Steve G.

good ones!

I have looked at this kit. I'm not really keen on it, most is good, but the headlight set up to me is weird. If I'm going to pay this amount of money for a body kit, I want the best looking style G-B has made, and the Supertwin is it. I guess I wait and hope. Steve

A few months ago I sent a letter to Guiseppi Ghezzi requesting info on purchasing a bodywork 'kit' of the Supertwin. He said they probably wouldn't do it, instead offering the current kit they have. Clearly this is the nicest looking Ghezzi - Brian made, simply brilliant looking. Where can somebody get panels like this????? Steve

I prefer this unit: http://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-50-cente...fuse-panel.aspx , needed for modern bikes with Can-Bus wiring systems, where you want to add extra non oem accessories. Steve

So my impression of the Veglia guages is right. I always keep the "choke" lever pulled back as far as it can go, I like the idle high. BTW, the choke is not an enritcher, it's simply a fast idle, the ECU ses to the enritching business. Steve

This is what happens when you decide to live in a 10,000 yr old flood plain. Steve

I'll agree with you that Eric Buell is a man of great passion about bikes. Perhaps more an enthusiast than businessman. And also, as someone who has met and talked to him, I found him to be a genuinely nice fellow. Clearly, Buell was not making financial sense for Harley Davidson, whether that meant actually making money or not, who knows. It is clear that MV Agusta is a money vaccum, why they bought it in the first place who knows. Lovely machines to look at, excepting that Brutale thingie. And very cool to ride. There are many knowledgable people in the motorcycle industry that say without a healthy Harley Davidson, the entire industry would be a fraction of what it has grown to be since Harley Davidson started it's regrowth in 1983 when Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson bought HD from AMF. I tend to agree. I may not be into the type of bikes they make, and have serious issues with the kind of citizens that the Harley Davidson product attracts. But the amount of money that is spent on their product has a spin off that is helping the entire industry. Maybe we should see the "circling of the wagons" by H.D. as a good thing, even if it means we lose Buell, and maybe MV Agusta as well. Steve

Oh I see how it works, I pan a bike that you happen to like, so you pan me in return, for the second time actually. I'm ok with that, quite entertaining actually. Please continue. Steve

Not really sure what that last comment really means, but I'll take that as your version of a positive thumbs up. I've always found it puzzling, sad really, when people define themselves as a one brand person. I only drive Chevy's, I only ride Moto Guzzi. I've got a very good buddy who was sworn to English twins only. Hated any other bike of any origin other than England, even though as a Kiwi, he had a genetic pre-disposition to look upon anyone from the old country with negative thoughts. I'd tell him that he was missing out on the vastness of great bikes out there from 'other' places, as well as England. Then one day he decided to ride a bike from a place other than England. His eyes opened up, and now his collection houses 3 MV Agustas, Ducati's, Laverda, Spandau saggy tit bike, and many others. My riding life has given me the opportunity to ride many machines, owned many, given the keys to many, tested most all. Ridden every Buell made. Several times, over weekends. There are the odd Buell I liked the looks of, the XB9/XB12, nice looking machines. Silly engine for a sport bike, but there you are. The latest Helicon 'Rotax' powered machines, I really like the engine. I know there are strong feelings on this forum against the bikes of Berlin [spandau] for different reasons. Heck, you can't even spell out those 3 letters on this forum without it being changed to 'bike with saggy tits'! That's ok, it's a good laugh, puzzling though. I've never actually heard these reasons, but they are no doubt good ones. Anyways, I've got good eyes, not blind at all. And I've got a very good eye for what makes a great looking bike, and what's an ugly duckling. I'll be first to admit the saggy tit GS is really ugly, strange looking. Looks even uglier when you strap on those big square boxes on the back, she's got major junk in the trunk. Because I have such a great eye for what constitutes a positive or negative styling wise, I'll brake that law you talk about and say that the Helicon powered Buells are by far the most rediculous looking machines Buell has ever made, so ugly in fact, that I've never seen one on the road,,,,anywhere,,,,and,,,,,are the main reason Buell sales never materialized to the point that Harley Davidson shut the thing down, even after they won the "custom made for this bike "AMA series. So ugly in fact, that it blew apart the wide held belief and trend that if you win on Sunday, you'll sell on Monday. Never happened. Not. Look, if you like the Buell, now's your chance, they're 1/2 price in many places, go out and enjoy it. Just don't wax poetic about how great it looks, you're thinking with your wrong head, and I will laugh at you. Steve

Well, the fact that I can buy a R1200GS in spite of it's absolute ugliness means I know what I'm talking about. Yes, it's a pitiful looking thing, I agree. But there is absolutely no regard to form with EVERY big dual sport machine, heck, look at the Stelvio, V-Strom, any KTM, any of them. The sad part is with the Buell CR, is that it actually was designed that way to look that way, function has no input to why it looks the way it does, it's ugly simply because the graphic artists #@$&@#@ up! As for justification of buying one, that's as personal an issue as buying a Buell. Sales figures of the GS series would seem to indicate that I know what I'm talking about, wheras sales figure of Buell over the years would seem to indicate that anyone who buys a Buell,,,,,,,well,,,,, no comment, the company's friggin' GONE!! The fact that the GS's overall use capability, including fuel economy, high payload, incredible handling, brakes, usable power, multiple road capability, means justification only needs to be used when you bring up it's potential for optional electrical overcomplication and questionable eastern European outsourcing of certain components. Buells justification of it's hamjmerhead shark styling is function first??? Yeah, those ugly gill like growths have to be there that's for sure. Anyways, hope you got a good deal on yours, cause it'll be worthless in weeks. Steve

Swimming trunks to Long Beach? Heck, bring your wet suit, it'll be friggin' cold out there. Steve

I did Gold River last Sept, you're right it's a classic twisty ride. Steve

Hi Dave, I think you may find the source of this issue may be more than one cause. I've experienced ALL of the problems that a pre: 2002 V11's could have. The neutral light issue is probably the plug that connects to the actual switch, underneath the gearbox, they get loose, full of dirt & crap. The low fuel light, well, that's never worked on mine. Certainly the relay issue can and has, and continue to cause electrical 'inconsistancies'. Ratchet has correctly mentioned above that use of the U.S. made Omron micro-relay part # 7010002-0 will virtually eliminate any more relay- bank related problems, contrary to the thoughts expressed by others on a current "relay" thread going on now, which thinks the complete renewal of the relay bank is what's needed. If you've got lots of time to kill, I say go for it. But a simple plug in of 5 new robust relays seems like a much easier fix, that DOES fix the problem. The pre-2002 wiring harness has the odd strange coupling of systems onto specific relays, an example is the electronic tachometer and the headlight/taillight/dash lights, all on one relay. All the more reason to chuck the original Seimens relays which would work fine if the wiring harness was not an ill conceived design. Steve

I did exactly the same 3 yrs ago, from the same guys. There have been no issues since, none. Best 30$ anyone can spend on the spine frame. Steve

Too many bikes???? Nooooo. Well lets see, in the pics I see a 749, a Lemans Corsa, a standard V11, and what looks like either an RZ500 or an RG500. Looks like a dirt bike as well. I can sort of see duplication with a couple spine frames,,,,, but honestly, 5 bikes, should be not an issue. Tell her she can buy a few more shoes!!!! Steve

Global Warming anyone?????? Steve

I have MUCH seat time on my buddies 750 Brutale. We often ride together on 'Italia' afternoons with my on the V11. They are hugely different bikes. The 750 Brutale will destroy a V11 in an all out race, and in high speed handling over 100mph, the MV makes the V11 look silly. It is a very fast 750. The quality of the MV's build is absolutely unmatched. The engine quality is simply brilliant. BUT,,,, The MV's tuning and ECU programming, even when flashed with other software, it still is extremely thirsty, no better than 30 mpg, IMPERIAL gallon. I really think these things use a rich fuel feed as a help to cool the thing, it is excedingly hot running, hotter than my 'nuclear oven' RC30. To get REAL power, you have to spin the thing almost like a 600, at least 10K and up. So you are fanning through the gearbox constantly. There is literally no discernable power below 6000rpm, there is no such thing as 'torque' with this machine. The seat, the seating position, at first feel perfect. But after 1/2 hr you realize you cannot move around at all,, your legs are hooked underneath the top extrusions of the fuel tank. The pain after 2 hrs is not something I can put into words into, even after a Sergeant seat. If you think Moto Guzzi parts are high, man, you havn't seen anything. My buddy got a rock into the headlight, a bad chip. It cost $850us for just the glass lens, which had to be glued back onto the surface of the bucket!!! Think level headed and above water with your big head on this one!! Steve

Geez, all this fence sitting, you should be able to handle the very worst of motorcycle seats!!! Steve

This particular bike is not a machine I would consider buying at MSRP. Getting it for 1/2 price is not going to make me want one if I didn't want one in the first place. Motorcycle style plays a big part in my motorcycle purchases. Some machines like the big dual sports can be forgiven for being butt ugly as they are a machine that follows the "form follows function" ideal of design. But a sport machine, a retro machine, a standard machine brings with it styling cues to make it at least somewhat pleasing to the eye. Even body panel forms which follow function are done more subtly, with the thought to visual attractiveness. There are some oddities out there, the ZX14's front end definitely has a polarizing effect on people, but generally seems to be split down the middle. The same can be said for the early Katanas. Well, in the 3?? yrs the 1125 has been available, and the 1?? yr with the 1125 streetfighter, there has been a universal negative with the styling of the thing. Anyways, if you like it, great, this is now the perfect opportunity to get one at a great price. Steve

There are obviously some good deals happening on these bikes, and you can expect some smoking deals on used Buells. I feel sorry for those out there with Buells right now, only because while I'm sure they are happy with their bikes, they are now virtually worthless monetary wise. I personally am not interested in any Buell, especially the 1125, which I feel could have easily been a much nicer looking bike, and feel that it's overall physical appearance has been a major contributor to it's less than agressive sales figures, in spite of winning a U.S. race series custom made to it's specifications. Steve

There is no doubt the V-Strom is not pleasing to the eye. No defending it here. But if you look at the catagory it nestles into, the large dual sport segment, it naturally has good company. Anyone who thinks any of these to be capable of "garage appeal", needs help! BMW GS/GSA, KTM Adventure, Moto Guzzi Stelvio, heck, even the old and newly fully street [we think] Hinckley Triumph Tiger, or the single cylinder Kawasaki KLR, BMW singles, KTM singles, heck they're all friggin weird looking! As for ugliest bike made today, it's got to be the Buell 1125, both the sport bike and streetfighter. What the @#!#$# were they thinking???? Steve

Yup, it's sure ugly enough to be an animal, cross between a warthog and a hyena! Steve

Good point Greg. Steve

Rumour has it you can pick up a Buell pretty cheap these days. Actually, buy the whole company!! Steve

I'll give a nod of approval toward the 1100R replica seen above. But I'll also bet my next paycheck that this bike will never be seen in North America!! Steve