This Moto Guzzi (see the page on the V-850 for pronounciation hint), just like the V-850 Eldorado is an Italian 1100cc V-twin motorcycle, with the engine mounted side to side unlike other V-twins. This puts the two cylinders out in the cooling airflow. The body work is modern and stylish, in typical Italian fashion. This model was offered in the color combination you see here, with metallic green bodywork and red frame, to invoke a connection to the V-7 Sport of 30 years ago, a model contemporary to the V-850 Eldorado. The V-11 Sport is supposed to be a modern take on the same concept of the V-7 Sport. In fact, this particular color combination was really just for a special model of the V-7 Sport, the "Telaio Rosso" or red frame models which were special, hand made, versions that were made to to conform to racing rules and allow this model to be raced. These special machines had almost all special components and are very rare and collectible today. The V-11 Sport is not really like this except for it's colors. The Italians are very attached to nostalgia and heritage.

Because I own this 2001 Moto Guzzi and also the 1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado I tend to compare the two. Some things are hardly changed and others are significantly different.

Mechanically it is nearly identical in overall layout to my older V- 850 model, and has many driveline features that are more like a car than a motorcycle. Engine differences between the older and newer model are mainly the presence of an alternator instead of a generator, an actual oil filter instead of just a wire screen (for the big chunks!), electronic engine management and fuel injection, and minor differences in the shape of certain engine parts. Also, whereas the older model has a completely enclosed drive shaft, the V-11 Sport has a relatively open driveshaft. You could probably fairly easily bolt the new V-11 engine into the older model. The exhaust system is stainless steel and there are other evidences of the influence of modern technology and materials in various areas.

The frame, forks, swing arm and body work are totally different from the older model. The frame (red) is a box section angling down from the head tube to join a cross piece on the ends of which are bolted vertical members (at left in the view above) that hold the swing arm and the rear engine mounts. The engine is an integral part of the frame system. You can unbolt it and drop it straight down and out the bottom, as you can see above. The forks are upside down telescopic, and the brakes, which are far better than the older model, are twin discs with 4 pot calipers on the front, with a single disc on the rear. Wheels are one-piece cast units with 3 large spokes. The body work is all plastic, with a flawless paint finish. The instrumentation isn't too much different from the 30 year old machine, and there are only 2 more lights on the dash (turn signals and fuel level dummy light). In a way this machine is a nice combination of new technology with traditional motorcycle equipment, it's not so modern as to spoil the experience.

On my trip to Italy I visited the Moto Guzzi factory in the town of Mandello del Lario on Lake Como in northern Italy. This is a wonderful area of the country (see V-850 Eldorado text for a description).

At the test track in the factory grounds I was offered the chance to drive a brand new V-11 Sport around the track. The test rider stopped the bike he was riding, got off, saw me, and shoved his helmet at me as an invitation! I took it! This was a very cool feeling! And not a bad sales technique on their part either! The main things I remember were the smoothness of the bike, its handling, and the large weeds growing out over the track forming an odd contrast to the high-tech machine. The bug bit and I looked around for a V-11 Sport that I could afford (the retail price is around $13,000), eventually finding one that had had two previous owners and minor crash damage (which I've managed to hide in these photos!).

How does this modern Moto Guzzi ride? Great! It is powerful and fast, has great handling, wonderful brakes, and is overall a wonderful machine. It isn't that practical to carry stuff, but I could get a tank bag and I hear there is a set of saddlebags for it. You can carry a passenger by removing the cosmetic cover on the rear part of the seat (just above the decal that says V-11 sport- see last photo) and it does have passenger footpegs. So far it's extremely reliable, but then so is my old Eldorado too.

So far the only real problem it has had is the handlebar vibration, which is a known factory flaw, and the factory has tried various methods of reducing it. On mine the vibration has been much reduced by the installation of the weight kit you see in the photo above. This kit was from Moto International in Seattle WA. I've been working on fixing all the little cosmetic things that were damaged. There was some paint damage on the left side, a small area on the front fender and a small area where the V-11 sport decal is. I got a replacement decal but had trouble matching the paint. I got some paint that was supposed to match, painted the damage on the front fender, and I believe if the color had been right it would have been a nice repair, but the paint was just too green. I blended it well. This is a tricky kind of paint consisting of a base coat of silver metallic, a color coat of semi-transparent yellow-green, and a clear coat. So then the fender looked worse than with the original damage. Finally I bought a new front fender, and made a decent repair on the side damage, and had that part clear coated. It all looks pretty nice now. A recent addition are some nice red anodized covers for the hydraulic cylinder reservoirs for the brake and clutch. The bike now has shiny polished stainless rear pipes in place of the stock ones shown here.

There is a nice fairing option made by an Italian company called Magni that has done a lot of custom stuff for Guzzis. I would like to get this eventually.