Baldini

Guzzi has always been characterised by innovative, original thinking backed up by solid design & engineering where form follows function to create a working, long lasting product. Guzzi always ploughed it's own furrow. The current bunch just seem to be desperately chasing the market, tarting up old designs without integrity or slapping non-functioning chromed plastic everywhere. Even the Griso - the most original & cohesive model they've come up with recently - has a frame which (as far as I can see) is designed more as a styling excercise than a stylish answer to a functional need. Why do the top tubes arch so high over the motor? Looking back, the Tereblanche designs may be the last attempt at an original statement by Guzzi. Piaggio seem to have difficulty finding an understanding of Guzzi, it's image & it's place in the market. They shy away from developing models that might compete for sales with their other brands - so no sports bikes. KB

Nice looking bike. But it's the builder who is the artist not either of them nobheads in the video. Sculpture by Conrad Leach my arse: Timmy Mallet meets Rich Unca Buggles & they go across the tracks to visit Seasick Steve to commission a new guitar. . I'm confused BFG, by my own tastes & prejudices! Hell, it looks a lovely bike - but not rideable in any meaningful way. Drop handlebars & block tyres? All that effort in something so useless! Easier question next time please. KB

A fine selection! There's some funny stuff here: http://www.elistmania.com/still/25_funniest_album_covers_ever_made/showall/ This was always one of my favourites:

Or you could have one of these Foggy Petronas FP1's - Made in Essex! In MCN this week there's a story on a Swiss bloke who's got access to a bunch of them & will do you one for around £33,000. Otherwise they're apparently destined for the crusher.

Looks very nice. Good luck to them. Wonder how far down the road it is - that pic looks to be a photoshop job. Reputable people involved. Not sure if the name bodes well....hope it materialises. Will Triumph sell them the motors? Here's another one, of a slightly different ilk, but British as British can be ...& made in real metal: http://www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/manufacturers/metisse-motorcycles/ Looks like someone fitted the header pipe upside down - ground clearance problems...

I'm confused. It seems to me it's the wrong tool & the wrong nut: If you have ended up with more relaxed geometry, won't that just unload the front & exacerbate your original problem of it pushing wide in corners? Perhaps I have misunderstood. You raised the forks also? Do you know rake & trail you have now & what is stock rake & trail? KB

Why?

I didn't know there was a premium on V11LM over V11Sport! They're the same bike except one has a fairing. So if you want a faired m/c go for a V11LM, otherwise the V11 w best condition, history & price. Even tho V11Sport is listed 03 sounds to me like they are both pre-02 models? Check 2003> had a balance pipe fitted between headers below alternator. 03> models seem to have been slightly better sorted. KB

Marketing & freebies will not build a strong brand if product quality & customer care are neglected. Some may not rely on dealer support, but the vast majority of customer's do - increasingly so with "lifestyle" purchasers encouraged by Guzzi marketing. Guzzi has a long history of neglecting customer care & dealer support. Not addressing this fundamental undermines effort elsewhere. I'm sure it was a great time in Mandello. History & brand image are important. But it seems to me that whoever is in charge does not have a clear understanding of Guzzi's identity or a coherent vision for it's future. No amount of gloss paint & key-ring stalls are going to compensate for that. KB

Yeh, they sure nailed it there.

Well, I guess Harley design stance works for Harley. But Guzzi is not Harley. Guzzi has a different history & tradition. I don't think piaggio have got it at all. The V7racer is a parody. It shows no original thought or invention & seeks to trade on the history of Guzzi by mimicry. It is not even a development of the model that inspired it, but a tarted up copy based on a cheaper, smaller platform. It is a fake. That they should appear to be so proud of it as some kind of flagship shows where they're at right now. KB

ScuRoo - that's weird...guessing cultural gulf. SavageHenry - Brilliant - & that guy's a student! Here's a Yamaha ad:

It just looks to me like Piaggio don't know where to go with Guzzi. They'd like to cash in on the cruiser crowd (The Tassled Ones) or the cafe racer crew - but they're following, not leading. Starting to look back on them half-baked Terreblanche prototypes from 2009 with increasing fondness...least they showed some original thinking & integrity. KB

Nothing much. Guess they're trying to encourage some kind of Harley-style branding - to me they have the whole thing arse-about - but what do I know. Just give us a decent motorcycle. @#!#$# the rest. Deep Vibrations? Shallow Rattlings! If a Ducati 916 is Angelina Jolie, the V7Racer is Dame Edna Everage. KB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=k8gGGt-DxaA

Thanks BFG. Makes sense to me. Good man. IMO Confederate stuff is too far up the celebrity arse but perhaps with some governance he could rescue Guzzi from the curse of the decorative consumable before all heritage is besmirched with the tarty brush. The current bunch should be banished to a shed on a mountain along with their baubles & trinkets. KB

Pic 3: engine trolly

Hi Michael, Link above pretty much covers what you need to know, pix or not. It will probably become clearer as you tackle it. You'll see the things you have to get out of the way/disconnect etc as you go along. It's a simple job but requires time, patience & logical thinking. Set aside enough time so as not to be rushed - that's when things start to go wrong! Have you got a workshop? Good light & a bit of space? Do you have a workshop stand? You don't have to have factory special tools, but you will need something to hold flywheel, hold clutch hub & centre clutch. 1. This tool made out of scrap: for holding flywheel & also for holding clutch hub. For holding flywheel it sits on crankcase studs across flywheel (attaches to flywheel by flywheel bolt). For holding clutch hub it is again held by crankcase studs while alloy plate sits on clutch hub splines. 2. You can use an old clutch hub to centre clutch assembly - a knackered one would do - maybe Reboot would chuck one in ? 3. Trolly on castors to sit engine on. This is very handy when dropping motor out & getting it out of the way, & also for offering it back up to the trans - can be fiddly to get aligned smack on esp if you're taking wt of motor - it is a heavy lump. The Griso clutch centre button may well be different to the V11 one. I don't know. You will need to check. Also check clutch pushrod length & diameter re seals & actuating mechanism. Do double check all this to save the grief of getting it all back together & it not working! Be very careful to centre clutch assembly as you tighten it up, if it is not centred you will damage it, & it will not work. Label all the connectors & wires that you disconnect, & note routing of wires, cables, hoses etc. A few clear photographs can be very helpful. If you get stuck re the tools I can lend them to you, but they are pretty rough & it hardly seems worth the cost of the postage - it really isn't difficult to make holding tools & they will serve you anytime you need again. The one above is just what I came up with using what I had to hand, there's loads of ways you could do something to do the jobs. Good luck! KB

Stock brakes work great. IME they are well up to the performance of the bike in any average use. I have Ohlins on Scura - what everybody said already - they're lovely. With range of adjustment suspension can be set up totally wrong - worth time setting it up to suit you. Scuras came with springs (F&R)too light for average-wt rider, & IMO too harsh high-speed compression damping in shock. My understanding is that the 03 Ohlins bikes were much better set up from factory. There's loads of info on upgrading & setting up Marzocchis here - look thru "How to" section. From what I've seen & heard, I believe they can be got to work pretty good. Savage Henry - I'd be interested to kinow what the guru did to your forks to increase seal life...or did he just use different seals? KB

There's this thread on the illuminati board http://illuminatiguzzisti.forumcircle.com/viewtopic.php?t=19591&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

Griso is good looking for sure, but I just don't get the high frame tubes & all that plastic - might put me off getting one even if I could: style over substance. He's right with the 916 & the MV - they're exquisite - they look that way cos they work that way. And....I never get why the V7S, 750S even the S3 is preferred over the LM1. To me the later bike is better looking & goes better too. I've always liked sports style bikes but for me the T3 Cali is a great looking Guzzi. I think the V11Sport's a good looking bike too. Interesting how prices seem to be holding up for them: I wonder how many there are, compared with 1100Sport. How many old Big-block Tontis kicking about? As for the V7 classic etc etc etc: I'm sure they're a nice little bike but I don't see why people seem to be wetting themselves on some forums over the new smallblocks' styling - some old-style alloy wheels & can of matt black paint? & as for the Racer .....don't. KB

Thanks for your reply Kiwi_Roy. When refitting swingarm: is it same as Tontis - screw in pivot bolts until bearings correctly adjusted then check both bolts screwed in equal distance? KB

Can you elaborate any issues here? Which allen screws - the ones on UJ? Gearbox spline - the spline on output shaft? Thanks. KB

You know, Martin is one of the leaders of this forum - says so below. I rang him ages back cos he'd gone awol, spoke with his wife & left a # but he didn't call back. Hi Martin! KB

... Just more garbage to feed the media monster. I've ridden motorcycles 40 years & I'll keep on til I can't. Whatever up-their-own-arse fashion prats choose for "arm candy" is their business. If they don't ride motorcycles, I don't care. Pillocks. KB