Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans and 'naked' Review (2001)

[@Jodyrides]

I had the V 11 sport, this bike without the faring. I loved the motor. Stump pulling torque just off Idle..i love the look, the styling, the sound, the brakes, the handling ( for a shafty) that being said.. it is the most uncomfortable motorcycle in the history of the universe that i know..it shut off blood flow from my knees down..the seat is not great.. I tried a Corbin seat, but that put my balls to sleep within 10 minutes because of the hump they have built into the seat behind the gas tank.no rubber tops to absorb or at least isolate the feet/ legs / hips from vibes.. Ohlin suspension is harsh.. it doesn’t make sense below 80 miles an hour. They say that only someone that can tell the difference between 18 inches of pure concrete, and 18 inches of rebar reinforced concrete can tell the difference between full soft and full hard ohlins.. I loved the bike though. For two years I tried to convert it into something I could ride for more than 45 minutes at a time. I removed the clip bonds and drilled holes in the upper triple clamp for handlebar purches from a yamaha virago. then I installed an old pair of my Honda CB 400 F handlebars. That helped a lot. I installed a 16 inch flatscreen windshield, that helped, the Corbin seat as I said before, was not better than the stock seat. I installed foot pegs from a buell ulysses, which lowered the foot pegs almost 2”... all those changes helped, but because of the angle my knees, which she never gave me trouble in my life before, the angle and the vibes just made it impossible for me to convert that motorcycle into an all day touring machine.. I bought the machine used, two years old, it only had 3700 miles on it. When I sold it, I believe it had about 5900 miles on it. if you ever see one for sale, I’m sure if you average out the miles on it by the years, most of them will average out to less than 1000 miles per year of ownership. I sold that bike that I loved so much and bought a Guzzi Norge, which I could ride every day, every night, and all the time in compfort.. I rode that Norge for 14 years, no comfort issues ever. I did have the usual character issues with my Norge, my V 11 sport, my V 50/2, and my SP 1000 Guzzis.. I had to replace the oil pressure sensor on all four of those machines. And, I had to replace the start relays on the Norge and the V 11... Guzzi really needs to change their electrical parts supplier. Start relays and oil pressure sensor failures are common.. on all four of my Guzzi’s, I put a combined mileage of approximately 220,000 miles since 1979 when I first got my SP 1000. Except for the occasional necessity to bump start, and the heart stopping oil pressure warning light coming on while riding at 80mph alone on the interstate hours from home without a cell phone, my machines have been as reliable as a sledgehammer.. they are not Japanese perfect. I’ve had dozens of Japanese motorcycles simultaneously over the decades. I’m just another motorcycle junkie. Japanese motorcycles may be perfect, you know it’s going to start, you know you will get to where you’re going without issues, and you know you will make it home when you ride a Japanese bike. but Japanese motorcycles do not have a personality, they don’t have a soul. moto guzzi’s have character, they are gorgeous pieces of art. The owners of them are passionate about their machines. I viewed my Guzzi’s as a breathing, living thing. They are alive. They shake, they are temperamental, they require understanding and care.. you put up with a few little things because of the overall beauty and handling and those fantastic brakes.. they are sure footed, confidence inspiring handling, especially in the rain. They are slow to rotate left/right, I would like that because I do not like twitchy short wheelbase handling machines. I like the smooth predictable initial turn in that all my guzzi’s had.. guzzi’s are not perfect. They’re a lot like a beautiful woman. You have to put up with some crap once in a while. That’s the price you pay. you’re not gonna believe me but I have owned 107 motorcycles.. trail bikes, trails bikes, motocross bikes, road racing machines, sport bikes, commuter bikes, big touring bikes Gold wings, ventures, ninjas, RZ’s, RDs, many two-stroke triples, TVs, motorcycles from beta, fantic,gasgas,hodaka, Bridgestone, of course Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki. I even had one BMW, a K 1200 LT. The most flawed disappointing motorcycle I ever owned. I won’t go down the list completely of what a pile that machine was. Everything from the distorted windshield, to the electric/hydraulic no feel brakes, to the clouds of oil that would pour out of the exhaust pipe if you parked the machine using the side stand. That was my first and my last ever BMW. I’m never going out on that limb again. The best motorcycle I ever owned was a Honda Pacific coast. I commuted 30 miles round-trip on back roads from 1994, till 2020 on that completely trouble free machine. I only sold it because I retired and it broke my heart to see it sitting there while I rode my Goldwing or my Norge or my Kawasaki Z 400, which reminds me. Remember I said Japanese motorcycles are generally perfect. Well today, I have to replace the gear position sensor on my 2019 kaw Z400 with 1500 miles on it..So much for perfection

[@TheMickvee]

The black textured engine paint lasted less than a year on my LeMans, before it fell off!

[@jurgentreue1200]

I've owned a couple of earlier model Le Mans, a MkIII and a MkV. To get the best out of them, take the Le Mans out of town and onto open roads. They love fast sweepers. Do a 500 klm day and come back with a grin on your dial. By the way they develop their power, Le Mans are fantastic mile munchers.

[@kwakkers68]

One of the best things about a Guzzi ... the engine note..... Completely passed by in this vid.

[@MrBeboopman]

Good god I love this bike... just very pretty and different.Thank you..

[@sprezzatura8755]

Let's hear The beautiful engine instead of crappy music please.

[@WhosAGoodDogue]

The naked version would have looked much more 'classic' if it was made with a chrome headlight shell and chromed clock covers. There's just too much black at the front end.

[@willbest1547]

gorgeous bike?

[@peterroda4181]

Gorgeous

[@loosenoose]

... a WHAT mono shock?

[@igorboarin8909]

Bellissima

[@willbest1547]

sorry, meant gorgeous bike!

[@Team-fabulous]

You can keep your Japanese rice box's, they have zero character and are Infact a bit yawn once you get past the performance factor.. I have a V11 Le Man's and it'll nudge 140mph, sounds epic and looks stunning.. Nuff said....

[@cocoplexplex]

you do have shitty weather in UK, not only since BREXIT ;)