Chuck

that seems like it might be hard.. I take off the alternator cover and turn motor w/a (32?)mm socket. CCW when looked at from front. Normal rotation is CW.. right?

I just replaced Rosie's oem Spark 500 (preemptive strike)with an Odyssey. It was still doing the job, but getting tired. I got the Odyssey from Amazon for around 115 bux shipped.

Actually, a low-mileage Centauro is likely to be more or less "unmolested," which explains the low mileage per your observation above about how poorly they ran stock. I have memories of an unrelenting series of complaints from an original owner back in the late 90s. He gave up on it after a couple of years; this was before options like a PCIII or Cliff's MyECU became available; I'm sure he wishes he had it back now. The secret is pretty much punting the original P11? ecu and fitting up something modern that can be tinkered with: even the last reflashed eprom by [whassname, his chips were the only ones that came close to getting the Centauros running right] is just a bodge compared to fitting a better ECU, from reports. Best use for a Centauro I can imagine is dumping the execrable body work on ebay & using the funds to buy Airtech Sporti plastic to make up an ersatz Daytona RS. I've only heard of one person doing this, but they were rapturously happy in the end because they didn't have the too tall 1st gear from the Daytona close ratio gearbox, which wasted on that torque monster of a motor anyway... Still love the brutish good looks of the HiCam motor, even if the Nuovo HiCam that Piaggio is putting out now is a much better engineered donk... I have to respectfully disagree. Mine ran beautifully after many mods which included the Creedon chip on the stock computer and a power commander. I put 42K miles on it before selling it. The two owners since then love the way it runs. I also had a friend's Karsten chipped stock computer bike running very well until he got the V11 sport hots.. so, if I can do it, any one can do it. Certainly, the Nuovo HiCam is better engineered.. the original was kind of a lash up for Dr. John's race bike. And, you're right. The transmission gear ratios are perfect on the Centauro. As far as I'm concerned, getting it to run right is the least of the problems on the engine. The aluminum timing gears and the unbushed oil pump gear, all fixable with a liberal application of money.. are the big problem with them. Not to mention some of the top end parts are unobtainium and it's an interference engine. If I had that red one on Ebay, the first thing I would do is tear it down and fix stuff. Is it worth having?? Yep.

I'll give it a service soon. And let's not forget, this figure is mainly town, and we're speaking rushours and traffic jam here... I'll say again.. that's ridiculously low mileage. Something's wrong. If I wasn't getting mid 30s in your conditions I'd be finding out why..

I was at the Kentucky rally this weekend, and saw a VDO electronic speedo in a modified bike. He was using magnets off the rear rotor to trigger it.

Rosie is doing very well, thank you. She just returned from the Kentucky rally where she was the class of the gaggle. Well, at least I think so.. That Centauro on Ebay is a *really* nice one.. but.. there are things you should know about Centauros if you are planning on putting miles on them. As I said, join the COG, listen and learn. Good examples are slowly going up in value, if that floats your boat.

Ok, in the US, there were the superior Anthracite/Grey, Anthracite/yellow, Maroon/silver, British racing green with white stripes, and Red with white stripes. The green and red were only offered with sport plastic. The others were offered with sport or GT livery. Or maybe neither. My anthracite "GT" came with the GT seat, luggage rack and sport plastic.. Those crazy eye talians.. Low mileage unmolested? Good luck with that. Not to mention that they *barely ran* when stock. It's a really long story. Sign up with the Centauro Owners Group and ask away. Just MHO, but if you're looking for an investment, and you seem to be by what you've been looking for, I'd go for a Daytona.

Well, obviously *something* is wrong. Most people have been reporting somewhere between 35 and 42 mpg US. My son's 8 valve gets high 30s to low 40s..

I am the second owner, first owner had it for 1200KM it came that way, I kind of like them so I have no intention of putting them them back in black I think they look good, too.. just wondered because I've never seen a RC with anything but the dark grey wheels. Ahh, those Italians.. I had a Centauro GT that came with the Sport plastic and the GT tailpiece and seat..

I personally think this falls into the picking the fly sh*t out of the pepper area.. I doubt that these ditch pumps notice a miniscule difference in back pressure from one cylinder to the other. Of course, YMMV, and I've been wrong before.

No clue.. my normal mode of operation. It has a PCIII, BMC filter, x over and staintunes. It "sounds" like it has a cam. It'll do power wheelies. Tons of grunt. MPH did a lot of work to it, but no performance mods. Mike said Pete had better watch it, and sure enough, he binned it on the way to California. At any rate, it's more fun than a guy should be allowed to have. Hey Chuck, I remembered the guy who I think Pete bought the Scura from; soloNH. He seemed like a great guy when he was here years ago. I did a quick search on his old posts and came up with this nugget for you frome here: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5422&st=0&p=54621&fromsearch=1entry54621 "the previous owner said that Mike Rich had done stage II flow work on the heads along with titanium lifters, new valves and guides. He also added a Power commander with custom mapping." Now you know why your Scura goes like stink. Thanks for that, Tom!! Everyone that has ridden it wonders what has been done to it. That certainly helps fill in the blanks. All I've been able to say is, "Whatever it was, I recommend it."

Actually, Harbor Freight.. has a vacuum pump system that is better than a Mighty Vac. You can find it on sale occasionally for under 20 bux. Made out of metal and all that. Works well. That said, I prefer a syringe, and fill the master cylinder from the bleed nipple. What I can't figure out is why the rear brake gets so hot?? When I got Rosie, the rear rotor was toast. The brake line had apparently got into the exhaust, so I figured that was the problem. I'm going through her getting ready for the Kentucky rally, and noticed the plastic cover over the pads had partially melted. (!!) I seldom use the rear brake, and certainly not enough to get it hot. When I originally went through the rear brakes, I put a new caliper, rotor, and line on it. Rebuilt the master cylinder. Made sure I had play at the pedal. What's going on?

Wat Boogla sez..

As Brad says, it could very well be the sensor. Actually, the guy to take a troubleshooting problem to in SoCal is Sean Fader. (RTL Moto in Costa Mesa). He used to work for Mark at MGC, and is *the* man for F.I. Mark is a great guy, but when Sean left, so did the ability to work on the electronic stuff. There's nobody better with the old bikes than Mark, though.

What's with the gold wheels?

You look a little small for that bike Chuck. No wonder it seems so fast to you. Nice gloves ya got there too Any idea what's been done to it? Whatcha got for intake/exhaust setup? Stock ECU? PCIII? IIRC Pete bought that from a former forum member who lived in New Hampshire. I forget his name but he had a Nicky Hayden cartoon for an avatar. I think Pete had it shipped to MPH for a clutch and flywheel replacement. I wonder if MPH did anything special with it? No clue.. my normal mode of operation. It has a PCIII, BMC filter, x over and staintunes. It "sounds" like it has a cam. It'll do power wheelies. Tons of grunt. MPH did a lot of work to it, but no performance mods. Mike said Pete had better watch it, and sure enough, he binned it on the way to California. At any rate, it's more fun than a guy should be allowed to have.

I told you it was a good runner..

I'm betting on relays/relay bases. If it were me, I'd get me a can of Caig DeOxit Gold (they call it gold because that's the way it's priced) and pull the relays, squirt, wiggle, take apart *every* electrical connection, squirt, wiggle, etc. That stuff is magical, and I can't tell you how many intermittent electrical problems it's cured for me.

This modded x Roper Scura is the fastest Guzzi I've ever ridden, including the 8 valve Grease 0.

Testors has a model paint that is good for touch ups.

Thanks! Sorry for the delay. Just got back from a 1,475 mile, six-day camping trip through New England on it. Did 475 miles today from Bar Harbor to home. Didn't skip a beat the whole week. Lovely, lovely bike.

Stock footpeg/muffler hangers for Rosie. She has the short ones with the titanium mufflers, and my wife would like a little less bend to her knees.

Couldn't decide.. I have one of each.

Rosie's were nasty and corroded. I just took them off, bead blasted them, and painted them with a rattle can of automotive trim black. Look like new.