audiomick Posted March 14 Posted March 14 (edited) 3 hours ago, Gmc28 said: ..., the V11 was an acquired taste for me.... Me too, actually. Not the motor, I knew I'd love that. A flatmate had a Le Mans III in the late '80's, and I really liked it, and I was convinced that a more modern version of the motor must be good. It is, perhaps even more than I expected. But the styling... I still can't really come at a V11 without the Le Mans fairing. And even the Le Mans took a couple of months to grow on me. Riding it helped convince me, of course. Edited March 14 by audiomick 3
PJPR01 Posted March 14 Posted March 14 The Griso is a more acquired taste riding wise. Styling wise, it's a beauty, but it took me a while to "bond" with the bike, after doing the right ergonomic modifications, it became a wonderful fit. The Scura, straight out of the gate, both stylistically and ergonomically was perfect. 3
docc Posted March 14 Posted March 14 2 hours ago, audiomick said: Me too, actually. Not the motor, I knew I'd love that. A flatmate had a Le Mans III in the late '80's, and I really liked it, and I was convinced that a more modern version of the motor must be good. It is, perhaps even more than I expected. But the styling... I still can't really come at a V11 without the Le Mans fairing. And even the Le Mans took a couple of months to grow on me. Riding it helped convince me, of course. I had owned my V11 Sport sixteen (16!) years before the styling was revealed to me in an interview with the designer, Luciano Marabese, referencing the Gambalunghino as the design reference. This brought the whole design together for me after being frustrated looking for (absent) V7 Sport cues which period journalists, erroneously, reported the V11 Sport was an homage to. 3
guzzler Posted March 15 Posted March 15 I'll never forget the day I went to look at the Green one... As I've said before I actually called them ( the shop ) to enquire about it and remember asking about the colour.....It' not that lurid green one is it? My heart sank when they said yes as I really wanted a silver one! Anyway during the next week, the boys at work convinced me I could always paint it, and I should go and take a look at it...and so I did. You know even in a sea of exotica...MV Agusta's, Ducati's (modern and even a green frame replica! ) the odd Aprillia and the owners Vincent collection, you get the picture....The V11 STOOD OUT from the crowd! I was smitten completely the moment she fired up and bought her on the spot. The shop told me afterwards that the colour would grow on me and even though it was some time before I actually got my hands on her they were right and I can't imagine now how I didn't like the green at first! I love the bloody thing even more now! Cheers Ps I think the V11 LeMans looks much better in reality than some photos too. Pps Sorry but ole greenie is just a supermodel..... 7
docc Posted March 15 Posted March 15 41 minutes ago, guzzler said: I'll never forget the day I went to look at the Green one... As I've said before I actually called them ( the shop ) to enquire about it and remember asking about the colour.....It' not that lurid green one is it? My heart sank when they said yes as I really wanted a silver one! Anyway during the next week, the boys at work convinced me I could always paint it, and I should go and take a look at it...and so I did. You know even in a sea of exotica...MV Agusta's, Ducati's (modern and even a green frame replica! ) the odd Aprillia and the owners Vincent collection, you get the picture....The V11 STOOD OUT from the crowd! I was smitten completely the moment she fired up and bought her on the spot. The shop told me afterwards that the colour would grow on me and even though it was some time before I actually got my hands on her they were right and I can't imagine now how I didn't like the green at first! I love the bloody thing even more now! Cheers Ps I think the V11 LeMans looks much better in reality than some photos too. Pps Sorry but ole greenie is just a supermodel..... This took some doing, but I found this pic of @guzzler's GreenQueen . . . 9
Bill Hagan Posted March 15 Posted March 15 (edited) On 2/28/2025 at 12:02 PM, droydx said: Still amazed by this bike, after 20 + years. Here picking it up in New Orleans in 2004 on my 50th birthday, an incredible gift from my wonderful wife. The next year Hurricane Katrina would wash this shop away! The Rosso still runs strong....I compare it to my other Guzzi, a 2022 V85 Guardia d Onore, and it has about 100% more Guzzi soul. Yes, both the bike and the wife are keepers for life. Andy I, too, have a wonderful wife who indulges my Mandello Syndrome. Don't want to mess that up by using the word "lust" here, but that sure fits my (continuing) yearning for a Rosso Corsa. I happened to be in an Atlanta dealer c. 2004 looking at one in their showroom window. As I drooled, a truck pulled up. loaded it, and took it to https://www.barbermuseum.org where, at least, I and others can look longingly at it. About the only "cheesecake" in my Moto Grappa is this ... I do, however, disagree, Andy, with your assessment about Moto Guzzi "soul" vis a' vis the V85. Aside from having, as do you, a saintly wife, I, too, own an "Oreo Guard." My V11, a Ballabio ... ... left my Moto Grappa, actually, even earlier, the Moto Grappa's beloved Atlanta predecessor, the GarageMahalo ... It makes me smile to think of it. With those Mistral cans, it made riding along water courses on backroads, inside tight, palisaded valley walls an absolute aural, and near-spiritual delight. It's why we ride motorcycles and Moto Guzzis, in particular. But, ah, the Guardia. When I first saw a V85, I found its "beak" and other Jurassic Park looks off-putting. I still am not at complete peace with that. Yet, overall -- after owning seven new Guzzis and ridden at least a dozen more from several Loops, two Nuovo Falcones, lots of Tontis, a Centauro, my own and others' Spines, and (ditto) Carcs, including several Spine LeMans variants, I think the V85 has 100% Mandello DNA, and ever bit as much of that elusive "soul" -- but, as did the SCOTUS justice, Potter Stewart, with pornography, we know when we see it. It is -- again, IMO, i.e., YMMV -- quirky beyond its gawky looks. Power? No, not the raw grunt of my Griso, or visceral joy of my Ballabio. Still, way enough for me; youngsters in years and personality may disagree. Comfort for long multi-day rides? Best of any motorcycle I've ever ridden. Better than my Norge -- minus weather protection. OK, wait; I did ride a 2003 Goldwing for some miles once. It wins. Go anywhere, even off-pavement? Except with my spunky little "Let's go!" Stornello, I am rarely on gravel, and never (Intentionally) with my EV or V85, on dirt, dual-track, or worse, but I get there more often than I want by following my GPS instead of tempering that with common sense. Handling? I find the V85 composed, willing, and certainly more capable than I am to take on the tight stuff at speed. I rode two V85's -- a '22 & a '25 -- in Corsica and Sardinia last fall. The pace was way faster than I like to ride on technical and unforgiving roads, but the V85's just said "Hang on!" and I did. Overall, it's Best in (My) Show ... [For C&W connoisseurs, in the second pic, that's Patsy Cline's first home on Back Creek Road near Gore, Virginia. ] Enough, with apologies for droning on, but I needed to help Andy understand that he was wrong. Seriously, how blessed we all are to ride this remarkable marque. Whichever Guzzi I am riding at the moment is my favorite. That is a great reminder that I need to get the V85 off of the lift ... ...and road ready for a jaunt to see the grands and then house- (and dog, cat, & gerbil!) sit in N.C. next month, followed by the Mutton Run to Kentucky and Catfish Crawl in the Ozarks. Retirement: best job I've ever had. Ciao! Bill Edited March 15 by Bill Hagan 8
Gmc28 Posted March 16 Posted March 16 On 3/14/2025 at 9:12 PM, docc said: This took some doing, but I found this pic of @guzzler's GreenQueen . . . And she’s in lovely company, with a blue (less common) ST4, and a red 1st gen multistrada, bikes i enjoyed riding, each unique in their own way. 1
Jaide Posted March 16 Posted March 16 On 3/14/2025 at 5:05 PM, David Konings said: Hi Jaide, Thanks, looks identical indeed. I’ll order one and see how it fits. How is the light performance? Regards, David Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk I haven't ridden in the dark with it yet, all I can tell you is that the DRL is fine. I guess we'll both find out the hard way! 2
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