Scud

I think I like your uncle. I'm glad he is insisting that you wear the right gear and get educated. However, I agree that the V11 is potentially troublesome as a first serious street bike. IMO - you should try to buy a small, street legal dirt bike (which you can resell later if you want to). Go find some dirt roads and have some adventures. Scooter and moped experience is helpful, but if you get some seat time in the dirt it will make you a better rider on the street. You can find the limits of traction and learn how to stay on the bike when it starts sliding, fall off a whole bunch of times and not care. I drop or stall my Husky regularly - because I like to try things that are difficult at slow speed. The above picture is on the way to Laurel Lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountains, just South of Mammoth Lakes, CA. I muscled through one snow berm that was a bit smaller than the one in the picture, then found two more around the corner and gave up. That was May this year, elevation is about 10,000 feet.

YES!!!! And don't let the snow stop you till it is literally impassible.

Wear gloves and a long-sleeve shirt. That stuff burns (ask me how I know). I have a box of 7mm nitrate gloves - and I went through several. While you're at it, maybe you should paint the little brackets behind your flyscreen... that's a small part that you could enjoy while you're on the bike.

...and I only want to spend $20.

Thanks guys - as it happens, I just arrived in Houston, TX. One day of work - and back home tomorrow night. I've been removing the obvious excess flash from the castings - some of them were very sharp and could cut into hoses or fingers. But I have not given any attention to simple seams or imperfections from the molds. I just want to ride it...

Thanks - I've been using lots of water on parts that I can (but no soap). But I was afraid to get the transmission cases wet, with their bearings and gears attached. So I cleaned with towels soaked in Simple Green. I used isopropyl alcohol as my final wipe-down before the paint. So hopefully those two have removed or neutralized any remaining stripper. I'll be sure to clean and rinse the engine case thoroughly, since that is one of the more visible elements. ...and no apologies needed. One of the great things about documenting a project is all the tips I get along the way. How would you heat cycle it? Just use a heat gun, perhaps on low setting? Or just run it briefly and let it cool a few times before going out for a long ride?

It's the same paint as I've been using (VHT engine case - satin black). Every single part (bearings, seals, etc.) has to get stripped out for powdercoating. I don't think that's practical for engine and transmission cases - or at least that's several steps further than I want to go. But I've got a few goodies awaiting pickup at the powder-coater. All this time on the cases (and several cans of stripper, primer, and paint at about $15/can) makes me appreciate what a good deal powdercoating is. I must say, though, that stripping these parts, then masking and painting them, has given me a real appreciation for the design work that goes into creating them. Especially the transmission cases - so intricate and precise. It's really amazing. As a bonus, I finally understand how the transmission works. It was cool to be able to slide the cogs around (with the selector arms removed) and see how they engaged various gears. Mechanically, it's not too bad of a job, but I left all the gears and shafts on the intermediate plate. I was a bit apprehensive, not having taken a transmission apart before. But I will defer celebration until I actually ride it again.

Got the transmission back together today. The elimination of all crinkle paint has turned out to be a much more time-consuming task than expected. Hopefully the transmission leak is also cured (time will tell). I just had to push it close to the engine for a comparison - and to imagine how good it's going to look when the engine is done.

I didn't make it... but I am thinking about going to the Long Beach show next weekend. http://motorcycleshows.com/longbeach

Maybe you could look at some parts diagrams and see if the valve cover gaskets are the same part number. That could give you a little more confidence. Good idea to put some new gaskets in at that time anyway.

Got home last night to find that my special tool had arrived from Harpers (the one to remove the nut that retains the input gear). So that, along with other tools graciously lent to me, made it possible to split the cases. The good news - I do not see any evidence of a crack. Also, I'm pretty sure the leak was due to loose fasteners. Three of the top ones, near the source of the leak came free with almost no effort - and there's no way to re-torque those without removing at least the rear cover of the transmission. A further discovery - they must paint the castings without any masking at the factory, then send them off for machining. The inside of my transmission case had a lot of the crinkle paint, and it was starting to come off. There was some black sludge that had settled in the bottom of the oil - some of which I assume was due to the paint coming off. So... It seems possible that re-torqueing the fasteners could have cured the leak, but I am glad to get the sludge-inducing crinkle paint out of the inside of the transmission case. I don't know if it causes a big enough problem to worry about, but it seems that bits of paint floating about cannot be good for seals and bearings.

and a little more meddling with your motorcycle... loosely inspired by your earlier idea about a green stripe, plus the way the orange accent is on the flyscreen of the first LeMans. IMO, the classic logo would look nice if it could fit completely within the classic color accent (no break in the stripe).

Just for the record... here is how silver looks with a subtle green frame and a little green paint: https://www.google.com/search?q=ducati+green+frame&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEir7AtKPQAhUFS2MKHQD9BU4QsAQIHA&biw=1510&bih=890#imgrc=OibhAI1diTfeTM%3A

Sorry... long day. Up at 5AM in Detroit (2AM my time)... flew to San Diego via Chicago... haven't been on a motorcycle for a whole week (unless you count splitting lanes all the way home from the airport on a K75). Is this the bored face? Of course, you actually refer to your V11 as a red-frame model. So that's part of the identity of your bike. You're not looking to change it's identity, just add a touch of color out of respect. Who is this "someone" to whom you refer? Back to the green alternator cover. I like that idea - and it's easily reversible if you're not happy with it.

For your consideration... how about doing the frame and porkchops in green. For example, have you seen a 1000S with the green frame? A silver sport with a more subtle green than the 1000S might look good; it would certainly be unique. If that intrigues, it's probably worth finding somebody good with photoshop to play around with it first.

Or mail it in. I'm on permanent absentee ballot - and watching the coverage from Chicago tonight.

Very funny Docc. Just don't count the Ohlins forks before and after the session.

Air tools are generally less expensive and smaller than the same electric tool. That's because there is no motor. I have more compressor than I need. I bought it a long time ago when I thought I was going to use an impact wrench frequently. Here's what I end up actually using the compressor for, in order of frequency: Putting air in my tires (including that lovely POP when the bead of a new tire seats on the rim) Blowing water out of recesses after washing my motorcycles to prevent corrosion. You'd be surprised how much water comes out of places like footpeg brackets, sidestand, areas around spark plugs, screw heads, etc. Putting air in my neighbors' tires Blowing dust off stuff, such as post-sanding, pre-painting Blowing up balls, toys, and bicycle tires Die-grinder - I really like this on the rare occasions that I use it Brad nailer - I used to use this a lot, but I'm done with home-improvement projects for a while. Impact wrench - even though I have it I still mostly use hand tools for lug nuts. I have an air ratchet, but I don't use it on the motorcycles. I just prefer to take my time and use hand tools. If you want to take something apart in a hurry, air tools are great. I learned this when I worked as an auto dismantler in high school. I would suggest starting small and used. Then if you want a bigger compressor, you can probably sell the used one for close to the same price and upgrade. I think an air compressor would look good next to baby Jesus in the nativity. (sorry, couldn't resist)

First identify the tools you do want to use, check their airflow requirements, and then you can decide. I have an air-powered die-grinder that I like - it's a small tool, but requires a fair amount of airflow (CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute) for continuous operation.

I was wondering if anyone would pick up on the reference to the old "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" TV show. And now I have a geotagging mission?

Pure-Gas.org lists only 19 stations in the entire Republic of California with ethanol-free gas. For all practical purposes, ethanol free is not an option here. I had forgotten about the problem of getting water in carburetor float bowls. Ethanol in the gas has at least made that worry go away. I've still got one carburetor... on the dirt bike.

Yeah - according to the description, you could run a small winch or a refrigeration circuit. You need it to keep the brews in the bags cold for the next South'n Spine Raid after-party. I discovered it yesterday when I took the seat off. I said "What the hell is that?"

Docc - the champagne LeMans I just got has a marine MAXI fuse holder in it. I'm away from home on business so can't take a picture, but it's installed where the little tool-tray would otherwise go. Very clean installation - although it does prevent use of the tool tray. I'm sure other locations could be made to work too. http://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-sea-systems--maxi-fuse-block-for-30a-to-80a-loads--594343?cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-Shopping_PLAs-_-594343&adpos=1o6&creative=108421552324&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQjwqfvABRC6gJ3T_4mwspoBEiQAyoQPkQ8vve0bJlTcw7lH18MglAfMVxUVJMi85AYOuF0Q5U0aAsaz8P8HAQ

Isn't that what V7s (and V9s) are for? Well, it seems that way to me, but it does not seem that way to her. I cannot even interest her in the littlest Indian. The heart wants what it wants - and so long as it still wants me, who am I to argue with her heart's desires?

Haha - no museum. She's only here for rehab - then she will need a new owner. Of course, I'll have to show her a few mountains and scrub the new newness off those tires first... Ironically (and to further support the accuracy of the claim made in the video above) I found another K75s on Craigslist for $500 a couple weeks ago (you can see her black front fender in one of my pics above). It had a leaky Ohlins shock and the PO couldn't get it started. After a nice ride in my "mini Haul-Bikes truck" and about an hour labor, she's running nicely and the shock is out for rebuild and subsequent migration to my blue "keeper" brick. Yellow springs for everybody I will be selling 2 bikes soon. Then my Play-Pal account will be full again. My wife says she might be willing to learn to ride if we had a Triumph... a "cute" one... like a Bonneville. Jerry, I know your question was in jest - but FWIW, I think California requires a dealer license if a person has more than 6 vehicles for sale at the same time. And yes, the PO seems like a great guy and he did care for the bike. He was very helpful by loosely re-assembling it back into a "roller" so Haul-Bikes could pick it up. He even sent me his garage sign (Moto Guzzi Parking Only - all others will be crushed into vino" I hung it up immediately. The BMWs seem nervous...