Scud

Breakdown the route for us, if you could........... JB - I think you know many of these roads. I've seen pics of your bike out there. Here's a google map. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.9901601,-116.0222028/Carlsbad,+CA/@33.5285999,-116.9180858,9.22z/data=!4m39!4m38!1m30!3m4!1m2!1d-115.9331916!2d33.5872469!3s0x80da65eddb039441:0x75605764f50435d9!3m4!1m2!1d-116.166733!2d33.5691673!3s0x80da5b09fabe0acb:0x10a27e27a4e0d4c7!3m4!1m2!1d-116.2448481!2d33.7073774!3s0x80daf83a91b48f31:0xedf2e3774c38808a!3m4!1m2!1d-116.6380739!2d33.5579545!3s0x80dba7b8e6bfeaf3:0x4504813c29dcd4c8!3m4!1m2!1d-117.141365!2d33.3896764!3s0x80db80cc2f1f6c0b:0x9cd03dd7b24568b3!3m4!1m2!1d-117.1845609!2d33.2927845!3s0x80dc78029cd0033d:0x1e86552575cc9435!1m5!1m1!1s0x80dc73453f3bee59:0xa4cb5592fcf65d2f!2m2!1d-117.3505939!2d33.1580933!3e0

As much as I enjoy the work, it's all about the riding. Yesterday was just magic. One of those perfect days between rains. The snow is down to about 6,000 feet and the mountain views were stunning. I had breakfast within view of 11,000 foot San Jacinto - all the puddles in the parking lot were still frozen solid and that cup of coffee was for my fingers first. 20 miles later I was in Palm Desert, where people were walking their toy-dogs while wearing shorts and sandals. I made my "pilgrimage" to Mecca (the actual name of a town at 200 feet below sea level) so I could ride Box Canyon on the way to... The Joshua Tree. ImageBullet the Blue Sky.

I'll tell you a story... There was a "neighborhood garage sale" - when everyone's supposed to get coordinated and sell stuff on the same day. My wife and I threw some crap in the driveway to try to participate and I was tinkering in the garage with the door open. A guy walks past all the driveway crap... comes right up to me and asks: "Do you have any tools for sale?" I said: "The tools will be at the estate sale when I'm dead."

Almost posted in the "What do you listen to" thread. U2's "The Joshua Tree" was the soundtrack to my life for about a year when it came out (1987). Still love it.

OK boys, this would all be very funny if it weren't so dangerously close to the truth... I told my riding buddy: "We can get drag it out of here - we can just put in a crate motor, tranny, suspension, electric, and glass. Done. Cruise it around as-is." Next time up there, I might really take a door. I think a truck door that's been shot-to hell developed a patina would look good in my office.

Rode into Joshua Tree National Park today. Some music seems appropriate:

Glad you're following the project. A while back, somebody said something like: "You never really own a V11. You just take care of it until it chooses a new owner."

Which engine to use? That's pretty easy - the complete one. However, I thought some of you might be interested to see two 2002 cases side by side. On the left, we have a case that was replaced under warranty and has done about 50,000 miles. On the right, we have a case that was not replaced - and you can see how the paint is starting to bubble and peel. This engine only had 12,000 miles on it - and it's likely to get much worse. I think I'm going to put the engine in as-is. The thought of stripping and repainting another engine is just more than I can bear. The transmission cleaned up well, but the paint also starting to bubble. I am going to repaint all the crinkle-painted parts behind the transmission (driveshaft collars, final drive case, and reaction rod). Joe had already repainted the final drive in Harley crinkle, but I'm going to put in the lower-milage one, which was already peeling badly. Here's a how a spine-frame would look as an inline V-twin. And if this is discovered, I think I will get penalized for "illegal use of corner." At least it's all freshly degreased... And if I may add... 50,000 miles can make quite a disgusting and stubborn mess inside an airbox.

And Docc - where did you get the badge you recently put on your alternator cover? Are chrome ones available?

The one on the alternator cover is curved, the others are flat. I think I have an extra one... I'll go dig around and see.

Spine Raid in my garage!! It's a fun puzzle to put this bike back together with the best of whatever bits I have... I grabbed the rear axle from the parts bike today, because the Champagne's rear axle had clearly been overheated, probably during a wheel-bearing failure. And the clutch and brake reservoirs and brackets from the Scura (from when I put those pretty Rizoma tanks on).... and... and... and... now I need to "re-organize" and get myself some working space again.

You just have to degrease things really well. They'll sandblast, but they want to start with clean parts. You also have to carefully think through where you would like them to mask. Obviously all threaded parts and places where you will need to install a gasket, but there are some mating surfaces or other places where the thickness of the powder can interfere. If you find a good shop, they'll help you figure it out.

Oh - I just place an order with DigiKey for the Omrons - and the website said it was on backorder. Is it important that they are sealed? I mean for application on the V11, they are always dry under the seat. Do we know anything about the Panasonics?

Haha... I recently told my wife that I had found two projects that I wanted to do. She was busy and said something like, "Interesting, ok..." which I obviously translated as "Fantastic idea, go for it." Then when this bike showed up a couple days after I drug home another K75s, I needed to remind her about that conversation, and she said "Oh, I'm going to have to start paying closer attention." The moral of the story? Ask when she's distracted. If you think you'd like the bike, I'd be honored to finish it up with you in mind. But the pressure would be on not to bugger it up... sort of intimidating for the apprentice to build something for the master. I'll send you a PM later. In other news, my powder coater was moderately amused to see me again today. Mid bid, a "real" customer walked in and said "How much to do 1,000 of these parts every year?" But they'll still do my little job for less than $300. Apparently the Candy-Apple is a two-step process and costs more than the black. They powdercoat it in silver-flake, then powercoat it again in a translucent red.

That sounds like a good decision - especially if your heart is set on red or black. You might place a "want to buy" ad over at Wild Guzzi. I remember a guy recently having a hard time selling a Nero Corsa. Maybe he still has it and a "wanted" ad would get his attention. If I could set aside my own irrational enthusiasm for my Scura, I would say the Nero Corsa is probably the most desirable model of the whole V11 series. You get the refinements from the end of the production run of the V11s, you get full Ohlins suspension, a super-cool paint job, and the fairing, which you seem to like. Fly and ride is fun.

There is a candy apple red powdercoat that is pretty close to the original red. The shade is super-close (maybe just a touch darker, which I like), but it looks like it has little flecks in it. On the last page I posted a picture with a sample candy-apple washer taped to the porkchop. I think the original paint is some sort of multi-stage process, which would be difficult to duplicate. I'll take a picture of coated one next to an original on my Scura - we'll see how close it really is. The super-sexy red porkchops started in 2002. Before that, they were a solid red, and after that some models got them and others got different colors. I think the red valve covers on the Rosso and Nero Corsa look great - but too bad they are not exactly the same red as the porkchop. I'm going to get them to match on this bike - and toss in alternator cover for good measure. Something about pork and apples just seems right... and champagne. A classy culinary color palette for a motorcycle...

Yes - the porkchops cleaned up quite well, but they are faded in spots, peeling in other spots, and have some chips.

Progress report: Degreased frame and wiring harness - some nasty-smelling old gas spilled out of the fuel lines. Ordered new Wix fuel filter and stainless hose clamps - gonna replace all the fuel lines while it's easy (noticed some cracks). Ordered a set of 5 Omron 5-pin relays; let's just take old relays out of the equation right now...... Told the herd: "sharing is caring." So the Scura gave her Yausa battery to the cause (and she got a new Odyssey). The red LeMans will donate slightly aged mirrors (and get a brand new set). She'll also trade the near-new Hyperpro shock in exchange for the rebuilt Ohlins shock. Just put the Joe Kenny head guards on the LeMans. And it looks like the "parts bike" is giving a motor, driveshaft, final drive, and maybe some clutch parts - all with 12,000 miles (as opposed to the 50,000 on Champagne's odometer and transmission). It seems the red LeMans doesn't play fair and is rather self-indulgent. And a few degreased parts ready for powdercoating.

For Moto Guzzis, what's more iconic than a red LeMans? I mean, besides a black Eldorado... or an original green V7 Sport? And wouldn't they make nice stable-mates? Springtime will probably bring a few more bikes out for sale. For the record, I paid a bit less than $3,500 for my red LeMans with unknown mileage, and it took a lot of work to get it in order. Low-miles and unmodified is worth a premium - especially if you intend to keep it a long time and ride it a lot. $4,000 for a low-mileage Champagne would be hard to pass-up... what to do? what to do? I think that if I someday decide to do a full restoration of a vintage bike that something in the V700, Eldorado, Ambassador genre would be my choice. Yours looks great.

I've got a champagne project going on right now at this thread: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19680 I'm hoping to get it done and put it up for sale by spring or early summer. I expect to price it in the range Chuck suggested - and that will be in 100% roadworthy condition with no deferred maintenance. If the suspension has never been serviced, you might factor that into the price. The rest of the service will be easy, as you mentioned you have done a full restoration of a 1973 Eldorado. Might we get a glimpse of that?

Well buying a motorcycle is not a totally rational decision. So why pretend it is? You SHOULD love it - or don't buy it. But could you let your love wait and find greater fulfillment with a different model? Have you seen the page where all the model year differences are described? If not, here's a link: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5691 The champagne LeMans is so pretty...

Even if the battery goes dead - save it for "originality." Some guy will be doing a full concourse restoration of a V11 in 20 years and will pay big money for an "original" battery.

Probably good for another 15 years.