chamberlin

Yea Docc, one day I'm going to realize I have enough duplicate parts to build another complete bike! It's gotten quite crazy, but I *think* I am nearing the end of the tunnel!

Thanks S.P.! Just picked them up from the post office today. Here's a link if you haven't seen my build thread: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18247&page=11

Well the package has arrived from TLM. The rear carbon fender seems to be a part TLM had made for the V11. I don't believe it is an OEM Guzzi part. Regardless, it's very nice, and I'm glad to have it. I can't stand the big ugly plastic stock fender. I've purchased a spare to have painted, but they always seem to get gouged up and ruined. There's no saving black plastic molded parts like this. Now I don't have to worry about it. The golden rods are here! The fork tubes are dinged up a little, but they seem in great mechanical shape, with no signs of leakage (yet). Just gotta find out if I need any bearings or spacers for my wheel, to be used with this axle. I'm thinking about just installing them and seeing how it rides. Not too happy about the (salt water?) corrosion on the rear shock, which didn't show up on the pictures. As I've said before, it seems that European sellers purposely leave out any details that might be construed as a negative to a sale. Maybe that's the accepted buyer-seller culture over there... It seems most sellers in the states with high $ ticket items usually explain every detail ahead of time, as to not get an upset buyer. That said, I don't feel totally 'screwed at the drive-through', as the shock appears fully functional and is complete...it's only cosmetic damage. Of course the adjusters are kinda buggered too, but the shock lays buried in the bike, so I'm not gonna loose sleep over it. If it bothers me enough I think I know where to find a potential buyer!

Damn buddy that sucks about the Öhlins rep not being helpful whatsoever. What a bummer. It's a damn shock absorber for cripe sake, not a one-off hand-hammered gas tank! I am not an Öhlins fanboy by any means, but since I had a rare opportunity to snatch up a complete, undamaged set that will fit my model year, I couldn't pass it up. I won't have a point of reference to really know how much better Öhlins are vs. the Marzocchi/Sachs-Boge combo, but from what I've heard, it's night and day... Regardless, I'm not a racer and I won't be tracking my bike anytime soon. In your case though, these kind of decisions are absolutely critical. For me, it's just the fun of building up the bike to meet my every whim. Anyways, if there is anything I can do to help you get where you need to be, just let me know. The suspension should be arriving here any day now, so once it's here, if you want me to take measurements or anything, just let me know.

Here is the one I was going to get, up until I found the set of Ohlins: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181454297394

AND, to keep my new shiny plastic Acerbis gas tank free from the detrimental effects of Ethanol blended gasoline: I will be experimenting with home Ethanol removal. I found this cool Italian 5 gallon jug with brass petcock. I've also got a Mr. Funnel to separate out any remaining H2O - if I do the chemistry right, there won't be any, but it's OK to have excess water as long as you pull it out! As you all probably know with Ethanol removal, you loose a good portion of your fuel's Octane rating, so I will have to put the *juice* back into the mix once I've ripped out the corn. To get the Octane back up, I will be using a fairly new additive on the market called RACE GAS (http://race-gas.com/), which should get me back to around 91 Octane; which at my altitude, should just be enough. Yea, I know this is probably going a little over-board...but after all I've done to this bike, I'm not letting a drop of this crap touch my Guzzi. Hopefully once I'm up and running, you guys can help me make sure my V-twin isn't going lean, and if it is, point me in the right directions. That's my biggest concern right now. Anyways, once I get the removal process going, I think I will be able to produce 5 gallon batches fairly quickly (30-45 minutes). As I've stated before, I will start a new post on this topic, but I wanted to include a quick Ethanol discussion in this build diary to be complete.

More goodies today: I finally got a complete, new, matching key set for the bike... If you remember from a few months ago, I've already purchased and installed a new ignition, but I am going to replace it with this one, so that the bike all works off the same key. This stuff was brand new in the bag; very nice OEM parts - even the spare key has a red rubber protector on it. Interestingly, the guy I got it from had two types of gas fillers; one with the word "LIFT" on the key cover, and another with the Guzzi Eagle... you can guess which one I chose. The cap came with new rubbers as well, thankfully. Obviously I won't be installing the helmet lock, since I took a grinder to the original mount (see earlier posts). Also got a brand new fuel pump assembly... again, if you've been following the restoration, I've already overhauled the old fuel pump and installed a new filter with the proper pinch clamps.... but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to get a new assembly. This one was built in in '03 and was also 100% new in the bag. The new motor is made in Czechia, and appears slightly different from the original '02 pump, to which I can't tell the brand name. Also, you can see the black plastic motor holder, vs. the older white plastic version... I am still planning on adding the worm gear clamp to the new pump too, similar to the clamp on the oil filter mod.

Plastidip Le Mans!!! And interestingly, no cross-over pipe. http://lasvegas.en.craigslist.org/mcy/4532679755.html

Thanks for the head's up on the Rizoma knock-off reservoirs Phil- Fortunately, they didn't cost very much. Indeed the mounting arms are versatile but very cheesy in execution. 4 screws to vibrate loose and have flopping reservoirs. The finish is sure to get ugly too...it's like enamel over pot-metal. I had been looking into these reservoirs, but just couldn't pull the trigger...I know I've blown a crap ton of money on this bike already, but $125 PER reservoir? It just seems wrong!: http://www.whaccessories.com/BrakeReservoirs.htm Here are some more shots of the axial brake mounted Ohlins:

No problem Jaap, you had me scared there for a moment though! I think my biggest hurdle now will be the proper bearings and spacers...just a matter of determining if the front wheels are identical across the model lines (pretty sure yes) and then ordering the parts according to the drawings.

I think you might be right G'Moto- I have a bunch more photos at home, I will post more shots up later. But yea, the radials have the long extended 'fingers' coming off of them, and I don't think these have them... Further, it would seem unlikely a LeMans Rosso Corsa owner would bother to do a radial conversion no? Thanks for your help guys! Joe

Gheezh, how did I miss that - bad assumptions on my part! I throught all Öhlins bikes would also have radial mounted brakes too... So I suppose I have two options: 1) find the appropriate radially mountable Brembos calipers (anything else to worry about other than the caliper mounting) 2) find the standard non-radial mount lower ends for the Öhlins forks (is it even possible to change the bottom ends?) Both options probably won't be cheap. Option 1 at least gets me the 'cooler' radial mounted brakes. Option 2 makes the install of the Öhlins *much* easier once they'rerebuilt.

OK well that sucks! Both bikes use Brembo Gold calipers, so I assume that is only the bolt pattern that is different? I wonder if there are any other considerations? I will research the part number diagrams tonight and see if I can source a set of calipers... one thing leads to another!!! Damn, just bled the brakes too!

Thanks Jaap! I just received an email from TLM this morning, and they are sending me the original axle at no extra charge... now I just have to worry about the bearings/spacers in my wheel working with this new axle. Hopefully I can just buy new bearings without much fuss if needed....but they do have the original front wheel available too!

Thanks Docc, I will check them out too, they are much closer than the two places I found. Honestly, I am not too concerned with the clamps and brakes, since I will be getting the clamps with the forks, and I am pretty sure the V11's fitted with either Marzocchi's or Ohlins used the same brake discs and same Brembo Golds. But I may be in for some fun trying to figure out which axle to get, and then I might also have to change the wheel bearings and spacers too? I'm pouring over the '03 Le Mans Rosso Corsa parts guide now, but it's a bit of a mess for me to figure out. I've also asked Teo Lamers if they can sell me the spindle off the Le Mans that the forks came from...

OK well now I've done it: Teo Lamers should be shipping these out to me, along with a carbon rear fender next week. I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to put some golden legs on this never-ending (and bottomless money pit) V-11 resto! These forks came off a Le Mans Rosso Corsa with about 80,000 km's on the clock, so I am planning on having them rebuilt. Should I send them to: http://www.ohlinsusa.com/ohlins-usa-service or http://www.computrackboston.com/default.asp or ??? With as much money as these damn things cost, I really don't want to try to rebuild them myself. But here are the important questions.... I think I did my homework, but can you guys verify that these particular Ohlins will fit my existing triple clamps, and will my Brembo gold brakes mount straight up to these radial mounting blocks without any issues? Howa bout the new style hollow axle on my Sport? Any issues that you see? My bike has the later style (and freshly rebuilt! Arrrrgg) 43mm Marzocchi forks, and the triple clamps appear identical from the Ohlins photos (the forks will come with the original triple clamps BTW). I think the brakes will mount right up too, but I am really concerned that my front axle isn't going to work... Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks much for your reply Roy! I'm only a few weeks away from first start-up now, so I'll report back if everything works ok!

Maybe tack weld on some nuts, but we're gonna have to wait and see the details of the supposed battery box area on this one. On a side note, personally I would want my battery in the proper spot on this bike...if not just for the (I assume) lower location/less top heavy.

I guess you're horrified then by an electric fuel pump mounted inside the tank submerged in fuel Ciao Submerged in fuel is good! Surrounded by hot swirling oxygen - Well, now we've got horror!

Another greenie, this one in the Pacific NW http://portland.craigslist.org/grg/mcy/4521291685.html '02 Le Mans http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/4498807035.html Red-frame bike in sliver (howa' bout ditching your keychain buddy!) http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/4517444426.html Looks like a pretty beat up Nero Corsa http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/4517444426.html Very nice '03 Sport Naked in red http://denver.craigslist.org/mcd/4513909607.html Rosso Corsa - well used, but appears loved http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/4483267144.html

Thanks! That's what I figured, and I agree that all bikes are the same... I also know that there's a used battery tray available from TLM in Netherlands.

Chinese knock-off Rizoma fluid reservoirs... they're built fairly well, but they are painted black (not anodized), which could mean that they are pot metal and not aluminium (nah, they gotta be aluminium) The mounting arms are very versatile, but quite hoky... I think some thread lock is in order here, as the Guzzi V-twin is going to shake them to hell! The clear reservoir area appears to be some kind of thick clear plastic. Well at least if they fail/leak, I should be able to clearly see the presence (or lack of presence) of my DOT4 in time! Original late style (I think?) V11 Sport emblems arrived from Italy:

Hey grossohc, can you clarify which your bike is like? Dangerous showed us a photo above of his Le Mans Nero Corsa battery box, not the Cafe Sport bike he is working on for somebody. He says his buddy's Cafe does *not* look like the picture above, and all the battery tray mounting tabs are missing... So does your Cafe Sport look like the Nero Corsa photo or no? We're trying to figure out if somebody modified his friend's Cafe Sport.

Yup mine too! Can't wait to see the photos of the battery area on this Cafe Sport- But make sure they haven't been ground off...I've manged to grind off some things and repaint, and it is very hard to tell that they were there now.