cycdude6
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Posts posted by cycdude6
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Sounds like vibration may be causing relay chatter.
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
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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!
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"Wrecklessly wasteful" ??? No, I said "My complaints about the tire usage and mileage are well within the profligate profile of the V11, as you maintain."
3,000 miles out of sportsbike tire is the norm. Why didn't you just replace the tire with a Metzeller ME880 or a Dunlop Roadsmart and get about 10,000 miles of riding out of the tires if "touring" is your angle ?
Actually, I wish there was an ME880 for the Ballabio, I'd buy it. I don't consider the V11 a true "sportsbike" but more like a GT or a standard like the 1200 Bandit. I think the Ballabio is way too slow and heavy to be considered a "sportsbike" like a Ducati 998.
Just curious to know what you were riding before trying to make the Ballabio your daily ride ?
This is my first Moto Guzzi and first GT standard type bike. I wish I knew now what I thought I knew then!
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Sell the thing already.
Might want to lower the price just a bit.
Ok, I will, Kelly Blue Book is $6995.
( I thought I saw a "for sale" listing from you months ago? )
Nope, wasn't me.
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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After I got home I checked the t.p.s. voltage for idle speed voltage KOEO and got .980v. HTH.....
Great, now another number to consider....lol, it gets curioser and curioser.
Anyway, what little success I've had with the TPS was using the Micha protocol and that's been seconded by Tom H. (thank you Tom).
The problem for me is in trying to sort out what works and what doesn't among all the specs and advice given here. As has been suggested I'm going to drop back, start over when I'm calm (is that wrench still stuck in the wall where I threw it?) and proceed in an orderly fashion. God I love riding the Guzzi but the work to make it right seems daunting at the moment...
1) I've been misinformed by some comments on this site i.e. the kill switch must be in. That's a fallacy, there's no power to the TPS with the kill switch in.
2) If I follow the directions for 150mv setting, I'm afraid I won't be able to get the throttle bodies back to normal after backing off the right idle screw, disconnecting the balancing linkage and changing the bypass screws. How the heck do you set the right idle screw after your done? I have no idea.
3) I was able to get the bike running again by moving the TPS to the highest idle and then backing off the left idle screw to get 1150 rpm. The mv readings are all over the map now, tho.
4) I assume the butterflies must be open a tad at idle, otherwise the TPS for running and not running would be the same. Is this true? And does this verify the procedure that requires backing everything off to acheive 150 mv?
5) Called two moto guzzi dealers so far and both say they can not set the CO trim. What's up with that?
6) And finally this is a great site with great people, I'm grateful that I have y'all to turn to.
Thank you,
John and the rosso diablo ballabio
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TPS's have been known to fail. If you can't get a reading off of it no matter what you do, then it could very well be dead.
__Jason
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.
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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
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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
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Step six - Ensure idle trim is set to zero
How the heck do you ensure the idle trim is set to zero?
John
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i know the boys can be aggravating sometimes,but are you sure there,s no marks?s-left.d-right.the engine must be cold.
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!
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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
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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
Odd Little Issue
in Technical Topics
Posted
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