Scud

Yeah. Super solid guy. He took good care of the Ducati too. As we were comparing notes and giving each other the "tours" of the bikes' features and quirks, he remarked that I am more anal than him. I *think* that was a compliment. It's nice to do a full-disclosure trade with somebody you trust.

That was a high-risk environment. I think I might have got in trouble if I went to something like that. I sure like both of those 1980s LeMans.

Wow. I didn't know that was a "new" bike. Probably went to the dealer with 13 miles - or it got pushed around for a cumulative 13 miles. Your friend is STOKED!

Just out for a romp today, because we needed a frozen peach-apple pie for thanksgiving, and they are only available from a little shop at the end of a twisty road. The ST3 fits some of the "rival" criteria we've discussed. Available new in same year (2004 was only year of overlap in showroom). V-twin. Similar original price, similar prices in used market. This picture on Palomar Mountain's South Grade today. The ST series of Ducatis are not like the V11 series (all of which are very similar). The ST2, then ST4, then ST3 (in order of introduction) each have different motors, frames, and fairings. I didn't realize how radically different each of the ST variants were from each other. The ST2 probably also fits the rival category, but not the ST4 with it's superbike motor. The ST3 motor is great - even better than the 1000DS motor in the Supersport I recently rode. It's got very usable power - smooth and predictable. It's also the most upright seating and passenger-friendly of the ST series. Like the V11s there was also upgraded Ducati ST3 with Ohlins forks and shock. While Moto Guzzi gave the Ohlins V11s special names, Ducati just put an S on them: ST3s. I got the standard version (with Sachs shock).

Good deals to be had for the knowledgable attendees. And stupid money for the last piece needed to finish a restoration, or nostalgia/decoration items... that sounds about right. I'd be willing to look at more pictures...

Hey, Chuck, thanks for taking the time to explain how you're doing this and post the pictures. Feel free to test the new spring I sent you to the failure point with your motorized cam arrangement - that would give an interesting baseline to test the new design against. Gosh - failure in 10-15,000 miles... how many times do we shift per mile? Obviously, depends on riding style and traffic vs. freeway... I've never counted, but I guess I could shift 20 times per mile on super-tight roads with elevation changes - and 0 times per mile when I'm chasing the horizon through the desert. It seems like some of these springs are breaking after just a few thousand uses - while the other springs in the pre-selector never break.

Just "re-discovered" something I had on vinyl, but haven't heard in a very long time.

Save on shipping... get the GB carbon belly pan while you're at it.

Interesting question, which I hadn't though about until you asked. The short bend of the spring does ride on the stamped steel portion that is attached to the shaft (27). If the shape/size of that stamped portion was different, it could require less travel to install the spring. And if that's true, then this over-travel problem could be solved by grinding metal off that plate such that the spring is 10-degrees less loaded when installed. Perhaps the design flaw was not in spring, but in part that the spring touches... @Chuck - feel free to grind away on the parts of my pre-selector if this suggestion seems worth exploring.

If the answer to these two questions are related in any way I don't want to know about it, and I definitely don't want to see any pictures.

Thanks Chuck. I think we're "crowdsourcing" this and you will not be out of pocket by the end. If you need some cash for supplies, tools (or stiffer suspenders) let us know.

Having just picked up a Ducati ST3, I've been reading a bit about it. This Sport-Touring comparison included a Moto Guzzi Breva in the mix. Interestingly, they noted that a V11 Sport with bags would have done better in this test, but it had been discontinued by that time and they were only reviewing new bikes (Norge was not available in US at time the article was written). https://www.sportrider.com/ducati-st3s-abs-vs-honda-interceptor-abs-and-more-sport-touring-machines-torture-trek

Well, I think of it like this: I sold the LeMans so I can keep the Greenie. In fact, I moved a lot of stuff from the LeMans to the Greenie (Ohlins shock, GB rear fender, the new Ti pipes and high-hangers... long list. Then I got the ST3 so it could take over the BMW's job as commuter and airport runner. But the ST will probably do most of the two-up riding and long-hauls too. You should come over and take the ST3 for spin. I think you'd be impressed.

Fabulous water-cooled motor with 3-valve heads. Quite a bit more powerful than a V11 and quite a bit lighter. It makes cool whirring sounds with engine braking. Everything just seems spot-on, fueling, brakes, suspension. I rode about 450 miles today. To Yuma on the LeMans, and back on the ST3. The ST would beat the V11 on any objective performance measure, but the V11 still has the advantage in the subjective arena for me. Being lighter, and having a full fairing an bags, the ST is a little more susceptible to side winds. The ST has a fuel gauge that reads empty and lights up the low fuel warning light at about 1/2 tank... made me laugh. The ST is comfortable too - I think I am not as tired as I would have been if I did all 450 miles on the LeMans. But to be fair, I also took a longer mid-day break than I normally do.

He's on WildGuzzi. Also has a Scura... attended the recent rally in San Diego, where we took a pic with 3 Scuras together.

Sad to say, my time with the LeMans has come to an end. She really didn't want to leave. As soon as I talked about trading her for a Ducati 1000SS she broke a shift spring. Fixed that and another interesting trade opportunity came up. And look at the poor girl, trying to tell me something on the way to Yuma this morning. But she has found a good new home near Phoenix, AZ. We made the trade in Yuma, AZ today - both rode out in the morning, did the paperwork for both bikes, and both rode back home. The Ducati ST3 is a fabulous bike. I think we're going to get along just fine. And my BMW K75s is now in search of a new home.

Dipstick thermometer. Totally unnecessary. But kind of fun. http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1937 How about some silver Rizoma fluid tanks? I might pick up a pair of those tomorrow. Provides absolutely no performance enhancement. But they are pretty. "Ornamental" perhaps? http://www.rizoma.com/universal/fluid-tanks/ct137-wave/en

Yeah, she's still banished. Wrench time recently devoted to a broken shift spring on my red LeMans... and other bikes need to get ridden.

The V11 Greenie is a Ding an Sich. The color cannot be perceived through photographs. My kids call mine Dewey. I assume it's in honor of the pragmatic philosopher John Dewey. Definition of Ding an sich - (in Kant's philosophy) a thing as it is in itself, not mediated through perception by the senses or conceptualization.

...from a guy with recent first (and oily) hand experience. A parts manual is really helpful for reference with questions like this. You can download from this site or use Harper's online diagrams.

If you still have your take-off levers, you can compare where the screws were set. For the calipers, you can cut a block of wood so you can work one piston at a time. You do not need to remove the calipers (as in my picture). Instead, you can use the brake lever to push out one piston at a time for cleaning. If you are not rebuilding the calipers, don't push the pistons all the way out.

Ducati is doing well with the Scrambler Family (Scrambly?). I see quite a few on the road here. And it looks like an 1100 cc version is on the way.

Well, to close out my potential trade... I rode the 1000 Supersport this morning and quite like it - both looks and performance. I find it attractive in person - better than the photos. Although this particular example had some nice features, there was too much wrong and it would become a big project for me to get it to the condition I would want it. So it won't be coming home. Besides that, I really want an ADV bike anyway.

All in good fun. You can help me ride 'em too - if you get bored of winter and feel like traveling. And Pierre Terblanche. He gets criticized for some designs... but he also gave Ducati the MH900E, the Sport Classics (including the gorgeous Paul Smart version) and the Hypermotard.

Glad you are still digging the 2-stroke. And yes, there are many good used bikes available for low prices. But this thread started off looking at V11 Sport Rivals. I wouldn't have the Ducati instead of a V11, only next to a V11. But I can think of some local roads where I would prefer a Duck over a Goose.