savagehenry

If you haven't seen THIS before, you should, Very short, Very cool "norton commando transformer" on youtube.com

Not a very good picture, you can just barely see the bike, dammit.

I've been led to believe that if you bring it to a better paint shop, they can essentially "laser scan" your original paint, and then get a matching color. I have never had a bike professionally painted, so I don't know for sure, but I am also continually amazed at what is possible in this day and age. My Nero just started to peel at the seam of the sticker on the tail section, and the black base is showing where the clear has flaked away, is this a possibility on yours to try out? I would like to have mine done sometime in the further out future, but would like the original paint job done in paint, no stickers... But for now, let's go back in the WAY BACK MACHINE, and feast your eyes on what the best lookin' V11 looked like in her prime, boys and girls...

My Moto Guzzi dealer told me if I was going to buy a V11, make sure I got one of the Ohlins equipped models, especially the LeMans, due to the fairing being good at what they do. He definately felt they were worth the upfront cost, and also that I would simply love that sort of bike. Most of my riding is commuting, with some fun stuff when I can. As an aside, I hope that one day, I can just hand him a wad of money and tell him to buy whatever he thinks I would like, and just surprise me. Been with him almost 20 years, and yes, I would trust him implicitely with regards to me, and motorcycles. I found my bike over the internet, so I'd never even ridden a V11, much less "a nice one". It blew my mind how different the suspension felt compared to all my previous bikes. On other bikes, you would feel like you were slowing down, no different than always. But, on the Ohlins, it felt like I was being pulled straight down by a invisible magnet located directly UNDER the bike, more like being sucked down as opposed to the weight moving forward as you applied the binders. But my Nero was also 27 years newer than any bike, truck or car I'd owned up to that point, so I may be biased by simple advances in technology too. I also was blown away at how damn good the Brembo brakes are, can you tell That I just LOVE this bike? As to some folks saying they are higher in needs of maintanence, I found that my seals seemed to be as short lived as others did. Enter my bike guy. He has his connections, and my stantions and sliders were sent to his suspension guru, For very little money, he fixed mine so that I have'nt had those issues since. Some work, some part fixing, and some blame/critical analysis...Suspension Guy said they would have been fine for most riders, but I was in part to blame for the premature seals leaking, the cause being I accellerate quickly, and brake hard, alot. He knew this without knowing me. Said the heavy wear on the slider coating both fore and aft was a dead giveaway. Then said he was glad to see someone "riding them like they should be!" Yeah, I think Ohlins are definately worth the $$$...Good luck with your search, whatever you buy, Later, S.H.

You motorcycle nutjobs never cease to amaze me

NOT EVEN CLOSE to as beautiful as the V11's, but have you considered a Convert? Fotoguzzi has some kinda converted Convert, perhaps he'll chime in here soon?

After I started having the front cross over leaks, I tried different approaches, not wanting to disassemble my entire exhaust system back to the rear cross over. I made my own versions of gaskets to put in place, and even tried wrapping both front joints with exhaust wrap, figuring maybe letting it be "free", but pushing the exhaust down the path of least resistence might be better than an entirely solid system, thinking the isolating of vibes might be the solution. Nothing lasted more than a few thousand miles per fix. Finally I said "screw It", just drop the whole exhaust, fix it per "Greg's Thread". But that too did not last. And I dropped about $70.00 in gaskets, only to have it start popping and farting on deceleration, the sure sign I was loose again. So finally, I just removed the front pipe all together. Plus, I have had a slow oil leak at the Phase Sensor and timing case, so now this winter I can fix that without effing with that pipe during re-assembly when I'm done. That said, I also have essentially the Fast by Ferracci Nuovo Thunder motor upgrade, (11:1 pistons, big Breva cam, open airbox and wire mesh filter, oversize intake and exhaust valves, heads ported and polished, rear exhaust cross over, CF slip ons, PCIII, re-mapped ECU, which then necessitated that I make a "Roper Plate, because I'm cheap, but stubborn...) so the "needs" of my bike may be quite different from yours. And when an apparently very knowlegeable MG mechanic, Major M/C magazine contributor, and accomplished racer (Ed Milich) says he's spent enough time dyno'ing these enough to state that the front cross over is not needed, I'm listening, and trying that out. I'm convinced. Until MY dealer says otherwise, I'm good to go. He might feel the difference, but he's also way smarter than I'll ever be with motorcycles, and faster than I could ever hope to be (and, due to his knowledge, and connections, MY Ohlins don't fail prematurely!). Plus, I'm on public roads. My bike will pull the front wheel up on command, and bounces the needle off that "140 MPH" pin on the end of my speedo, and keeps pullin', no problem. That's good enough for me! Good luck with yours, S.H.

I did, and tried the same procedure in the thread you are refering to, it used a tie down strapped across the cross over during re-assembly, yes? Eventually the cross over started getting loose again. I tried a few different ways to deal with it. The OEM gaskets were $25.00 each IIRC. I'm happy at this point without mine at all, but as always, your bike, your call. That being said, my local dealer is EXCEPTIONAL, and during a discussion on this topic, he said he could fix it and make it stay tight. Unfortunetly, with the way things are these days, my repairs will have to remain in my garage, since money is very tight, and my kids want to eat, like, everyday, etc... Otherwise, I'd hand him my bike in an instant

I'm currently running without the front cross over pipe. As a test, I turned some aluminum plugs, and put them inside the two nipples and used the clamps to tighten them in place. I have'nt noticed any difference in how my bike runs, and will probably cut them off and have a stainless patches welded in place.

I'd loosen up the clamp to the right exhaust pipe/muffler and right side of the crossover, pull the right head clamp away from the head. Don't take it all apart, just loose. See if you can slightly rotate the pipe away from the bike. The cross over will come out, and then put your cross over back, with shims in place, rotate the pipe back, and re-snug it, from the head back. I've done mine this way with no problems.

I think the attempt would be, like, uh, really cool. Just don't forget how it went LAST time. We colonists can be pretty vexing when provoked. Oh, also, you don't have enough euro's, pounds (or whatever you people call your boardgame play money) to last against us, it is simply the laws of attrition being put into play. But by all means, have a go at it, fer sure, yer royal dude-lynesses. Just don't go crying when you muss your powdered wigs

Check out www.egauges.com, they have a VDO 3 1/8" electronic speedo that will drop in the dash hole that tops out at 120 mph, or the 3 3/8" gauge that goes to 160 mph. My odo/trip meter just took the same shit a couple of weeks ago and I'm needing that second one

Yeah, good to see you here again, and glad to hear you aren't easily busted up in a crash, or two

How many miles, do you know the servicing and the intervals of that service that was done by the previous owner, have you checked the feel of the steering head bearing with the front end off the ground, have you felt the swing arm pivot bearings while the rear wheel was off, have those bearings seen grease in a while? I'd start there. Good luck, S.H.

Mine started flopping again, so last week I made a couple plugs out of aluminum, pulled out the cross over pipe, and clamped the plugs in it's in place. Have'nt noticed any difference in how it runs. I'm thinking of just having the cross over nipples cut off and welded over at this point. Guzzitech sells a set of pipes with this already done. Ed Milich, from that site and with a load of MG credentials, says after MANY V11 motor dyno runs/tune ups, that the front cross over isn't even necessary. Plus, then you have easy access to the timing cover.

First of all, I can't remember anyone asking you........But I will interpret your reply for you..... "Since I don't need GPS".........because I rarely go farther than 20 miles from home and NEVER cross a river! "will not be electronically chained by the neck to a cell phone"........because you have no friends and no one but democrat polsters will be calling you "haven't updated to an MP3".....why get an MP3 player when that perfectly good wax cylinder machine is fine. Thomas Edison sold it to you personally! "and have never needed a radar detector".........When you can't ride over 35mph, whats to worry about! "carbon fiber slip ons"........I believe you are talking bedroom slippers here?..With white socks.... "screamin triple digit speed"...........Really.... Of course, this is all in fun because I added a smiley face...... Saw this, and felt a need to rebutt, Wow, Roy, definetly gettin' a very angry vibe from you, based on your reply to my post... Get over yourself, it was a joke, complete with self deprecation, and the proverbial reference to red suspenders. First, this is a public forum. I have supported this site with donations (have you?), tried to help other members when I could, and I bought the t-shirt. Jaap owns this site, and until he, or a moderator tells me otherwise, I sure as Hell don't need your permission to make a comment on any thread, got that? Next, I don't know how you were raised, but I don't make derogetory comments about people I know nothing about. I may disagree with the content of a post, but that doesn't mean I rip into the person. You seem to feel that's o.k., so permit me to answer the accusations you have leveled at me, even though I do not know you in any way. I have been riding on the road for almost thirty years, way more than half my life. I live in Illinois, about 15 minutes from the Wisconsin border. Illinois is notoriuosly flat, and yet my tires have no, as in zero, "chicken strips", I'll bet yours does. Most of my miles are commuting, and I ride the whole year, if there's not alot of ice on the road, down to about 20 degrees. I have toured the country in the winter, skiing in Colorado, arriving with several feet of snow on the ground. Been in torrents of rain, even a couple tornadoes. Has your bike seen anything below 45 degrees and clear, sunny skies, on purpose? Well? When I can, my favorite ride is to the Iowa side of the Mississippi, about 190 miles, one way. If I do a day ride, it totals about 600 miles. If I can, since I have a family to take care of, and stay over night, I usually put on about 800 miles in a 24 hour period. My bike pulls past 140 mph quite easily, since it was built at Fast by Ferracci, with the entire catalog of parts, and the machine work done there. Mr. Ferracci did my ECU remapping himself. I count among my friends the owner of one of the top Guzzi shops in the country. When my wife went into labor with my last child, she called the shop, first. He told me the news. I was entered into the record books last year at the Bonneville Salt Flats, having helped two friends achieve a land speed record. Until you can prove better, I have some advice for you. Don't write checks your smart ass mouth can't keep, and shut the Fu-k up, you sniveling little man. Now, since you've seen fit to make "inferences" about my person, with no prior knowledge of me, allow me to make a couple about you, of which two likely sceneios seem to fit... 1. You are a petty, small, angry person who has always wondered why you are so unliked. Then, you saw a cool kid, with a cool motorcycle. You thought, "If I buy a cool motorcycle, it will make me cool, too!" But, it didn't. You hate what you see when you look in the mirror, and don't like what is looking back at you. You try to fool yourself by projecting your poor self image on others. As the old saying goes, "Me thinks he doth protest too much!". 2. Now, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, which you certainly did'nt extend to me. You simply had a very bad day, and sat down to relax with a little V11 LeMans.com time. When you saw my post, you ripped into the first person you could, in an angry, but not typical moment for you. If I am wrong in any way, I have no problem saying so, and apologizing. If any member sees it differently, let me know. And of course, if Jaap, or any moderator has a problem with my response, feel free to tell me so. But based on the vitriol you seem to have embraced from the git go, I tend to feel asscessment #1 is not too far off. I have never felt a reason to respond to any person here, in the years I have frequented this site, as I have you, Roy. Please, feel free to respond, if you feel the need. Me, I'm done. Folks, ride fast enough to scare yourself here and there, and still ride it home... Later, S.H. P.S. You were right about one thing. I do prefer white sox. But I don't have any slippers. It's boots, or barefoot...

Since I don't need GPS, will not be electronically chained by the neck to a cell phone, haven't updated to an MP3, and have never needed a radar detector, I amplify my sounds with carbon fiber slip ons, and "screamin triple digit speed" red suspenders. Geesh, you young-uns and yer whizzbang e-lec-tronical geegaws and gizmos...

Decals, and then covered in a clearcoat. They are available through MG as a set, last I checked.

You ain't shittin' there, that's gotta be the understatement of the year, even on this board! All the vacillating over the multitudes of disparate brands and styles of ride had me spinning my head on the swivel worse than trying to cross the arrival/pick up lanes at O'Hare airport on a busy monday morning in the midst of a business flight ticket price war!!! Congrats, enjoy your new ride, and be friken' careful, eh?

I am afficted with a constant soundtrack of my own meandering thought process when I ride, And this steaming flow of music tends to confluence, as rivers will do, at a seemingly consistent points of merger. What tune(or,tunes) start your ride? For me, "Day of the Eagle", by Robin Trower, oftenseems to be in my head at the start of my ride. Somewhere in the middle, what keeps showin' up in your head? The perfect compliment to the Groove your in? If it's not my daily commute, and actually becomes a ride of pleasure, I inveritabily begin hearing strains of "The Hundreth Meridian", courtesy of the Tragically Hip. Chime in, Please, if you are so inclined...

Geez, you guys, talk about thread drift! He wanted INSULTING comments. Unfortunately, I'm not fat... ...but I've been called a Bastard, ALOT, (and was one in the literal sense), so here goes, "Hey Scuroo, Your brake and clutch fluids are so effin' old they are the color of extremely dark monkey piss, mixed with very cheap, rot gut bourbon, and smells so bad it could knock a full grown, starved male buzzard offa shit wagon, and you, Sir, are a half baked,aborted reject of a sphylitic Siberian prison drudge phuck":o P.S. PLEASE do not take this as an actual shot your Mum

Since I remember this being a problem back when I had my '77 BMW R100S, I was wondering, is the back of the magnet a smooth radius, or is it 'wavy". The thing I seem to remember was the smooth radius'ed ones came loose because of the differing expansion rates of the magnet vs. the starter case, and that Valeo began putting several "humps" on the back of the magnet to allow for some movement.

Try www.lagiader.com or www.airheads.com for a full indepth article, just what you're looking for

Not by a 'Poor little rich kid' window cleaner from Seattle with a handfull of parts from Pep Boyz and 'Wottalotacrap Auto' and a ravishing ignorance of the laws of physics they can't! Pete I think it's "Shuck's" auto up there...not sure if Pep Boys goes that far north. Shuck's was just bought out by O'Reily's which will soon be bought out by Haliburton. Who will automatically be allowed to opt-out of the upcoming "Health Care Reform Act", be given very sizable and immediate help in the form of the "T.A.R.P. III" fund, and only later, find out many of the original board members are now either the newest appointed "Czars of another Need invented", or Lead advisors on the "Car Parts policy and income stream generation" Cabinet, brought to you by a turnstile of 535 crooks... Pete, A positively beautiful turn of a phase, from one of the foulest minds I've met here

Found it! Look in the "FAQ" section of this site, the heading is "maintenence checklist, while the wheels are off"