Baldini

exactly KB

Facts for you may not be facts for me. KB

maybe i'm missing your point here or maybe you're missing mine - sports 2CT's have loads of grip for me - more than enough, pos too much for me on the road. But other tyres don't - not all tyres are the same. it is the unpredictable nature of some tyres that causes problems & sure, just like bad brakes - if you got bad tyres you slow down. All that bugs me is people assuming that what they like to do should also be what i do - each to his own so long as we don't cause problems for others.... KB

....who's heading the championship?

I don't disagree w anything you say cept to tell other people what's good for them. As for £30 or £100 tyres - try a pilot Power 2CT against a BT020 - any possible road situation & tell me which you'd rather be on. Good grip/handling takes tyres out the equation - end of story.... cept for maybe you wouldn't've got into that situation in the first place w/o that grip... Take it easy, KB

Damn! I was rather counting on a similar plan myself. KB

I have a problem with work & tyres, haven't got crossings either, but if I can get it sorted I'll come along. Hope to see you there - either way have a great time! Best, Keith.

Yes. But, learn to ride a LM1-111 & shaft really isn't that limiting. Tonti will ratchet up & lock the rear suspension under very heavy braking. That's the only thing I found a real problem. Stock shocks & forks aren't good on LM 1/11/111's either & most are replaced or tweaked....not unlike the stock V11? If you wanna know which you could ride faster then there's nothing much in it between a sorted LM1-111 & a good V11. V11 makes more power. Brakes are better (much better feel but Tonti Brembos have plenty power), but it is heavier. Flywheel is lighter (which probably affects behaviour as much as s/a change). As Ratchet says, Tonti frame is stiffer (it is a *kin work of art). Both are limited by heavy rear drive hung out back of short s/a. V11 isolates it from affecting suspension action but it's not really a problem on a smoothly ridden Tonti. You can bring a 18" wheel Tonti virtually to a stop in a straight line on the (linked) brakes - no hands. It is very stable. Riding position on a Tonti lets you lower & further over front wheel than V11, which is a huge help in planting front & getting it thru corners. LM1-111 brakes, handles & goes. It can, with a little effort be set up to go very well. The V11 is a bit faster accelerating, & slightly better top speed but is bigger & softer. A LM1-111 can be a bit harsh & cramped, as Dave points out V11 has better suspension travel, ride is plusher it is more comfortable - but then a good Cali or Spada is pretty good too. If you like Guzzis, you'd unlikely regret buying a good LM1-111 - or any other Tonti for that matter. KB

yeah...kind of a GOLDEN AGE... my regards to mr. angry should he stop by KB

I got the power 2CT's. Lovely. KB

After 27yrs on em I'm still smiling! Welcome to the site! KB

Laden sag, front & back: between one quarter (stiff) - one third (soft) total travel with rider + riding gear, seated normally. Exact no's vary with available travel, bike/rider/riding style etc....but yours sound a bit low: Ohlins give: 25-40mm Rear, 35-50mm Front (from full extended). There's a current thread on technical topics re suspension set up you could check out. There's good set-up info on http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1427 KB

Welcome to Guzzi! First thing - get sag sorted. Make sure springs in there are good for your weight (many find them undersprung). V11 is rear end heavy. Riding quick, it helps to get your body weight far forward as pos. I raised forks about half inch in the triple clamps - helped steering & feel a lot. Mine is Scura (Ohlins), shock is longer than LM dunno about fork length. Try it & see a little bit at a time, but watch on clearances guard/oilcooler etc, also sidestand to tarmac! Dunno what tyres you're on, but there's a lot to be gained (steering/grip) over oem Bridgestones by going to sportier Diablos or Pilot Powers etc. Oem 020's cup on front giving v insecure feel. Some tyres also v sensitive to pressures - can cause handling issues. There's also a thread you should check out in technical topics - re slack swing arm bearings causing wobble. Leftside rear wheel bearings also worth keeping an eye on. More than most, Guzzis work well the smoother you ride em. They're v heavy, rear biased & a little flexible. They don't respond well to sudden inputs. Take time to get to know it & the V11 is a lovely bike to ride Good luck! KB

...does it run??? KB

heh heh! depends what you want out of them grip or miles? Try Mich Pilot Power 2CTs for steering & grip - *kin amazin! - it's like the difference from TT100/Roadrunners to Phantoms - but no miles at all - half what a Diablo'll do (which suit bike well, give reasonable miles & give plenty of warning when they've had enough). Guzzirider likes Diablo Corsas which maybe halfway house? Non "2CT" Powers'll probably be good too but I haven't tried em. KB

Come on... If it's same as Scura one just strip off black paint (A bit of sticky tape'll mostly do it - paint adhesion's crap), clean up the casting marks & edges; polish - et voila: polished ally top yoke! Will tonti alt covers fit V11? bare ally'll polish up well after years of abuse - they say it's better quality.... KB

Soundsa good Mr guzzirider! Looks like increase in drive just where you want it for the road w/o much loss in top end KB

Fine sense of perspective! You do rack up the miles tho! & you have an interesting view of the world to us stay at home types... There was a bloke rode a stock LM1 across Sahara & on down to S. Africa, ended up with forks tied together with rope cos of too much time spent riding railway sleepers. I wish I could dig out the story....think it was in Superbike sometime in the v early 80's... KB

Sorry to hearwhat happened. Best of luck for getting things sorted. KB

That's a stunning looking place. Never imagined it would be so beautiful. Maybe one day I'll go there. Thanks! Will you be over this way again this year? Best, KB

Why does this stuff bother you? Just cos someone owns a m/c doesn't make him your buddy! It never was any different, cept now there's more of them. Who cares? What's it stop YOU doing? Let em get on with it. Always fancied a Harley mesel actually... KB

I fill mine to v slightly over top mark & try & keep level up cos of all stories about cavitation under acceleration causing oil starvation. Engine run for a minute or less from cold, bike level, dipstick screwed home. Never given me any obvious problem. Windchill - you're still around - I thought you'd given up on Guzzi. A couple of us were over at Ty Croes a few weeks back - not far from you? KB

Distance isn't really relevant. All you're doing is cleaning off the shiny surface of the new tyre by leaning it further until whole tread has been used, a little bit at a time. This can be done in very few miles on the right road, or even within a few corners on a track... Leaning hard onto an unscrubbed part of the tyre can cause a dramatic slide. Curing continues during the life of a tyre but this isn't relevant here, unless you'd used it so hard as to overheat it. KB

Damn & blast!!! KB

Hey Jon! How you doing? Maybe see y'around sometime. Take it easy. Keith.