A Craigslist Ballabio

[mjptexas]

Ran across this one today - it's local to me.

http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/5155482545.html

Not very familiar with this model - strikes me as V11 with a more relaxed riding style.

Potential Issues?  Fair price? Other comments?

[fotoguzzi]

all spine frames are special! price seems fair.. get it!

[dsrdave]

I like my loop and my tonti's but I find myself jumping on the V11 sport alot.  Great handling and brakes.  Just a fun trouble free bike.  The Speedo issue is probably the angle drive above the trans.

[fotoguzzi]

   The Speedo issue is probably the angle drive above the trans.

actually it's probably the plastic gears inside the cheap ITI speedo.

[tonUPRacer]

"Recovering from multiple bike syndrome" gotta love that one.

[Bill Hagan]

Lordy, I do miss mine ...





But the Griso scratches most of that itch.

As for known issues, I'd mention generally the "Great Pawl Spring" problem.  Easily fixed, but expensively if one is unaware it and is far from home.  BTDT. [Visualize sobbing emoticon, because I can't make the ones here appear.]

The speedo break is, I think, as dsrdave noted, an "angle" issue with the cable.  I carried extras.

The crossover could give fits by becoming loose and "dismounting" while underway.  I bought SS straight headers from Todd E. at Guzzitech and never saw any "balance" issues, but likely couldn't identify same in a line-up.

Don't see saddle cowl covering pillion portion of saddle.  As in my pic, above, believe Ballabio is better looking with.  OTOH, while Kathi did mot like hanging on there for dear life -- she feels similarly on the Griso -- when cowl off, certainly beats her sliding off if cowl were in place. [visualize any number of appropriate emoticons!]

Not sure what pipes those are, but did love the after-markets I had over the OEM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y0uldwah2I

Bill

[rocker59]

Ran across this one today - it's local to me.

http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/5155482545.html

Not very familiar with this model - strikes me as V11 with a more relaxed riding style.

Potential Issues?  Fair price? Other comments?

Standard V11.  Marzocchi forks, Sachs shock.

What makes it a Ballabio is the tubular handlebar and the stalk-mounted headlight/bikini fairing.

If the speedo is dead, it's probably an internal gear failure.

May or may not need the shift return spring replaced.  Good idea to carry one with you when travelling.

Get Pyro Dan's good relays, if it doesn't already have them.

Placing the tapered tubular bars on top of the triple clamp make for a nice sporty-standard seating position. It's a good all-arounder.  Add some Hepco + Becker luggage and it can tour.

[mjptexas]

I rode it tonight. Ran strong, shifted smoothly, everything works (except the speedometer).

One question for this esteemed group about the tank - is it a plastic tank or a plastic cover?  Reason for asking is because there is a small ding on the left side - would be extremely easy to fix iit's a tank cover. If it's the actual tank, not so easy.

[fotoguzzi]

it's not a cover but I'm not sure plastic is correct either..some have swelled supposedly from ethanol.. worth checking the area at the steering neck, right side below, if it swells it can rub on the end of a tube frame member and wear a hole right thru.

[ponti_33609]

I rode it tonight. Ran strong, shifted smoothly, everything works (except the speedometer).

One question for this esteemed group about the tank - is it a plastic tank or a plastic cover?  Reason for asking is because there is a small ding on the left side - would be extremely easy to fix iit's a tank cover. If it's the actual tank, not so easy.

It was a nylon tank.  Mine swelled and was pi$$ed and had one made from aluminum.  Folks claim that if you empty the gas it will go back to its original shape.  Mine, and others, got what appeared to be a dimpling in the tank.  Many bikes had this.  Ducati replaced their classic series under warranty.  Guzzi did not.  People also used a dremel to oblong the mounting hole to allow for the swelling.

[rocker59]

It's a random phenomenon, though.

My 2004 Nero Corsa went 45,000 miles for me with no noticeable tank swelling or distortion, and It's still racking up miles with ratguzzi.

 

[mjptexas]

So here it is in front of the garage (sorry about the crappy pictures - was nearly dark when I got home:







I've put a grand total of about 20 miles on it so a little early to express an opinion.  In a month or so I'll do a comparison to my Griso.

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

"Recovering from multiple bike syndrome" gotta love that one.

Indeed, my condition most of the time!

[DARKHORSE]

  Congrats on the Bilabio Tex, I have the same bike but in green and red.  My speedo went out at 4k miles, The dealer had a new one installed already when i bought the bike. Did some surgery on the original speedo, The odometer is indeed plastic gears but the needle works off a magnetic cone that spins inside the needle housing. This part somehow loses its magnetism and the needle doesnt work. I will check into this further in the offseason  to see if i could get it working again. Otherwise you will probably need a new one.  The tank is nylon and some swell and others dont. It also has the famous plastic lines on the fuel pump, I replaced mine with submersible rubber fuel line and fuel injection clamps. These were probaby the best sorted V-11S  so with a little bulletproofing and the help of this forum it should keep going for a long time. Best of luck.

[LowRyter]

Mike. congrats on the new machine. 

[mjptexas]

..Otherwise you will probably need a new one.  The tank is nylon and some swell and others dont. It also has the famous plastic lines on the fuel pump, I replaced mine with submersible rubber fuel line and fuel injection clamps. These were probaby the best sorted V-11S  so with a little bulletproofing and the help of this forum it should keep going for a long time. Best of luck.

Thanks for the insight.  I plan to replace the speedo with a more reliable solution (probably GPS-based).  Other than that I'll probably just ride it.  I've literally been traveling on business since I picked it up so I've not ridden it much.  Want to do some 'side by side' comparison with my Griso.  Even though the specs are very similar I can tell after 20 miles that the bikes are quite different.

[mjptexas]

Finally got a chance to put some miles on the Ballabio today, about 90 miles of Hill Country riding.  Initial observations:

The bike is reasonably comfortable, not as comfortable as the Griso but not bad.  I was pleased with the protection the small fairing offered without creating a lot of turbulence.

I was surprised at the level of vibration - much more than the Griso.  Mirrors were pretty much useless because of the vibrations.

it handles nicely but seems a little twitchy.  Guess I'll need to play with the steering damper.

The Metzler on the front only has a couple thousand miles left. I don't really like the way it feels so I'm thinking a Pirelli Angel GT may be replacing it.  I like the way they feel on my Griso.  I also put one on the back of my Monster when the Rosso II started showing cord (at 3,100 miles).

I did see the oil light flash briefly under hard acceleration in 1st & 2nd.  I'm assuming this is the well documented problem that plagues V11s.  Guess I either stay off the throttle in the lower gears or invest in a Roper plate.

Maybe I'll have a chance for a head to head comparison with the Griso next weekend.

In the meantime here's a pic of the bike on one of my favorite back roads:

[leafman60]

Looks good, MJ.

In time, you will get it sorted to your liking.

Vibration didn't bother me on my '02 Scura although that was pretty much a universal criticism of the V11 series based on the shallow testride reviews of the California cycle magazines in the day.  If it's that bad for you, maybe you can fill the handlebars with lead birdshot to get some relief. Also, go around and tighten up all the engine attachment fasteners. I liked the vibes.

Everybody covered the other known issues with the bike.  ITI gauges were inferior to the previous Veglia items. Some of the shiftsprings broke, some didn't. I was thinking that spring problem was mostly on the earlier versions of the V11. Even saying that, my '02 was fine when I removed it for replacement.

I miss my Scura.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'd check the throttle body balance for the vibe issue.. and yes, get yourself a Roper plate ASAP. When the light goes on, it's already starved. It has a shorter wheelbase than the Grease O, but shouldn't be twitchy at all. I rode the Mighty Scura for a thousand miles in the mountains without a steering damper when I was having it rebuilt. Maybe it's the shagged tire?
At any rate, you'll love it when you get it sorted.