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Just an update... Went at it for a while with this exhaust expander tool from Harbor Freight: https://www.harborfreight.com/exhaust-pipe-expander-large-59698.html. Was able to get the end of the muffler round again and also pushed out a deep dent a few inches down left by the muffler getting smashed down onto the lower shock nut. Really cool tool and it took only 10 minutes or so of playing around with it to push out the dents! Used a dolly from a HF bodywork kit (but could have also use a hammer and some metal pipe) to straighten out the end cap edge. Gouges in the Jet Hot coating remain as evidence of the damage but I think with some filing/sanding and a re-coating you'd be hard-pressed to tell it was ever damaged! Just wish there was a way I could touch up the ceramic without having to pay to have the mufflers re-coated...
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« Last post by DoubleGuzzi on July 06, 2025, 08:12:18 PM »
...Clavical, Scapula, top three ribs.
Ouch! Yup, we can improve our chances for a near miss but sometimes it's just impossible. I once woke up in an ambulance 'cos some spotty toe rag of a kid decided to play chicken with traffic - witnesses said that I had no chance to react. Bike was nearly totalled, the brat got a broken leg for a game reward and I got away with very minor injuries; fortunately I wasn't going fast at the time (<40mph). That was many moons ago and my Z250 was never quite the same after that.
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« Last post by Offcamber1 on July 06, 2025, 07:22:13 PM »
Bummer, but glad you are mending.
As for reaction times, when I hit one in 2007 I was rounding a gentle sweeping left hand turn with a corn field with 8ft high corn. Unfortunately, the farmers here will plant as close to the road as they can get away with, which in this case was 6 or 7 feet, so the turn was essentially blind. One second I was having a leisurely ride, the next I was gasping for air on the ground. All I saw in between was a huge brown eyeball going past my fairing.
Point is, despite good gear, reasonable speed, great reaction times, the situation was only avoidable if I wasn't on that particular road at that particular moment. I no longer ride if I don't have good field of vision so though that is one of my favorite relaxing rides I avoid it from June until harvest. Lesson learned the hard way...Clavical, Scapula, top three ribs.
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« Last post by racer1735 on July 06, 2025, 07:07:47 PM »
Last week, a buddy and I took our ADV bikes to the Northern New Mexico mountains (about a 4 hour ride) and spent 2 1/2 days riding the mountain twisties and elevation changes (up to 10,200'). The 1290 was great and I'm thinking either the V11 (which would probably be a better ride getting there and back) or the Griso would be perfect in that role. I also have two sizeable canyons (Palo Duro and Caprock) and their twisties within a 30 minute ride from home. It is flat ... and straight ... out here, but there is some variation if you know where to go.
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« Last post by SIR REAL ED on July 06, 2025, 06:57:54 PM »
IIRC, Sir Real Ed also had an Aprilia 550. Apparently, you can spend money on them to make the engine right and reliable. Should be a weapon.
Yeah, for very little money, you can end up with a Hell of a machine. IIRC, the 550's are about 70 rear wheel horsepower and 310 lbs wet. If you ever get a chance to ride one, do not pass it up. Very similar to the KTM 690's. IIRC, Allen Noland charged $800 to remove, completely rebuild, and re-install the engine. AF1 has an amazing forum on the Aprilia RXV/SXV's. About a half dozen or more of the most knowledgeable people I have ever encountered on the internet post there. They all agree, that when it comes to the RXV & SXV bikes, do not under any circumstance trust any information you get from Aprilia. Aprilia never came to grips with the bikes faults and how to fix them.
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« Last post by Tom H on July 06, 2025, 06:44:27 PM »
It has been mentioned in the past not to trust the Guzzidiag voltage for setting the TPS. Even a cheap HF voltmeter will work unless you plan to become an electrician, then get the Klein or one of the top brands. The voltage needs to be close to .150V (150millivolts) for the initial setting. You will find it rather hard to get an exact .150v, you'll likely be at .149 or .152 when you tighten up the screws with what the meter shows. Close enough, though I would consider erroring on the .150-.155v myself. Don't overthink this, it's not that hard  Tom
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« Last post by SIR REAL ED on July 06, 2025, 06:43:24 PM »
Just for the record, there more than one guy here down under…
Was it Huzo or Roper..?
Or someone else ?
All y'all Strayans look the same on the internet....
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« Last post by SIR REAL ED on July 06, 2025, 06:42:22 PM »
Buddy Shagmore…don’t think you were around when the V7R ‘Racer’ first came out…I joined WG for the ‘1st time’ shortly after I bought one. I loved the bike from the first time I saw it at the dealership. 39-41 or whatever Hp it is. STILL do 9 years later.
I understood the bikes limitations when I bought it. It was never going to seriously challenge records at The Isle of Man. If I wanted more speed/handling/power…like you, I could have bought it. It was a throw back styling exercise and homage to Guzzi’s earlier racing heritage. Nothing more, nothing less. Like about 15+ other ‘styling itinerations’ released by Mandello HHQ on the V7 platform.
Every time the bike was brought up on WG there was gnashing of teeth and howls about the ‘racer’ moniker, the pretender status, a missed opportunity to build something more. The chrome tank and numbered fly screen in particular set one guy off from ‘down under’ into long colorful diatribes using the vernacular of the peasantry.
9 years later the ‘Racer’ is still in my garage. That shows you how I feel about others opinions on the bike. My money. My decision.
I like your bike. Really like the tank and dual discs. Is it EXACTLY like I would want it? No, but it’s not my money or decision. If you’re ever in Utah look me. I’ll buy you a beer.
For the guy from down under if he’s still around…I STILL love that chrome tank.
I like the looks of that bike. It looks like exactly what it is supposed to look like. A comfortable, practical (the definition of which depends on what one wishes to practice) bike that is a tribute to past race bikes.
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« Last post by n3303j on July 06, 2025, 06:26:52 PM »
I have 2 cheap crappy VOMs that spend their life on the road in the bikes. I also have a high quality Beckman. All three of them read the same in the millivolt range. One of them was $1.27 from some Chinese direct mail order. If you have a reference standard then a test could show you if your meter is adequate.
But it is always nice to own quality tools.
Meanwhile, as previously mentioned, you could read these figures from Guzzi Diagnostics for the cost of a harness and an available PC. (Haven't done that yet)
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Thanks to the fellow Guzzi enthusiasts who offered positive comments. I really didn't expect to get slammed here on our brand enthusiast site. I'll take the high road, and leave it at that.  Ride safe, and enjoy your ride.
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