savagehenry

...Younger,5 bikes, no wife or kids. Now, a 5 year old , 2 year old and wife, 2 bikes, and 1 soon. Wouldn't change a thing... ....Ride the *I$%*&* out of it! You NEED to get past the "Running In", soon. Then the fun TRULY creeps out of this bike, into you... Feel free to let me know if you come near Chicago. Have fun , S.H.

I'd like anyone's thoughts on oil "mixing". If you dump 1 1/2 qts. of dino on top of your synth, should you change it asap, or wait till next service. They do make blends, then I hear people who aren't stupid say it's not good. . I'm firm believer in the "Who cares What oil you use, just change it ON TIME, ALL THE TIME" philosyphy. I used Spectro Golden 10/40 for the Nero at 6000 miles, our first service together, to use up what I had on the shelf. I also agree that $$$ oil is WAY cheaper than big bucks parts, which I happen to have inside. I will move to the AGIP this winter, when I install a Roper plate. I seem to see the red light flicker alot. It's ALWAYS on take off. I know why. I spent HOURS on this site BEFORE my purchase, and thx Jaap. Man, I DIG my new bike, ALOT... Thanks in advance, yall, S.H.

Hello all, or any, from the previous partial thread. I fall somewhere in the middle. We Must be having SOME impact on Mother Earth. I also laugh. All this "Warming" talk assumes we are the be all, end all, on this ruddy ball of rock flying through space...Like "Mother Earth" gives a RAT'S ASZ about us. She'll roll on, unmoved...through whatever... And life is for experiencing. Love him or hate him, Ratch, you are consistent. The guys INSIDE the Alamo did not fare well in terms of one human's memory.... Did I just remember some long dead old dudes,WTF?!? ...and I still wonder where that thread went all, uh, oh forget it...LET"S RIDE!!! ...Later, S.H.

Imagine I am IN FRONT of YOU ALL, And WE are on Motorcycles,(please) ...We Slow... --->--->turn signal--->---> to "Silly banter,..."...See you there, part of this thread has now, sort of, chosen to follow me, if it's not "Sidestand..." related. Thanks, S.H. P.S. I kept the switch, because I don't want to Eff up, it would be my #ss, and my FAULT. Did it once on my '78 lowrider, innarestin' experience. Just clean it, then lube it with the properly compatible electrically specific product from the shelf at toolland.

Hey D, I have both the FBF carbon fiber slip ons, and the FBF X over. Bought it that way. I can't tell you how many bikers and NON bikers tell me that my Nero has a BEUTIFUL sound. They say things like "Awesome", "So Deep and Rich" and "Totally Bass-y, but not as loud as I thought it would be..." I would say it is "Melifluous" to about 4500 rpm, then it's more Raucous, in the 5-6500 range, where I am quite often. "Controlled Violence" often pops into my head... I am not aware of any sort of "Removable by Design" baffle. I also have a Big Breva Cam, oversized valves, hi compression pistons and the heads are ported and polished, so there is bound to be some difference, but you are DEFINATELY headed in the right direction, IMHO. But... I also believe I am beginning to see that "MG Madness" on the horizon...Gotta go, LET'S RIDE!!!! Lovin' it, S.H.

...Right on, Brother, for us all, so ride good and hard ... till THEN, however it comes!...Lovin' it, S.H. Oh, Key, but test the killswitch and kickstand switch every so often.

Hello Danray, I have experienced that mine simply does not like RPM's in the 3K range. I stay above 4K, often 5+, and SHE loves it, shifts better, and rewards me in ways I cannot quite describe... , S.H

Hi, Go to WWW.OHLINS.COM, click on CONTACT, and get the active list of ALL Ohlins dealers. Love that internet, satisfies that GOTTA HAVE IT NOW thing, good luck! S.H. P.S. Say it with me, Class, " OHLINS ", AHhhhhhhh....

Yup, and thanks Jaap and all who assist, great site! S.H.

Hey Man, Sorry to see you leave the fold, the Nero's the SH*&T, as you well know! At least when your personal business pays off, you'll know what to look for, again , and good luck....S.H.

Just wanted to let all interested know there will be ANOTHER Moto Guzzi Demo Ride the weekend of Sept. 1-2, at Rose Farm Classics Moto Guzzi, 1250 Rose Farm Rd., Woodstock, Il. 60098. The last one, on June 9-10, was ALOT of fun with plenty of good running Norges, Grisos, Brevas and Cali's courtesy of owner Jim Barron and his pleasent and capable helpers. Food and refreshments are aplenty. And of course, the roads to, and directly out of the shop's drive are tailor made for the long legs of the Guzzi, some stellar farm roads, curves and those loved big sweepers... Bring your riding gear, license and proof of insurance and enjoy rides on your pick or picks of the current model line up. I personally heard many smilin' versions of "Pretty Damn SPIRITED Pace!" at the last one. Come out, soak up the atmosphere, and see cool bikes, in the shop, and in the parking lot! Miss this, and you know how you'll feel when you hear about the fun-" , I'm a major ... " Later, S.H.

Hello Alanp, I just bought a '04 Nero myself, with 5K, now over 7K two monthes later. Can't rave enough about it. The Nero and Rosso Corsa's, Coppa Italias, Cafe Sports And Scuras have Ohlins Suspension. This would be the biggest difference between those and other v11 models, IMHO. The most significant changes in models occurred between '02 to '03 and later, look in FAQ's for a good start. After that, it's your preferences, with the model as a base. You can change seats, pegs, bars, whatever. I leave mine as it came as far as that stuff, my upgrades are in the "Go Faster" catagory... Problems: Broke speedo cable, New Part # fixed that, JUST found my front cross over pipe is loose, will fix it. Side stand safety switch was funny, cleaning it well and lube totally fixed it, stay on front driveshaft greasing as it is exposed. Nothing has been that bad, and it is such a fun bike, and the Nero IS STUNNING!... Happy Looking, this is a great site to lose HOURS on. S.H.

Het Philrazor, I have the Nero, and do both in town commuting, and open road riding. For the difference in price, you are getting the Ohlins suspension, front and back. It will make ALOT of difference in both handling high and low speeds, and in combo with those Brembo brakes, a potent stopping force. I LOVE MINE. Good Luck, no matter how you go, you would really enjoy a V11!

Hey GM, I have 7000 miles on my '04 Nero Corsa, almost the same bike. Have had, in order, the sidestand safety switch worked intermittantly, speedo cable break and my oil light comes on alot at take off through 2nd gear. Cleaned the switch real good and now it's perfect. Replaced the speedo cable with the newer one they changed to when the first style was found to have too sharp a bend just above the entry into trans, it's fixed. The oil light is the result of enjoying the feeling of a really fun motorcycle with fast take off's, to be solved with a windage plate soon enough. The Ohlins is why you do want the Cafe. Buy it, you will not be dissappointed, even if you pay "too much", Fun Trumps Money, Checkmate... Ride on! S.H.

Hey Jasper, If you do find someone to work on that rear shock, a simple spray down with brake clean will do. That Scura doesn't even need the assist of a rear when you can clamp down sufficiently with just that Ohlins front/Brembo brake set up. I find I only use the rear in EMERGENCY conditions anyway ... Keep yer shite wired tight, you'll be alright, carry on, S.H.

I bought mine sight unseen, after NEVER having even sitting on a Lemans. I fretted the clip-ons, the footposition, and the "Saddam Like tortourous seat". With 2000 miles, and a 350 mile day, I can say I am conforming to the seating position quite well. I see 5-600 miles being alot of fun, when I find the time. The bikes "purpose" becomes clearer as I ride more, and now we are past the 5000 mile run in, and I discovered a new world, the one that TURNS ON over 5800 rpm. MAN, I love my unmodified seating position, along with the generous motor mods!!!!! Ride your own ride! Later, S.H.

Chipping in for the carbon fiber crowd, The other day a stranger in a car followed me all the way to a parking lot, pulled up and said, rather excitedly, "Wow! that sounded BEAUTIFUL when you passed me, what is it? Oh! Moto Guzzi! What year...", I have reason to believe he purchased a Griso from my local dealer within days... Many riders, from many camps all say the thing, THAT SOUNDS BEAUTIFUL! I prefer melifluous , S.H.

Hi, a bit of an expert here, a short resume: Complete "Walk aways": Skydiving FULL malfunction w/ tree top landing under reserve, Bad whitewater body surfing incident complete with a waterfall and boulders (worst "road rash" I EVER had), 5 totaled cars and trucks, a totaled BMW after head on with car, years of snow skiing (I am not good), off and on road bicycling and other fun and painful full-contact sports, Once voted by group of friends as "Most likely to walk away if 25 people HAD to jump from a fast moving train...and will probably have to in his lifetime" I have for years practiced "Mapping your muscle response". I do it for so many things in life. For the motorcycle, while riding, I imagine being hit by a car, and then "jump" out of my seat just before impact. You don't really let go but do start the physical act of standing. You map a neuronic path after doing the same act over and over, and may just do it naturally in the real instance. After 21 years on the road, my first real two vehicle accident was me turning left and a car running a red light hit me head on. I jumped, cleared two lanes of traffic and landed flat on my back. Three minutes before, I put my hemet and jacket in the bags and told my riding partner, "Never needed 'em in 20 years, it's beutiful, screw it." I DON'T do that anymore... "MAP" the RACERS ROLL. If you leave your bike at speed, Iit is often best to try to curl up into as tight a ball as you can get, to protect flailing arms and legs, and cover vital organs. A sphere is nature's strongest simple structure, and a short stick is harder to break than a long one, rules to crash by... Your motorcycle is capable of more than you have probably tried with it, TRUST IT when you think you can't make the turn! Push harder on the bar in the inside of the turn and lean more. Even if you do slip out you will be on the inside of the radius you are making. The more towards the middle of the circle, the slower you are going, and will lowside it, as opposed to a highside.If you are in a uncontrolled slide on the bike, and see you WILL hit the gaurd rail or whatever, TRY to lowside it. It is usually preferable to try sliding than to take a direct impact in to earth,(OR WORSE) coming off a fast 15-20 foot drop, NOT uncommon heights to achieve on a highside. Just some of my philosyphy, has really worked considering some of the stupid s!!t I've done I my youth. And remember this, There is always a yin to every yang: CHICKS DIG SCARS! Hope you ride hard enough to scare yourself, impress yourself with your skill and get home safe, SH

Hello Saggio, Your bike reminds me that we chose to ride Mechanical Art. Now, go forth and wang on that thing!!!! (After doing a PROPER Running in, of course) S.H.

Welcome in Waustin, The easiest, and least expensive way would probably be buy the Le Mans and take off the fairing. I was just in that same stage, wanted the Ohlins, and have turned 500 miles today on my new, and 1st Guzzi. I wasn't sure about a fairing, but I LOVE this one. I do because it took an hour or so to realize I was not seeing it, and had NO head buffeting. I'm 5'10", 33" inseam, and I really like the stock clip-ons/leg position. So I will go naked at one point, but not yet. Rode the Griso this weekend, and am truly satisfied the right bike picked me...Oh, The Ohlins really are so much more "planted" feeling, it was worth the layout. Happy hunting and good luck, S.H.

Congrats! I've done 50 beers, 25 wines +/-, welcome to the world of fermenting. Please keep riding and drinking in proper order, and know when to say when...to CRANK on that throttle!!!!!!!!!!!!!! S.H.

Practice ANY European accent, get CLOSE enough to say (relatively smoothly), "2004 V11 Lay Maw Nero Coarse-eh" Now look around the room, tell me the chicks aren't diggin' YOU. ...Oh Yeaaaaa .... .... then I start runnin' down a whole tech list of stuff, and it just glazes 'em over....

Welcome GJ, Come on into the house, kick your boots off and relax... looks like I'm already becoming a long timer here... S.H.

...because if I keep working overtime, that's the time I get off, and that's how I intend to pay this off. Pardon, me, I digress... My User name is Savagehenry, and about two monthes ago, I started lurking this site, because I had a problem. The green bike/red frame bit me. And 6 years later, it was still there, and now they don't make them. So I began the "Cafe vs. Lemans" thread. Having never ridden a Moto Guzzi, I jumped... I looked a little, first...and jumped. 2004 Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans Nero Corsa, with lighter stuff on the outside, and cooler stuff done inside too... The newest bike I have owned thus far is 1978. I like it ALOT so far, will report more when it is road legal.

Congratulations Joe, Ain't it great, to happen by the garage door, stop, go back, open it, and STARE, and see HER...Buy the replacement bodywork, lay it out like you want, and retain the value of the matching VIN and the STOCK paint if you turn it over/for the love of it...or just ride the piss out of it, both are my plans. S.H.