LowRyter

Reading this thread, it looks like the V11 just eats up tires.

As I said, my Greenie just ate up Pilot Roads. No way I'll spend that much again. The Dunlops cost much less, last longer and handle better IMO.

regarding Charlie Watts

I have '17 SS 939, it came with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III. The original tires lasted about 1000 miles more than the non-Ducati branded Rosso III. They handled very nicely but the replacements didn't last as long (4500 vs 3500 miles rear). Getting the Ducati branded tires are only a few dollars more but need to be special ordered. I finally went to Dunlop RS III/IV which handle as well and are much cheaper. I have been running RS's on my V11 for several years prior. BTW- the Owner's Manual calls for 36/36 lb air pressure. This is the only bike that I know that carried the same pressure front and rear. I guess we're on two boards, this and the 939SS board.

I prefer the 170 Dunlop Roadsmarts. They cost less than Pirellis, last longer and grip equally well. I even run them on my Ducati 939 Supersport. My V11 Sport just ate up a 170 size Michelin Pilot Road. After that, no way I'll spend for a Pirelli or Michelin. My Ducati had Diablo Rosso III, they were great but didn't last. Dunlops are great, last longer and cheaper <Guzzi content>.

I've never heard anything good about RTV or gasket sealer regarding Guzzi pan gaskets. The lore is to only use grease to paste the gasket in place. jus' sayin'

I'm constantly missing a washer or two, sometimes they're missing when I take them off, other times I can't find on when I'm putting it back on. It seems that the corners are most prone to leak.

BTDT. You might check if you're missing a washer, not that it would usually matter. But it might.

Given the Delta variant and the spread of the disease in Texas, I wouldn't be surprised to see the MotoGP race cancelled. It's up to the teams and Dorna whether it's worth the risks and costs.

for sure. The Okla State Fairgrounds built a great 1/2 mile track and grandstand in the '50s. It was featured in the movie "State Fair" where Pat Boone built his own race car -a JAG D Type !!!!- to race on the dirt. Anyway, the city fathers learned about the image of a "dirt" track in the middle of the City after 60 years. So as usual, they let the place go to pot where it was "economically non-viable" to get it up to code, despite the fact that several race sponsors were building contractors and offered to do it for free. So no dirt track or grandstand, just a vacant lot in the Fairgrounds now. It's quiet on Friday nights. The track was effectively replaced by a bought NBA Franchise, The Oklahoma City Thunder. We're pretending to be a growed up big league city now.

You don't live on a dirt road.

Phil, the same thing has been happening at Pike's Peak. Originally the public road was dirt and has been gradually paved. In the old days when the Unser's ruled there, the cars were Champ Dirt cars that were modified to turn left and right (rather than just left). There was talk that entire race might be cancelled once the place was paved. Over the years it's largely been a specialized race with amateurs and big corporations going at it at the same time. The Champ Cars ran there last in '68 (Bobby Unser won). BTW "Uncle Bobby" was a helluva road racer and even raced BRM F1, he also won Indy three time. I saw Rod Millen win there in a wild contraption that had a Toyota carbon fiber "Pick Up" body (the bed was a huge wing/ground effects thing) that was built on a March Indycar chassis converted to 4WD with a 2.0 liter turbo Toyota engine pushing out 1000hp. The race has been a tourist draw and the local town of Manitou Springs gets a lot of support from the competitors, spectators and local Chamber volunteer types. There's no major league sanctioning body but instead a group organized by the competitors, many of them local. So I guess I'm saying the thing has been hanging by a thread since 1968.

The race has changed since they paved the road. When I saw them run, they were flat track style bikes converted to symmetrical control to turn left and right. IIRC, the guys still used their feet on the ground in the turns (I might be wrong about that), and they took off in waves of 5 riders perhaps a minute apart. Now they're all high powered road bike specials with tremendous horsepower. Ducati made a huge commitment to the race only to see their rider killed. A couple years earlier, the winner of the race had an accident after finishing and was killed.

nothing to see here, move along..............

OK, the Californias have Tonti frames, just like the pre-spine LeMans. It looks like a cruiser but it's still a Tonti. cya in the twisties.

Paul. The problem with COTA is they don't allow for open seating on practice days. So there's little opportunity to sample the seats before purchasing. At Indy, fans can sit anywhere except for race day (camping is always great fun there too ). I was able to sit in the stadium complex for a bit, I didn't feel I had a great view to the rest of the track, didn't see a lot of passing but there were lots of fans. From T1 you get the race start, visibility for about 3/4 of the track, a big screen, and some spread out room and mingle with my friends that paid for Duc Island. One great spot is T18-19, right by the ticket window entrance (no stands). I saw MM#93 do a cartwheel/ragdoll/get-off there. Besides being a treacherous spot for bikes, fans can also see the violent braking and watch the riders slam their bodies against the bikes. I never saw that on TV and it's incredible.

bb- I don't see the reason to purchase tickets in advance. They'll be plenty of tickets at the gate. T1 is my favorite spot and there were plenty on tickets. I almost bought into Duc Island but my buddy was on a Yamaha. I didn't see that Ducati Island had been released, I was on the info sign up. Still, give Covid, I'm not sure I'll want to travel to Texas anyway even if Dorna opens the door. I'm not optimistic either way. I see the Dead & Co are requiring vax, perhaps I'll go in Dallas?

The newer bikes are superior to the old ones for the last 20 years, whether by wire or cable. The 85TT or my Ducati have perfect throttle control. No Power Commander, re-jets, Up Maps. etc. The only modification that Duc (SS) riders are doing to the "ride by wire" are putting in spacers to take out any throttle play that was purposely designed into the system to "feel" like a traditionally cable. I'm fine with the factory design BTW. The 1400T that I've ridden rode perfectly -throttle wise. I understand that some of the later 1400s had lean maps and weren't perfect. Nothing to do with RBW.

I've ridden the TT. It isn't a bad bike. Sometimes a Quarter Pounder with Cheese hits the spot. But normally I'd rather have a Whopper or if I'm in New Mexico, a Blake's Green Chili LottaBurger.

So no one thinks the 1400 is the ultimate big block?

I hear a horse's panic whinnies!

No seat cowl. If you're concerned with the money, it seems to have the requisite dealer markup. They're all over the map price wise. If you want to make comparisons, go to Wild Guzzi and MGNOC sites and looks at their respective classified. But if you like the bike and want the color, how long would you like to wait? All bikes share common issues. Otherwise, it's condition. This one is supposedly a clean bike. This model should be checked for transmission recall. Also, all "red frames" will need to have a transmission brace that fastens the bellhousing to the frame. My mechanic in Okla City has fabbed some transmission brace kits (includes fasteners). So far shipping, you could also consider a fly and ride it home. BTW- I think the board had a pretty nice "Rosso something" for sale today. It's red and silver. looks cool.

I hear ya but I don't think Austin's been Austin since they closed the Armadillo World Headquarters. Of course I was always partial to San Antonio and San Marcos. But I can agree that Austin is still weird, just not in a good way so much anymore.

Yes Mav was only withdrawn from the next race. In fact, his entire team will sit out and not travel to the race. But when the rider deliberately tries to blow up the engine, and those engines have extended life limits by rule, I'd say he's gone. Like Steal Your Face, gone.