cycdude6

Hey All, Been awhile. 2004 V11 here, 12K, Red. Stock Pipes, Stucchi Crossover K & N Recent TPS adjustment CO Adjustment Valve Adjustment Power Commander -- My last power commander was used on a VStrom 1000 and worked great to improve fueling and mileage. With the V11 no matter how the PC is adjusted, mileage is stuck at 35mpg every tank, also, it makes no difference if the bike is whupped or babied, byway or highway. Anyone with insight on the problem? Thank you

I've had the Eastern Beaver relay and harness on my Ballabio with great results for six months or so. I'm guessing the light output is 25% or better than stock. Mine is direct to a subterminal off the battery. However, Motorcycle Consumer News mentions that the bulbs, as a result of higher temperatures, may lose a signifigant part of their life cycle. I'm willing to pay the price for the very good output from a single bulb setup. John

Well, after reading all the posts and discussing gas mileage with several local guzzisti, it appears that the consensus would indicate that the V11's inefficient design correlates to 38 mpg, plus or minus, on average. I am giving up the chase for better mileage and i'm just going to ride and enjoy this great bike.

It may be as simple as removing the sensor (found on the inner rear of the R/H head) putting copper grease down the hole and puting the sensor back in, if you do a search as suggested you'll understand why. Already done that but thanks for the idea! John

Hey all, '04 V11 with pipes and K&N is getting 38 mpg. 1) Adjusted valves, changed oil and filter. 2) Setup TPS (did not use 150mv (with cables and levers slacked) as bike wouldn't run there)). 3) Installed Dynojet. 4) Custom map by John (much Guzzi experience) at Cliff's BMW in Connecticut. 38 mpg average. 5) Leaned custom map first by 5%, then by another 5%. 37 mpg average. Any suggestions? Should I try playing with the TPS again? Hotter plugs? Thanks, John

Well Andy, it's all about the bars. I find the clipons on the regular V11's to limit the amount of time I can spend on the bike but with the Ballabio's "normal" handlebars I can ride most of a day. For me it's a huge improvement in comfort. That said, you can change the bars, with adapters and such, on the regular V11s. John

Hi all, Before I rush off half-cocked I figured I'd check with the experts here. The speedometer is still indicating the speed but the odometer and trip meter, while turning, are very slow i.e. a trip of 40 miles would show about 2 miles on the odometer. This seems to suggest the cable is ok but the speedo is not. Concur? And if so would it be best to attempt to repair it myself or have it repaired or replaced under warranty? Thanks, John

I had a similar experience and my problem was the connector to the tps. The female connector slots were opened up by the insertion of wires to read tps voltage and I repaired it by using a pin to tighten up the slots. Another culprit could be the tps or the adjustment of the tps. Also, if the bike is very lean at idle that could tend to make the bike harder to start. I discovered the lean condition (only at idle on my bike) during a dyno run to setup a power commander. So, richening the idle helped a little too. John

Found the problem...i've been playing with the tps a lot lately trying to set it up. As a result of sticking wires in the female connector to the tps the slots became enlarged and the connection became intermittent. A little work with a pin and it's all set now. Thanks for the input. John

That's what I'm theorizing as well and also there's a possibility that when I sit way back to drop my head at the higher speeds my weight may be forcing the seat onto the relays and perhaps deforming them. I'm gonna try and drop them a bit. John

The bike is running ok now after tps adjustment and tuneup. However, whenever I go up to or just over 100 mph the motor will stop dead, restart, stumble, cutout and barely run until I come to a stop. Then it usually returns to normal. It does this every single time. I do not believe it is a fuel issue because the cutout is pronounced and dramatic as if it is being switched on and off. Lights are working during this problem and no idiot lights come on. It's a little hard to get all the details when your bike cuts out at 100 mph tho. Bike has 3600 miles, power commander, M4 pipes and a K&N filter, Dan Prunuske relays, a new kill switch and a new tach. Any ideas on how to test for the problem, what to look for or common electrical issues that could cause this? Thanks!

This is my first Moto Guzzi and first GT standard type bike. I wish I knew now what I thought I knew then!

Nope, wasn't me.

Hey Rachet, Thanks for the vitriol, I asked for it, didn't I? And I appreciate all the help and advice I've recieved, too. I just didn't realize I'd purchased an AMF era Harley Davidson. I've maintained in total all my previous motorcycles with only minor setbacks and to date have found the Ballabio to be thrilling yet unreliable in all sorts of ways. My complaints about the tire usage and mileage are well within the profligate profile of the V11, as you maintain. I just wanted more. John

For Sale: '04 Moto Guzzi Ballabio, purchased new 10/07, 3500 miles, new rear tire, K & N air filter, recent service. Bike had numerous small issues when new which were repaired under warranty at Wagner's (Worcester, MA). There are a few minor blemishes on the tank (from a tankbag) but otherwise the bike is mint cosmetically. $6800 -- will consider interesting trades such as dual sports, bmw, triumph John jjshields01@snet.net

I'm selling an almost new (400 miles) PC 111 USB for a Moto Guzzi V11. It is in like new condition. $280 shipped. John jjshields01@snet.net

Brief saga of an '04 Ballabio: 1) Test ride...bike broke down, bought anyway! 2) Bike in shop 3 times, numerous issues, much lost riding time. 3) More issues, diagnosed and repaired thru advice here. (clutch switch bullet connectors, other issues) 4) lousy gas mileage, low to mid 30's 5) Rear tire shot in 3200 moderate miles. 6) Adjusted tps (finally!) after much trial and error. Bike running ok, though it has run better. 7) Bike breaking up badly on highway test ride. Stop, rest a minute, bike runs ok for a bit then starts cutting out again. No fix in sight. The dilemna: Will this nightmare (it's bothering the shit out of me) ever end? Is my bike a lemon among lemans? I fix one thing and something else acts up and I keep hoping (foolishly?) that this repair will be the last for awhile but I really doubt it will be. I'm coming to the conclusion that owning this bike is more pain than pleasure and I'm contemplating moving on.... Comments?

Ok, but if it failed the bike wouldn't run. Right? Anyway, I'm not the only one with a Zero reading key on, kill switch in.

Hello all, OK, I'VE HAD IT!!! I keep chasing the millivolt setting of 521mv at 1150 rpm idle and it's not working. In addition I get 0mv with key on and kill switch in, what's up with that? Bike runs lousy and eats gas, please any legitimate help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you. John jjshields01@snet.net

Why is the 150mv setting at key-on bike-off so important? It seems to me the setting (whatever it is) at running idle would be a lot more important as it represents actual running conditions. Anyway, I couldn't get 150mv after following all the instructions, but I found the bike runs great at 527mv running idle (1150 rpm). My question is this; my bike is running rich as evidenced by the blackish sparkplugs and 36 mpg, which way should I go to lean the curve, more millivolts or less? Thanks, John

You're right, there is a mark on the flywheel, or rather there will be when I take a sledge hammer and screwdriver to it so's I can bring the bike up to (or down to) eyetalian standards. Hey, I'm starting to find some humor since joining the Moto Guzzi Masochist's Club!

Hey all, Trying to do a valve check and adjustment and had to find TDC with a screwdriver as the Mandello manglers didn't bother to put any marks on the flywheel. What's a frustated V11 owner to do? Is there a pill for this affliction? John

Got the paste in fine, no more issues and no improvement in gas mileage. Prior to thermal paste -- 37.5 mpg, after thermal paste, 37.7 mpg (100 miles, varied pace, both times). While it can't hurt, the fix probably only works on bikes with much worse fuel mileage caused by improper temperature sensing. My goal is to reach an average of 42 mpg -- hey a man can dream, can't he? John