Another V11

[Guzzimax]

Greetings everyone, first post but I’ve been lurking around for some time. I’m a long standing Guzzi owner with maybe too many V11’s and a Griso 8V. The current crew consist of an early red framed 1999 V11 Sport, a black framed 2003 V11 Sport, a recently purchased 2003 Rosso Corsa and a 2004 Le Mans which I’m planning to sell now that I’ve acquired the Rosso Corsa.

I’ve seen a Ballabio that’s caught my attention, and I’m interested in your opinions if there is anything the Ballabio does that the “standard” V11 Sport doesn’t? Both my current red and black framed V11 Sports are keepers being very low mileage almost immaculate examples that  I wouldn’t want to sell

Any thoughts would be most welcome

 

[docc]

[fotoguzzi]

Yes it has one Different thing, the ugly fairing gene. 

[Guzzimax]

My Rosso Corsa and V11 Sports

[docc]

29 minutes ago, fotoguzzi said:

Yes it has one Different thing, the ugly gene. That fairing/ screen looks way out of place.

Heh, I've never been fond (either) of the headlmap/instruments that stand off, frame-mounted, on the Ballabio and Café Sport. 

Otherwise, Guzzimax, the Ballabio will have the same frame as your 2003 Sport, but with handlebars instead of clip-ons . . . (Yet, I'm looking at your nice "maroon" 2003 Sport and it looks to be a "carry-over" 2002 with chin-pad/short tank, white face Veglia, etc. I can't tell , but are those actually clip-ons or handlebars?)

[Guzzimax]

The V11 LeMans, Griso and MT01

[Guzzimax]

My 2003 Sport has the black faced instruments 

[Guzzimax]

Opps something went wrong with the pic upload!

[Guzzimax]

My 2003 Sport has the crinkly engine paint, blank faced instruments, and clips ons that are above the triple clamps. It’s fitted with Mistral cans

[docc]

5 minutes ago, Guzzimax said:

My 2003 Sport has the crinkly engine paint, blank faced instruments, and clips ons that are above the triple clamps. It’s fitted with Mistral cans

Yeah, "transitional" model with mostly 2002 features, yet the later black face (ITI?) gauges without the angle drives for the cable.

I wonder if the Ballabio handlebars would be any higher, or just put the hands at a different angle . . .

[Guzzimax]

I think the Ballabio handlebars would be around the same height, but would angle the hands differently. The bars appear similar to those of my Griso, very comfortable when riding gently, but a lot of wind resistance when “making progress” but I suppose the Ballabio’s small (ugly) fairing would help a lot...

[LowRyter]

That MT01 is a bike that we never got in the States.  How about a little description?  

[Guzzimax]

What can I say about the MT01...a combination of a 1670 cc pushrod air-cooled V Twin with massive torque, something like 2600 rpm at 70 mph, but forks and brakes from an R1, all wrapped up in an aluminium frame, it’s a unique riding experiance. Didn’t sell well at all when launched in the UK as Yamaha were very over optimistic with their pricing, so they are now quite rare over here. Now getting more appreciation and becoming a little collectible. 

[LowRyter]

It's got the big "Star" engine in a naked frame?

[Guzzimax]

Yep, it’s the Roadstar engine in a naked die-cast aluminium frame, upside down forks, R1 brakes, Akrapovic exhaust cans, bit of a unique machine