belfastguzzi

That would have been before the price increase. I just got the rear but for a pair, the new Pirelli Angel would be just under £190 (fitted and disposal charge) at the moment.

It's only the speed sensor (as far as I know), Tom. The tyre man wasn't very happy about Dunlop, not because they aren't good tyres, but because they are expensive and Dunlop put their prices up by 20% overnight, without any warning.

Pirelli press release - www.motorcycle-usa.com Pirelli Angel ST Sets World Duration Record Pirelli and international journalists recorded a new 24-hour World Duration Record at the Nardò Technical Center aboard a 2009 Suzuki Hayabusa, covering a distance of 5135.071 km (3190.8 mi) at an average speed of 213.96 km/h (132.9 mph) using only one set of Pirelli’s new Angel ST sport-touring tyre, a road tour simulation equal to 12,000 km (7,500 mi) at normal speeds of 80-100 km/h (50-65 mph).

Gary, the numbers are here definitely somewhere. I forget where and don't see them on having a quick look. If no-one else posts I 'll look again later. It would be a good idea to then post them clearly. However I would think that the part numbers which dealers have now must be for the correct (large coil) parts and it would be safe to just order?

Yes it is.** I posted that pic cos I knew someone would post about the rust. I expected that it would be the Spanish Inquisition though. ** This may be the only feature of my Griso that is functioning as it is meant to.

Baldini, it must be the photo perspective. It was wearing flat across the middle. I guess that worn tyres puncture more easily just because there is less rubber and so less resistance. The (deflated) tyre felt really thin and weak across the middle, while the rest still feels robust. I suppose I can't really complain, in a relative way, about getting 4,000m from the M3. Just in a detached, old-fashioned way. I do like the Z6 (fitted on my Scura) and the supplier this morning had the Interact, as well as an original Z6 in stock. He also had the Roadsmart and others. I went for a Pirelli Angel, as he said that it is the replacement for the Diablo Strada. I haven't heard of it. I'll just look it up now...... Telegraph.co.uk test: That's why there's fierce competition to attract riders' attention – and the Angel ST is certainly going to do that. It's a novel detail that makes it memorable: the tread pattern forms a stylised angel, but as the tyre wears, after 600 or 700 miles, it changes to a devil. This is, of course, completely irrelevant to its performance, but I love it for its cleverness and originality. It's a sports-tourer tyre with two distinct personalities. ... I tried the Angel ST on a variety of bikes, including BMW K 1300 GT, Moto Guzzi Sport and Honda CBF600S, and on every one the improvement in straight-line stability at speed was noticeable. At the same time, agility – usually sacrificed at stability's altar – is enhanced and the ride quality is outstanding. The tyres also warmed up very quickly to offer good feel and grip almost from the outset – I was very impressed. Pirelli says tyre life matches the old Diablo Strada, which the Angel ST replaces. This will vary enormously from bike to bike and rider to rider, but 5,000-9,000 miles should be typical for a rear. The gains are in grip and, especially, wet-weather performance, where Pirelli claims to be class leader. And even if you buy them for the novelty tread, you'll still be getting the best sports-touring rubber available. And the marketing's right up there, too... – That looks ok

I liked this tyre. It just doesn't last long enough, going too thin between 3,000 - 4,000 miles. Metzeler M3 Sportec rear is well and truly done at 4,000 miles. (Though, as always, it's the middle of the tyre that is gone, while there is plenty of rubber elsewhere.) Final 'nail in the coffin' is a big hole as shown, but inspection of the tyre in soft state shows that there are tears all around the middle circumference, which feels very thin. The steel cord can be seen when these tears are teased: see blue cable tie pic. Only a sliver of rubber is left over steel cord belts. These can be exposed under the nicks and tears in the tyre. What goes on as replacement will depend upon what is in stock. Something sport-touring of course. Z6 was good on Scura. Diablo Strada, Dunlop Roadsmart...

The maps were from a year ago, but show the same area. This time, direction of travel was reverse. Another time, perhaps. I do want to keep some sort of local meet going, as well as whatever V.11 forum events are organised elsewhere.

Is this the right sort of oil to use here? (Nobody expected another oil discussion...)

and very short Rally Report HERE

I did try to calculate the cost, using the Guzzi's computer. It just said, 'What time is it?'... then the fuse blew.

As far as i can see, it looks like it must be coming from the gasket. I suppose that means a longish trip to the Guzzi dealer to get re-torqued. Do the bolts run from head right down through the barrels to the engine block?

Watch out for chaffed wire. While there are a couple of small rubber 'support' pads, the petrol tank (on my Griso) actually sits against the steel frame, rocker head and presses on various wires and hoses. The underside of the tank is worn where it touches the frame and of course the paint is well worn off the frame. Worst items were a nipped high tension cable – the tank sits on it where it passes over the rocker head and the cable can't take any other route to the spark plug! – and the red insulation on live feed to the starter is completely worn through. The +ve wire terminal on starter was fixed so that the cable was sticking up vertically, against the bottom of the fuel tank – so it wore through. I have turned it round a bit, though now the other wires that are part of the loom there are pulled tight. Guzzi haven't left much slack to play with. Same with the drain hoses that fit to the rear of the tank. Why are they so impossibly short, making them very difficult to attach? They don't pull through any more because of the way that everything is attached to everything else. Mine weren't attached after bike came from dealer, presumably because they are such a pain to fit. An extra 25-30mm would have made all the difference.

Of course we have sea! Look, peer through the cloud – what's that cold, dark, wet stuff??

The photos on Flickr HERE

erm... No One Expected Baldini!

Baldini has been waiting for just the right moment I hope he hasn't misjudged timing is everything

Thanks Pete I just noticed all the wetness yesterday. It's useful to know that there hasn't been a particular problem area emerging. I'm on holiday by the sand and sea at the moment.

Right hand side of engine is all oily, from bottom of barrel down. I haven't been following 8V oil leak occurrences on any of the boards. Has this been much reported and if so, is there a particular reason identified?

I don't really think that you can just add the clip-ons, without changing the tank/bodywork.

Time? How long?

No one was expecting this thread

Yes, another V.11 and Griso owner. I thought the 12008V Griso sufficiently different to the V.11 Scura to justify a finance deal. As I've said before in various posts, I pretty much agree with Baldini about the riding position and on-bike-feel of the two machines. For me, the V.11 with clip ons gives a more sympathetic and enjoyable fast riding position. For me, the suspension is still one of the big differences. On tight, bumpy, bad roads round here, the Ohlins suspension is clearly better than the Grisos. On well surfaced roads, the Griso is probably a better package. A few points to note about the Griso issues... I have fitted a very small screen. Though small, this gives a noticeable improvement when going faster. I've tried various suspension settings. Just recently wound the pre-load off more. It's all improved with less of everything. I still don't love the wide bars, but I'm getting more used to them. The fact is that it's a big bulky, heavy bike: so no point in changing them. I do think that the extra control/leverage/quick correction of the wide bars (and the long bike) saves the day in a few situations, for example when the front wheel slides out on loose gravel in corners. In situations like that, I've felt that with clip-ons I might have been down. Of course the motor is a belter and generally improved with an open pipe. When the stock exhaust is junked, the mid-range isn't so strangled and there isn't the sharp transition through to high revs. Plus it feels so much better after the loss of weight out the back. Jerky, low throttle riding is more of a pain. That was the first thing that I noticed when the open pipe was put on. Slow riding / in town riding was shot to pieces compared to the smoothness of the stock exhaust. It's also too eager to stall. Noise is another factor that has been discussed elsewhere. I certainly prefer the open pipe, but it's worth repeating what I've said before about the stock figure 8 exhaust. Accepting the fact that it is quiet and doesn't allow the raw bark, MG engineers have done a good job with it. The sound is well tuned and nicely balanced. An open pipe gives the grunty shout ok, but the original has a good broad(er) range of notes. Btw Baldini, you rode the bike when it had the OE exhaust on it. Yes there are imperfect things about the bike but I do love riding the 8V G1200. It remains ever engaging, satisfying, rewarding. If I was buying (a MG) and had to choose, for lots of reasons my choice would be a new 8V Griso rather than a V.11 While I don't have to choose – I'm keeping both.

I would especially like to get to Skye again

Monster busy June with non-stop day&night work, then son's wedding yesterday. Boys oh, I am tired. Time for a moto ride. wedding tie