Mario

Usally my 02/03 LeMans goes about 220 km/h but one time I had the wind in my back, I curled down and lay flat on the tank and the speedo went up to around 240 km/h - man, the Guzzi was really flying then! I don´t know what the revs where, I was all to exited (and maybe a little scared). My 04 Cafe Sport will only go to 215 km/h......... SuperMario

If the rumours are true, my picture of the world as I see it is smashed to pieces. For me, since I was a little boy of 9-10 years old, Moto Guzzi has represented a myth from the past. That myth is linked to Mandello del Lario and when I drove there lfirst time last summer on my Lemans, walking around in the town and visiting the museum and parts of the factory, I really felt like being a part of the myth and the history. If the rumours are true it is a sad day. If the rumours are true I will never sell my V11:s from Mandello. If the rumours are true I will buy me a house in Mandello and drive my V11:s like a ghost around lake Como for eternity. Mario

To Ratchethack You really don´t need to apologise. I always read the comments on this forum with a smile on my lips. I like when people are a little, little mean - but with a humoristic touch to it - well thats anyway how I understand the comments on this forum. I have read a lot of your comments and It always amuses me and also it sounds that you know what you are talking about. That said I can confess that maybe I drive my V11:s sometimes with a low rpm, but after reading the comments here I have made an effort to change for the "better". But I just love how the engine rumbles around the 3000 rpm. Lower than that I don´t go because i feel that it doesn´t go that well. I must also say that there is a big difference between my 02/03 Lemans without cat and my Cafe Sport 04 with cat. The Cafe Sport doesnt like the low rpms like the Lemans engine. So you think its the gearset? No, I haven´t looked at the drain plug because I still have warranty (until sep-2008) so I am going to complain to my dealer about it. Then when he`s gonna say "no its no problem, it should sound like that" Im gonna tell him, have you checked the gearset..... SuperMario

When I started the whole discussion, I didn´t know I stuck my head in a snakes pit..... I just wanted to know if there is a common problem with the gear box.....as I understand all the readers, it sounds that it is not. Good so, then probably its only my gear box that have a problem. Many readers suggest that I should drive it harder and not spend my time around 3000 rpm. Belive me, I regularly drive it very hard and even up to 8600 rpm where it pulls into the rev limiter. It pulls strong from the low rpms all the way up, a fantastic motor!!! But even so, I sometimes ride it around 3000 rpm in the sixth. I don´t feel that the motor then is lugging or makes any protests (besides the whining that is) but then again this loud whining has started recently and its only in the sixth gear. To me it suggests that it must be some kind of bearing connected to the sixht gear? I also have a Cafe Sport -04 which doesnt sound that way in the gear box. SuperMario

I have noticed lately that my LeMans 02/03 with 7500 km on it have started to whine very loud in the sixth gear. It whines mostly around 3000 rpm. If I increase/decrease the speed the whine goes away, even so if I change down to the fifth gear. Does anybody know if there is a common problem with the gear box, especially the sixth gear - if so, wahat to do??? SuperMario

To Steve G I have driven my LeMans 7100 km since new, but I must say that even from the immediate start the 02/03 engine pulled and felt very strong even in the lowest rpms, also this motor shakes and rumbles in a very charming way. From the start my 04 Cafe Sport have felt weak, quiet and very civilised in the low rpms. So I think the difference between the engines will be there even in the future. That said, i still hope there is a way to make the 04 Cafe Sport more raw, strong and less civilised in the low rpms. For the "higher" rpms over 3000 rpms I have now doubt that the 04 Cafe Sport will pull strong. To Paul As I understand you, you think I can leave the lamda connected in my 04 Cafe Sport and still use the complete titanium kit from the 02/03, and that the kit-ecu will make the bike work without lamda? If I understood you right, will the engine then realy work properly and without trouble like for instance going to lean? About your other suggestion, reprogram the original ecu for the 04 Cafe Sport. How is this done, and who can reprogram it? SuperMario

To Paul As I understand you, I shall remove the lamda from the exhaustsystem. But how do I do this? For your information I also have bought the MG Titanium Kit with ecu -02, which I havent yet put on the LeMans. Maybe I should put it on the Cafe Sport? The only problem here is that my dealer here in Sweden says that I can`t by a separate ecu for 03-, that I have to buy a complete new kit for 03- bikes? SuperMario

I have a 02/03 LeMans without catalysator. I bougth it new and it is completely original. It pulls very strong all the way from 1500-8700 rpm. The engine rumbles also in a very primitive way, and i just love it!!! I have now started to drive with my 04 Cafe Sport with catalysator. I bougth it new and is completely original. I must say that I am very surprised that its so weak under 3000 rpm! But between 3000-5000 rpm it pulls very strong, I think its comparably to my 02/03 LeMans. But in the low rpms between 1500-3000 it has no chance against the LeMans. I dont now yet how it goes between 5000-8700 rpm because I have only driving it 300 km yet. (Though, I must say I love the way the Öhlins shocks handles the motorcycle) Does anyone else experienced the same thing?? That the engines without catalysator are stronger in the lower rpms. And if its so, can I do same thing about it? When I bougth the Cafe Sport my intention was to sell the LeMans, but now that I have driven the Cafe Sport, no way!!! (Maybe i have to keep them both, the LeMans for the lovely engine, and the Cafe Sport for the lovely suspension) SuperMario

Hi George I have the same question. I have a 2002/2003 LeMans which I bought the MG original titanium kit. I think, but Im not sure, that the cans are the same and will fit my 2004 Cafe Sport. But I think the ecu must be changed. I have now contacted the dealer where i bought the kit, and they will contact me when they know. I will post the answere here when I get the anser. Mario

Does anybody knows what difference there is in the MG Titanium Kit between an 2002 and 2004 modell. I have a 2002/2003 LeMans without katalysator and x-crossover. I bought a titanium kit completet with ecu and everything from my Moto Guzzi dealer to the LeMans, but have not yet come around to have it fit. The thing is that I now also have bought a 2004 Cafe Sport and I am thinking of putting the 2002 titanium kit on the 2004 Cafe Sport, which have katalysator and x-crossover. I wonder - are the pipes the same? must I buy a new ecu for 2004 modell? - what will happen if I put the 2002 ecu on the Cafe Sport??? Does anybody know?

Very Beatiful- maybe I shall do this to my Cafe.....

Hi I also have a Cafe Sport, brand new 2004 model. (As I understand they where only made 2003-2005) I haven´t yet driven it, I wait till the spring 2008. Meanwhile I have my 2002/03 LeMans to drive. I´m glad you like the Cafe Sport, hopefully I will do to. I surtainly know I like the looks, the Öhlins and the high bars! Anyway, I also have the bought the MG titanium cans and ecu but yet it´s still in the box. In the instructions that follove d they write the TPS should be adjusted.

I know the process you are in. Been there myself. After wanting a Guzzi for many years I tested a Griso, I liked the motor but there was a big transmissionlash, clunky gerarbox and some peculiar handling. Then I tested a Breva 1100 and that bike really didn´t click for me. It was to soft (the engine rests on rubber in the front) to slow and damn ugly. I didn´t hear of anybody who likes the Breva!??? After this two test I thought that maybe Guzzi wasn´t for me. But......then I tested a 2000 Vll Sport and then I understand what Guzzi is all about. The V11 pulls hard, rumbles the engine in a nice way, is pretty quick, loooks wonderful and its simply got soul. After that under 2006 I bought a brand new LeMans 2002-3 and it is a lovely bike. I have now bought a brand new Cafe Sport 2004, which I haven´t yet driven (its stands inside my house waiting for next summer) I don´t really know if Im going to sell the LeMans, but probably not bevause it goes so well so I don´t understand how the Cafe Sport could be any better! (yes I know about the Öhlins and the bars) So, what I want to say Is, by any V11, from 1999-2005 and you will love it.

I must say, I agree with Antonio, the V11 is a motorcycle with soul. I have driven Breva 1100, Griso 1100 and sport 1200(which is a Breva). As I understand the Breva has soft block engine mountings and a longer gearing, neither the Breva or the 1200 sport is a bit sporty. The Griso on the other hand feels more sporty and is wery fun to drive, thou it still miss on the soul of the V11 models. But if the Griso comes with Öhlins, more horsepower, shorter wheelbase, other design and other paintings...than maybee.... Mario