Give me one good reason why I should (or shouldn't) buy a V11 Le Mans?

[Oxfo-Moto]

I'm a fairly new convert to Moto Guzzi, having owned a 2007 4v Griso for 5 years and a V85TT for 3 months.  But, as I suspect is the case with the majority of folk lurking here, I seem to have contracted a severe case of Guzzitis.  As any medical practitioner will tell you an '-itis' involves inflammation or, in lay terms, swelling. Now this maladie is making me positively giddy with the idea of swelling the number of transverse V-twins from Italy in my garage.  One bike that totally went under my radar was the V11 Le Mans which I saw for the 1st time a matter of days ago, and which I now can't get out of my head.  Bellissimo! So tell me why should I risk my marriage by buying another Guzzi and do I really need 3 of them?  What will the V11 offer me that the other 2 don't?

 

Over to you...

[docc]

Rather than a simple case if "-itis ", the triage suggests a more plausible diagnosis of "-mania " (some seemingly irrational psycho-emotional affectation that pervades an individual's behavior, life choices, and risk taking).

Let's ask the other inmates on the ward if this V11 idea is really crazy . . .  

 > Oh yeah, @Oxfo-Moto, you're in the right place! 

[p6x]

1 hour ago, Oxfo-Moto said:

do I really need 3 of them?

I am currently going through the same ordeal...

I own a V11 Le Mans (2004), a Quota 1100 ES (2000), and would like to acquire a Stelvio 1200 NTX (2013) which I have already sourced and am lacking the physical space to purchase.

It's all academical anyway; how can you justify owning several motorcycles? what would be the rational explanation, since you can only ride one at a time?

The pleasure of possession? I have them, so they are mine, and I can do what I want with them?

I like to think of it in the practicality way. I don't do leisure motorcycle riding. I ride my bike for errands, whatever those maybe. Here in Texas, it is actually the standard practice to have one or more "weekend vehicle"; you have your commute vehicle, and then the leisure pleasure one or ones.

My Quota is my daily rider. Whatever I need to do, it gets first call. Short or long distance trip, the Quota has just filled in the spot. The V11 is different, and has been a purchase from the heart, for multiple reasons. When I was working in Sicily, the Work overs/completions Superintendent of Agip who was one of main work provider owned one. At the time I was running a Harley Davidson Sporster, the only one on the island, possibly. I took to the Le Mans immediately. I had a company car, but I left it at the base and used my Harley for everything. Rain or shine! I never had time to purchase a Guzzi, because I got transferred. I decided to get one now to make it a late dream come true.

The Stelvio 1200 NTX is the second Guzzi I sought. It was replaced wiith the Quota since the first Stelvio I checked had the seat in the highest setting, and at the time, I did not know there was a lower position. The Stelvio 1200 NTX being a diplodocus, you don't want to drop it if you need to move it around in your garage. I have posted enough photos of how I am setup, and I need to move two motorcycles to get to my car. With the Stelvio, it would be three.

The Stelvio would be the long distance runner. Not that I have not done that on the V11 already, or the Quota; I have done the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas since 2021, and I have used the V11 up to 2023 to make all the stops. The Quota joined the Le Mans in 2024, so I used both. This year, I have so far only used the Quota. However the Le Mans comes out for errands too, since I use the Quota for the tour.

So what do you tell your wife?

does she need all these handbags?

does she need all these shoes?

how many perfumes can she wear at any one time?

how many coats, outfits does she need to own, some of them only came out once from the wardrobe?

The Guzzi passion is just like a religion. Once you have adopted the cult, you need more than one catechism to understand its wisdom.

[gstallons]

Well, those questions addressed to your spouse are all good and valid points to win an argument with . After winning the debate , you might find the Amusement Park closed or very limited hours of operation . Better think of a different strategy !

[68C]

Moto Guzzi, making engineers from motorcyclists since 1921.

Still love the slow lumbering beasts though.  Had a Yamaha XS750 triple, it was what everyone wanted - shaft drive, electric start, three disc brakes, faster than any brit bike.  But.....wound it up, easily clicked through the gears, 130mph.....but no sense of feedback, "Is that it?" I thought.  Took it on rallies, it just drove there with no drama, no roadside repairs or tales of derring do, may as well have taken the car.   Six months later sold it for a new '78 850 Guzzi  T3.  Loads of fun, engine torque rolling you from side to side as you blip the throttle in the car park.  Get it wound up and feel the back end lift as the swinging arm is pushed down.   But of course soon learn not to shut off in a corner as then the rear lifts which makes for interesting handling.  None of that old character on a Le Man's Sport of course, lighter flywheel and the floating rear bevel box smooth out such hooligan things.  

[Tomchri]

We can call it whatever we want. The misses thing, she likes to come along looking at bikes, and buying.  Seems your bitten already, go get yourself a V11 Le Mans.  You will love the engine, you already like the look. Very good for your health to. Smiles entering the garage.

heers Tom.

[Lucky Phil]

9 hours ago, Oxfo-Moto said:

I'm a fairly new convert to Moto Guzzi, having owned a 2007 4v Griso for 5 years and a V85TT for 3 months.  But, as I suspect is the case with the majority of folk lurking here, I seem to have contracted a severe case of Guzzitis.  As any medical practitioner will tell you an '-itis' involves inflammation or, in lay terms, swelling. Now this maladie is making me positively giddy with the idea of swelling the number of transverse V-twins from Italy in my garage.  One bike that totally went under my radar was the V11 Le Mans which I saw for the 1st time a matter of days ago, and which I now can't get out of my head.  Bellissimo! So tell me why should I risk my marriage by buying another Guzzi and do I really need 3 of them?  What will the V11 offer me that the other 2 don't?

 

Over to you...

If you're worried about being consigned to the dog house by your wife then you're not MAN enough for a V11 Le Mans or Sport

Phil

[Oxfo-Moto]

I'm not man enough to lift my Griso when I drop it moving it into my garage. Had to get my mate's 16 year old son to help lift it.

And you've obviously not met my wife...

15 minutes ago, Lucky Phil said:

If you're worried about being consigned to the dog house by your wife then you're not MAN enough for a V11 Le Mans or Sport

Phil

 

[Oxfo-Moto]

7 hours ago, p6x said:

 

So what do you tell your wife?

does she need all these handbags?

Argh! I have more motorcycles than she has handbags.

[Scud]

9 hours ago, Oxfo-Moto said:

 What will the V11 offer me that the other 2 don't?

Over to you...

The V11 will give you a more sporty and crisp-handling bike that is still comfortable for distance. And it will give you the chance to hang out here with the cool kids.

The V11 represents an entirely different era of Moto Guzzi. You have a modern trellis-framed V85 and a CARC bike (the Griso).  You obviously need a spine frame (the V11). BTW, you will probably need to add a Tonti-framed bike soon. And you can keep going back one generation at a time with your ensuing purchases... a loop frame would be next.

[Oxfo-Moto]

6 hours ago, gstallons said:

After winning the debate , you might find the Amusement Park closed or very limited hours of operation . Better think of a different strategy !

The amusement park is overgrown, the gates are padlocked and the whole area is patrolled by Rottweilers

[Oxfo-Moto]

5 minutes ago, Scud said:

The V11 will give you a more sporty and crisp-handling bike that is still comfortable for distance. And it will give you the chance to hang out here with the cool kids.

The V11 represents an entirely different era of Moto Guzzi. You have a modern trellis-framed V85 and a CARC bike (the Griso).  You obviously need a spine frame (the V11). BTW, you will probably need to add a Tonti-framed bike soon. And you can keep going back one generation at a time with your ensuing purchases... a loop frame would be next.

FFS! My marriage is doomed...

[audiomick]

9 hours ago, Oxfo-Moto said:

... do I really need 3 of them? 

Of course. I've got three. Everyone should have three.

Mine are a V35 Imola, a Breva 750 i.e. , and a V11 Le Mans. All very different, but still all very much Guzzi.

My Le Mans is actually a problem case. It obviously had one or more somewhat less finicky previous owners, and I've already fixed a number of things. Right at the moment, it is waiting on at least a new fork seal, maybe a fork re-build, and it doesn't run at all well between 2,000 and 3,000 revs. Might be the timing sensor, I think.

Despite all that, I love it. You need one.

[swooshdave]

1 hour ago, Lucky Phil said:

If you're worried about being consigned to the dog house by your wife then you're not MAN enough for a V11 Le Mans or Sport

Phil

No, that's more 1200 Sport category. 

[audiomick]

10 hours ago, Oxfo-Moto said:

... What will the V11 offer me that the other 2 don't?

A more serious attempt at that question.

I haven't ridden a 4-V big-block (your Griso, for instance) or a V85, but...

The 4-valve head is the "modern" iteration of the old big block motor. From what I've heard and read, it is very good. The V85 is the latest generation of the motor in my V35 and my Breva. By all accounts, also very good.

The motor in the V11 is more or less the ultimate developement of the 2-valve big block motors. As far as I understand it, the motor in the 2-valve Griso, 1100 Breva and 1100 Norge was not much different, but they were all CARC models and a bit more refined than a "classic" Guzzi. The V11 has the spine frame, so not a classic Tonti frame and therefore not quite a classic Guzzi anymore, but also not that far away from it because of the motor.

What you have is a big, classic Guzzi twin tuned to within an inch of it's life wrapped up in a pretty good frame and suspension. In its time, very good. All the character of the old Guzzi V-twin combined with pretty snappy motor response, and very useful handling and brakes. It is a combination I like.

The difference to the other two you have? Barely concealed brute force. A bit like a bouncer in a dinner suit.

Edited Wednesday at 11:54 PM by audiomick