Baldini

Would mc5 do? Commander Cody - Hot licks, Cold Steel & Truckers Favourites on which you'll find Mama Hated Diesels - every home should have one. KB

....& it wouldn't be much fun switching the kickstand cutout cranked over either.....

Congratulations Bill! I'd echo everything you say about the Cali - they're a real hoot to ride...built round one of the greatest bike frames ever made (35 yrs & going strong!). Cheers! KB

Antonio, no I haven't tried 120/60 - I am happy with 120/70 front (IMV the problem's at the other end..). I think gythni tried a 120/60 & doesn't recommend it (but he has short frame bike). KB

I recently spoke at length with a man from Michelin. Pressures & air volume being critical to the way any tyre will work, he said that fitting undersized tyres would give reduced air volume & this could promote overheating. He also told me a lot of other interesting stuff about sidewall performance being compromised by profile changes, & contact patch sizes but it went in one ear out the other.... I dropped the clamps on my 02 Scura & it worked a treat - steers much better. Ground clearance could be an issue lowering the bike. KB

Last November I emailed MG Customer Service, detailing failures & attaching photos. They replied "We thank you for your feedback. We have forwarded your photos to the concerned department. We agree and understand that any safety concern should be treated with maximum attention". Today I have emailed them again attaching previous email/photos, requesting a detailed & specific response to my concerns. KB

I'd have the whole piece on a T shirt. Never heard it said better. Good on ya Ouiji! KB ....if the V11 had a frame as nice as a Tonti, the new Griso box & drive, a few more lbs torque & a few less in weight - I'd agree with y'all!

Guess it depends what you're doing but I've had more handling problems on uneven, unpredictable roads than ever on track. You can get away with much more on a racetrack. Guzzis since I've known them (Tonti series) have been let down by stock suspension. Lot of long term owners change for better stuff, aftermarket or Jap. Mr vratbastard is keeping up an honourable tradition. Lots of features is the Japanese way but doesn't always do a better job. For me strength, quality of manufacture, longevity, rebuildability are important too. A respring etc may do the job. Depends how you ride it. When considering relative handling/braking merits, don't forget any Guzzi big twin is a very heavy m/c. Not sure Jap calipers last as well as Brembo. KB

yes

Paul, Thanks for this - if you hear anything more on it please let us know. Unsurprisingly I've had no joy with getting info out of dealers or MG customer services. KB

esp the (Mert Lawill?) flatrack stuff:race:great! KB

Seems to me like a pointless debate. Why does there have to be "best of all time".....TV's full of lists of best this & best that....subjective opinion based on limited knowledge & one lifetime. I'll go with Greg & agree to differ. KB

Welcome Dave! Think you've figured something already re Guzzis - they stay with you. Several members here have Triumphs too. I got a T100 engined Husky in the shed but it hasn't seen the light of day for some years. When I was looking for a new bike almost went for an early 955 but in the end it had to be another Guzzi. Really taken a shine to the new 675 tho..... KB

The TT is no longer a world championship event. Hailwood would recognise Rossi as a great rider as Rossi recognises Hailwood. Is Senna or Schumacher not to be considered with Moss cos they didn't race the Mille Miglia? Or George Best not to be considered with Pele or Maradonna cos he never played in the World Cup Finals? Was Holbein a better painter than Rembrandt? Miles Davis a better musician than Jimi Hendrix? There is no objective way of comparing their abilities. Times & priorities change. Just be glad they showed the possibilities. Rossi is a great racer in our time as was Hailwood in his. Isn't that enough? KB

Only 3 models have single plate clutch: Rosso Mandello, Scura & Tenni. All others have twin plate. Clutch issue is unresolved. It is not known whether failure is endemic in the model or affects only a few bikes due to bad materials/manufacture or assembly. So far I think there have been no more than 10 failures we have heard about out of, I dunno - 1200-1500 bikes? Search will show up threads. Failure can be spectacular, but appears to be preceded by warning signs. Scura is IMV the best looking/best spec of all the V11's. Clutch works great, but flywheel failure is a concern. KB

Old bikes had heavy flywheels, dampened things down. Flywheel on later bikes is v much lighter (twin & single plate), pick up is much faster. KB

Problem's only on exhaust? Could be cam. Or follower. Check top down. Is valve seating? Any damage on rocker arm or pushrod. You can get to them first then head/valve & w/barrel off you can get follower & see cam. Is it still under warranty? KB

you are of course joking.....Rossi at TT would prove nothing. It's a different ball game. KB

For whatever reason, I phoned up 3 times re same crossing last year - got different price each time! KB

Rossi's a racer. He's done bikes. What's he gonna do there now? switch to WCM? Give everyone a lap start? F1 is fastest racing on tracks. It may look boring to watch but I'll bet for sure it ain't boring sat in there. Don't think it's money at all. He knows motorsport history, he's looking at his place in it. It's a big ask for him tho, right in at the deep end. He's got balls to take it on (if he does). Good luck to him. KB

To get the paint off: in UK we have Nitromors which is liquid stripper - does most things... slop it on, wash it off. there must be an equivalent there. To polish: you can get polishing kits (mops/polish coarse-smooth) that'll fit on a bench grinder - would do the job. Failing that a mop on a mini grinder or, if you got the time an electric drill. Keep up finish with Autosol or other metal polish. Or paint. Wonder if the old Tonti covers would fit? Apparently the metal is better. They also had plastic ones.... KB

here's a thread on that on http://wildguzzi.com/forum >

Fernandy who....???? i thought this thread was about a football player....who cares what he thinks - never heard of him. vale ain't stupid, he knows it'd be difficult...but the man's got a gift he wants to share....

I've heard of no issues with V11 cams. Guzzis have noisy tappets. Always have done - I'd worry more if things went quiet. I run clearances at 0.25mm (10thou) Exhaust & 0.20mm (8thou) inlet as rec'd by Raceco in UK. (Always ran Tontis at .22mm (9thou) both). They ran em looser still racing. I think US specs are tight cos of noise/emmissions regs. Most people run em looser I think. Was your Cali hydraulic actuation? There were problems with them - V11 isn't. KB

There's a thin washer sits between drive box & s/a. It's shown on rear drive box parts diag not on wheel diag. Can't think what second washer may be, unless assy is incorrect?... Diag shows thin washer sits inboard of drive box inner bearing, but that should not be evident unless that bearing is out. KB PS Jason - if you do anymore them spacers I'd like one please.....