FuelCooler

My stomach hurts from laughing!

Very sweeeeeet news. Excellent info. Thank you! Cheers, Steve

This is good news. From looking at photos, it appears that the frame is longer there. The front subframe bolt is right there at the leading edge of early and late model tanks. Looks like its time to spend more $$$. Thanks Kevin and callison. Cheers, Steve

That is impressive. 5 seconds may be long time for a fellow professional motorbike racer (who was on his game), but for a car guy to get that close is quite a feat. Michael Schumacher Cheers, Steve

OK, The late model V11 front motor bracing is more robust, but will it fit a short frame? I need measurements from the upper trans mount bolt on the spine to each of the front engine frame's attaching bolts on the spine. Somewhere the late frame is longer, I hope the extra length is forward of those mounting points! Thanks in advance, Steve

Damn, this is what I was afraid of. The original Pilot Power sport tire was lasting to long for them to make $$. I hope they don't discontinue it. But they will. Progress...

Sorry Ratchet Perhaps I should have reposted your Sport touring Wet /Dry quotes (as well) from that German magazine tire comparison test. I didn't want a huge post. My point is: From reading your posts on tires in general, it seems that some on this forum might think that alot of tires other than the following Sport Touring type tires - Metzeler Z6s, Pirelli Stadas, Michelin Pilot Roads, are for racers or track day bikes, and therefore unnecessary on our V11s. I am not saying you have ever said those things on this forum, but I sense some may suspect you are implying that (well at least one,...me). I completely agree that DOT race rubber will perform poorly on the street. But just because a tire may be advertised as super-sticky and in use is fast wearing, that doesn't make it race rubber or that it should be regarded as poison on a V11. Again, not that you said that. I used to race on Michelin Hi-Sports (as did many others) when they only came in one compound (very early 1990's). They were also my street tires. They were fine street tires. Toward the end of the 1993 season, Michelin started selling different compounds for their Hi-Sport tire (A or B, IIRC). This was about the time that Dunlop started selling there 364 (?) Rear Sportmax. I never tried either, but I believe those were 'Race Only DOT' tires and not fit for the street. If I have lost my mind in thinking that someone (other than myself) might assume they should beware of 'sport' tires on their Guzzi because of your comments, please forgive me. FWIW- I have tried ME4's, M3 Race (STD on TL1000), Pilot Roads, Pilot Sports, Sportmax'es D205, D207 and D208, Original Battleaxe's that came on the 1993 CBR900RR, K591's (and K591 Race) and Pirelli Dragons. The only ones that spooked me a bit were the ME4's and the 3 year old used K591 Races a buddy gave me. Hell, I did a track day on the 204s in 1991 (GSXR750) and on the 208's in 2000 (F4 Honda). Sticky enough to out run my buddies on Michelin Sports! Cheers, Steve Edit-Yes, the above Sport Rider article clearly stated D207 as a street tire. But the New Sticky Qualifiers are street tires as well, regardless of the name. Ratchet sincerely I apologize for my Paranoia I searched and I found- 10-27-07 Ratchet quote "I wear my tires all the way to the edges, and I select tires for mountain road riding that tends to be far more challenging and demanding in every respect than I reckon most riders experience on a regular basis, myself included. Having ridden on many Sport tires on the Guzzi, I prefer Sport/Touring tires for their far superior mileage, whilst giving away little to Sport tires in terms of handling and grip -- and in at least two cases, giving away NOTHING in terms of handling, quite the opposite" Again sorry! I failed to read this post!

Everytime I read one of these tire posts by Ratchet I feel I need to point something out that I believe Ratchethack hasn't had the time or need to get into, so I will, just to clear up some confusion: The Dunlop D207, D208 and Qualifier, the Michelin Pilot Sports, the Metzler M1s and Pirelli Corsas (not Supercorsas) are not DOT race tires or Sport Touring tires. They are sportbike tires that are absolutely fine for the street. They may wear out faster, but they still are streetbike tires. Cheers, Steve

Cool Greg, Sounds interesting. I will PM you tonight. Thanks, Steve

It's getting colder. Monarch 125?

Well...er .....it's not an ENDLESS supply......

Don't worry, I will be fine. BRENTTODD keeps his Rototiller in FuelCoolers garage. My other neighbor keeps his Bonnie Black in there as well. They can't let me die, or else they would have to move their stuff.

Two more guesses. Penton or.....Sachs motorcycle.

I am running Pilot Powers (not the sport touring Pilot Roads). I have 6000 miles on the rear and 7000 on the front. They are squared off from Interstate running this summer, but othewise would last another 500-1000 miles. A buddy of mine with an R1 told me they would last 7000. He was right, and I am shocked. I do keep 40 psi in the rear. But I may try the Z6 or Diablo Strada's next spring. Cheers, Steve

FWIW- Hailwoods roadway appears to have much greater positive camber. I know he used to wear off his toes, but as impressive as Mikes lean is (and the bike angles look similar in the pics) his elbows were never in any danger (as long as he wasn't crashing). Regardless off the width debate, tires are much sticker today. Progress.

I'll give it a shot, it's raining here too. Maico?

I am just happy you are OK. Steve

Worst case senario...welding the cases....shhhhhhucks. Hmmm. Late cases might be an option. Were silver cases ever made with the required extra material? Any idea what a bare set of cases go for? Any one have a blistered set of the black ones they want to sell? Damn, there goes the Ohlins fund!

I really hope you San Diego folks are OK. I wish I could help too. Steve

Sweet, your bike needed more chrome!

Hi Motoguzznix, I did not realize the front motor bracket was different on the late models. I might have to get that one too. For clarity - the 'lower bracket with the rails' is the one I am refering to when I mention the triagulation of the porkchops, not the triangular shaped bracket that connects the bellhousing to the frame. I don't believe there is any welding required to add the lower brace. I appears to be machined (after painting) to allow bolts to thread into the thick area of the casting where (internally) the crank case ends and the bellhousing begins. I could be wrong. That's why I would like to get my hands on some late model cases for measuring and comparing. I promise to post photos as soon as the work begins. Cheers, Steve

OK, just for some reference: I am older and slower now, but in 1993 WERA sent me an expert license after 5 weekends of racing (including the GNF), I was hoping they would let me race the Seca II Challange, which was novice only. Nope. Didn't even get a full season as a novice! Plus, I have always been my own tuner. Not that I am a master tuner or rider, but I am no beginner either! Ratchet, I like you. Answer me one question, yes or no. Just yes or no. Have you ridden a properly set up SHORT FRAME V11 with a 5.5 rim and 180 tire? EDIT: Have I ridden a properly set up SHORT FRAME V11 with a 4.5 rim and 160 tire? No. But I have ridden mine with the 160 and the forks dropped 9mm. It handled fine like that if you didn't pitch it around too hard (soft springs).

That stuff looks pretty good dlaing, and I was thing of making something similar, until I got my hands on the Guzzi parts.... Quoting myself from my repliy to Baldini: "Some folks might not realize this, but the late model brace triagulates the porkchops together as well as run up to the motor. The early brace does neither." Cheers Steve

I have installed the Sporti brace already, and the biggest diffence I can tell (like Ratchet) is a bit more vibration! The late model Guzzi method isn't very elegant, but they are the ones who counted the beans and did it that way. It cost them $ to put that extra / different part on the bike, I figure there is sound engineering behind it. Some folks might not realize this, but the late model brace triagulates the porkchops together as well as run up to the motor. The early brace does neither. Cheers Steve

Thanks, Greg. Any help is more than apprieciated. Steve