Steve G.

This bike seems to be following in the typical styling trends that are practiced today. The muffler is of course brutal visually, in typical Moto GP style. The rest of the bike, while not inspiring, is not even close to other recent landmark trendsetters in true 100% ugliness. The Buell 1125, both roaster, and especially the streefighter, lead this current catagory. The Stelvio is particulary adept at garnering a second glance to see if something can be styled that strangely, but should be allowed alot of free rein here as it is in a catagory of bike, the big dual sport catagory, that is pre-destined to be strange looking. I put this current Honda in the big yawn catagory, like most Hondas these days, rather than the truly ugly catagory. Steve

Yeah, I used to have one. So, you think your V11 shook???? @#!#$#, it'll destroy any ridgidly mounted plastic!! Steve

It's the same light, same part #, used on Laverda triples from 1973-1981, a Bosch unit. So, what are your plans for this Magni fairing if you have no bike now???? Steve

OK, I'll give you that one. I could also fall down my stairs today. I'll take my chances with a black bear over an Australian Brown Snake. Steve

Hey, don't get me wrong. If everything was perfect, the GS or GSA are the best bike for my 6'4" 250ib frame. But there's a reason why hex head and oilhead BMW's resale value is suffering, especially ones with just expired warranty. They have issues, noted issues with leaky gearboxes, rear hubs blowing apart, electrical overcomplexity frying out. There's a reason why oilder airhead Beemers resale is holding solid, because more than just a few people are avoiding the newer complex ones. Steve

No problem, chuck a rock at him! Steve

A black bear is not something to worry about. We used to get them in our back yard all the time. It's the grizzly bear that will take you out in a heart beat. But they are way out there. My brother took a 1 yr stint in Brisbane to run a glass shop. He was blown away by the 'interference' to humans just doing regular stuff from the 'local' fauna. Like the time he wanted to take a short cut through a field back to the shop, the guys said, not to because of the 'brownies', I guess nasty snakes. Then there was the time the regional manager came by, asked Dave if he'd ever heard of a funnel web spider, Dave said "no??" The guy casually pulled off his shoe, and crushed a well developed and occupied nest right beside Dave's sandaled feet under the desk. Hew mentioned the literally hundereds of miles of incredible sea shore with nobody on them, then around a corner, a mass of people within 2 giant red flags, with safety patrols on seadoos, life guards, and even a helicopter watching the safety of the mop, with nobody on the other side of the flags! Yup, I'll take on a 100ib black bear any day. Steve

I thought reasonable cost was on your priority list? I like GS's as well, but they're pricey!!??? Steve

I'm looking at what you are looking for in a touring bike. Wind Protection. Comfort. Storage. Reliability. Relatively inexpensive. Well, you can pretty well rule out modern BMW's in the reliability and inexpensive aspect. I can say that because I've owned BMW's since 1988, have at least a dozen riding buddies with Beemers. They have become overly complex, problematic, high maintenance machines, with major component failures almost becoming a regular affair. Buells? Well, I'm not even going to go there. I'm going to steer you to the basic UJA [universal Japanese Motorcycle]. There are many that meet your criteria. Honda ST1100/St1300. Yamaha FJR 1300. Kawasaki C14. Youi seem to be going towards a cruiser style of bike. I just don't get how a cruiser format can be linked to comfort, all that weight on the tailbone, arms up high in the classic cruiser stance. To me, the most comfortable long distance riding position is with the feet below the hips, hands at elbow level, and torso 5-10degrees forward. This sitting position is mostly found on big dual sports, GS/GSA's, Uylesses, etc.. But not the best wind protection. So I go back to the 3 sport tourers above. You can treat them like cars, they are that reliable. My FJR hasn't had 1 valve adjustement needed since it came out of the factory in 2005, 50K miles. 50mpg. factory bags. 87 octane. Steve

Yup, I'll be there, flying down from Vancouver. Staying at Springhill suites on Colonnade Pkyway, Thursday to Monday. I'll look for Guzzi's!! Steve

You may want to PM Greg Field, Pete Roper, or Todd Haven to confirm, but I'm pretty sure you'd need Guzzi softwared diagnostic tool to read. That said, I've had mine looked at once since I bought it new in 2001, it still runs great! Not a deal breaker in my books. Where's your nearest Guzzi dealer? Yes, a Ballabio and a V11 Sport, V11 Lemans, all of them are based on the 'spine frame' 6 speed format. Steve

Unfortunately, my country has a high percentage of this kind of government worker than others. Steve

How big is your pile of V11 based Veglias Greg? What's failing on these things? Steve

I think Aprilia went with ITI guages after Vaglia went bust, the ITI's were used on all Aprilias. Steve

Be very carefull about which specific model you are looking at for possible import from the USA. When Moto Guzzi changed from a 170mm rear tire to a 180mm tire, there was a window of Transport Canada inadmisability as Moto Guzzi importers did not make Transport Canada aware of this tire change, so they blocked some 2003-04 models from Canada. 2005 saw the last of the Lemans with a few brought in. Now, there are at least 2 Tenni model bikes in BC, and they were never brought into Canada new, but I know that these were brought in late 02 as used bikes from the states before the RIV went strick. But, I see that older Sport 1100's are now included, wereas pre 2001 Guzzi's less than 15 yrs old were all excluded. Study the list carefully!! Get it wrong, and they will take it away from you, and crush the bike. I've seen them do it to 2 Aprilia RS250's and a Bimota V-Due , crush them. http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/safevehicle.../list/vafus.pdf Steve

I curently own an'81 Laverda Jota, since 1991, own a V11 Sport since new, 2001, and have owned 2 Ducati's, both 2 valve models. My experience is direct. The V11, the early ones, had teething issues, most had to do with cheap parts outsourcing, the list is long, and in the first 2 yrs, it was embarrasing owning this thing as it was quiting almost regularly. All of it was super easy to figure out, which made it all the more hard to take because M.G. should have taken care of it at the factory. Now that proper relays have been very inexpensively installed, fuel lines properly heat shielded, and vibration incapable parts retrograded, the thing is as trouble fee as my FJR Yamaha. Valve tappet adjustement is super easy, and as yet, have not gone out of adjustement @ 48,000kms. Your lack of dealer support could only be an issue if you needed to do a tune up which needed an ECU hook up. My Ducati experiences were difficult years, as the machine is tougher to do the top end adjustement, which must be done regularly, and is expensive at the dealer. They are fragile in the scheme of things. Ducati ownership almost swore me of Italian bikes!! The machines are vastly superior road bikes with peerless handling and balance, but there's a price. Laverdas are very tough mechanically, and because they out sourced the best equipement available when they made them, irregardless of country of origin, their reputation as solid machines is backed up. In 75,000 miles, my Laverda has yet to cause any issues mechanically, only a Nippon Denso regulator/rectifier which fried a good battery has reared it's head. I think the M.G. engine may be slightly tougher as far as 'extreme' mileages are concerned, more to do with the different bearings Laverda and Guzzi employ. We're still talking about Laverda engines regularly going 200,000kms between crank rebuilds, vs stories of Guzzi's going 300,000kms, worthy bragging rights, but how many really go that far in a riding lifetime. Not sure of the slightly higher state of tune of a V11 is going to alter engine lifespans. Steve

You've got a 5 speed Raleigh right?? Steve

I've got an early V11. I'm 6'4", and I installed a footpeg relocation kit by Evolusione, now not available. It would have been a difficult long term ownership without the extra legroom. Steve

Agreed. With regard to value, they are by far the most numerous single model out there, so supply & demand is running the show value wise. Steve

Your Rosso has the smaller rear rim, so a 160 is going to work well. I'm running a 160/70 on my '01, I prefer it to the 160/60, just a bit taller for better clearance and slightly lower rpm's at cruising speed. BT021's are working very well, bare in mind though that only the rear of the 021's are dual compound. Steve

Havn't been to Ireland, but must say the roads seem very much like those seen down in Somerset and Cornwall in England, or up in the Dales. Small, tight, bumpy. Great shots!! Steve

I use Napolean Beren's. BTW, they are available in chrome too. While the Rizomas and CRG's are probably just a step up quality wise, Napoleans are certainly not crap. Stadium's are entry level cost wise, as well as price. Napolean's have convex mirror. I also like the Napoleans because they are heavier, they actually reduced the vibration on the hands, almost like bar end weights. Steve

Oh, I'm not so sure about that. Of course just a visitor, but I spent the best holiday of my life last Sept. riding Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Lichtenstein. Absolutely glorious time!!! Steve

Almost the whole area covered by Europe is a hot, dry, miserable desert full of nothing but Emu's, Roo's and lost tourists drinking their own urine! Pete, you gotta write a book, "quotes of Pete Roper", it'll sell a million. Brilliant, best laugh in a week!! Steve

Too bad most of the stuff in the middle is unhabitable. Great weather though. Steve