AndyH

Given that I don't know what I'm doing here, I think that nevertheless I have followed the correct steps and I'm getting no joy: ordered the cables, both parts (Adapter Stecker Fiat Lancia Alfa Romeo OBD OBD2 II plug and VAG COM USB ODB2 DIAGNOSTIC CABLE 409.1 OBD2 II LEAD): they were delivered today loaded the driver onto my PC (Win7) as supplied in this post: so far so good. downloaded the GuzziDiag software (v0.32) plugged cable into computer USB and the 3-pin female plug on bike ECU started GuzziDiag: selected: Language: English COM Port: COM3 Motorcycle: V11 Sport selected Menu File > Connect Switch on ignition message appears switched on ignition, started bike After 10 secs, I get Ignition off message: no readings in Guzzi Diag I have tried COM 4, and a different USB port on the PC with no difference. I suspect one part or the other of the cable set is not working but I could be missing something else. I'm not sure what to do next even if I did get some readings in GuzziDiag, but first steps first: I'm not even getting to first base here. Anyone offer advice? AndyH

Just ordered the Mistral - will see what happens when I get to fit it!

After 3 weeks of decent weather, this heatshield seems to have made quite a difference just by itself. Still waiting on the manual petcock though... Andy

Thanks Remo for your PM. Sorry the weather has also been so bad in Italy. It has been an unusual year for weather across the globe. Our ugly spring ended only a few weeks ago and has turned into glorious summer... Better than normal in June. In the UK the time of year for motorcycle touring is a complete gamble: we can offer few rules for a dry and happy experience and you take your chances whenever you travel. So perhaps a May start, running into June for an 8 week tour is better than an April start, south to north as you suggest. I happily accept your advice not to stick to a tight schedule: exactly what I was thinking. We plan to camp which should give us flexibility. I am hoping that camp sites are easily found all through Italy, are generally good and we will not usually need to book in advance at that time of year? I work with a Sicilian colleague, who has given me good advice on the south. Thank you for your offer of guidance on central Italy: it will be really useful for our general planning. Thanks for your help Andy

Ok, so what's clear from your helpful responses, for which many thanks by the way, is that the Mistral x-over is a 'good thing' in general. I am indeed looking for improved mid-range running, but not too much at the expense of the top end, so the x-over with standard cans seems like a good start for now. Like the look of the mistral cones though... I've been looking at recent posts and links on mapping the standard ecu and have downloaded the software and drivers and ordered some leads on-line. Not sure how much success I'll have with it when it's all together: hopefully I can return the map to standard any time as I've learned never to underestimate my ability to make a pig's ear of things when I tinker with settings. Andy

I'd heard that the Mistral gives much better mid range and improves the sound in the process but I wasn't sure if the former benefit was dependent on re-mapping the ECU. The main thing is that it seems like it'll swap straight in and I can do this by stages... X-over first then the PCIII. Which means I'll be able to can that bucket-of-bolts standard X-over just that bit sooner. AndyH

Very timely, this post... I've been thinking of fitting the Mistral X-over with standard cans for some time, but have kept putting it off. The bike's running just fine so far, so no urgency until now. Today things have come to a head: I went on a Guzzi Club run to the Ace Caff today and arrived at the starting point for the run with a noise like a bag full of spanners coming from down below at tickover. Revving just a bit made it quiet down only to return at idle. Judging from the location I thought it was the clutch coming apart at first, but it turned out to be something coming loose in the standard crossover (is there a baffle or something inside?). Whatever it is, having taken the standard X-over box out, it won't shake out but the noise is embarrassingly loud when stopped at the lights, so the box'll have to be replaced, hence the Mistral X-over rising back to the top of the agenda. So, firstly, is the Mistral item a straight direct swap to replace the standard box fit to standard pipes and cans? Second, do I have to remap the ECU to accommodate the Mistral X-over or should it work OK (if no better) without changing map? Ideally of course I'd fit a PCIII, new cans, remap the ECU etc. to get the full benefit. All on the roadmap of course, but no budget to do all at once (in the real world). Just don't want to wreck things by doing half a job. Any advice to offer? AndyH

500 quid is not bad going: you were lucky. Would have added up to much more, were it not for mates rates. I'll PM you, Andy

I ended up doing pretty much the same as couldn't find both the marks on the flywheel, only the S (?!) - it was clearly knocking off time at the factory . Then put a dob of paint where the D should be.

Will be interested to see the pics Fred - can't quite envisage what's been done there! 20L for the internal liner is damn good going, I'd say - it must be snug indeed and can't have been cheap. Andy

Given the overall weight of the V11, how much difference is the battery weight going to make? On the other hand, I let the bike get past the tipping point when backing it round in the drive the week before last, just had to let it go down and snapped the clutch lever as a result. It's one heavy mutha in those circumstances! A lighter battery might have made just that little difference...?

My V11 would have expired long before 35 deg C in traffic, so maybe you have the best tool for the job after all.

Ambo it would seem:

I've just spent quite some time tinkering with a heat shield to isolate the early V11 Sport fuel pump from the left hand cylinder radiated heat. After all the messing about trying to get it right, I thought I'd share the details for the final successful (Mark V)iteration, in case anyone fancies getting it right first time. I used 0.5 mm Aluminium Sheet cut and drilled to the shape in the attached .pdf template (should be overall 165mm x 180mm if the scale is right). I then covered with adhesive heat shield fabric - I obtained mine from ThermalVelocity.co.uk (other suppliers are available). It will protect against radiated heat from the cylinder but not convected heat from the engine. If used in conjunction with a manual fuel petcock (GU01105460) see Gutsibits, changing out the solenoid one, and a properly burped fuel line, this should by some accounts purge my vapour lock gremlins, without having to relocate the pump and fuel filter. We'll see whether it works, if we get a real hot summer - dream on...! Andy Heatshield_template.pdf

I feel a sledgehammer might be the thing right now. Will make one problem a non-issue A

After just 2000 miles my tacho repaired via Stein Dinse was working beautifully one moment and as I watched, started going erratic, stopped working started again and now barely flickers when the revs rise. I think this is a clock problem rather than connections but will have to investigate This is going to be a saga, I can see...

Ha ha ha! Well I think so...

Look nice - they're the ones with the Guzzi logo, aren't they: a touch of class. Standard crossover or other? Not sure I could get these past the Mrs. Not on ground of cost though... she got new silencers for the Thruxton and could hear her bike over the noise of my standard cans for the first time. If I get nice cans like these she'll be back where she started. Delicate domestic footwork needed here, I think...

Pics? Share the joy!

So it'll be the rack that's in the way for any pack I use. Shame, need to find a rack now that sits just a tad further back. As for Germany.. one day: I have Italy on my mind at the mo' Andy

What does it measure front to back (i.e. where it fits on the seat), Trev? The Givi pack I refer to elsewhere is great (also stable at Autobahn speeds) but gives me marginal space on the rider's seat because of the Ventura rack pushing it forward. It may, of course, be the rack that's the problem and I'll have to look for a different rack gthat sits farther back. BTW, must go to Germany one day. Andy

I can recommend this cover. Doesn't pretty the bike up but is highly practical if you want to fix a tank bag. While we're on Baglux, their Tech-City (http://www.baglux.co.uk/product/?cat=52&id=1801) 10L tank bag is particularly good for carrying a laptop and comes with a rain cover in its own compartment. I've used mine for 18 months on a daily basis as a mobile office whether I'm on the bike or not. The best laptop bag I've had and certailnly the most robust. It's just beginning to get tatty now so must replace before they decide to make something else in its place. Andy

I need some advice, can you help? I'm planning 8 weeks unpaid leave, probably next year, to ride Italy: my wife will be on her Thruxton and we plan to visit Mandello del Lario, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples etc. For us both it will be a pilgrimage: for me to see ancient Roman sites and for her to see Renaissance art. I don't want to ride in the hottest (V11 doesn't like it) or wettest (we don't like it) part of the year but we can manage cold and dry. We are allowing 3 days through France at each end to get to and from Italy. So it looks to me like I have two options: Option A: start in the Spring to Early Summer... Genoa to Palermo ferry, Sicily northwards to the Alps or Option B: start in Late Summer to Autumn... Alps southwards to Sicily, then Palermo to Genoa ferry What would you advise to be the best start date for each option in order to get the mildest weather? Andy

Will take some time to ease the engine up properly, like maybe another 20,000 miles?

Pretty concise description and instructions, thanks vuzzi. I'll print them out for later use. Been wanting to know what the eccentric does for some time. Andy