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

[Oxfo-Moto]

51 minutes ago, audiomick said:

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

"Well darling, audiomick told me I needed one, so here it is".

That should seal the deal😂

[Oxfo-Moto]

18 minutes ago, audiomick said:

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.

I'm just hoping it rides as good as it looks. And if the bouncer in the dinner suit looks like Dakota Ditcheva (Google her) then I'm quids in. 

Thanks for the reply.

[alannn]

V11 Le Mans is less practical, more engaging, and more fun. 

[audiomick]

19 minutes ago, Oxfo-Moto said:

...Dakota Ditcheva...

I was going to just say "bingo",  but @alannn probably hit the nail right on the head.

 

PS: although I'm not quite sure about the "less practical". I've done rides of more than two hours. I find the riding position very good (I'm about 176 cm), the seat comfortable, the wind protection pretty good, and you can put a luggage rack on it if you want to.

PPS: the pillion seat is shithouse, though.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:29 AM by audiomick

[docc]

We do have several members here with, or having had, both a Griso and V11, like @Scud.

I would be curious what MisterÜberGriso, @pete roper, has to say about the comparison. I was surprised to see him express some admiration for the SpineFrame V11 recently having previously only noted him saying, "The V11 doesn't crash well. "

The question being, "What with a Griso, then why also a V11?"

 

[pete roper]

My comment about them not crashing well wasn’t so much a criticism as a simple statement of fact. They don’t!

Thing is they aren’t designed to be crashed so in terms of their performance and ability as a motorbike it’s an irrelevance.

If I was a few years younger I’d be seriously looking for a V11 now but I’m old and unhealthy and don’t have much money for fripperies and toys any more since I retired and with my current stable of bikes I certainly can’t justify another one!

The biggest issue with the Spineframe series to me is that they were designed and built at a time when the factory was very cash strapped and therefore some of the design features, (The outrigger bearing in the bevelbox casing is a good example.) are a bit ‘Poverty Pack’ and poorly thought out. Other parts though like the four shaft gearbox are a delight! I wish that had been carried over into the CARC series as a good one is a real joy to use!

Look, they are what they are. The only way to know if you want to buy one is to ride one. So what are you waiting for?

[docc]

@Bill Hagan,  @KINDOY2, and @Guzzimax also come to mind as having, or have had, both Griso and V11 SpineFrames.

@Guzzimax might be an especial influence as Derbyshire looks to be some 130 miles from Oxford . . .

 

[docc]

1 hour ago, Oxfo-Moto said:

I'm just hoping it rides as good as it looks. And if the bouncer in a dinner suit looks like Dakota Ditcheva (Google her) then I'm quids in. 

Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking more "dancer in a party dress " . . .

[PJPR01]

3 hours ago, audiomick said:

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.

Almost true...the 2V 1200 Norge engine is significantly better than the 2V 1100 in the V11 series.

However...having said that, owning and enjoying a 2002 V11 Scura, a 2008 2V Norge and a 2015 4V Griso...all I can say is: 

N+1 is the correct # of motorcycles you should have, with N being the current number!

By all means delve into the V11 series...worst case scenario, you could sell it, but I doubt that would happen.  The V11 series of bikes are extremely intuitive to ride, love the twisties and are very easy to work on, with the exception of some oddly placed zerk fittings...but to be fair, all of the Guzzi bikes have something unique about them.  I have yet to find a reason to sell any one after having acquired another one.

Edited yesterday at 02:58 AM by PJPR01

[activpop]

I've been known to dabble...

[docc]

1 minute ago, activpop said:

I've been known to dabble...

Inmates are coming out of the woodwork, now!    

What say you, @activpop? Why a V11 on top of  a Griso?

[alannn]

3 hours ago, audiomick said:

I was going to just say "bingo",  but @alannn probably hit the nail right on the head.

 

PS: although I'm not quite sure about the "less practical". I've done rides of more than two hours. I find the riding position very good (I'm about 176 cm), the seat comfortable, the wind protection pretty good, and you can put a luggage rack on it if you want to.

PPS: the pillion seat is shithouse, though.

 

 

I also questioned "less practical" as I typed it because the V11 Lemans is not an impractical bike overall compared to many other more specialized bikes. Perhaps I should have instead said, less versatile. Yet again, it is more versatile than many other more specialized bikes.

The Griso and V85tt both simply happen to be excellent do everything bikes.

The most obvious answer is @Oxfo-Moto needs the V11 Lemans so as not to miss out on it's extraordinary riding experience. Very very different experience than riding my Stelvio which I love in a different way. 

[gstallons]

19 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...

You need a V11 because you don't have one

[Oxfo-Moto]

3 minutes ago, gstallons said:

You need a V11 because you don't have one

And that, sir, is the correct answer.

[gstallons]

The Griso and the V85TT are some righteous bikes.  Get your prescription filled ASAP . Disclaimer : this bike is meant to be ridden , worked on in equal amounts. 

 Have you been looking at a particular bike ?