Baldini

Dave, I don't think you got all the oil out. 16oz (US) = approx 475cc? Ech leg holds up to 550cc depending on air gap. You'll drain 475cc w/o disassembling any further but I think you need to release compression so as to bottom stanchion to purge cartridge of remaining oil. I found another 50cc or so was only released at this point. When they say spring in, they don't mean under spacer in compression, they simply mean that the spring is in the stanchion & therefore accounting for some volume. IME you have to pump the forks with compression released & to full extent of travel to purge all the old oil & then the air when you refill. Taking the spacer off allows you to do this. Good luck! KB

Dave - Have you got it sorted now? I'm a bit unclear why you were having problems but it sounds like you didn't remove spacer tube that holds spring in compression??? You have to undo the nut under the fork tops that retains these. 1st remove forktop then nut - you will need to make up a tool to hold the tube down against the nut whilst you undo it - a washer to the same width as the tube but with a slot cut in it (so's it'll slide onto the rod). Then you can remove spacers. I used the depth gauge rod on a vernier gauge to measure gap. BE V CAREFUL NOT TO LOSE SMALL NEEDLE VALVE THAT'LL POP OUT OF END OF LONG SMALLBORE DAMPER TUBE WHEN IT EXTENDS AS YOU PUMP FORKS NOW. KB

OK! £4 will cover P&P (UK 1st class) for one plate. Please pm me your delivery address: I will reply w/mine: you will send me a cheque (made out to P Roper for £74) & I will send you a plate!.....or if you're after two it's £147 cos there's £3 extra postage. Those are UK - add extra £2 for Eire & IOM (I'm guessing that'll cover it....). Pete - I'll send you cheques or pay em in if you give me bank details & you can refund me the postage after? Is that OK? KB

Sounds about right. I weigh around 210lb w/gear & put on a 10 N/mm (referred to as 100 rather than 85) spring. Much better, tho I might be better off w/slightly stiffer say 10.5. I ride mostly solo, no luggage. Do you have shock protected from road crap? It's worth sticking a guard in front of wheel. KB

praps you should've video'd it. KB

Looks like a Dr John system. Did you supply pattern? How much £? Can they reproduce? KB

Yup! KB

If you want quicker steering try Mich Pilot Power 2CT's. No 170 tho but 180 is good. There is a 160 too. KB

Yeh sure Pete. I'll work out the post (just normal PO parcel post unless anyone wants different?) & guess a bit of bubblewrap & large envelope would do the job. It'll be Tuesday before I can get to the PO. Re thanks: compared with the knowledge you've freely shared for so long it's nothing mate! Take it easy. KB

BFG BIG J John O'S x2 Ballacraine x2 Baldini Pasotibbs Grossohc Richard That's 10. Did I miss anyone who already asked for one in an earlier thread ? KB Al, Pete plans to deal with ones for US but these were just some he brought over to UK with him to send out locally. It is very difficult for him right now, so give him a bit of time & I'm sure he will sort it. KB

Pete left 10 plates with me. I think the plan is that I send within UK...& Eire.... & .... IOM...So far then I have got : BFG BigJ John O'Sullivan (Please confirm that John) Ballacraine x 2 Baldini That's 6 so 4 left - Anyone else? I'll be a bit slow off the mark cos I'm real busy right now but it will get done. KB

I've got the plates. Not sure about payment details for Pete yet, his attention is elsewhere just now. I will check out post charges. KB

Quite possibly....did an trackday there 3 years ago on it & had one of the best days I've ever had on a bike. I love the place - it's a beautiful, clever & engaging track...with...a very short straight. I was hoping to get in another trackday this year but so far have been too busy with work. Why do you ask? You planning on going? Try to keep myself to myself & ride considerately in traffic, be out when/where it's quiet, avoid Sundays, Bank Holidays, crowds, stick to speed limits in built-up areas, pay attention, try not to be a total arsehole &....I've been lucky . KB

I don't have pictures of the ride cos I was...well...riding! KB ...this is the bike...and this is something like the road...from another time.....errr, sorry, it's not quite up to the normal std of ride report posted here ...

The Scura's waiting on tyres again...so I went for a ride on the old Tonti. 30 f*kin years & they really haven't come up with anything better. Heh! Heh!

So...the answer is...

Don't think it's just under hard braking, & I have the Platinum's too. Not sure if it used to do it...think so. Yeah - figures. The stock h s comp damping is too harsh...still haven't got mine sorted - if you get to find out the new specs (how much they changed shim stack to reduce comp damping?) can you post info? thanks. KB

Shame - I like the "zing" sound! But then my bike's a toy....Did you make any changes to internal damping when you rebuilt the shock? KB

Yeah. BM is quirky, but somehow (I don't know how/why) just isn't endearing/involving to me like a Guzzi. But that's me & I got a mate who loves his thru 20 odd years & 200k miles. MZ's were more like Guzzi - they'd do what they were supposed to do, but take em out on the razz & they'd do things you'd never have thought! Built out of old cornflakes packets tho... KB

I was wondering re the Hydro models - what exactly is the score w/them? Dropped bars encourage speeding, it's hard to just enjoy pottering around. Cali is real cheap at the moment here - plenty grunt from no revs = relaxing - just stick it in top .....& everyone should have a Tonti in the shed!!! They're a great ride. 5 speed box can be got pretty sweet with a bit of care in shimming. Like mgspdrcr says - You can make them into whatever you want - so as they're all basically the same , go for whatever comes up good at the right money. The old bikes are great & imv the new one's never matched the style of the first Tonti Calis...but you do get used to FI & electronics....I'd go for twin disc model or retrofit cos Cali is capable...& there's bound to be the odd occasion....single disc felt underbraked to me....Linked brakes work great, I got the bits to delink my Tonti cos of the swapping bikes...but I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it...yet... KB

Get another bike for the commute. Nothing fancy or delicate: I fancy a DZR400 meself, w/supermoto & trail wheels....but then I guess you'd still probably need a commuter as well! so something dull a plodding but then you get no fun atthe end of the day...mind - i enjoyed a C50 & a cj125 - even dull bikes can be a laugh - not a cd200 benly tho.... Wide bars aren't the best for lane splitting but you can sort that... KB

great job Ryan & looks like the little fella thinks so too KB

Not sure that more lean on the dirty stuff at the edge of the road would've saved you: If you're running wide at the exit then maybe look earlier in the corner for the problem: Turning in too soon? Late turn in helps, esp in tight stuff cos V11's do run wide given a chance & badly need weight over front when ridden hard in turns (body weight/raise forks?). Did you close throttle? Throttle effects rate of turn & lean. What happened immediately after decking peg? Leaning off can get you round when clearance is gone....Hope you get everything sorted. Best wishes. KB

Yes. It has big effect on handling & character of the bike, & with car type clutch/flywheel & shaft trans is mostly why you have to ride a Guzzi different to other bikes. Put anyone on a Guzzi who hasn't ridden one before - see how they react & tell me it's not quirky....eg: "how the hell do you ride this thing?" You have to learn to ride a Guzzi & ride it the way it wants to be ridden, you can't just apply UJM experience etc. You can get on a Duke, Buell etc & just ride it, it's character doesn't interfere with riding it quickly...even if you never rode one before. For me, on the V11, the motor isn't the limit to getting bodyweight forward, it's the long tank. A shorter tank would much improve handling ability. Is the Sporti tank shorter? On a Tonti you can spread your knees along the rocker covers & get a fair way up over the motor (well I guess it depends what shape you are...). But yeah, that you can't get your weight right over the front wheel is a limiting factor in how hard they can corner. KB

Buell? Pah! Across the frame crank v twins are ten a penny, the other stuff is peripherals - the very heart of a Guzzi is it's biggest quirk - take a look: a big v twin with it's crank running along the frame - not many of them about these days... KB