GuzziMoto

Maps aren't just a matter of richer or leaner. A map for a Quat-D exhaust may be richer then a map for a bike with Mistrals at some rpms and throttle positions and leaner in others. If you can't afford to have a map built by someone who knows what a Guzzi needs, I would suggest starting with a map that RacerX recommends or a map custom made for someone elses bike with a like setup. From what I've heard, the Quat-D has a different fuel curve then a normal twin pipe setup.

That's fine. Egg all you want. But to me it's not just about power, but power to weight and handling. And I am only familiar with the Aprilia and the MuZ. The Aprilia to me is a sportbike and the MuZ is a sporty bike. But to me the BMW is a sporty bike as well. While it's true they have won a couple of races here and there, they typically only win when no real sportbikes(GSXR, R1/R6) are allowed to compete. And you typically have to mod them a fair bit to be competive. But I would love to see a 450 lb 120 hp Guzzi(not extreme numbers by sportbike standards, a built 600 can easily beat that). Hell, I'd settle for 100 rwhp.

I'm with you guys on that. If Guzzi DID produce a street legal MGS 01(I mean really street legal, like you could finance it and insure it and it had a warrenty), I would buy one as well. Is it a sportbike, well maybe. But that would depend on the real specs, how much power and weight. I would hope for the answer to be yes, but knowing Guzzi I would not count on it. I would love to be able to buy a Guzzi that you could throw a number plate on and hit the track, but alas, Guzzi does not make bikes like that(yet). If you want to race a Guzzi you must do it the old fashioned way and build it yourself. I guess in the end that would be the difference between you and I on the subject. I think that a sportbike is a bike that you can race as it comes from the factory. But that is just a matter of opinion, and if yours is different that's ok. All that matters on this is that Guzzi is the right bike for the right rider. Viva Le Guzzi and all that crap.

Rocker59, I think we just have a different idea of what a sportbike is. To me a Guzzi is a sporty bike, not a sportbike. A sportbike to me is something like an R-1 or R-6. To me a Ducati SportClassic is a retro bike. And while a Griso or Breva is not retro like that, I would have no trouble keeping up with a Ducati SportClassic on my Griso. For that matter, my Griso is just as quick as my wifes V11.

Sorry, but to me those are GT bikes. By those standards a B11 sport is a sportbike. Which is fine, but to me they aren't sportbikes. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Guzzis. My favorite brand of bike. But a sportbike to me is a faster, more hard core bike then what Guzzi makes(like a GSXR or R-1).

If only Guzzi sold a bike like that. And even that was only a sportbike compared to other twins. Hence the battle of the twins monicker.

Sorry, not trying to piss you off. But Guzzi hasn't been a force in racing since the 50's. And the fast racebikes they used to build their rep were mostly factory specials that they did not sell to the public. The bikes they do sell have been much the same since 1970, The most sporting models have been at best GT bikes in my opinion.

Another? What were the ones to begin with. I think Guzzi has made the same kinds of bikes it always has. It's everybody else that has changed. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Guzzi make a street version of the MGS 01. It would make a nice update to the Daytona line. But supersport bike it's not. I would be happy with a 4v Griso 1200 with a lighter rear suspension setup. I think the Griso chassis is just as good as the MGS 01, it just needs a lighter swing arm setup.

That's cool. Make it road legal and I'd buy one.

I've always said the bike only goes as fast as the rider tells it to. But modern MotoGP bikes are easier to tell to go fast then they used to be, thanks to modern electronics. But that is the way it is. And the reality of it is the rules are the same for everybody.

To each their own, but my wife and I ride plenty hard. Even the occasional parking lot race or other sporting event. But the Z6's on mine and the Strada's on my wifes have never flinched. If you race or do trackdays they aren't for you. But if you don't do either of those things then sportier tyres are overkill. And while a V11 is a sporty bike, it is by no means a sportsbike. I would call it a GT bike, and sport touring tyres do nicely on a GT bike for me. Conti's are not bad tyres but I do prefer Maxxis myself. They seem to last longer with the same grip.

Just take this motor out, turn it 90 degrees sideways and stick it in a Guzzi chassis. What's the problem?

Yea they said that about Stoner and they were right. He writes talent checks he can't cash. But Senna did that as well and he's legendary. Thank god for electronics. It's part of the game. As far as riding a modern MotoGP bike, all the journalists that get to ride one get off commenting about how easy they are to ride. I don't think most of us could ride one as fast as Stoner, but I'm pretty sure I could ride one around a track at a respectable pace. Biaggi, yea, that's right. How many 500cc GP championships did he win? I do think it was harder back then, but I do agree that that was then and this is now. It's a different skill set required and the rider and bike that offer the best package will win. Right now that is Stoner. MotoGP bikes corner faster and accelerate slower then they used to. Just going from 990 to 800 cc did that. It takes a different skill set to ride a MotoGP bike today then it did just 2 or 3 years ago. But I'll still be at Indy to watch. Can't wait.

I can live with some of what you said, but a 500cc two stroke would have ended Stoners career if he rode one for ant length of time. And MotoGP HAS been dumbed down. In the days of 500cc two strokes you could not just hop on one from a 250 and run at the front(not for long atleast). But that's progress for you. While I see how much things have changed, I am not one who sits on the porch saying "in my day". Stoner is not the best rider out there but he is the right rider on the right bike and tyres. That is all he needs to be. That does not diminish what he has done or what he will do. There have been other great racers who were the same. He's not the first and he won't be the last.

Many people will replace the rear tyre and run an old front with a new rear. Me, I won't due that 'cause if one tyre's gonna be better then the other I want the front to have the grip. I would rather buy a set of affordable tyres then run a new rear with a old(and probably mismatched) front. As far as choices, I have Z6' on my Griso. Great tyres grip wise, but noisy. My wifes V11 has Pirelli's, Diablo Stradas I believe. Nice tyres but dont seem to last as long as the Metzlers. I am a big fan of Michelin but they can be pricey. Also had good experience with Maxxis, great tyre for the price.Easily my fav budget tyre.

The best shot from Daytona's gotta be the Kawasaki planted in the mud (rear tyre buried) sticking straight up. As far as Stoner and the speed of the Ducati, he was 5 mph faster then Rossi down the front straight when he opened the throttle all the way. I know he can ride, but that's a huge advantage at that level. As has been stated before, it's not just a question of who's the best rider. At that level it's about the best combination of rider and bike(and tyres ). More power to Stoner, if I had 5 mph on the rest(some he had 10 mph on) I would have done the same thing too. Just wait for my tyres to warm up, then when I'm good and ready just drop the hammer and go.

Rossi HAS new rubber(probably one of his problems, but it is his own fault). The big thing was how much Stoner sand bagged at the beginning of the race. When he pulled the trigger on that Ducati down the straight it flew. Does not look good for everybody else. The Ducati appears to still be way faster then everybody else.

Actually, the numbers I'm quoting include the Sportster and Buell versions, which are now almost the same engine. When they designed the Blast engine that became the basis for both the new Buell twins(not the Rotax motor but the XB's) as well as the new Sportster engines. Details like cam timing and compression ratio are the main differences. And the Sportster gets great mileage and power along with the Buells. I do agree that alot of it is in the combustion chamber. That's a big part of my point. If you improve the Guzzi head to whatever extent you can, there is lots of room for increased power output. The stock Guzzi head does not have a lot of engineering in it. There is a lot of room for improvement. Getting 20-30 more horsepower is much more doable then getting the same kind of increase out of say an SV1000 or a 1098. Buell also puts much more engineering and resources into things like exhaust design. Modern Buells have exhaust systems that actually improve the power output. Many people put "free flowing" mufflers on their Buell only to find they lost a couple horses.

The question is not whether the valve springs are still good but rather whether or not the valve being open will sitting for a long period of time would make a difference in whether or not the valve spring still being good or not. And the answer is it should not matter.

I don't know where they're at now, but a few years ago H-D 1200cc engines were making between 80 and101 rated Hp. at the crank(65-80 at the rear wheel) and they get 50-55 mpg(a good judge of combustion chamber eff.) Compare that to a stock V11 making 70 Hp at the rear wheel and getting 40 mpg. And torque, not Hp , is H-D's bigger strength. They rev even less then M-G engines and make huge amounts of torque for their size. The thing that gets me is how they are able to make as much or more power using so much less fuel. Max power is not the only measure of how well an engine is designed.

Rossi choosing to switch to Bridgestone seems like the dumbest move of his career(although he does not have many dumb moves to begin with). He may be able to make it work, but it will probably cost him some speed. I wish the FIM would come to their senses about the tyre rules.

Is that sanctioned by Maiden?

The valves on my wifes V11 were toast at 35,000 miles. The problem seemed to be from a poor fit in the valve guides, but it's hard to tell after the damage is done.

EEEDDDDDDIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!

I have a 07 Griso (first one sold in Maryland). My wife has a 01 V11. Comparing the two, I'd say build quality is improved. Fit and finish is much better. Quality of components is up (less rusting of bolts and whatnot). Quality of engineering is much the same. There are faults in the design of the mechanical components, but that just leaves room for improvement. To wrap up, I'd say that it is an evolutionary step. Better in most ways, but still a Guzzi.