Baldini

Pete, Sounds like you have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. John O'Sullivan Esq., who counts most of S.W.Ireland within his estate & is a fine gentleman to boot... so far as I know (& I don't know much). Keith

Try a search. There's a few of us made em up & there was a a chap (Edge) made up a run of them for sale: search for Edge guard. Also I think it was Al R posted a measured drawing of one he made. I cut one from a racing # plate: very light but strong black plastic. Protects the shock too. KB

First - sorry. Not sure that we are in disagreement here? I think you said it yourself: Pedrosa/anger - anger wasn't a part of Elias's riding - Looked to me just like he'd really found a groove & everything was working perfect for him. T-boning someone inside midcorner cos you're p****d at them is something else again. Pedrosa's mistake looked like bad judgement due to frustration/anger/immaturity & because racing is already risky that's not acceptable. But everyone #@$&'s up sometimes. No etiquette - No sport. KB

Think you're getting mixed up w/something else here Ryan, or is that just a US attitude. There's more to racing than kill or be killed & I for one have more respect for them as race with courtesy than them as don't. Pedrosa f*cked up. Watching Elias flying balls out sideways on the whitelines was something special. Hayden seems like a decent guy & a decent rider. But Rossi deserves the championship. KB

Very sorry to hear you had this happen. Only thing comes to mind is I've heard some people have had throttle body connecting rod joints seize & stick throttle. Check the rod runs between TB's. Get well soon. KB

Pyrenees are great. A fantastic route is: Col d'Aspin/Col du Tourmalet/Col d'Aubisque via Pic du Midi de Bigorre (don't miss Pic du Midi: nearly 3,000m & you can ride a crazy hairpin dirt road to the top) - OK so it's in France...but only just! KB .

For you maybe. Dunno your strength. Dunno your tyres or what surface, or what you think of as hard braking. A rock climber will have stronger fingers than me. A BT020 on gravel will lock soon enough without lever effort. A grippy tyre (Pilot Power/SportAttack etc) on a grippy surface will stop real hard before locking but I have to put a hefty four finger effort on the lever to get it to do so. The brakes are good, but if there is a system that can do same stop using one or two fingers & still retain good feel & sensitivity, then that, for me, is a better system - for road or track. If stock matches your needs - fine, but we're not all you. KB

Better power/better feel/less lever pressure? Are these high metal content - do they wear the rotors quick? Thanks, KB

Sounds good. What system? detailed on earlier Guzzitech link? Presumably expensive - ? I find stock brakes stop OK but do need a lot of lever pressure. KB

That's one useful clock.

If front is still good it's OK to just replace rear. any change in tyres will affect handling - just take it easy till you get used to it. Good idea to stick to same type f/r. Correct fitment for 5.5"rim is 180/55 (stock) or 170/60. Antonio - how would you describe the effect of a 190. Like putting a pair of socks down your pants? KB

BFG - you thinking of ditching the Scura for one of these new fangled fashionmobiles??? (sorry Pete).

I'm with KeS - Blimey - my stock brakes (ferodo pads) stop pretty good. I'm more worried bout the tyre. What ya'll doing with these things? KB

Confidential hp??? - the very best kind!

Greg, After respringing Scura I found similar. I run little or no added comp damping on rear but it does move around a lot. Up comp & it gets harsh but moves around a little less. I wonder tho, even if shock was spot on, given the short, spindly s/a, doubtful frame stiffness, & massive weight out back (& everywhere else) how good it 's ever going to be? I came across this longtime back: http://www.cycleworld.com/xp6/CycleWorld/t...uzzi.xml?body=2 Intended to do same but still haven't got around to it... The new back end on the Breva seems to work v well. Sounds like a great day out you had. KB EDIT: Above link doesn't work. It's a Cycle World test from 03 on Scura. Complains about back end. They take shock to Pettersson Pro Suspension, Anaheim, Calif where they "...dismantled shim stack, reducing compression damping by approx 5%. Doesn't sound like much but...it makes a big difference..." They still weren't happy tho.

Me too. I guess summertime posing is over, & next year brings another toy. If I was in the market for Guzzi I'd be looking at them. KB

BFG, I did collate some photos & sent em to MG customer services - just to register really. Didn't expect nowt - got nowt. Been meaning to follow it up but just ain't had the time. When I get a chance, will dig out what I got & talk w/you some more. Best, Keith

...errrmmm...you sure you came to the right place??? KB All these dealers are Guzzi specialists & usually have a V11 to sell, give em a ring: Twiggers (Loughborough) 01509263967 Corsa Italiana (London) 02085407155 Streffords (Worcester) 0190523532 Motocorsa (Dorset) 01202822511 Moto Strada (Yorks) 01274592500 MCN usually has a couple but none this week. MGCGB mag usually has a few: dunno when it comes out next.

Basically there's 3 versions of V11: 99/2000 (original short frame, 4.5" rear rim). 01/02 (long frame 5" r rim ). 03 onwards ( w front ex balance pipe). For each there's various ltd ed models (Ohlins, Single plate clutches, bodywork etc). That bike is an 01/02 type. KB

Mine weeped onto xover from new. Put in Redline - it stopped weeping. Let us know how yours gets on. Cheers, KB

Well put Gary What caused the 2 Scura motor failures? KB

Looks tidy to me but it's an 01 or 02 model. Maybe reg 04, there was a lot standing in dealers for longtime. Or maybe there was some history- warranty, buy-back, demo or something? Dunno why seller hasn't put up more info? It's a 6 speed - if this only has 5 then there's one missing....strange mistake - did you speak to owner? Did he ride it? History? Black crinkle paint does not always fall off. Mine's still good at 18k miles. Price seems OK if bike is good - think it's lowish end of what they go for, but I'd want to know more about it meself. 03/04 bikes seem more sorted by reputation but will cost a lot more. Ohlins are good, but high maintenance. There's quite a few 06 Grisos coming onto the market w/ v low miles, less than 1 yr old - seem to be about £6k which is about what is being asked for late model Ohlins V11's. KB

My clutch works fine & has not increased noise since new but after everything I've seen & heard re the fracturing of the flywheel in these I plan to put in a RAM clutch this winter. I know John O'Sullivan put one in after his Scura one gave up. I have one in the Tonti & like it, tho it hasn't got many miles on it so I can't comment on longevity. (It is a hell of a light action compared to stock twin plate on the T3/LM). I would be v interested to see the actual differences between Scura & RM/Tenni or RAM aftermarket. KB

Mine stopped leaking when I put in Redline HS...Did you try it? KB

As it came mine had about 85mm gap w/springs in, which was also as rec'd by 2 Ohlins techs I spoke to. I used that as starting point. Did you measure yours as stock? BFG, as you say re seals. The latest (ext lip) ones I put in the supplier said he would adjust them, by which I took him to mean that he would tweak the spring a little. I also took notice of Martin's suggestion re leaving the bike on the s/stand could cause the seals to take on a set. I now leave it on w/shop stand. we'll see. Ohlins tech sold me red grease - saying green was older spec. But he didn't seem too fussed about what was used to lube the seals. I clean off the exposed areas of the stanchions after using the bike. I also fitted an RSV1000R 'guard which offers a little more protection, but I'm pretty much resigned to frequent seal replacements. Least it keeps the oil fresh. KB