the best indicator of being a true gentleman! My wife would never let me park on a real oak floor………

Check the Gallery for FuelCooler……. Best I can do for tonight!

Ha! The entire V11 Sport. Sorry, I’m still in a state of shock.

I just brought home a beautiful, near perfect, red frame 2000 V11 in black.

Wow guys, wow…. Luke, your bike is stunning! I sat on a brand new red 2004 naked at FBF right before I found my Silver 2000 red frame. Love the color. I believe it’s worth all of the asking price, especially considering the pistons, cam, cans and map. It’s just more than I can swing now. I wish I could, but I’d have two unload 2 hard to sell bikes first.

I wish it was closer to the east coast. Not wise for me to buy sight unseen, and in my experience, the 2 bikes I have shipped across country were damaged at the destination. Otherwise I’d love a Scura!