Moto Guzzi V11 Cafe Sport reviews

A bike that you will love to ride day after day and their is not a whole lot of these on the street so you will get a lot of attention from your bike. Show less

Had the bike now for 6 months. Looks great, sounds great, engine feels great between the legs. Not too keen on the springs/suspension. After ALOT of fiddling, have finally got the setup pretty right. Could use some stiffer springs I think, for a better ride. But others have ridden it without much complaint. Definitely recommend after market pipes - it really lets the bike roar, and gives it extra power. Show less

Just an update on the review I posted in 8/2003. About 6 months later now and though the Nebraska winter has cut back on my riding time, I now have 5300 miles on the LeMans. Thus far it has been a great bike! The only issues I have had thus far are: The wrinkle black paint on the motor has started to bubble somewhat. Moto Guzzi is aware of this problem and will replace the engine cases or will allow the owner to choose from specific apparel or accessory options as compensation. Since it is a cosmetic thing that I can address down the road if it bothers me, I opted for the apparel/accessories option. Second is the neutral indicator switch has been dodgy off and on. Other than these two issues, which to me are very minor, the bike is outstanding. I LOVE the motor...it just keep getting better and smoother with mileage. The bike handles magnificently. The gearbox is smooth and works very well. Braking is excellent. The fit and finish are quite nice to my eye and the styling is...well it is just a thing of beauty. I love the bike. It has a soul and it makes me grin and exhilarates me every time I ride it. Can't wait for this riding season to really get underway! Show less

I purchased this bike and loved it stock but I have carried out some improvements. Carbon fenders, side covers, dash tank pad, starter cover, alternator cover, carbon fiber disc brake(Right side front only)Corbin seat, Guzzi titanium high level pipes with CDI, K&N filter, Ohlins R&T forks, Ohlins rear shock. I know it's excessive in terms of mods, but the bike is a keeper. It will carve up back roads or go touring with no problem. I could not say that about my 916. Buy one and have fun. Show less

This bike just keeps getting better and better. I added the Guzzi Titanium exhaust and the vibes basically went away. I figure the stock system was so resrtictive that they made the bike a little buzzier. Acceleration is great, handling superb, great brakes etc..... I added a carbon front and rear fender, dash, side covers and a Corbin leather sabble. Looks to kill, usable power and character. Excellent reliability, great tranny etc.... I am hooked on Guzzi!!!!!! Show less

I saw this bike at the Moto Guzzi tent at last years Daytona, FL bikeweek and immediately fell in love. That year I saw just about every bike under the sun and this bike just flat outdid them all in style and character. A few months later I decided I was gonna keep my eyes out for one (just couldn't get the thing out of my head). Found one just a couple weeks later for a fair price and the previous owner kept it immaculate. I have had it now for around six months and have never been more pleased with a bike. It's solid and stable and handles superb, not to mention it is the finest thing on the road and I have never seen another. It's not a GXR or Hyabusa or even competitive performance wise, but it never fails, when I park next to one of those, that I get infinitely more attention. I just can't help but be proud of this bike. Thank you to Moto Guzzi for building this thing. Show less

I just picked up this new 2002 Lemans about two weeks ago. Thus far after about 800 miles my initiail impressions are: -Excellent handling...holds the road like it is on rails -Wonderful, slick six-speed gearbox. Much smoother than the Guzzi five speed gearbox...excellent indeed! -Wonderful motor, well mated to the gearbox with loads of torque on demand. -An absolute hoot to ride. Not the fastest or most technologically sophisticated bike in it's class, but just so damned fun to ride, so easy to control. So far, so great. I'll report again after I put some serious miles on the bike. Show less

A truly Italian integration of form and function -- the unique Moto Guzzi V11 Sport. I was initially surprised by the very differences that make this bike interesting...coming from my acclimatization of another legend -- the Ducati 996. Since my 996 got stolen a year ago, I was without a bike for some time. I wanted to find another bike that would have some character and would be comfortable to use. Although I had gotten used to the 996, riding it in slow traffic was excruciating and in the summer...God! the exhaust was cook the underside...! After considering the Yamaha V-Max, Road Star Warrior, Ducati Monster...I chanced upon the V11 Sport. Interestingly, MG had remained somewhat oblivious to me (like many others) and then all of a sudden I seemed to be bitten by the MG bug. A few clicks later, landed a good deal on Ebay. The bike was located 120 miles from my home. Initial experiences: I took delivery from the Seller's home, who was kind enough to lend me his plates. I rode 120 miles...and that was some experience. Never had I ridden a bike like this one before. The driveline lash, the awesome handlebar vibration, the sound...! To make matters more interesting, I got caught in the rain twice...but had the sense to wait it out. I have now had the bike for a month. Have had no problems so far. The Seller took good care of it, had the relays replaced under a recall. This bike seems to draw more attention and compliments from experienced and wizened riders. I have replaced the stock mirrors with CRG bar-ends, which seems to have cut down the vibes a bit...and I am more used to it now. I enjoy riding this bike...extremely comfortable. No cooking of thighs and ass. The clutch is so pliable and easy to use, in comparison to the Ducati's. The most unique aspect of this bike is it's strong design which manages a perfect blend of nostalgia and the contemporary. Obviously this bike does not compete for performance, but on looks alone it outdoes the competition by miles. This bike is not about how FAST you go from 0 to 60, but HOW you get from 0 to 60. Cheers!! Show less

I just purchased the aluminum about a month ago. The handling is incredible. The engine has plenty of torque during all ranges of riding. The transmission shifts smoothly and the suspension is magnificent. My complaint is that there are very few after market accessories available, i.e., good rider backrest, dual touring saddle, after market exhaust, etc. The usual carriers of these products (that I have checked with) do not have them available for this bike. I've been on my dealer since I bought the bike. Looks like a trip to Pennsylvania is in order to get it set up the way I want it. The seat is comparable to a brick (of any color). Show less

This is such a cool motorcycle. Great performance(Brakes, engine, handling, reliability, build quality) I'll use any old excuse to go for even the shortest ride. The V11 makes you want to get up at 5am just to go for a ride! The build quality is second to none with all kinds of nice touches like braided brake and oil lines. The shaft design is superb with none of the pogo stick affair of other shafties. Little things to do are as follows. -Change all the relays to the better Bosche ones.(Not expensive, and they are dead reliable) -Wrap fuel line under the tank with heat proof tape and duct tape(Fuel can evaporate in the line causing vapour lock) -make sure all the three grease fittings on the shaft are lubed according to the manual(The factory did not always prep the bikes properly) Then just have fun and ride!!! I put a a Magni fairing in my bike. Wow what a cool fairing. reminds me of the old Ducati 900 SS (78) Plus it's functional. Buy one you'll love it and you won't see one on every ride. Show less