chamberlin

haha Steve, that's almost just like my wife's suggested formula: total number of bikes minus the total number of bikes!

oh gheezh....there's a yellow 1100 Sport that just popped up for sale in town...can't afford 3 bikes!

Thanks for your interest cola (my fellow Scotsman)! It's hard to spend the money and time on projects like this without the support from you guys. True, I am trying to build a bike of my own, to enjoy for myself, but I equally enjoy hobbies that can be shared with like-minded enthusiasts. 2 steps closer to a repaint (bronze!) today. Both Harper's and AF1 Racing called today to let me know that they can't get me a Coppa tank either... I guess those tanks were available for a short while, but none of the parts distributors have taken them off their websites after they dried up.

Bronze may actually look pretty good on this bike, and I think would fit in to the V11 series' color schemes, had it been a color offered. hmmmm indeed

More parts... Spare blank key Coppa Italia rocker box cover Unpainted rocker box cover (was supposed to be another Coppa, but this is all they had....mind as well have just repainted my grey covers at this point) Coppa/Cafe black protectors Extra new OEM Coppa/Cafe seat (great deal & doesn't hurt to have a spare) Trying some other avenues for a Coppa tank, we'll see what happens. If not, I'm thinking about a repaint of my tank to match the copper Coppa valve covers (and paint the tail pieces too).

p.s. just got a few more brochures today, I'll try to get them scanned this weekend... p.p.s. there is a 2001 workshop manual on eBay for anyone interested. would sure love to find a workshop manual like you are suggesting might exist docc, an early 2003 edition.

Just a tidbit of info I found today regarding the 2004 V11 Ballabio (which doesn't directly apply to the conversation above but....) http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/8/707/Motorcycle-Article/2004-BMW-Rockster-vs--Moto-Guzzi-Ballabio.aspx "Its 25-degree rake with 103mm of trail is much more radical steering geometry than the BMW Rockster's...." Maybe it's about time we start a repository data gathering thread, where the first post will hold all the info (updated regularly) and the subsequent posts will be people chiming in with factual data?

Thanks again guys! Yes, I also like the look of the V11 without the seat and tank! It's going to take some getting used to, if I ever get this damn bike back together - I've got more 'seat' time with the bare chassis than I do with the real seat and tank installed. I only rode the bike around the block once before I stripped it down. But that was enough to fall in love with the V11.

Haha docc, you're right about the clash of colors! Maybe if I end up getting that purple HyperPro rear shock, it will help with the bushings! Got some real bad news today, Moto International called and said regardless of their website inventory, they don't have any more Coppa Italia tanks!!! BUGGERS! To add insult to injury, they're supposed to ship me two bronze Cafe/Coppa valve covers, but they only have 1! Arrgg x2 They said they are going to look around for another tank for me, but it's looking like I am going to end up having my tank painted. Fast By Ferracci cross-over arrived, and is now installed. Thanks Steve! Nice, clean look, and lighter than stock. Decided to install the carbon fiber mufflers too, mostly for fitment testing. Everything's nice and tight, no slop, and I do not believe there is any extra stress on the headers. Pics for today: Torque arm all painted and re-bushed.

Hahaha, isn't that what CETEK chargers are for? LOL

Amazon is now showing a Feb/March delivery! My wife is pissed! Me too of course!

oooooh docc, now this is the kind of post that you can sink your teeth into. The European thing is a bit of a wrench in the works, but I think the dates and details are manageable...afterall, they all came out of the same factory. I'm still learning, but these are the kinds of model variances that I wanted to pin down in a FAQ rewrite.

My machinist used the original spacer stock, and made me some very nice pieces! Cut to 31.7mm O.A.L., drill out to 10mm, and bevel. Just need to cut down the bushings now, and re-install. New replacement 10.9 bolt and nut also shown. ACE hardware to the rescue (for once). Picked up some bronze anodized bar ends from China. I hope they go well with the Cafe/Coppa valve covers!

Same hear Andy, spending New Years recovering from a nasty one I picked up from a business trip to Denver....now my wife's got it and it's ballooned up into full bore pneumonia...holidays at the hospital! Fun! Cheers to all my V11 mates! Joe

Got a replacement starter/kill switch from eBay Germany yesterday, but unfortunately the seller only showed the 'good sides' in his photos, and said nothing of the scratches on the red button and housing. The wires had radio-shack crimp connectors, and the kill button did not return on every press. So, for $130, this switch is going back to Deutschland. Ordering a new Domino switch from Guzibits....shoulda just got them all from Guy to begin with [so what if I have to do some custom wire splicing]. I'm starting to get the feeling that the 'used spares online marketplace' in Europe (i.e. Netherlands, France, Italy, U.K., Germany) is just the same as the USA. It seems that eBayers over there only provide a small group of low-res photos, very minimal descriptions, and purposely do not point out the flaws or state anything that would deter you from buying the item. I've started to ask for more photos and descriptions now, before committing to a purchase. For the prices they are asking, and the insane shipping costs, you can't afford not to. On a happier note, I just placed the order for the custom Speedhut gauges. I hope they come out as good as they appear on the website:

Is there a part number for the 2003+ bikes? I've already passed up a couple of deals, as it seems like all the ones out there are labeled as '00-'01 compatible....

keep us up to date yeah? Sure thing mate. I am guessing that this is the book I have coming: http://classicbikebooks.com/catalog/product_info.php/european-moto-guzzi-the-complete-story-greg-pullen-autographed-p-1248

My wonderful wife bought me the Columbo book for Christmas...can't wait to find a free long afternoon for a read! She also ordered me a book by Greg Pullen?...not sure what it is but it didn't come in time for the holidays...I guess it's just gone to print recently.

New bushes for the torque-arm bar came today... probably got a little over my head on this one. My original bushings were looking tattered, so I figured I'd replace them per the Powerflex suggestion of another member here (rossoandy). Turns out that I probably should have left well enough alone. The rubbers were tattered, but there really wasn't much slop in the bar (not that I could tell anyway). Pretty frustrating experience so far... The rear bolt came off like nothing, but the front bolt was seized up so bad, I eventually broke it (yea that was a LOT of torque to snap a 10.9 bolt). Then, one bushing pressed out very easily, and the other would not budge! But I finally got it out....after about an hour. The Powerflex bushes comes with some spacer rod stock, but it's center hole is too small for the OEM bolts. I do want to maintain the original bolt specs, so I will be searching out some suitable spacer stock (and a new 10.9 bolt!). Of course, I will have to cut the hats off the bushes too. Part Number: POWER-PF99-103 (100 Series Top Hat Bush) BTW, I always thought this bar was a steel stamping, but it is actually a solid Aluminium piece. Pics:

Any idea what you'd sell it for Steve? Might not make too much sense to use with OEM mufflers, but it is also interesting that FBF didn't utilize the hanger but the Mistral does (per AndyH). i have $130 in it, so that plus shipping if that doesn't sound like too much. PM me if you're interested, i'll send you some pics when the dust settles today. i have mistrals & a power commander on my '02 & it runs so good as is (knock wood) that i never installed it. and andy, you're not alone, salt, chemicals wet grit all over my roads (and bike) after yesterdays ride. cheers, steve I'll PM you my email for some pics Steve!

Any idea what you'd sell it for Steve? Might not make too much sense to use with OEM mufflers, but it is also interesting that FBF didn't utilize the hanger but the Mistral does (per AndyH).

Yes you are 100% correct Docc, you can unbolt the rest of the garbage from the U-bracket...and I would have been done with it! But at the time, I didn't think about the crossover support aspect of 'the mess' and foolishly made it a mission to eradicate everything! Yea, I forget to mention all of the tubing/hose spaghetti you can delete from the system as well. Thanks for the red frame photo goodness! Love the rope light accent too!

Also forgot to mention the other day: OEM single aluminium sleeved LaFranconi muffler (no bracket) = 9.8 lbs/4.45 kg OEM single carbon fiber sleeved LaFranconi muffler (no bracket) = 8.5 lbs/3.86 kg So there's some weight savings, but they are still basically boat anchors either way. I just got them for the carbon fiber looks. If I can get the Coppa tank as planned, I think I am going to call this bike the "Carbon Coppa" LOL

Here is a shot of the whole evap can, bracket and crossover support eyelet for you Andy:

I'm thinking that there's plenty of support for the crossover via the headers and the mufflers, and your practical experience is some good data for me. I will still experiment with some kind of hanger, I bought plenty of aluminium stock from Home Depot to play with. Come to think of it, one of the two lower hanger rods for my Norge snapped off as well, something I noticed when I first got the bike home. Still seems to be a good amount of support available...but things change when you heat them up, and then drive over bumps!