Scud

Bridge of Sighs is one of my all-time favorites. I got to see Robin Trower once in a small club - fabulous.

and staying with the theme...

Sweet Janes: (Just copy the link from YouTube and paste it into your post.)

Other than being totally dismantled? As I understand it, the PO experienced an engine failure (I forget the exact details - but I think it was a milder version of what Craig recently experienced - a bearing failure, metal in the oil, etc.). He was getting ready for reassembly and already had the crankshaft checked/approved. Getting this engine back together would be a bit of puzzle as I now have several bags of bolts. I think mostly what was wrong with this motorcycle is that life (a work opportunity) got in the way of the finishing the project. Everything else on the bike appears well maintained, all the extra bits were expertly installed, In fact, some of the extras are brand new (including the tires) - as though the bike was in the midst of a "mid-life refresh." But many parts shows that it's been used for 50,000 miles - and it was down on the left. As the "second project owner" I have different stuff in my garage, therefore, it's not so much "What's wrong with this engine?" - but "Why not use the complete extra engine that I already have?"

The latest addition to Scud's Home for Wayward Motorcycles arrived Friday. I am 100% pleased with Haul Bikes. The color coordination between their truck and my little (F250) bike hauler was uncanny. As others have noted, the driving team are also riders and had their own motorcycle on the truck. Imagine driving around the country, and being able to ask every motorcyclist you meet where the best roads are - and always having your bike on-board. They seem to be enjoying their work. And here's what showed up: a 2002 Champagne LeMans - loaded to the gills with spare parts and engine internals (for example, the crankshaft was in the RH Tekno pannier). Another member needed to move out of the country for work - and the timing caught him mid-project. Why would I do such a thing? Well, that question has already been asked here at home... It seems that everything except the engine is in good order on the motorcycle (which has 50,000 miles) and it so happens that I have a complete, working engine on a shelf (with 12,000 miles from my "parts-bike"). It just seemed like a match made in heaven... ...and here she is, ready for the new motor. Back to "why would I do such a thing?" That Ohlins shock is going to find a new home on my Red LeMans. And I gain some nice luggage options... and a Moto Guzzi shop stand... and doesn't it just look like fun? My intent is to return this bike to stock, keep a bunch of special bits (like the Joe Kenny Headguards), sell some aftermarket parts, and then sell the whole motorcycle. Although one of my daughters said: "Why would you sell that one? it's so pretty."

Mine was previously owned - but a search for "mra windshield moto guzzi v11 lemans" reveals: http://www.twistedthrottle.com/mra-touringscreen-windshield-for-moto-guzzi-v11-lemans

Last night I just went out for fish tacos - including a few miles on the slab to see how it performed at speed. I need to give it a proper, long-distance test, but my first impression aligns with Chuck's statement - that there was less wind at the shoulders while sitting upright and probably a bit more at the helmet. I like to get into a mild tuck on open roads at higher speeds - which means I can now get under the wind without laying all the way down on the tank. Under the wind bubble, there is a beautiful mechanical symphony. I think MRA offers only one style/size (but there are color options), the MRA is a few inches taller than stock. As for an even taller option, there's the Laminar Lip, but I have not tried one. It's a windshield extender. Chuck also knows about extending things...

Installed this MRA taller windscreen. Much easier to tuck into the clean air now and excellent visibility through the shield. And I think it might even look a better than the stock one. I like the tint along the edges next to the fairing.

Here's the link to the Red Sport: http://portland.craigslist.org/grg/mcy/5849851314.html

Ballabio for $3,500 in San Francisco. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/5859393690.html And just to spice things up a bit - a carbed '95 Sport for $3,900 in Oregon.

Yeah - and you have to see that particular red in person to really appreciate it. The ask price seems reasonable. I saw a two LeMans sell on eBay recently for just over $3,000. They probably were not as nice at that Red/Grey. But keep in mind that a 2002 model with 8,000 miles is probably about ready to shed it's crinkle paint... starting with the engine. BTW - The ad says it's in Laughlin (border of CA, AZ, and NV) - although it was on Los Angeles Craigslist. So that cuts several hours off the ride back to TX.

There's a silver sport with a nice fairing and exhaust at GP Motorcycles in San Diego. That would be an easy Fly-and-Ride. It's only a couple miles from the airport. It's a great shop (and where I bought my Scura). http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/mcd/5814620077.html

Yup - 1 washer. Mine's out right now, I just looked at it.

I have no idea what you're talking about... But as the saying goes, if the shoe fits... Here's a low-mile red and grey LeMans: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/mcy/5845706502.html Where is "new member" located? Try searching all of craigslist: http://www.searchcraigslist.org/

That's cool. Looks all original (except the huge K&N pods) and well-loved. Will she be an as-is rider - or do you have other plans? What year is it? I think the new V9 tanks have some similar lines to those.

Master Chuck Hammer

My new career... that's what one of my neighbors says too. I think I could earn about $3 per hour (just enough to buy me some suspenders). There's a lot of time in the pre-paint prep of these intricate pieces, and I think the timing cover is the most difficult thing I've ever painted. Weirdly, the crinkle paint on different parts reacted differently to the stripper. The easiest was the reaction rod - it basically peeled off. The paint on the rear transmission case turned into a tar-like substance that required several applications of stripper. Only 5 more parts to paint: Transmission main case and intermediate case. I still need to split these and am hoping they are not cracked (was leaking oil) Engine block, sump ring, and sump pan. The block is going to be tedious with all those small fins at the bottom. Does anybody know if the cylinder fins are painted - or are they bare metal? They look bare, but I need to know how careful I need to be with the stripper, because I am not going to remove the cylinders.

I am even more impressed with the VHT engine case paint (and engine primer). For comparison, the driveshaft collar is powdercoated. BBCode (replace photobucket's img with this in your post) ...and all the shift-improvement work is done - polished contact surfaces, new springs, new bearing (instead of solid roller) - and ready to reassemble.

Bummer - electrical gremlins. I have a spare regulator with a broken fin. Maybe good for testing purposes. Your for free if you want it. It so happens that I also have some spare maxi holders and fuses (it was about the same price to buy 10-packs as to buy 2 of each). Also yours for the asking - and In the mail tomorrow if you want 'em.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the real-time advice. A little more tinkering is on the agenda for today... just trying to get things cleaned, sub-assemblies ready to re-install, etc. Working from the back to the front. The engine paint is a mess on the outside, but I just "discovered" yesterday that inside of the case around the timing chain is more than 50% coated with the crap paint - so if (when) that peels off, it goes right into the timing chain before (hopefully) finding it's way to the oil filter. You can see the paint already starting to flake off from inside the timing cover (bottom right).

Thanks guys. It feels good to get rid of the crappy crinkle paint. And it seems the concerns are not purely cosmetic. Look at that ring of paint around the clutch pushrod bore. It came off in my hands - a few more miles and it would have been gumming up all the moving parts. I was also surprised at how much overspray was inside this cover and inside the shift preselector cover - and it was all starting to work loose from being soaked in gear oil. I didn't count on stripping crinkle paint from the inside too. On the bad news front - I stupidly scratched the bore while removing the output shaft seal. I suppose I have to put in a little silicone with the new seal - to be sure it doesn't leak at the scratch.

Time to have another look at your bike then... If you start at the crossover, the bottoms and the curves are the same, then the LH is longer on the top to reach the cylinder that is further back.

Here is an early pipe and one from my 2003 LeMans. The early ones take two half-circle spacers and have finned flanges. The later ones have captive flanges and do not take spacers. You can see that the spacers, when installed, duplicate the shape of the later pipe. Another way to think of it is - the later pipe has "built-in" spacers. I had the cross-over holes welded shut. That worked great, but then I found a used set from a 2002 bike - and that's what I have on there now. I have 5 used pipes that I'd gladly let go: the welded pair, the "early" pair (which I bought by mistake) and one RH 2002 pipe (captive flange and no crossover) - PM sent. On the different lengths: The two pipes are supposed to be different. The LH cylinder sits further back, so the top part of the pipe has to come further back to meet the head.

Well... since I have the Electrosport as a backup, I have another available for somebody else. It was from my parts bike (which crashed). The bottom fin is broken - but I did get the bike running before I stripped it, so I think the regulator still functions - and would make a good emergency backup for somebody's garage. Free to good home (just pay shipping). Whoever wants it: Claim it here - or send me a PM.

Got a little preview of how things will look... and she can roll again. Which means my wife will be able to park in the garage next week. Powdercoated: Swingarm (and new bearings) Driveshaft collar Brake caliper carrier (modified for 2003 longer pin and retaining clip) Painted: Final drive Reaction rod Lots of cleaning and fresh grease... no hammer required today. ...and a new Angel GT 180