Steve W

At mid-Ohio VMD this year, I took a new R1200RT out for a demo ride. It was a very competent bike, ergos were good, power seemed good. But I found it dreadfully bland. I was more than ready to walk away from it after the 30 mile ride. Nothing wrong with it other than uninspiring - which to me is a huge flaw in a motorcycle. I have other beemers (77 R100S, 85 K100RT) that hve considerably more character. And neither of them come close to matching the character of my Guzzi's (80 SP1000 and 02 V11 LeMans). I'll keep my Guzzi's, thanks...

If you have an updated spring w/ 17mm diameter, are you still better off taking the boss down to 15mm - or can you safely leave it be?

I've got a couple of older Guzzi's - I never really considered them as beautiful, I just thought they looked pretty cool and distinctive mostly due to the engine. And I have to say, I've never been really jazzed about the loop frame bikes - Tonti frame, yes... But, that said - I really do think think the V11's are for the most part gorgeous. Particularly the '02 red/gray LeMans!!! (the color scheme is what prompted me to buy one...)

Well, there's really nothing to consider. The red/grey LeMans is the best looking Guzzi. In fact, it's the best looking motorcycle. Ever. Anybody who thinks otherwise is simply incorrect.

I'll have to look for that. But with that said, given the reports of good results on this forum with the ridiculously priced Harley paint, I figured I'd suck it up and go with the known entity. No regrets - if you put any value on your labor for the prep and painting, and look at the cost of the bike - the cost of the paint is pretty inconsequential - whether it's $21, or $6, or free, for that matter. I remain very pleased with the outcome on my bike. To me - it was like a wart on the nose of a supermodel - the overall package may be good, but your attention keeps being drawn to the wart. I'm really glad my bikes wart is gone...

I mostly agree w/ Tom M - mine is now good enough so that the casual (and even slightly critical) observer would never take any note - it really doesn't need to be perfect. But more importantly - it now doesn't annoy me every time I look at it. Maybe I was being retentive, but the crappy appearance detracted from my enjoyment of the bike. So, in my case, it was worth giving up a little time now to deal with it, even if it did cost me a little riding time. But, that's me...

My LeMans is one of 3 bikes I currently own that don't have a center stand. I really don't like not having a center stand, but there's generally reasons for there not to be one, I suppose (exhaust systems). Anyway, I got a Harbor Freight ad a couple weeks ago with a "new item" - a universal bike stand for bikes w/ dual sided swing arms for all of $38 (or something like that) so thought I'd give it a try. Here's what it looks like... The universal part comes from the width adjustment, I guess. In any case, if the little arm things were spread out to their extremes, I could fit it under the LeMans swingarm, here's an action photo. So, it seems to do the trick. That said, it really is a 2 person job to get the bike on and off of the thing - as you pretty much have to be directly behind the bike/stand to lever it up into position - and I wouldn't be comfortable doing so w/out somebody steadying the bike vertically I guess that's why I stay married.. Other than that, it seems like a decent solution, particuarly for those w/ multiple similarly afflicted bikes to maintain. It definitely made my engine block painting project a little less irritating. Steve

I did take most of it off. Primary tool was a needle scaler, a compressed air powered thing w/ a dozen metal "needles" that bounce back and forth. You can get them at harbor freight for $20 or so on sale. It does tend to bang up the block a little so you have to be careful - but the texture paint covers up all the little dings - and I figured roughing up the surface a bit would help the paint adhere. You wouldn't want to use it if you wanted to leave the block bare, I don't think. Also used screwdrivers as scrapers.

Not to worry. I think it does leak a drop now and then out of the TB but it's not at a significant rate. The "wetness" in the 2nd pix isn't from gas, it's WD-40 residue if anything. The lighting & shadows did funny things to the picture...

The nice thing now is that it doesn't draw your attention to it anymore. I shined a halogen light on it for that picture to make some contrast show up - when you're not looking real critically at it, it appears reasonably uniform. Can't really tell from this picture, but it's good enough now where I don't feel the need to fiddle with that any more.

I don't suppose I can add a lot to this topic than what's been shared before, but I painted my gnarly looking '02 LeMans block over the weekend. Did the recommended thing, used the absurdly expensive Harley texture paint. It looks tons better, although the texture doesn't really match - the texture of the new paint is much finer than the stuff that remains. But, I was really sick of expaining "they all did that" to people who I was showing my new pride and joy too - so I shouldn't have to do that anymore. Even the guy who inspected it last week said 'is this thing running hot, or what?" Before... After... [ Anyway, it was worth the trouble and $21 for paint. I removed the exhaust but nothing else, just masked pretty diligently. Probably used ~ 8 light dusting coats.

I hate to be paranoid, but given that I don't know the history of my '02 - is it generally considered a good idea just to go ahead and fix this even if it ain't broke yet? It's hard for me to tell from reading the forum what the probability of failure is... Steve

Well, ok - that's why I was wondering. I guess I might be able to pick up a little by rotating the Verlicci clamps toward the back of the bike and pivoting the bars forward to maintain the angle - I should be able to raise them up a little more while bringing them back toward me. Maybe that'll be enough. Thanks, Steve

The tops of the fork tubes on my (new to me) '02 LeMans are about 1" above the top of the upper triple clamp. Is this normal, or did the PO make an adjustment? The bike has a set of Verlicchi bars/risers on and I'd like to get the bars up a little higher - but with it as it is currently, things will start running into the fairing at the extremes of steering if I raise them at all. If I drop the fork tubes down, it should give me the room I need (if I'm thinking about this correctly). Thanks, Steve

Well, I'm happy to report that - as most of you have surmised - I think I was pretty much full of crap re: my diagnosis. I've been adequately wigged out about this that I left work early today (it was actually a spring-like day here in upstate NY), got the baby out of the garage, started her up and let it get warmed up. Sure enough, outside the echo chamber (corner of my garage), the noise wasn't nearly as offensive. And, as Greg suggested - pull in the clutch, and the knocking went away - or at least was transformed into some other batch of interesting noises which I'm gathering are "normal". Then I went out and romped around for a while on it. What a delight. It was great to run it around - what a wonderful mix of v-twin loveliness and modern chassis and braking. Anyway, after that I spent a little more time critically listening. I guess the noise really is just the gearbox after all. There's nothing else to suggest it's anything but - no noise under load, no other signs of anything aberrant. I've rarely been so happy to be so wrong. I came in and celebrated with a quick 4 beers. I will say, this bike does sound different than my old SP1000. That doesn't make the same noises which I guess was what started me flipping out. Anyway, I do appreciate all the inputs and apologize for what appears to be wasted bandwidth. It certainly wasn't to me. You guys just have to understand, this is my dream bike - and I just want it to be perfect. But for now, I think all is right with the world... Steve

Yeah, I'd day I'm far above average in mechanical conpetence for an amateur. Have had probably 40 different old bikes of all makes over the last couple decades, and most of them have been resurrected from dead. Several total rebuilds on old Triumphs, transplanted a short block into my '75 gold wing, etc. But I've never been in the bottom end of a Guzzi and like to have as much info as is available before digging into new experiences. I'm just too old and lazy to try and figure it all out for myself... That's the thing - I've heard rod knocks before, and my '02 sure sounds like it's got a rod knock... Steve

Ok Greg, I'll bite - what is a "sloppage plate"? Steve

Yup, that's exactly what I've been doing recently. Maybe that's why when I've actually had the chance to take it out and ride it around for a while, I didn't recall it being particularly noteworthy. frick'in freezin' has sadly been the norm much of the spring so far. I have a friend who has a commerical account w/ AMSOil and can get it at what appears to be a reasonable price for full synthetic so had him order me a couple gallons of the 20w-50 bike oil. From what I can tell it should address the ZDDP issue. I was either going to use that or try the Mobil1 V-twin stuff. The cold garage has definitely been the impediment to me going through the thing - getting the fluids changed, valves set, TB checked, etc. Also want to fix the ugly block paint which bugs the crap right out of me. So, the rod bearing issue was just one more thing to add to the list. I was just having a hard time accepting it. I'm hoping you're all correct about my mis-diagnosis. Steve

Well, y'all are making me a little less depressed. I haven't checked the valve clearances yet - it's on the "to do" list. And, I'll check the idle RPM - but if you can't believe the tach, I'm not sure how to accurately report back what it's doing. It doesn't seem exceptionally low - but you don't have to turn the thottle up too much before it goes away. To be honest, here in upstate NY it's still been a bit nippy to get a lot of riding in, so I'm still coming to terms with the bike and haven't made any effort to baseline it yet. But, a cycle-savvy friend was over last night and I was showing it off - and he scowled when he heard the knocking - just as I have been... Thanks for the comments, Steve

As much as I've been trying to convince my self to the contrary, I think my newly acquired '02 LeMans has a rod knock. Not a real bad one, but there's some noise coming from down below at idle that doesn't make me happy. Turn up the rev's a little and all sounds fine. I'm not sure how to diagnose it further without digging in to it. The bike was an ebay purchase, less than 7800 miles on it, and is running great other than the knocking noise. Suffice it to say, I'm pretty depressed about it. But, anyway... assuming I need to replace the low end shells, is the procedure written up anywhere? I assume I can just drop the sump and get access to the bottom end - but how much of the internals need to come out? what's the list of parts I'll need? 2 pairs of shells, rod bolts and nuts, a sump gasket. anything else? how much are the parts likely to cost me? would MI have all the stuff? are there any other likely candidates for a noise that sounds like a rod knock? The low milage gives me low confidence in my diagnosis. Thanks for any assistance and sympathy, Steve

I'm sorry if this has been discussed before - but is there a summary around of how many of the different V11 MG models were made by year? I'm particularly interested in my '02 LeMans, but any/all info would be interesting... Thanks, Steve

Hi all, I've been lurking for a while but as of yesterday am now an offical V11 owner, so thought I'd introduce myself. I'm 50, have had a variety of old bikes for the last 30 years - at one point had over 30 at once. It's been a hobby for me, picking up things, wrenching on them, sometimes selling. My first love was Triumphs, still have several (pre-Hinckley). Anyway, we used to have a local Guzzi dealer. One day I stopped in - and just fell in love with a 2002 silver/red LeMans he had on the floor. It was a demo w/ a couple thousand miles, but he was looking for about $8000 and it was just too much of a stretch for me. But, it piqued my interest in Guzzi's. Since then I've bought (and still own) an 850T (project) and modified SP1000. The 850T project has been back burnered although it's almost roadworthy. But I've been enjoying the SP1000... Not very stock, but some neat mods - Koni's, Bub exhaust, new FAC dampers, fork brace, K&N's, custom seat, and upgraded electrical. A fun scoot. Never forgot my moto-lust for that '02 LeMans, though. Then a couple weeks I saw this on ebay... It had a very reasonable opening bid of $4500 with no reserve. I figured out a max bid I could live with, and won it for $4750. I guess there is some upside to the current crappy state of the economy. Has some nice upgrades - Rich Maund seat, full Mistral exhaust/crossover, Verlicchi bars/risers, the accessory bags - and less than 7800 miles! I picked it up yesterday - it had been a trade at a Guzzi dealer (Speaker's Cycles - Steubenville, Ohio), and it was a beautiful day down there - got to give it a test drive on some nice curvy, hilly roads. What a riot! So, even though I've only spent 15 miles on it - I'm ecstatic. It really is my dream bike - the colors, the performance, the lines - everything. Will probably sell the SP as well as a couple other bikes to replenish the discretionary spend account, but so it goes. Seems to be running well. Only issues so far I've noticed are the infamous bubbling engine block paint (which was noted in the listing), and the one throttle body is dribbling a little out the bottom. There will undoubtely be plenty of questions, despite being a one owner bike it didn't have the owners manual so I have no documentation on it. But anyway, I see there's a ton of info here and am looking forward to being part of the group... Regards, Steve