Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: 80CX100 on June 11, 2019, 08:49:25 PM
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A few years ago I passed up an opportunity to purchase a 2003 V11 Lemans with low mileage; I've been kicking my ass on a semi regular basis ever since. The opportunity may be coming up to purchase it again and possibly right the wrong.
I'd like to know if there are any gremlins that I should be aware of with this particular model or V11's in general, before I decide to jump in with both feet.
I've read of some of the V11's having problematic clutches that should be changed due to poor, failure prone design,, I don't recall the details or years affected,,,, something to do with single to double plates or vice versa? Is this 2003 one of the models affected.
Plastic tanks swelling from ethanol gas?
Weak shift return springs known to fail, but apparently they're easy to do on this bike?
Due to the longer somewhat unique frame, after market exhausts can be almost impossible to find?
I know the 2003 V11 Lemans has higher clip ons, but due to neck issues, I would be putting on MPH risers if they are still available; and do the MPH risers make enough of a difference to make it a relatively comfortable sport touring bike to ride. I get the impression that other than the Ballabio, that this series Lemans would be the most comfortable to ride of the V11 bikes?
I'd appreciate any thoughts or input at all on the bike; pro/con,,, good bad and ugly.
(https://i.ibb.co/rQzp5bF/27-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rQzp5bF)
(https://i.ibb.co/qMmLSmP/27.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qMmLSmP)
Thanks in advance
Kelly
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I don't believe there are any inherent faults with those bikes but to be sure why not pose the question at VIILemans.com
Yes, tanks are effected but usually not to the point of making them impossible.
My VII Sport had after market Mistrals, I had several people tell me they were the best sounding mufflers they had heard,
You might also consider Knight Design lowered pegs but that should wait until you have ridden it for a while.
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I'll second what Kiwi Roy said.
I have a 2004 V11, with 18,000 miles. There were some minor electrical issues; bullet connectors not crimped up which stopped it starting if the handle bars were turned to the right. One of the wires broke the solder joint on the keyed ignition switch. All stuff that gets fettled & sorted out by an owner of Italian machinery early on.
There were limited models with single plate clutches. The Le Mans wasn't one of them.
Talk to Chuck from Indiana about shifter return springs.
Get on V11LeMans.com & do some research, ask some questions.
Get it. Ride it. If it wins your heart, great. If it doesn't, you won't have to wonder 'Should I have bought that' & sell it on.
:thumb:
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No issues with mine.
Mike
(https://i.ibb.co/k8fb73x/bar2-small.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k8fb73x)
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I miss mine every day. I changed my shift pawl spring as soon as I got home. Picked it up in Sacramento and rode her home. Amazing. The seat is low, so even with clip-ons there is not much weight on your wrist. Pegs from a Buell used to be a cheap wat to gain a little leg room. Spines are fine! Just buy her already!
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I don't believe there are any inherent faults with those bikes but to be sure why not pose the question at VIILemans.com
Yes, tanks are effected but usually not to the point of making them impossible.
My VII Sport had after market Mistrals, I had several people tell me they were the best sounding mufflers they had heard,
You might also consider Knight Design lowered pegs but that should wait until you have ridden it for a while.
Hey Roy, Tks for the input I'll file that in the memory banks.
I'm ripping through a ton of really good info on the VIILemans.com site and here,,, there's lots of good stuff, just digesting it right now.
If I end up with it, I'll definitely be joining the V11 site.
Tks Kelly
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I'll second what Kiwi Roy said.
I have a 2004 V11, with 18,000 miles. There were some minor electrical issues; bullet connectors not crimped up which stopped it starting if the handle bars were turned to the right. One of the wires broke the solder joint on the keyed ignition switch. All stuff that gets fettled & sorted out by an owner of Italian machinery early on.
There were limited models with single plate clutches. The Le Mans wasn't one of them.
Talk to Chuck from Indiana about shifter return springs.
Get on V11LeMans.com & do some research, ask some questions.
Get it. Ride it. If it wins your heart, great. If it doesn't, you won't have to wonder 'Should I have bought that' & sell it on.
:thumb:
Hey NW, Tks very much for the heads up on the electrical glitch, definitely file that info away & thank you very much for clearing up the clutch confusion.
The riding would be the proof in the pudding,,, but for my heart; there's something I like and appreciate about all guzzis tbh, but imho,,, the Vll Lemans is hands down the sexiest looking of the bunch. fwiw
Tks
Kelly
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I only put about 15,000 miles on my 03 Lemans but in that time, the speedometer went south because they are cheap. They can be fixed, as mine was mended by Greg Field but I don’t know if anyone else is doing this work. There were threads on this forum and probably the V11 list and it involved cutting open the plastic housing and fixing the plastic gear(s?).
If this bike doesn’t have a Roper sloppage sheet, you need to get one or acquire the pattern and have one made because the oil light will flicker under hard acceleration.
I kept an extra shifter spring on the bike but mine never went. When I sold the bike some small bubbles were forming under the stickers on the Rosso Corsa and if I kept the bike I would have purchased the sticker kit from MG as it looked like I’d need it someday. And I installed the Mistral Ti-pipes, and didn’t have any issues mounting them, but I don’t recommend them as they dent extremely easily.
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I put similar risers on mine and could pretty much tour all day. It was more comfy for my back than the Tonti frame bikes.
How many miles on this bike and how was it ridden, if hard you should hope it already has a Roper plate. MGcycle has after market mufflers.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-vLXrspm/0/26c15bef/M/IMG_0106-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-vLXrspm/A)
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I bought two 1/2" drive sockets (chrome of course) and longer screws to make bar risers.
This is one of the units with the plastic / bakelite adaptor screwed into the right head for the temperature sensor. they like to break. metal replacements were available from as I recall MG cycle and Harpers.
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No issues with mine.
Mike
(https://i.ibb.co/k8fb73x/bar2-small.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k8fb73x)
Hey Mike, That's beautiful!
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I miss mine every day. I changed my shift pawl spring as soon as I got home. Picked it up in Sacramento and rode her home. Amazing. The seat is low, so even with clip-ons there is not much weight on your wrist. Pegs from a Buell used to be a cheap wat to gain a little leg room. Spines are fine! Just buy her already!
Hey Ryan, Tks for the feedback on the ergos, and I'll file the Buell peg info away.
Tks, Kelly
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I only put about 15,000 miles on my 03 Lemans but in that time, the speedometer went south because they are cheap. They can be fixed, as mine was mended by Greg Field but I don’t know if anyone else is doing this work. There were threads on this forum and probably the V11 list and it involved cutting open the plastic housing and fixing the plastic gear(s?).
If this bike doesn’t have a Roper sloppage sheet, you need to get one or acquire the pattern and have one made because the oil light will flicker under hard acceleration.
I kept an extra shifter spring on the bike but mine never went. When I sold the bike some small bubbles were forming under the stickers on the Rosso Corsa and if I kept the bike I would have purchased the sticker kit from MG as it looked like I’d need it someday. And I installed the Mistral Ti-pipes, and didn’t have any issues mounting them, but I don’t recommend them as they dent extremely easily.
Hey BC, From the reading I did last night, apparently the black faced ITI gauges are supposed to be better quality than the white face vaguelias? but that they all suffer from a sharp angle of the drive cable turning into the back of the speedometer?.
I know that the gauges on this Lemans are the black faced ITI's, from conversations with the previous owner there was never an issue, but this bike hasn't been ridden much, still well under 10K kms.
The bike hasn't been ridden hard, but I will definitely keep the Roper plate info in mind.
Nice to hear about the Mistral pipes fitting, I thought most aftermarket cans were just a bit short on the installation.
I've never seen the bike in person, but I'll keep the decal info in mind.
Tks Kelly
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I put similar risers on mine and could pretty much tour all day. It was more comfy for my back than the Tonti frame bikes.
How many miles on this bike and how was it ridden, if hard you should hope it already has a Roper plate. MGcycle has after market mufflers.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-vLXrspm/0/26c15bef/M/IMG_0106-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-vLXrspm/A)
Hey Foto, That's a very sweet looking bike.
Tks very much for the feedback on ergos, that's what I was hoping to hear.
The bike has well under 10K kms and from conversations with the previous owner has never really been ridden hard, but a Roper plate is definitely on the list.
Nice to see the pipes fit on it.
Tks Kelly
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I bought two 1/2" drive sockets (chrome of course) and longer screws to make bar risers.
This is one of the units with the plastic / bakelite adaptor screwed into the right head for the temperature sensor. they like to break. metal replacements were available from as I recall MG cycle and Harpers.
Hey Vagrant, I'd probably go for a clean ready made riser set up, rather than than try to mcgyver something myself, but I definitely appreciate the info re the upgraded temp sensor, nice to know.
Tks very much, Kelly
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I bought two 1/2" drive sockets (chrome of course) and longer screws to make bar risers.
that works if you have handlebars but this bike has clip ons
As long as it works don't mess with the temp sensor.
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Mph style risers,
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-zfK5RPh/0/a22e00f3/M/IMG_1886-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-zfK5RPh/A)
I don't know where you score these extenders but you won't need new longer cables if you can find some.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-7r9nfzH/0/588713bc/M/IMG_1885-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-7r9nfzH/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-GM7nqMV/0/99c80a96/M/Mayberry%20trail%202%20IMG_1158-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-GM7nqMV/A)
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It sure looks nice in the pictures! DO IT~~ :evil:
(https://i.postimg.cc/Kv5cHjBL/IMG-3381.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qzzdtkmM)
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My scura covered about 70k km on the original clutch
My current ‘03 Ballabio also has over 70k on the same clutch
Great bikes
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It sure looks nice in the pictures! DO IT~~ :evil:
(https://i.postimg.cc/Kv5cHjBL/IMG-3381.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qzzdtkmM)
:drool:
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I'd appreciate any thoughts or input at all on the bike; pro/con,,, good bad and ugly.
2003 and 2004 V11s were pretty well sorted. As mentioned:
-the ITI speedometer's odo and trip odo functions will fail. Poor design in the gear drive. Just don't let it get you down if/when it happens.
-the shift return springs are a sporadic problem on '03-'04 V11s. Buy one. Keep it handy. It's a relatively easy fix, if yours fails.
-the relays aren't that great, and can fail. get some good relays from Pyro Dan. You'll never have to touch them again.
-the front exhaust crossover's gaskets will fail. Repeatedly. They're a pain. Delete the front crossover with welding, or new header pipes.
I put over 40,000 miles on my V11 LeMans Nero Corsa. It was a great sport-touring machine! Mine did not suffer tank swelling. I used mainly 91-93 octane fuel, and most of it had ethanol. You should ride it for a bit before changing the bars. The stockers are actually pretty comfortable. If you can't find a set of the MPH risers, there were other similar options. Drilling the top clamp and using regular bar clamp and bars is one of them. There are bosses on the back of the top clamp for this purpose which were used for the holes for the bars on the Cafe Sport and Coppa Italia.
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Some of them had a rocker cover that was porous to oil (mine did). Oil gently weeps from the cover. There are firms whose business is to treat such aluminium castings. Once treated (soaked in a bath), they are fine. From memory, there were other fixes on the V11LeMans site.
Don't be in too much of a hurry to fit it out with risers. My theory is that the bars & pegs should be adjusted such that your weight is on your feet, thighs & stomach, with none on the hands & the arms loose. AND when you are looking at the road ahead, your back, neck & spine are in a straight line. Play with the bars' angles until comfortable for long distances. There are multi-adjustable versions out there that help too. Remember, a fractional adjustment can have a huge effect on comfort. But then, I've been told that I am weird - I find the 1100 Sport sublimely comfortable. At least after the first 3 hour ride and a long, hot shower.
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Roper plates aren’t currently available. With Pete’s blessing I’m hoping to have some more made in the US. Of course you’ll need to be on V11lemans.com to find out. :cool:
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If you buy a replacement shift pawl spring, it is much heavier-duty than the original. Don't carry it around like an emergency $20 bill hoping you won't need it, install it and be done. Anywhere it breaks while you are on a ride will be a less convenient place to change it than in your garage. When I picked up my Tenni, I had the tools and the spring with me in case it broke between the Sacramento airport and my home in Portland, but after that, the old one was out of there and the shockproof heavy and the new spring were in. Easy fix.
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If you buy a replacement shift pawl spring, it is much heavier-duty than the original. Don't carry it around like an emergency $20 bill hoping you won't need it, install it and be done. Anywhere it breaks while you are on a ride will be a less convenient place to change it than in your garage. When I picked up my Tenni, I had the tools and the spring with me in case it broke between the Sacramento airport and my home in Portland, but after that, the old one was out of there and the shockproof heavy and the new spring were in. Easy fix.
I bought two. Installed one and kept one on standby. Never needed it, though... It's an inexpensive part, so buying two made sense.
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2003 and 2004 V11s were pretty well sorted. As mentioned:
-the ITI speedometer's odo and trip odo functions will fail. Poor design in the gear drive. Just don't let it get you down if/when it happens.
-the shift return springs are a sporadic problem on '03-'04 V11s. Buy one. Keep it handy. It's a relatively easy fix, if yours fails.
-the relays aren't that great, and can fail. get some good relays from Pyro Dan. You'll never have to touch them again.
-the front exhaust crossover's gaskets will fail. Repeatedly. They're a pain. Delete the front crossover with welding, or new header pipes.
I put over 40,000 miles on my V11 LeMans Nero Corsa. It was a great sport-touring machine! Mine did not suffer tank swelling. I used mainly 91-93 octane fuel, and most of it had ethanol. You should ride it for a bit before changing the bars. The stockers are actually pretty comfortable. If you can't find a set of the MPH risers, there were other similar options. Drilling the top clamp and using regular bar clamp and bars is one of them. There are bosses on the back of the top clamp for this purpose which were used for the holes for the bars on the Cafe Sport and Coppa Italia.
Reminds me I snapped a couple of Speedo cables commuting - on & off throttle around the 3.2k flat spot.
Replaced the ITI gauges with speedhut copying the white veglia gauges from the ‘02.
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Mph style risers,
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-zfK5RPh/0/a22e00f3/M/IMG_1886-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-zfK5RPh/A)
I don't know where you score these extenders but you won't need new longer cables if you can find some.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-7r9nfzH/0/588713bc/M/IMG_1885-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-7r9nfzH/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Foto/i-GM7nqMV/0/99c80a96/M/Mayberry%20trail%202%20IMG_1158-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Foto/i-GM7nqMV/A)
Hey Foto, I magnified your pictures, but I couldn't see exactly where those extensions are installed; I'm assuming the front of the bar and then into the clamp on the MPH Risers? Nice to know they'll work without new lines.
Were they included with the risers at the time or already on the bike when you got it?
tks, Kelly
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2003 and 2004 V11s were pretty well sorted. As mentioned:
-the ITI speedometer's odo and trip odo functions will fail. Poor design in the gear drive. Just don't let it get you down if/when it happens.
-the shift return springs are a sporadic problem on '03-'04 V11s. Buy one. Keep it handy. It's a relatively easy fix, if yours fails.
-the relays aren't that great, and can fail. get some good relays from Pyro Dan. You'll never have to touch them again.
-the front exhaust crossover's gaskets will fail. Repeatedly. They're a pain. Delete the front crossover with welding, or new header pipes.
I put over 40,000 miles on my V11 LeMans Nero Corsa. It was a great sport-touring machine! Mine did not suffer tank swelling. I used mainly 91-93 octane fuel, and most of it had ethanol. You should ride it for a bit before changing the bars. The stockers are actually pretty comfortable. If you can't find a set of the MPH risers, there were other similar options. Drilling the top clamp and using regular bar clamp and bars is one of them. There are bosses on the back of the top clamp for this purpose which were used for the holes for the bars on the Cafe Sport and Coppa Italia.
Tks for the feedback, nice to get info from an owner,
Kelly
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If you buy a replacement shift pawl spring, it is much heavier-duty than the original. Don't carry it around like an emergency $20 bill hoping you won't need it, install it and be done. Anywhere it breaks while you are on a ride will be a less convenient place to change it than in your garage. When I picked up my Tenni, I had the tools and the spring with me in case it broke between the Sacramento airport and my home in Portland, but after that, the old one was out of there and the shockproof heavy and the new spring were in. Easy fix.
"I bought two. Installed one and kept one on standby. Never needed it, though... It's an inexpensive part, so buying two made sense."
Hey Ryan & Mike, If this plays it, that sounds like a great game plan.
Tks Kelly
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It sure looks nice in the pictures! DO IT~~ :evil:
(https://i.postimg.cc/Kv5cHjBL/IMG-3381.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qzzdtkmM)
Hey Dave, That is one sweet looking bike!
I'm hoping it plays out, had a good chat with the seller, I'm first on the list if it when it becomes available.
Tks Kelly
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My scura covered about 70k km on the original clutch
My current ‘03 Ballabio also has over 70k on the same clutch
Great bikes
Hey Mike, Tks for the feedback re the clutches
Kelly
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Roper plates aren’t currently available. With Pete’s blessing I’m hoping to have some more made in the US. Of course you’ll need to be on V11lemans.com to find out. :cool:
Hey Dave, Tks for the heads up, I was wondering about the Roper plates. If I end up with this bike, I'll be on V11Lemans.com for sure.
Tks, Kelly
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If you buy a replacement shift pawl spring, it is much heavier-duty than the original. Don't carry it around like an emergency $20 bill hoping you won't need it, install it and be done. Anywhere it breaks while you are on a ride will be a less convenient place to change it than in your garage. When I picked up my Tenni, I had the tools and the spring with me in case it broke between the Sacramento airport and my home in Portland, but after that, the old one was out of there and the shockproof heavy and the new spring were in. Easy fix.
Ok, let's put this pawl spring thing to rest. A heavy spring is exactly the wrong thing in this application. We sorted this on the V11 Lemans forum a year or two ago. Guzzi engineering is generally pretty good, but they dropped the ball on this one. We discovered the pawl spring was being overdriven by 17 degrees (from memory.) The heavy spring immediately is over stressed and takes a set to where it does nothing on the upshift. I made a spring .009" smaller in diameter, and *added a coil.* It is well within "safe travel." I made a test fixture and ran the new spring well over one million shifts with no change to it. It won't break. Along with the "Lucky Phil" shifter extender, the transmission shifts..uh.. as well as any Japanese transmission.
Scud on this list and the LeMans forum sells them for around 10 bucks, I think. Some of that goes back to the forum.
Now that is out of the way..
The Mighty Scura is my favorite motorcycle of all time. :thumb: It's had some mods, but the 03s and on were pretty well sorted from the factory. It is comfortable enough to ride to the twisty bits and competent enough to make the rider be the difference once you get there.
What's not to like?
Oh. And it's the last of the *real* Guzzis. :evil: :grin:
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Ok, let's put this pawl spring thing to rest. A heavy spring is exactly the wrong thing in this application. We sorted this on the V11 Lemans forum a year or two ago. Guzzi engineering is generally pretty good, but they dropped the ball on this one. We discovered the pawl spring was being overdriven by 17 degrees (from memory.) The heavy spring immediately is over stressed and takes a set to where it does nothing on the upshift. I made a spring .009" smaller in diameter, and *added a coil.* It is well within "safe travel." I made a test fixture and ran the new spring well over one million shifts with no change to it. It won't break. Along with the "Lucky Phil" shifter extender, the transmission shifts..uh.. as well as any Japanese transmission.
Scud on this list and the LeMans forum sells them for around 10 bucks, I think. Some of that goes back to the forum.
Now that is out of the way..
The Mighty Scura is my favorite motorcycle of all time. :thumb: It's had some mods, but the 03s and on were pretty well sorted from the factory. It is comfortable enough to ride to the twisty bits and competent enough to make the rider be the difference once you get there.
What's not to like?
Oh. And it's the last of the *real* Guzzis. :evil: :grin:
Hey Chuck, The knowledge and skills that you and others on here possess, continue to amaze me. I'll definitely file that spring info away in case I need it in the future.
I've gone back over a ton of material and I can't find the reference, but I'm sure I read some place that later 6 speed trannys, not only had the spring redesigned heavier, but that the locating boss(post) on the case? was also improved to a larger diameter to fill the center of the spring and hold it in position better.
I'm curious if the problem with the incorrect departure angle? you've described is due to too small a locating boss that allowed the spring to rotate to an incorrect position and was solved by the later larger locating boss,,, or if they're all bad, new or old?
The "last of the real guzzis" is part of what I find attractive about the 2003 V11 Lemans, modern running engine and brakes, and yet you're not held hostage by some flakey LCD digital dash that can kill the bike with no easy work around or repair.
Another reason the V11 Lemans appeals to me, is that fairing style, it's not only sexy looking but it seems to offer reasonable wind protection. As I'm discovering with my Griso, the problems with my neck, seem to have a lot to do with the wind and buffeting, not just rider ergos.
I can see that a Norge offers the best wind protection, but the tupperware blocking simple maintenance and the digital dash cloud don't appeal to me as much as the simple design of the V11 Lemans.
I think you've owned both a Norge and the V11 Lemans style fairing,obviously there isn't as full a wind coverage, but do you have any thoughts on the wind protection that the V11 Lemans offers particularly in the upper neck head area?
Tia
Kelly