I Bought a Nevada 750 Classic and It's Red!

[Calculon]

Hello Gals and Guys -

My name is Ted.  I live in Minnesota, you betcha, about half way between Duluth and Saint Paul.  I've mostly been a lurker here with a few posts.  I got my motorcycle license three years ago and oddly enough found I liked Moto Guzzis, with the Nevada being my favorite.  After completing the riders course, I decided I did not have much confidence, being that I had zero riding experience beforehand, and a smaller bike would be the best option for me, so I bought a Suzuki TU250x.  I also did not want to spend big bucks before I decided if I liked it.

I've been riding the TU250x for a couple years and it's a great little bike, but since I live in the sticks, it's not that great on the freeway, which I'd like to have the option to do, so I decided to sell it.  It sat on Craigslist over a month, then in a few days sold.  I decided, just for fun, to take a look on eBay to see if maybe there was an older V7 Classic or something else selling for a modest price.  I didn't find a V7, but did find a 2007 Nevada 750 Classic in my preferred red color and it was only an hour from my house.

I won the auction and now it's mine, though we're still working out the exchange details.  It looks fantastic:





It's only got 1600 miles on it, which concerns me, but I plan to drop it off at the dealer to have them give it the once over to make sure everything checks out.  I seem to recall something about a metal fuel filter replacement being an issue, are there any other issues/problems I should ask the dealer to look into?  I was thinking about possibly replacing the battery and/or tires, depending on what the dealer says, any recommendations for those?

I mostly take my bike to work when the weather allows and putz around on when I have time.  I'm hoping the Nevada will be a bit of a bump up power wise, which is all I need, and I'm definitely down with no longer having to clean the chain.  I guess that's it for now, but I'm sure I'll be back with a bunch of dumb questions.  Thanks.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Welcome to WG and congrats. It looks like a beauty. Don't see many of them in the US. Tires? If they are over 5 years old they may or may not be ok. Many like Avon roadriders on the small blocks. I like Odyssey batteries. Dorcia says every bike I buy needs tires and a battery. 

[twowings]

Sweet bike! Enjoy it...

[Joe A.]

Great looking bike, congrats! I love the look of that TU250 BTW

[leafman60]

Congratulations on the Nevada. I hope you enjoy it.

There are many positive things about the lightweight Nevada.  However, there is one major thing that you should know and attend to if it has not already been corrected.

These bikes were among the models that had fuel line problems.  The fuel pump and filter are located inside the gas tank. The in-tank hoses and the filter are not properly resistant to ethanol-laden gasoline. In a short time the hoses and the fuel filter will deteriorate, swell and split. Unless these are changed out beforehand YOU WILL BE STRANDED.

There are past threads that deal with this issue in GREAT detail. Talk to your dealer about it. I would be reluctant to simply replace these items with new Guzzi parts.  However, you can source the hose and the filters from local auto parts stores.

These hose should be classified as submersible type and the filter would best have a metal construction.

Perhaps some other Guzzi enthusiasts can chime in with details of available replacements.

Also, a much less threatening issue is the solid state portion of the instrument cluster that is known to occasionally have trouble. In those cases, it must be replaced.

Again, I do not intend to sound negative and divert your pleasure away from your new bike but I have EXTENSIVE experience with these issues based on An Old Friend's saga of troubles with this machine.  We dubbed him Mr. Nevada.

Get these things correct and you will have miles of pleasure on a very light and nimble bike.

Please feel free to report here for advice from many folks who know more about your bike than many dealers.

I'm sending The Cavalry to help you. Check here-
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=83340.0

 


In the mean time, read these links-

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=44411.0

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=25482.0

Looks like MPH assembled a kit for this at one time.
http://mphcycles.com/

Other good sources of help-

http://www.motointernational.com/

http://www.harpermoto.com/


.

[guzzisteve]

I would make sure the heads were re-torqued in the 1st service or get it done. Valves set @ .006" in & .008" ex not what the book says.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ok, NAPA gold 3032 seems to be the ticket. Cheap. Use *fuel injection* hose.. not cheap. Make sure the clamps have rolled edges. That's about it for the fuel system. Pay attention to Guzzi Steve. A lot of shops don't seem to know much about the small block, but they are getting better. 

[leafman60]

Calculon, you may want to monitor this concurrent thread:

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=83340.0


.

[cruzziguzzi]

Cute little Nevada. Funny how those bags and red paint go a long way to making these better looking.

One tip though it's less likely in Minnesoota - steer clear of Krispy Kreme donuts!


Calculon... Is he the member of The Avengers who uses a slide rule and rotary computer to fight evil?



Todd.

[neverquit]

Congratulations on your 2007 Nevada.  I also have a 2007 Nevada that I bought about 3 or 4 years ago.  Mine was owned by a woman and only had 800 miles on it.  The fuel pump filter had already been replaced.  I did the 600 mile maintenance but it looked as though that had already been done.  The valve clearance was fine.
 
I found the pegs to be a little close so I made an adapter and lowered them an inch and I made a new seat that looks more like a seat from the 60's or 70's and allows me to sit farther back on the bike.  The bike is the same as any of the dual throttle body v7's.  The rear rim is only 16 inches but the tire is fatter which increases the overall diameter to that of the classic and so the geometry is the same.

I didn't like the chromed plastic air scoops below the tank so I took them off as well as the chrome trim on the sides of the rear fender.  Changing the air filter is a real PITA but other than that the maintenance is easy and the bike has been totally reliable.  There is plenty of power for the freeway.

[sign216]

Calculon... Is he the member of The Avengers who uses a slide rule and rotary computer to fight evil?

Todd.

I think Calculon is an evil robot in the cartoon Futurama (sp?)

[Penderic]

You lucky fellow!

[oldbike54]

 Welcome Calculon .

 Dusty

[leafman60]

http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/BMW-Hose-for-In-Tank-Submersion-16-13-1-455-350-p/fp-hosekit.htm

[Calculon]

Thanks all for the replies. 

Many like Avon roadriders on the small blocks.

First dumb question, what size tires does the Nevada use, just so I can price them out?

I love the look of that TU250 BTW

Me too, I just wish it had ten more horsepower, but you can't ask it to be something it's not.

I would make sure the heads were re-torqued in the 1st service or get it done. Valves set @ .006" in & .008" ex not what the book says.

Mind if I ask why?

I think Calculon is an evil robot in the cartoon Futurama (sp?)

I think mischievous, which describes me well, would be a more apt description.

You lucky fellow!

To call it fortuitous would be an understatement.


I can't wait to get it, which will hopefully be soon.  I've never sat on a Nevada, but did a V7 and liked it, so I'm hoping it works out well.  Thanks again.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I would make sure the heads were re-torqued in the 1st service or get it done. Valves set @ .006" in & .008" ex not what the book says.

Mind if I ask why?

During the first few heat cycles, the head gasket compresses enough that the head needs retorqued. If you don't do that, a blown head gasket is possible. It's just good practice with the type of head gaskets the small block uses.

[John A]

Nice looking bike, welcome to the madness !

[stevet]

Hi Ted,

Welcome aboard!

Look up the MN chapter of the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club, a good group of folks.  http://www.mnguzzi.com/  John Ulrich,  regular on Wild Guzzi, is the chapter prez and a good guy.  Look him up and drop him a note.  Here is their newsletter, John can add you to the mailing list.
http://mnguzzi.com/newsletters/MN%20MGNOC%20May%2016.pdf

Enjoy your new ride!

Steve.

[Calculon]

So I've had the Nevada in the shop for a couple weeks while they give it the once over.  When I drove it to the shop, the EFI light came on.  When I spoke to the dealer they said it was the oxygen sensor and it was $30, which seemed reasonable.  I had to call today to get a quote for tires, which it needs, and they told me the sensor was not $30, but $190.  Now I'm looking on Amazon and it says there's an oxygen sensor for a '04-'09 Nevada priced at $55 plus shipping, so I'm wondering if the $190 price seems right?

They also quoted me $250-350 for new tires, depending on whether I wanted the best value or performance.  Does that seem about right?  Thanks for any help.

[pete roper]

Find out if it's had the ECU update to 'De-sensitise' the error and if the cabling from the phase sensor has been relocated away from the coil. Most of the EFI light issues, especially with early twin TB models, are nothing to do with the lambda probe.

Pete

[Calculon]

Find out if it's had the ECU update to 'De-sensitise' the error and if the cabling from the phase sensor has been relocated away from the coil.

Thanks Pete.  Is this something I would ask the dealer?  I take it if it's had the update and cabling rerouted, it's less likely to produce the error and I wouldn't need the new $190 oxygen sensor?

I doubt it's up to date on the service being that's only got 1700 miles on it.

[pete roper]

Get them to chuck PADS on it, it'll tell them if there's an update available.

It hasn't got anything like an O2 sensor spoofer on it? Or an air temp sensor fooler?

Certainly worth making sure it's up to date and the cabling is away from the coil before dumping bux into a new sensor.

Pete

[M0T0Geezer]

Congrats on the new 750 Nevada.  You will love that motor and the easy handling.

On bad-weather days, you can peruse this on-line mine of Guzzi 750 fyi (including fuel filter & connector info):

http://tinyurl.com/pfogezq

I have a 2004 Breva 750 with 44,000 trouble-free miles.  No problems with fuel filter, fuel lines, etc. 
I did get the Engine Control Unit reflashed by Todd over at GuzziTech.  That was the best $300 I ever spent.

'Geezer

[sign216]

Calculon,

Go to the Yahoo group for Guzzi 750.  On the group's Files page are the two Amber Light Bulletins on this, from the factory.  The first bulletin was to re-route some cables to prevent errant elec signals, and the second bulletin was about a new map to prevent premature amber light signals.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MG_750/info

Joe