Tony D.
Just got it firing!
Hello All,
I am a new owner of a 2006 B11 and loving it with >1K miles added to the 14K miles I purchased it with last month. I've been riding mostly British and Japanese for the past 38 years and figured I should experience an Italian bike before I can't ride any longer especially considering I'm 100% Italian. Anyway, I thought I'd share my initial impressions with the forum. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Nits
1. Engine heat – There’s something that resembles an easy-bake oven between the tranny and center stand that really goes nuclear when the outside air temp rises above 80°F. Hopefully eliminating the cat will cool things down.
2. Small fuel filling hole – Can’t look past the fuel nozzle to see fuel level when topping-off tank.
3. Clutch engagement – Near the end of the lever travel (2nd B11 I’ve ridden with this trait). Clutch modulates and hooks-up well otherwise.
4. Hazzard switch location – Prefer it on the handlebar as I use them in some braking situations.
5. Horn and signal switch reversed from previous rides – I keep beeping my horn to activate and cancel directionals with pedestrians looking at me with the WTF look.
6. Side Stand – Bike leans over too far IMO, especially when having to lift it off with a full load of fuel. Plan to fabricate a 1” thick hard-rubber pad to fit on the end of the stand to remedy. Also, when retracted, the “paw” of the side stand contacts the underside of the left peg adding to vibration. Maybe the rubber pad extender I make will isolate some of the vibration.
7. Vibration – Not bad really but I’m just not used to it yet after riding the Trophy with an electric-like 4-cylinder motor these 16 years.
8. Three fluid changes – Not terrible but I forgot how stinky hypoid gear oil is and draining it from the tranny required me to fabricate a custom chute to keep it from spilling on the cat.
Picks (in no particular order)
1. Motor – Great looking, fantastic sounding, with no shortage of character.
2. Seat – Very comfy. My first ride on it was a 200-miler bringing it home and didn’t even know it was there.
3. Suspension – Perfect for me.
4. Brakes – They haul the bike down nicely from high speeds with no fade or drama. Already had an emergency stop without locking up the back wheel as well.
5. Compression Braking – Love it! Never had it with my 4-cylinders. Brakes should last much longer now.
6. Handling – Super nice road manners and surprisingly stable on the highway which will only get better with new tires. Current (~70% worn) Metzler Sportec M3s result with little to no tip-in, heavy slow-speed steering feel and are awful when cold (planning on PR4s for next set).
7. Ease of maintenance – So far so good.
8. Riding in the wind– An absolute dream compared to my fully faired Trophy 1200 known for involuntary lane changes in sudden cross winds and can wiggle behind a large vehicle’s wake turbulence on the highway.
9. Uniqueness factor – There’s really nothing like it out there. When my wife first saw the bike, she loved it so much she hopped on the back for a ride first time in >20 years thinking it was the coolest and most unique looking bike she’s ever seen. I must agree.
10. GuzziTech – I look at the owner’s forums when considering a bike. Lots of great references and support here and hope to contribute my learnings like not using a wood dowel to find TDC of the piston or how to fish it out if you were as dumb and as lazy as I was not to go fetch a plastic straw!
Thank you.
Tony D.
I am a new owner of a 2006 B11 and loving it with >1K miles added to the 14K miles I purchased it with last month. I've been riding mostly British and Japanese for the past 38 years and figured I should experience an Italian bike before I can't ride any longer especially considering I'm 100% Italian. Anyway, I thought I'd share my initial impressions with the forum. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Nits
1. Engine heat – There’s something that resembles an easy-bake oven between the tranny and center stand that really goes nuclear when the outside air temp rises above 80°F. Hopefully eliminating the cat will cool things down.
2. Small fuel filling hole – Can’t look past the fuel nozzle to see fuel level when topping-off tank.
3. Clutch engagement – Near the end of the lever travel (2nd B11 I’ve ridden with this trait). Clutch modulates and hooks-up well otherwise.
4. Hazzard switch location – Prefer it on the handlebar as I use them in some braking situations.
5. Horn and signal switch reversed from previous rides – I keep beeping my horn to activate and cancel directionals with pedestrians looking at me with the WTF look.
6. Side Stand – Bike leans over too far IMO, especially when having to lift it off with a full load of fuel. Plan to fabricate a 1” thick hard-rubber pad to fit on the end of the stand to remedy. Also, when retracted, the “paw” of the side stand contacts the underside of the left peg adding to vibration. Maybe the rubber pad extender I make will isolate some of the vibration.
7. Vibration – Not bad really but I’m just not used to it yet after riding the Trophy with an electric-like 4-cylinder motor these 16 years.
8. Three fluid changes – Not terrible but I forgot how stinky hypoid gear oil is and draining it from the tranny required me to fabricate a custom chute to keep it from spilling on the cat.
Picks (in no particular order)
1. Motor – Great looking, fantastic sounding, with no shortage of character.
2. Seat – Very comfy. My first ride on it was a 200-miler bringing it home and didn’t even know it was there.
3. Suspension – Perfect for me.
4. Brakes – They haul the bike down nicely from high speeds with no fade or drama. Already had an emergency stop without locking up the back wheel as well.
5. Compression Braking – Love it! Never had it with my 4-cylinders. Brakes should last much longer now.
6. Handling – Super nice road manners and surprisingly stable on the highway which will only get better with new tires. Current (~70% worn) Metzler Sportec M3s result with little to no tip-in, heavy slow-speed steering feel and are awful when cold (planning on PR4s for next set).
7. Ease of maintenance – So far so good.
8. Riding in the wind– An absolute dream compared to my fully faired Trophy 1200 known for involuntary lane changes in sudden cross winds and can wiggle behind a large vehicle’s wake turbulence on the highway.
9. Uniqueness factor – There’s really nothing like it out there. When my wife first saw the bike, she loved it so much she hopped on the back for a ride first time in >20 years thinking it was the coolest and most unique looking bike she’s ever seen. I must agree.
10. GuzziTech – I look at the owner’s forums when considering a bike. Lots of great references and support here and hope to contribute my learnings like not using a wood dowel to find TDC of the piston or how to fish it out if you were as dumb and as lazy as I was not to go fetch a plastic straw!
Thank you.
Tony D.
