enzo temko

You have to remember that a company doesn't really make the best bike it can, it tries to make money by cutting corners and cutting costs - going for a wide appeal to average riders. Also keep in mind that the Guzzi had cheap switches and fasteners, and that the owner's manuel - which was supposedly in English - came out in Comedy English. They didn't even take the time to have an American look at the writing and make the corrections. I don't know how many genius engineers are in that little factory, but I think they might have been out sipping cappuccino.

OMG! :shock: Just yesterday as many predicted the demise of the Raptor and pleaded with me to put all the stock parts back on, I rode the Guzz up to the Chevron station to have a good drink of premium gas. I also threw in 104+ octane - about 4 oz. The result? NO pinging, NO knocking under extreme throttle. No backfire. Smooth, quiet operation with great power. In fact, I rode it hard up my test hill where I once did a residential racing video and where Mario scolded me for untoward speeding among the locals. Well, I can't help it. It's a good test hill. You come out of an S curve and then onto the gas up the hill. I'm in 3rd around the corner, nail it and shift to 4th for a few seconds. Bike speedo clocked me at 74mph. Just getting into it. Still in 4th. The power delivery is different than I've ever felt on this bike. It starts out tame, but builds real power exponentially with RPMs. I mean, it feels just like the RC51 which is a bike that you need diapers to operate correctly. The Honda did this too, Exponential Acceleration©. I am actually glad that the bike was knocking yesterday. That tells me the gas/air mix is actually right on. Just needed some real gas. Oh, and after thrashing it and bringing it home, it did not make any of the 'hot sounds' bikes make when you shut them down. Those little ticks coming off the engine and pipes from heat. Nothing. Quiet. Calm. Cool. So the bike is truly complete. Buttery drive. Not loud. Great power. Great handling. And, it looks really cafe racer style sort of chopped up and personalized. Dave Richardson remarked that it looks so hotrod. I think it looks really American that way. Everything was perfect as I rode over to the store to get some oatmeal. You know what they were playing on the radio in there? I couldn't believe my ears. Blue Oyster Cült - Cities on Flame - one of my favorite old rock tunes. And BOC is maybe the only band I know of that has gotten even better with age. I had a good day. Didn't even need my AK. Oh yea, don't use ARCO gas in any performance machine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w6MG4XJ0_k

Yes, I need to fatten up the gas mixture with the Power Commander. Now I have to go on-line and see how it is done manually. Don't think I have the CD that came with it, or can't find it. I do think I've done it manually. I think it was a matter of starting it, running it to a particular RPM that I want to modify and then add with the + button. Something like that.

stack update. Put the larger K&Ns on today: It runs very well, but I am getting knocking under hard acceleration going uphill. Here is a little paragraph on pre-detonation: The gas in my tank is a combo regular and premium. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine. Offer your ideas on cause if you'd like.

Now we're gettin into some wild shit. Well, I took it out with the baby head filters under the seat. As Mario predicted, the Guzz didn't dig that. A real weak hole at high low end into beginning mid-range. So, I circled back to the Mooselodge and simply pulled the pods out into the open air. Now they are sitting outside the tail piece as you see here: A VAST improvement. As I see it, the cold air whips around the tank and my leg and directly onto those pods where they are sitting. Now there was no hole. I think there is always a trade-off when you start tuning an exhaust system. In this case, surprisingly, I believe there is perhaps a little less low end with a BIG improvement over mid-range and willingness to rev. The bike also seems more quiet and the engine feels more 'buttery.' Smoother feeling. But there is a noticeable improvement in acceleration rush. Coming up the hill in front of my house under very hard throttle made the front end skip along the pavement in the first three gears. I believe I could have jerked the front end up. Runaway train type of delivery. I still don't know about upper end full throttle, but from what I can tell, there is no shortage there. So, for now, I believe this completes my 'Hillbilly Ghezzy-Brian©' project. Now I shall see if it makes it up to Anacortes/Deception Pass and back this weekend.

That's actually a very cool idea! Well, I'll see later today how it runs. As for the little pods and K&Ns that fit directly onto the TBs: They are also in 'dead air,' and the air there is HOT. And the air has no time to get organized and stream-lined. The stacks at least bring in cooler/denser air and allow the air stream to organize into a coherent rush. I suspect the low end will be boosted and the high end will suffer. I can live with that since it's low/medium revs that I use most of the time. I'll report back later today.

Moto International crack mechanic Jason loved the torque on my bike and suggested that I could get even more torque with velocity stacks. So, I went out today to hunt down what I had in mind. Washed the air filters and re-oiled them and attached them to the new stacks. All a perfect fit and all nicely tucked away where there will be less moving air, dirt, rain and damage. Nice. BEHOLD! The Guzzi muse is with me. It goes perfectly with the muscle esthetic and further frames the massive engine like the headers do. Just makes it look even bigger and meaner. I haven't road tested it yet, but I did start it up and it purrs like a kitty and roars like a lion: Tucked away like little babies: I'm starting to think I might want to take the Raptor© to the track to see what it will do.

Wait 'till you see my new velocity stacks. I apologize in advance.

You know what else will solve it? Duct tape. Man, forgive me.

There must be differences because my Guzz does seem to be sensitive to gas sources. Here in the NW, ARCO is ten cents cheaper than all the other brands, so I've been using it. Unfortunately, I don't think my 'Raptor' likes the stuff. All this makes me think about adding some high octane additive for every fill-up. I also used to add acetone to my gas in my truck. I swear it ran better. Has anyone heard of this or know what it does?

I'm not sure what you tighten. They appear to be cotter pins.

This is the part that rattles. This brass part. On the other side this part does not jostle. The pins are in place and it seems normal, just bounces around. All I can do is put tape over it to quiet it down.

I don't think so. Can't say that I know for sure, but if it does, the plate will collapse.

I found what it is. It is simply the parts inside the Brembo. There is a sort of floating brass plate that is on the bottom; it freely moves around. Looks like it is built this way. Any bump would make them rattle.

Hahahaha!!!! Baldini, my man, I'll have to put your quote in my signature line.

Oh, I forgot to reply to the frame mod comments. Well, I'm no engineer, but I would think that any change to the frame geometry would result in something besides simply sitting a little higher. It obviously changes weight distribution. I can feel a little more weight on the hands. It would also have to affect how the rear spring is working. How forces are being transferred around. It looks nicer, that's for sure. Meaner. And, really, I have to say that it seems to turn in better.

Yes, the muffler might very well be on your truck. As I said, it is my Visually Challenging Muffler System®. I know that there would be much nicer solutions, but this thing really works. I'm having the biggest thrills yet on a Guzzi. And the sound! Yea. So tonight I finally put the blinkers on the tail piece. Couldn't take the green decals covering the holes. I also recut the piece under the seat. I think it cleaned up nicely. Here we go:

Thanks fellas. I think it might be the Fastest Guzzi on the West Coast® because it has this incredible exhaust system that completely changes the power delivery on a V11. It also has high compression pistons and Roper's oil trap in the sump. There is something about keeping the oil from sloshing around that seems to help the bike under heavy conditions. I think tonight I am going to mount the turn signals on that tail piece. Stay tuned, my friends. Don't touch that dial.

Thanks, you guys gave me some things to check out. I'll report back when I trace it down.

Finally some pics. Here is some graphic Guzzi porn shot from the side. Here you can see the new ceramic Raptor pipes, the battery relocation under the bike, the cavern where it used to be under the seat, the new rear tire hugger - and what you don't see is the extension to the vertical frame pipe by an inch and a half. New tail paint and change of color to the custom Rich seat. You also get the first glimpse of massive muffler. Shot along top. The green stickers are there to hide the two holes in the tail piece that will (maybe) one day be the new turn signals. Maybe I'll do that in the Winter. Shot of dash featuring 'intuitive' instrumentation®, an exotic Timex time piece, outdoor temp gauge and Enzo Replica Silver Dollar® token to purify incoming air stream. I found out that the gas cap had not been replaced properly as I was getting a splash of gasoline on my crotch under heavy acceleration. I didn't think gas burned because I've had it on my hands. Let me assure you, your scrotum is more tender than your hands. Do not get gasoline on your scrotum when you are 20 minutes from a water source. Just sayin'.... Also, the correct settings on those two fork controls that set the shocks are as follows: COMPLETELY SET ON ZERO. A close up of token. It also serves to alert the rider when the bike needs polished. Visually Problematic® Raptor muffler. Let's just get right to it. I can't help flirting with some form of controversy. So here it is. I will suffer the occasional snicker over this choice because the performance from the Raptor Pipe System® is other-worldly. And I should know. This muffler folds the pipe back and forth which effectively gives me 8 additional inches of pipe. It's what the Guzzi wanted all along. Believe me. Battery relocated from under the seat to get more weight down low: Custom 2-into-1 header/pipes of my design, and ceramic coated: I inserted a 1.5 inch steel tube into this vertical frame piece to raise up the rear end. The new handling is much improved. Cornering is very crisp and the bike seems lighter over bumps: Rear tire hugger and relocation of license plate under tail piece. It is easily seen from car level. Tank grip pads. These pads are great going downhill: Side view. After another spin this afternoon where I was afraid to open the throttle past 3/4, I have to say again that this is the Fastest Guzzi On The West Coast®. I will allow any expert rider to see for himself. Talk is cheap. I'll let the Raptor do the talkin'. Side view showing custom leather seat and matching leather tank piece: Back view showing large streamlined muffler. Nothing in the air. Nada.: Left side of bike showing Rhino fender and custom pipes flowing under the bike. A word about those pipes - SOUND. Cruising in third gear at moderate RPM is very reminiscent of a jet hover craft rolling over Puget Sound on the way to Alaska. I mean it is ridiculous: Peace out.

I have reassembled the V11 Sport and put it back on the road. Everything is great, but I was reminded of an annoyance that has always been around - the front end rattle when you hit little bumps. It sounds like something is loose, but when I am stopped and check, everything seems bolted tight. What is that????

Thanks, Steve. It's been a long time since I was around. All I remember here is that one of the guys is the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A couple years ago I took my Guzzi apart to have it painted. Meanwhile, I still had my Honda RC51 running and I was taking it to track days. Going there to the track all day long several times cured me of wanting to go fast. I was there able to go as fast as I could stand and I got it all out of my system. Really, it cured me of all my bad street habits. I sort of lost interest in motorcycles and got two scooters for myself and wifey. That was a 250 auto and very fun around town. Then I even lost interest in that. For some reason, the bike bug has hit again and I started putting the Guzzi back together. This afternoon I will finish and go for a short ride. I have to renew my license tags this morning for it. I never thought I would ever see it running again. I'm excited.

Greg, I am hoping you come to this site or that someone will notify you. A couple years ago I tossed my Mac email app and forgot to transfer all my email addresses. I lost them all. I've lost Roadslayer's, Vance's and yours. I'm sure Slayer has wondered why I stopped talking with him or why his email to me is returned. I'd like to renew contact and get back on the road. The V11 'Raptor' is about to hit the mean streets. It is my greatest creation to date. It will, once again, make waves in Guzzi Nation. I suppose at some point it may need your further tender ministrations. I'd also like to communicate with Squatch. Strangely enough, I saw him at the Maui Airport in a wheel chair and really didn't know what to say to him or how I would be received. As far as I can remember, we are still friends. I'd like to communicate with you personally before I do anything else. Please PM me through this site. I - once again - tried to register to Ill Gloomy, this time with my actual name, but it seems I cannot get onto that site. I don't have any interest in talking politics over there, but I simply wanted to get on to reach some folks. So, this seems to be my only outlet. I was over at Moto I. a couple weeks ago, but I guess you have no connection with the place these days. I will give you my personal email, and if you don't mind, I'd like you to send it to these guys with this note. Hope you are doing well and having fun on the Anti-gravity Pod. Enzo

Thanks Raz, much appreciated

Hi fellas. This looks like my first post, but I was here years ago. I haven't done anything with my V11 Sport in two years. I took it apart to have it painted. Now I have it back together again. Just finishing up. It's looking pretty sweet. But I forgot what the torque is supposed to be for the bolt/nuts on the pork chop. I have a shop manual, but I did not see it in there. I also did a couple quick searches here on the site, but didn't see anything. Thanks. Oh, foot-pounds is what I am looking for. Not Newtons and so on......