TDF

When I needed one, I bought a thirty pack of Miller high life. I think I was two or three into the pack before I had the perfect sump gasket trimmed out of the cardboard from the thirtypack. Added a little RTV and presto. Hasn't leaked a drop in two+ years and I was able to reuse it again after this springs oil change. TDF

I used a lift like that to hoist up my V11 sport when I pulled the rear swingarm off this spring. It worked OK. I had to use a few thin strips of wood between the lift and the pan due to the rounded pan but it ended up fairly stable. About a month ago I picked up the lift in the below photo. It's one of the ones from Harbor Freight, but I got it used (and very cheap). I actually prefer it to the lift you're looking at, but it does take up a heckuva lot more space in the shop, which from the picture you can tell is a premium in my shop.

There's one on Ebay right now. It's a beauty, but pricey. It's in Alabama. Search for Moto Guzzi, you'll find it. TDF

At 6'4" I think you'll fit. I'm 5'10" and I'd hate to be much shorter. The reach to the bars is fairly significant and there are peg lowering options if you find your legs are too cramped. My brother's 6'2" and he fits my V11 fine. I'm fairly sure you could remove the small fairing from a V11 sport that was equipped with one without changing the headlight, at least on mine I know you could. Good luck in your quest to find one. I bought mine about a year ago and I'm still quite smitten with it. TDF

Have a friend who has Termi's on his 996 SPS Ducati. They sound wonderful. I have Staintune's on my 2000 V11 Sport. They also sound wonderful. I've never had the two side by side to see which sounds better (he moved to New Mexico before I got my V11) but in my head it's a tough call. Of course I might be biased. TDF

My valve covers have been powder coated, along with the oil pan, wheels, rear drive housing, side stand and a few other parts. Was done at least two owners prior to my owning the bike and the guy I bought it from was storing it outside. Has held up remarkably well. TDF

Factory setting yes, but remember these are italian ladies and they can be fickle.....Is your bike absolutely stock? Have you owned it since new? Has anybody played with the computer? I bought mine used with many aftermarket parts and an uncertain history. There's a thread either here or over on the Wildguzzi forum where a discussion was held and a few owners didn't end up at 150mv base setting to get their bikes to run right. TDF

Did you measure TPS setting before you began adjusting it? I had the exact same problem. Checked till I was blue in the face for other problems and just eventually set it back to where it was before I started fiddling with it (about 300mv fully closed) and the backfiring issue went away. Apparently the previous owner had it set where it was for a reason, at least on my bike. I may someday figure out why mine prefers a higher setting at fully closed but as yet I'm stumped. TDF

Thanks for the kind words docc. I updated my profile. TDF

I bought my V11 sport last September and just have never been satisfied with the low end power. It's had quite a few upgrades bolted on (can's, crossover, K&N pods's) along with a power commander. This weekend I finally obtained a Laptop and hooked up to the power commander. The map that was in there was similar to one that is available on the power commander website but somebody had obviously been tweaking on it (especially on the low end). Not knowing whether it was just some previous owner's idea of what a map should be or if it was done by somebody who knows what they are doing, I replaced it with a map I got off of this very forum in the file share area. Thanks to member "gh67" for posting the map up. The new map was created by OC Motorsports for a bike with similar upgrades as mine. So I figured what the heck if I don't like it I can go back to the old map..........there will be no need to go back to the old map. This thing rips off the line now. This is how I imagined this big twin should feel. I can even get the front wheel to come off the ground if I snap the throttle open at 3k in first. It wouldn't do that with the old map. Too much fun. I also pulled the rear hugger over the winter and repainted the swingarm. The paint was flaking in areas. I've never liked rear huggers and without the air box all the hugger was doing was keeping stuff off the computer and battery. So I fashioned my own computer/battery protector out of black plastic and bolted it up inside the fender. It's unseen unless you look up from below and seems to be doing it's job. Plus I'm kind of a wuss and don't ride very much in the wet. I like the looks of the swingarm. Has some interesting architecture to it. Not sure why Moto Guzzi felt the need to hide it with that hugger. Here's a photo of what the bike looks like without the hugger. Ride safe everybody. TDF

When I needed a replacement clutch lever for my 2000 V11 sport, I bought a Ducati set off of Ebay. The seller reported that these levers fit the following Ducati's with 12mm pivot bolts. Monster 400 99-07 (04-07*) Monster 600 94-01 Monster 620 02-06 (03-06*) Multistrada 620 03-06* Monster 695 07-08* Monster 750 94-02 Monster S2R 800 05-07 Monster 900 94-99 900SS 91-97 748/916 98 only ST2 98-03 ST4/ST4S 99-03 From the photo's they looked correct and for $46 bucks for a set of new levers I could afford to be wrong. So I took a chance. When I got them I compared them to the levers that were in my V11 and they were exact. Here's the link the auction I won. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400110797525 YMMV TDF

When you hear the sound of V11 with quality aftermarket system you'll drop the cash and not look back. It's worth it. That being said might trying scouring Ebay, dealers, web, etc for a used set of cans. TDF