Scud

I've been noticing variable lever travel on my LeMans' front brake - and it's time for tires anyway. Has anybody used All-Balls bearings for any length of time? I installed some of their bearings recently in other places and they seem good quality - and super affordable. For example, a pair of front bearings for 2003 (both same size) is $12.31. All Balls part number 25-1571. They actually list 2003 and 2004 Moto Guzzi V11 as an option on their website - but they don't list the earlier years (with 2 different front bearings).

Oh yeah, the Southernmost section of 33 is amazing. Been on it several times from Ojai all the way to Coalinga. But it's over 150 miles of mostly lane-splitting slab just to get to it. So it's a real treat when I can get close to it AND have enough time to enjoy it. However, daughter #2 will be going to college in San Luis Obispo starting next year. 33 and many other enticing routes await college visitations. I thank you, Chuck, for the rain... and I thank my daughters for choosing to go to school in interesting places. Plexiform - you gotta ride 33 when it re-opens. Till then, go have lunch at Pine Mountain Pizza Company. It's only 6,000 vertical feet away from you. LeMans' tires are toast...

I woke up this morning and... ...watched some sea otters in the ocean near San Luis Obispo (Avila Beach). Then I met Plexiform and got to see his most excellent stable of bikes and a Porsche. Then followed him on his Scura-Italia out Highway 166 through impossibly luscious green rain-soaked hillsides. Then continued solo for about 100 miles of high-speed sweepers, wide open spaces and one of my favorites climbs into Los Padres National Forest. I desperately wanted to ride Highway 33, but it was closed due to landslides. I visit the snow. The snow doesn't visit me. Then I paid the price with about 40 miles of lane-splitting through Los Angeles on the way home.

Even though it's green it's worth keeping. :-) I bought a complete low-mile trans recently for less than a rebuild would cost. This is fixable. No more talk of parting that beauty out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The vent is in front of the swingarm. There's a picture in my recent clutch and shifting problem thread. I don't know if you will need to remove swingarm and subframe to get to the vent. But I had to so I could remove clutch slave. I also posted a pic of the rear trans casting on Lucky Phil's thread about the output shaft seal. Haven't figured out pics. From Tapatalk yet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The red is a surprisingly good match. That's hard to do. Especially with free shipping... And surely you jest. I live on the slippery slope. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Surrender to the dark side, Chuck.

I wheely don't know, docc. It's still going to be a while till this is a runner.

Well Chuck, to each their own. I think I would have put black gaiters on the Aero Lario. But if you want some audacious... I put the side-stand on and wheeled this one out into the sun. ...and now that cylinder head paint doesn't look so good...

That's a fair day's work, for sure. The grey cover goes with the tailpiece, but I agree that black would be better. So you use the HF tire changer without the top arm? That's a good idea. I always fight with that thing. Off with it...

You mean these...

All the motorcycle parts are officially moved out of the house. I fit the engine to test the clutch operation, and it works, so I'm pleased about that. It's gotta come back out for paint though. I couldn't resist doing a quick preview. Plus, I had to "store" all those parts somewhere... So glad I bought new stainless hardware. Nothing but stainless would work with the Candy-Apple.

http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=56 A bunch of Ducatis used the same levers, so your chances of finding a used original might be pretty good. There's a list here: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19514&p=211559

nobles - that's a good technique. Maybe you should also post it in the Veglia thread so more people can find it later. moto - it's easier on this side, because there's a huge shelf full of crap on the other side. Seriously, I haven't tried it the other way. I just got the stand with this project. I did notice that the lower porkchop nuts were kind of beat up from the stand. So I split some old rubber hose and made pads for the Vs that contact the bolts. And... I got the backend together so she's standing on her own two feet again... and I got some more stuff off my bench. Ironically, this is about the same state of assembly as the photo you picked from near the start of the project.

Could we get a long-term-test report? How is the paint holding up? And what kind of paint did you use?

Here's a link to a most-excellent how-to on opening the gauges. http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16407 Maybe I will revisit this later. It looks like a good evening or rainy-day job.

I think there would be room with the stock hugger. If you want to remove your seat lock, just file some grooves in the security screws - then you can take if off with a screwdriver.

Ha - reminds me of what JB said recently about "learned restraint" being useful. And I've got lots of other stuff to do - like strip and paint the engine.

And the gauges are finally off my bench... Bars and gauges "before" and "after" with original clip-ons re-installed: Powercoated: fairing bracket, top triple clamp, warning light cover, reservoir brackets New: clear plastic warning light cover, reservoirs (donated from Scura), grips, stainless fasteners, and another fresh aguila. Let there be no more spare keys bouncing on the aguila... And hydraulic systems flushed with Motul DOT 5.1 fluid. I seriously thought about trying to open the gauges to paint the needles... but that looks like quite a hassle. I found two methods: one to peel the folded metal away from the back of the bevel ring, and the other to cut the case off with a dremel and then reattach it.

Sounds like a good adventure. Congratulations. Do we get peek?

Like Chuck said, look for wear. The footpegs and foot levers (if original) don't lie. Are they polished from many miles of wear - shifting and braking? If yes... lots of miles, if no... believe the odometer. On the V11s, and I assume the same for the Jackal, there are many dabs of yellow paint where things were "set" at the factory. If the dabs of yellow paint are undisturbed, that's another low-mileage clue.

Harper's shows it available with a note: "NOS, limited supply."

Well Chuck, I've got some motivation, because I need to clear a bunch of parts out of my oldest daughter's room before she comes home for spring break. If I get the gauges back on and the hydraulic reservoirs filled, then I can put the fairing back on. That's the biggest "parts-in-house" violation I have going right now.

Time to go riding...

I finally finished up the transmission. The whole misadventure started because I thought I would pre-emptively replace the pawl spring. As it turns out, that spring was seriously fatigued and probably about ready to break. Seals arrived recently, so I was able to get the transmission back together and installed. Also put in the Hyperpro shock, since I moved the Ohlins from this bike over to my red LeMans, which had the Hyperpro on it. Soooo glad to get the transmission off my bench. ...and a shiny new aguila.