Baldini

Type? Model/Part #? How much? & where from?...errr think that's all... Thanks KB

I phoned Redline. Tech told me Shockproof Heavy is recommended for V11 trans with no additive reqired: "...Shockproof Heavy is 75W90 but has EP rating of 250, way higher than conventional 90W with Moly added". I've used it for a couple years now, seemed to improve shift slightly, never checked temp. Since putting it in, trans stopped leaking oil onto crossover. They reckon you don't need to change it.... I got it from Demon Tweeks. I didn't think to get it direct from Redline - do they supply small quantities direct BigJ? In UK Motomecca (01202 823 453) or Corsa Italiana (0208 540 7155) mail order for service items. KB

I am. We're talking about 600 bikes. Given that it's likely to be a fraction of actual cases, I'd say the failure rate we've seen here is high. There's a problem with at least some of the Scura units, so how do you know if yours is one of them? I've ridden a twin plate Tonti for 20+ years & sure, we didn't always have internet to spread panic, but you get to know of stuff other ways & I never heard any generic major failings with that unit which is used in various versions in countless thousands of bikes. I had same opinion as you for a long time, but now there's too much evidence. As Ballacraine says, the conseqences of failure at speed don't bear thinking about. Course it's possible that all the bad ones have now gone tits up but given that Ballacraine found same cracks in his with no outward symptoms, how many Scuras have same? It's quite possible that a steady riding style & low mileage mask the extent of the problem (& it's possible they don't!). A dealer told me recently (...now warranty is up....) they had replaced several Scura clutches, cos of, as I understood him, this problem. You could be right, but I'm riding my Tonti til I've at least had a look at the clutch. KB

No, no time - the long winter stretching out before me in November went by very quick. I expect RAM flywheel to vary from stock one. Heard it said by various people. Agostinis told me MG sourced parts of the Scura clutch from RAM, but some bits came otherwise, inc the flywheel. Will let you know what I eventually find. KB

V11 unit was £413 inc postage to UK. Not fitted it yet. Tonti one cost much less but that was long time back & they do seem to have gone up a lot recently. Don't recall any problems fitting it - went straight on I think. KB

Not sure if this is relevant to what you're trying to do but I run a Tonti on T3 cases using SP barrels & flat top pistions with LM11 heads & (36) carbs. I don't know the CR but it must be low. I love the motor, it's so easy to ride, pulls from any revs & very untemperamental. It has std T3 or LM11 cam. doesn't rev out much & probably doesn't produce a lot of HP, but it makes up for it in torque & usability. Is thirsty tho. Probably not the ideal engineering solution, but easy cos I had the bits & works great for me. KB

I got a RAM for my Scura from Agostinis in Mandello (00390341735448 - Peter, their spares guy, speaks English). Can't remember exact cost but it was a hell of a lot cheaper than other quotes I had. Not had time to fit it yet. Have a RAM in my Tonti, been in a while, but not done a lot of miles so can't say re longevity. Nice, very light action, works good. I like it. Only thing I'd say is, it'll slip earlier than stock Tonti twin plate under (fairly severe) abuse. KB

Crooz, Mine broke one at 3k & 7k miles. I put in new pawl arm (15mm boss to replace existing 16mm) & spring, now up to almost 20k miles on them. AFAIK we don't know exactly which bikes are affected other than to say 02 types. It's a fairly easy job, plenty help here. Once fixed should be good for a long time. I'm surprised you'd consider selling over this if your happy with bike otherwise. A lot of bikes will have the odd weak spot. At least this one is well known & can be prevented by an easy(ish) fix. Nice avatar pic ! KB

Bugger! There's another few quid off the resale value.... Welcome back Joe - you know it makes sense.... KB

Sad, wasted young lives.

welcome home Al....just in time to defend your top poster slot....where you been...? Everytime I ride mine it feels different...depending how well sorted we both are... KB

Welcome HeavyD. My first Guzzi was a LM11 too - still got it tho it's got mixed in with the T3 I got later. Cali is feetforward laid back style touring, V11LeMans is faster sport touring, similar in feel to the LM11 in the way the fairing (only had a brief ride but seems to work reallly well) sits you in still air...it's a bigger, softer more bulky feeling thing (than LM11)....tho first time I sat on a V11 it was amazing how much like the old bikes it felt...The new bikes are worth a look - Breva & Griso seem very sorted, have a new 6 speed box & rear trans design that seems a big step beyond what went befiore...& dual plugs...but seem to have a little less grunt, &...err...character? Breva feels very comfortable (only had a v short ride, but seat seems really nice...).... seen cafe club crew unloading v low miles Grisos... KB

Ben, it's fine! Looks a bit different - don't take no notice of the must be this way, must be that way brigade - it's your bike. as you like it! As Jim says, you got various colour matches going on & tieing together different bits....I like the seat/tailpiece matches front mudguard colours...ties back & front together.... Aren't you worried about the rear tyre wiping out those turn signals tho? KB

Whichever way you choose to measure it, KEEP THE OIL LEVEL UP TO MAX (a little above - quarter inch on the stick - is safer & causes no problems that I have found) as the V11 can, under hard acceleration expose the oil pick up in the sump & cause oil starvation. There have been numerous cases reported here, & it seems to me it has usually occurred when level was low. There is a plate made by, & available from Pete Roper, designed to eliminate this problem, by keeping the oil where it belongs during acceleration. Try search to find thread. ...& welcome! KB

Too late.... As Pete says: They really are a dream to work on. Once you get the motor out, it's big, simple & solid, with really very few moving parts. Everything's easy to get at, to measure & to put back, or replace. If you've got the time, doing the motor really isn't that big a deal, & offers much satisfaction in the long term. would you suggest an alternative??? KB

So baldrick is here among us ...

Depends who's doing it. Mine has Guzzi Ti kit & passed, but he's a good man & a motorcyclist. So long as you don't take the piss. The Ti's are not real loud but definitely louder than stock. The test now is that noise should be no louder than stock....so as Gary says there's some discretion - go to a sympathetic tester. I always sneak in there on a low throttle but he opens it up at some point anyhow. The Guzzi Ti's do have a stamp saying for racing use, but it's fairly discrete..... I keep the stock cans so I can nip home & change them if necessary. KB

I wasn't the only one used to run 110 front & rear & swap em over part way worn - the rear used to wear centreline, front wore sides. Now I got more cash & everythings a bit more made for purpose. KB

Slow bike fast & if you're after a slow bike - most any Guzzi big twin (Tonti frame onwards) EXCEPT the MGS01 would fit the bill. Guzzi's lack of big HP is it's main disadvantage but also one of it's biggest AVANTAGES. Out with average riders on mixed big power sports bikes the fact you don't worry about highsiding is a huge advantage, just use tracks without a straight! Handling is pretty good on any big Guzzi once sorted, brakes are good inc linked - just depends on what you fancy - there's a lot to be had out of running Tontis amongst modern bikes... KB

Looks like the old circuit is completely gone - that's a shame - I really liked it, & it was great for Guzzis.

can you get original reg of replacement frame?

Yeah! that's what they all say, til they see their first failed flywheel... Sorry, I misunderstood, I thought it was MG warranty. I guess they will still go thru MG official channels to fix tho - hence long delay. Guzzis are quirky bikes & IME most non specialist shops can't be arsed with them. I don't know what's going on w/your bike but generally if you can't make sense of what someone's telling you they either don't have the time to explain properly or they're pissing you about - or both. As others said above, answers you need are simple. What is wrong with the bike? What are you doing to fix it? When will it be ready? They should be able to answer simply & consistently. Sorry can't be more help. Good luck. KB

Ozzy, Given the history of Scura clutch problems it's quite possible your's has gone same way. Are DK aware of the Scura clutch issue? Can you insist on seeing the damaged parts? Parts to fix should be available from stock at specialist Guzzi dealers (but if it is flywheel failure, you will not be replacing like w/like - I bought a RAM kit of the shelf). As this is warranty issue DK will follow the formal procedure thru MG for approval & parts supply. As Guy suggests, a specialist Guzzi dealers could sort the problem more quickly, but may not want to know re your warranty claim as they are not the supplying dealer. However, it may be worth asking around & if possible getting bike to a specialist dealer to sort. KB