Straight8

Reducing my Italian collection: 2002 V11 Le Mans Gold. New battery, front & rear tires, reconditioned starter. Ohlins rear shock. Factory high performance exhaust, luggage rack, tank bag and soft luggage. 15,500 miles. Clear title, mature owners. Asking $5,750. Also selling: 1995 Ducati 916 (among the first batch of three 916s imported the US, and Ducati's actual 1995 Chicago show bike) - $9,500 2006 MV Agusta 910S Brutale - $5,950 2008 Ducati Multistrada 1100S (original owner & only 2,900 miles from new) - $9,500 1958/9 Parilla 99 Olimpia ($2,000 invested) - offers? Location is Sacramento area, California. Hi-res photos of all the bikes are available on request. Private sale. Tel. (+1) 916-660-9650 9am-9pm PCT glynnkerr@yahoo.com

Carl - 13 years on, your advice has helped me no end. I used your diagnostic recommendations, and after eliminating the other possible causes, got it down to a bad solenoid or starter motor. I bought a new solenoid ($40) and starter motor refurbishment kit ($16.99) from Euro MotoElectrics, and after a 3-hour rebuild, the bike fired up first time. And 2nd, and 3rd and 4th.... Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Glynn.

Just for interest, what is the original brand and model number of the battery, or other factory recommended models? The handbook makes no mention, other than specifying 13 Ah. I picked up my '02 Le Mans last month, and it died on me on the way home. I changed out the battery with one my local BMW dealer recommended - it was way smaller, and it leaked acid despite the dealer's assurances that it wouldn't when placed on its side. So it went back, and I now have one Guzzi that isn't going anywhere until I get this resolved. The one I replaced (WestCo?) wasn't the original, but the dealer recycled it, so I don't even have that to reference the serial number or the dimensions any more. I have a Ducati 916 that is running a Motobatt 4-terminal battery - very powerful, and seems like it would be ideal for the laid-flat situation on the Guzzi. However, their website only lists California models for the 1064 engine. Anyone run one of those on a V11?