Baldini

...& a decent looking frame based on function not fashion/designer's whim.

Gavo, The only reference I've seen to a new motor was this little bit on the MGCGB forum: as reported in motorcycle port and lemon this month, 1380cc across the frame v twin, water cooled, three valve with the cylinders inclined forwards to give more leg room, arriving 2013. This would be very like the va10 prototype shown a few years ago. They also say the new cali will be the last new guzzi with an air cooled motor released before the new motor arrives. I haven't seen the article. Would be interested to see the AMCN article. Cheers, KB

The place is ruled with a rod of iron, step out of line & it's curtains. Many a good man has fallen, but some survive, by native wit or nauseating sycophancy. They need our help, it is your affiliated, official, NATIONAL CLUB forum, man! Where's your sense of honour? KB

... they didn't tell you when you were little?

Scura doesn't & I'm pretty sure none of the others do either. KB

What's stock V11 weigh with same gas, do you know? KB

I've also been surprised by the prices dealers are asking on V11's recently. But are they selling at those prices ?

Seat looks pretty similar to OME. Bike's been resprayed? I think I remember it being for sale here - is it this bike: http://www.motoguzziclub.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7660 ? JRT, flat carb tops replaced stock cranked tops & in conjunction with new slide springs to give lighter throttle pull. IME (LM11 36mm)they slowed twistgrip action so much you needed two handfuls to get from closed to full open. I stuck with crank tops. Thought of getting a QA twistgrip or modifying mine to suit flat tops but never got round to it. Stock 36mm is hard on the wrist, & I believe 40mm's are no easier. There's been some debate on this on WildGuzzi recently, if you're interested I'll dig out a link.

Looks great Jaap! KB

Old & venerable maybe but people are spending serious money on Mk11 Escorts these days. Great hillclimb video! My dad would've said "he'll go on til he hurts himself". I once saw some great film of Jim Clark drifting a Lotus Cortina, hit same spot lap after lap, can't find it on web....just this... KB

This is the one for me...

Congratulations Mathieu! You're familiar with Tontis & the pros & cons of cranked/flat tops for carbs? Sorry, can't help you with the bits. Good to see yet another member of this forum on a Tonti! KB

Just looking at the list of your Guzzis shows your allegiance to the marque. There must be something wrong when people as committed to Guzzi as you are feel so alienated from the recognised national club? KB

Yup. Getting down with the kids, man, all the latest downloads, got Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvis.... Mind you price we pay is they're closing the schools, building windmills anywhere they can & nobody knows who lives next door anymore. Progress, it comes to us all. KB

Thanks for that name BFG. I never heard of him before but looked him up on Spotify (You all got Spotify ?) & been listening. Like it. Cheers. KB

For now, for most people, the V11 is too old to be interesting as a "modern" bike, & too modern to be regarded as a "classic". It's design & engineering isn't pure or exclusive enough to qualify it as a "modern classic". It never did anything on track of great note (unless you count it's very presence there as a monument to something...)...or anywhere else for that matter. And Guzzi didn't sell so many, so there's not a lot of owners. I guess in a few years the V11 may be regarded a little differently, imv - like the 180 Jotas were to Laverda - it'll be regarded as the last of the "hairy chested" Guzzis. After years on big block Tontis the V11 felt much smoother & more refined, but after riding a couple of Carc bikes it seems much closer to the old bikes in feel than to them. I'm not criticising the modern Guzzis at all, just talking about characteristics & feel. Meanwhile, it'd be a shame if the disparate collection of interesting people on this site had nowhere to sit around talking s***! So thanks for keeping it running Jaap! Remo, I have a Scura too, it's a great looking bike, I really like it & will keep it. KB

...it's that locomotive beat does it for me... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2pSTILCVtI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SuBozi_Hp0&feature=player_detailpage KB

I guess the way the board is perceived is governed by it's model specific name - but it's never been as narrow focused or cliquey as a lot of others - there's always been plenty discussion only loosely related to V11 or Guzzi or even M/C's. Long may it continue. KB

Wonder how many of us out here, I've seen many others express pretty much the same sentiment. Or is it you're either a "club person" or you're not, whatever the club? KB

I could probably make a July date. KB

BFG, You really need to ask this over in that place. A fresh faced innocent has occasionally wandered in there, enthusiastically looking to pass the time of day with a jest & a chortle... . They disturb the cosy "ambience" of the place...eyebrows are raised, papers rustled there's the odd growl... They don't usually last long. You should pop in some time, say hello. I've met some fine people on a Guzzi, but can't help but think the ratio would probably be the same, whatever the bike. I agree with you that a good mix is healthy for all! This forum suits me, seems to have a wide catchment area & seems a mixture of quite different views & experiences, thanks in the main to Jaap's way of running it I think, shame the traffic is so light. I used to like the attitude on Guzzi Exchange too. KB

I can hear it, but there's something wrong somewhere: are both halves of your shaft correctly aligned? KB

It's never too late! Will it be in NI? Dunno about over there, but here trackdays vary by promoter - some more novice friendly than others. Bike club days, & novice only days might be of interest but from what I've seen of your riding you'd do fine on an average trackday. They usually have slow/intermediate/fast groups & you can usually move on the day if it doesn't suit. Just ride at your own pace, concentrate on what you are doing, look where you're going not what's going on behind you & don't get sucked into anything by other riders - you'll almost certainly find a few riding similar pace to your own. With bike; so long as it's all serviced & working, tape up lights, tape/remove reg plate, remove mirrors(distraction - concentrate where you're going, let those behind look after themselves), sort ground clearance (if you drag anything on the road, you'll drag it more on the track). Personally I think the grippier the tyres the better, but modern sports touring tyres are fine so long as you allow for them & they will progressively lose grip on the limit rather than letting go without warning (I don't know the Angels - but IME Pirellis have always been OK for that). I dunno about repaired tyres. You'll need one or zip up two piece leathers, road licence, etc. but check specific regs. Trackdays are a buzz. KB