ScuRoo

Don't worry, I agree with what you're saying but for these reasons: I'm giving numbnut's the opportunity to pay for his ignorance and error, if I take it away that is even more unlikely to happen. Also not keen on incurring more bills in paying for transportation in order to move it somewhere else. I've already booked it in with Baldrick at Colliers Wood on 11 Nov (he's fully booked up until then) for a complete check over. As it is unrideable at moment, if numbnut's "fixes" it I'm only going to quietly ride it home and then onto drop it off with Baldrick. I won't ride it with vigour or more than the 25 miles necessary to get it to Baldrick until he has cleared it as 100% perfect. Moscowphil said I hope it has'nt put me off my bike. Nah! Not at all - I just accept it as part of the learning curve and peculiar joys guzzi ownership brings! Besides, I might be buying a proper "old" guzzi in two weeks time, so look's like it has done quite the opposite! Let me assure you, once I've got it to Baldrick I will never darken numbnut's doorstep again. The only thing guzzi about numbnut's is the little guzzi sign sitting alongside his big Aprilia sign - say's it all really...

Well done. It's great that "Man" has a wonderful ability to set a gaol, aim for it, acheive it, glory in it and just know with a warm smile of contentment that the world is now a better place for having done so...

Thanks fella's for your support - I've got an amazing update on this now which I will share with you if I may. Before I do, some of you may need to loop some string around from top of head to under throat a number of times to save dental bills when chin hits, hits, hit's bouncing on keyboard... here we go. Phone rings yesterday. I answer. "Hi it's Xdealer here, w've had chance to look at it and you need new rhs side plate, new emblem in side plate, new axle stub and new nut. That comes to £170.00. Do you want me to order the parts in?" Well, (take deep breath) to be honest Xdealer, I've gotta say I'm disappointed that you told me blah, blah "one single bar, stub hanging out" blah (as above story) and don't think you should be charging for your error. Xdealer goes, Well hang on here, blah blah, blah blah, to be quite honest, this is the first time I've ever seen inside the swingarm set-up. (WHAT!!!!!) We usually work on modern stuff. To be quite honest, we don't know much about old guzzi's or get to work on them(HUH?!) Oh, come on Xdealer, I said, my bike was made in 2004 or 2005 - I would'nt call that an old guzzi! Well, said Xdealer, your bike might not be that old but what I mean is it still is old style technology. But, I said, you're a moto guzzi dealer and you don't have a sign up saying you don't know much about "old" guzzi's. And now, you're telling me you don't know much about old guzzi's and this is the FIRST time you've EVER had the opportunity of a side plate being off to see how the swingarm all works. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I KID YOU BLOODY NOT. Aaaarrggh! I'm sorry guy's, I can't do this anymore. This isn't even remotely humourous for me to try and relay this story. I am just sickened in my gut's. I can't even begin to now be pissed or enraged - it's like dealing with a total spastic who does'nt know any better. Disgust, pity, disbeleif, nauseated - yes, all of the above, but I'm beyond being mad. (I think, I'm not sure). I'm only not saying his name because I will continue to give him the opportunity to pay-up for his ignorance. If in the end, he insists I pay, I will. £200 is neither here nor there to me in the grand scheme of things of scraped bones and scars for life. It's the principle. Rewarding ignorance on this occasion would be just plain wrong. I'll write more if you want, but this is enough for now. I need cuddles. ...or at the very least, my fellow Aussie's encouragement to HTFU.

I'm not happy, not happy at all. A bit pissed off in fact. I'm new to guzzi I admit, but I expect guzzi dealers to know a bit more about these bikes... I was previously told the two big nuts on the pork-chop's "held a bar in place which goes right through and ties both sides of the bike together" and as I was missing the RHS one I should get it replaced quickly (as in don't ride) in case the bar came out. They did'nt have one, but fair enough I got nut sent via London dealer from Italy - duly done (1/5 turn more than finger tight). What was also commented on at the time was the fact the RHS threaded bar stuck out a long way, whereas the existing nut on the LHS was on but clearly appeared to have a only a short amount of thread it was screwed onto. Lets say, half to 2/3rd's at a guess. Bloke even said "I bet it's out of alignment, I'll give it a quick check". Fair enough. Later I asked how was the alignment? "Funny that", he say's "It was spot-on". O'kay, fair enough, great. Well, I'd only been out on 4 or 5 half-hour solo rides since then. However, my birthday was on Saturday and a mate & I were going to have a early morning blast down to the coast and have brekky. As my mate Stu has a Honda Blackbird I work the guzzi well 'ard to stick close. Much harder than when I'm solo. So, after a great brekky, we set off along the coast to Eastbourne. Five minutes later I kinda sensed the bike did'nt feel the same. I ignored it thinking I was'nt feeling quite as comfortable as before we stopped and I'd soon get my feel back. Accelerating past cars the bike was shaking it's head like a pony on pepper. I'm now thinking I must be getting a slowly deflating back tyre - shake the handle-bars and it's like it is all jelly. Ashamed to say, I'm a don't stop at the first squeak, rattle, whine, bump - ride it and hope it sorts itself out, kinda guy. 5-10 minutes later I do 'cos it feels like it's so sloppy I thought it was falling apart. It was. The RHS nut, bar, everything was gone and the chop plates internal threads were all mashed and swing arm was out of alignment by 1.5 inches with metal filings like confetti everywhere. On my birthday, damn lucky! It could've been injurious. Been on the internet and I now know there is NO ONE BAR THAT GOES STRAIGHT THRU. Instead there's two weeny 2 inch jobbies either side. If I had known this even I would have worked out that if the thread is virtually all visibly hanging out in the air, it must be just about to part company, nut or no nut. Grrrr. So, why would'nt a guzzi dealer be astute enough to know this? I'm disappointed. So where's my bike now? The AA delivered it there. Should I loose 100% confidence in this dealer or give them the benefit of the doubt and stick with them? I don't mind human error, but guzzi dealer ignorance? I'm feeling very shaky in my confidence in them. Should any garden common-variety guzzi dealer be able to sort it out or should I get it to the (experts?) Colliers Wood dealer in London?

For what it's worth the Stelvio has Alpina spokes on Ber rims 180/55 17 rear, so I guess this is as good a test as any. But who gives a stuff about that. They are so damn hot you'll be issue-ing every time you open your garage door. Jaundiced in no time - you've been warned!

I don't know anything about a convert reardrive apart from understanding the convert is an automatic.(?) There used to be a "Sidecar" bevel gear drive kit but unfortunately it applied to models before the V11 I'm told. (Are there any V11 owners out there with sidecars?) Respectively: the V11 final drive cardan shaft with gears is - Ratio: 1:2,9091 (Z=11/32) the Quota 1100ES final drive cardan shaft gears - Ratio: 1:4,125 (Z=8/33) This change in gear ratio would suit what I'm after perfectly. Any thoughts on this (ie. could this be made to work)? What with all the apparent interchangeable nature of Guzzi's there must be a solution to this conumdrum.... aaah!

Too easy! I'm a guzzi girl so it's a given we like to do things 'ARD!

It's a V11 six speed gearbox.[quote name='ScuRoo' date='06 September 2010 - 06:00 PM' timestamp='1283792447' post='173713'] I'm going on a long ride with my best mate & I know we will be going over some unsurfaced roads and would like to lower the first gear. How would I do it? ...

I'm going on a long ride with my best mate & I know we will be going over some unsurfaced roads and would like to lower the first gear. How would I do it? ...

Hi handtius Your comment it "would cut out mid-ride every once in a while" is what mine has been doing. I suggest as a quick thing to check is to swap the last two relays (closest to back of bike) and see if she goes - Boom! - and starts like nuthin' ever was wrong. Seems to have sorted mine! If it does'nt then... refer back to other's

Promised update following service yesterday. So, from at the beginning: Bike would'nt start. "Bugga". Went thru the wiggling & jiggling of wires. Eventually - Boom! We're good to go... So, halfway (gone about 5 miles) to destination bike cut dead as a maggot. Wiggle, jiggle, nada. Wiggle, nada. Jiggle, nada. Half an hour of prayer and fingers crossed went before I was convinced my usual routine just was'nt going to do the trick this time. So I swapped no. 5(ecu?) & no. 4(pump?) and immediately - BOOM! Like nuthin' was wrong, the cheeky 'lil sod. The Guzzi dealership did'nt have any relay's in stock (i kid u !) so at end of service rode home with relays in situ as per swap and without any drama. During servicing mechanic took exhaust off because of cross-pipe not allowing him access. Is this unusual? Anyhow, rang Corsa Italiana this morning and they are sending me out two bosch relays. Taking bike away this friday to 80's Rewind festival at Henley-on-thames. It's a wife thang, so I'll be looking to get away (listening to Rick Astley was'nt in our marriage vows) for rides to clear head so will get to see if problem has been resolved.

Oh, crap! Now you're scaring me a bit Mikie as it's outta warranty! Hope pasotibbs story fits my bike $wise! Like Pasotibbs, I jiggled that kill switch a number of times and I kinda got a sense(errant?) that it had more to do with subsequent restarts than anything else I'd wiggled! (stopped near a bush, 'mose well drain me sump!) I getting a sense that this seems to be a fairly common problem though throughout the V11 years. I was hoping that being one of the "last of the V11's" things would've been a teeny bit sorted than the early examples. Oh, I forgot, it was still made by the same fella's - probably after lunch.

Good man, Roy! Well, twice it fired right up before I'd come to a complete halt roll-starting, twice started up fine with start button - but the last time I had to do 3 or 4 feeble wiggle and shakes on all wires and switches on bars, under-seat and up/down of sidestand. Eight or 9 attempts with starter button and sounding as if it would'nt fire thinking of pushing. Hit it again and vroom, it's going again perfectly within half a second turnover as if nothing ever was wrong! Like my missus, come to think of it.

O'kay Roy, I'm not knocking anything you say. Ah's is only trying to get me here some learning. Eating into zed's looking but found this below on a way earlier posting with regards to sidestand. And, seems like omrons or MGR-C20 series relays are the way to go if upgrading relays. Other tips or hints certainly welcome for clearing roo's! Cheers! Jay From: Dan Prunuske Date: Thu Oct 9, 2003 8:58:48 PM US/Pacific To: MGCL@topica.com Subject: V11 Sport Wiring vs Relays Dave Laing recently contacted me regarding a failed Bosch starter relay on his V11 Sport. He thought the problem was that the Normally Closed terminal of the starter relay powered the headlights, not merely the coil of the headlight relay. I was skeptical (who would be so stupid?), but after checking the wiring diagram, he is correct. Worse, that terminal (rated at 10 amps) also powers the brake lights, the tach, the horn, some of the instrument lights, and is the reference voltage for the GEN lite! Arrrrgh. The high beam and the brake lights alone are about 9 amps, and imho, too much load on a 10 amp contact. (My normal rule of thumb is to use a relay capable of twice the anticipated load). So you ask, what controls the headlight relay? The stupid sidestand safety switch! Arrrgh. Nice going Guzzi. There is no horn relay - full current goes thru the switch. Loverly. Another buck saved. What to do? I'd suggest: 1. Install a horn relay. It's tolerable that this relay's coil is powered thru the headlight relay, but it's horn current should come from a fuse, not from the headlight relay. 2. Remove the white/green wire from terminal 87a of the starter relay and run it instead to Fuse 5 (this is the headlight power). Disconnect the orange/blue wire from terminal 85 of the headlight relay. Run a wire from terminal 85 of the headlight relay to terminal 87a of the starter relay. Now the only load on terminal 87a (the Normally Closed terminal) of the starter relay will be the coil for the headlight relay. The difference is now the headlight will still operate if the sidestand is down. Edit 10/12/03 Forget this option.(2.) After posting this, we discovered that it will not work....so go with option one or something else, like a higher rated relay, or a strategically wired additional relay. Until you fix this issue, avoid using the horn and the high beam flasher. And for what it is worth, the headlight is not deactivated by the kick stand switch. No doubt there are other improvements that could be made to this crappy wiring layout. For example, I'd be inclined to get at least the brake lights out of the headlight circuit. My mods suggested above should greatly extend the life of the starter relay. BTW, they are made on the assumption that the bike is actually wired as shown on the diagram. Bwa, ha, ha! Carl, may I presume that terminal 86 of the headlight relay is grounded? It's not shown as such on your diagram. Does anyone know which other relays on this model seem failure prone? Cheers, Dan

Thanks Roy for your first suggestion! I'm really by nature kinda one of those cost:time calculating impatient types, so I'm gunna just tell the service guy to change the relays just as a matter of course. So, what 'best' relay make should be bought in changing naturally begs the next question. Secondly, whilst I appreciate the right diagnostic & probably $cheapest way of your next suggestion; that ain't gunna happen in the top '3 or 4' things I'm really likely to do in the short term vis a vis jamming a wire up its clacker (not proud saying so - just being honest here). So, in just ASSUMING the sidestand switch IS at fault - what 'superior' switch/repair should be bought/done to just go ahead and fix it? Timewise, I'd rather just pay a little bit of extra money out too cover off any PESKY possible bases first, and if there is still a problem after all that, well... I'll probably be ground down in time, methinks! Once again, thanks Roy. Cheers! Jay Anymore pesky-type 'precautionary principle' low-cost solutions to be considered chap's?

Been looking for post's referring to similar problems but not having too much luck at moment. Could any of you fella's help? In June on 1st big bonding trip, did 3000 hard miles thru the Pyrenees on my Scura R (now with just over 5000 miles). Bike did not miss a BEAT! Bewdy. (Even felt as if it was loosening up some by end of trip). Now, last 2 small rides out - steadily riding along anywhere between 40-80mph & bike cuts out suddenly and unexpectedly. Couple of times managed to roll start before coming to a complete halt, and other times bike refused to fire. Getting dangerous now as yesterday whilst passing a van and - cut! - almost got hung out to dry. So, booked it in for service next week but would like to pass on any 'forum collective knowledge' hints or tips to Bikersworld of (electrical?) things to check or (sensibly) replace in order to most likely cure problem. Any learned guidance or first-hand experience with solution sought. Cheers fella's! Jay P.s. Please keep things simple for this guzzi acolyte as I'm really looking for the "top 3 or 4 most likely's..."

Always kinda thought GUZZI shoulda had their name on the motus V4. Same layout (with shaft), watercooled, grunt, noise, simplicity of design... natural path to evolve along is what I thought, oh well, hey ho!

Shucks Hubert Those Alaskan's are just so niice and purty lounging back on their woolly bear rug's... heck, they could even be mistook for Canadian's!!!

Piaggio attitude to Guzzi owner frustration? Here's the solution...

Glad you're asking... I'm (selfishly) intrigued to know how many Scura R's also were made! Cheers! ScuRoo

Sorry to be such a gherkin, but new at this game. Trying to attach a word doc of mine with picture and aren't having any luck just yet. I'll keep trying to figure things out but bit of guidance might help me get it up. Cheers!

Eight shipwrecked passengers washed onto a Pacific island - two Scotsmen, couple of Welshmen, Irish fella's and two Englishmen. Well, in no time at all the two Scot's had rigged up a brewing contraption and proceeded to get uproariously drunk! The two Welshmen meantime had formed a choral duet and were singing away at the top of their lungs! The Irishmen? Well they had already started fighting and punching the crap out of each other! And what were the two Englishmen up to? Well... they were still waiting to be introduced! Hiya chaps! Go easy now. That's just a little ice-breaker by way of introduction of myself. Hi! (waving) Yep. I've decided to humbly become an "Intiate" and join the lower ranks of the great hairy unwashed height's of Roper et al., of this world! By joining the lower ranks of this merry club of fawning apostolic cringer's in the face of true genius - hopefully one day I too can pass on all my hard-won, pilfered or loaned knowledge to the next nutter in say, about 20 years time - I'm looking forward to the journey! How did I get here? Well, 'ol story really. My mate with the long wan...w..way down GS goes "Go oonnn - get back in the saddle". So immediately one thing became crystal clear in a flash - there was no bloody way I was gunna get the same bike he was riding - I mean where's the fun in that? Question is, what do I get? So, after many rides of my 'puter I narrowed down a few options and fell on the V11. I mean, compared to other Japlastic's I thought it was just a real horny looking, interesting/quirky and apparently competent beast of machine. Basically, fell in lust... So, whilst not having seen one in the flesh or ridden one before, my research threw up a lovely little Scura R languishing with barely 2000 miles on the clock. Pristine. Baby, I didn't even wait to put a condom on... Cheers fella's! ScuRoo P.s. Are Scura R's numbered like Scura's are?