V100 Mandello Merged Threadfest

[Clifton]

I think what this illustrates is we appreciate good suspension and are willing to pay more for it. It doesn't add *that* much cost at the manufacture level but when we have to pay retail for poor suspension only to junk it and pay retail again for good suspension, it gets very costly.  European manufacturers have recently been providing the option of better or upgraded suspension, I only wish the Japanese would do the same. Let's see I'll take a CRF300L "S model" with top shelf forks and shock.
BTW the Guzzi dealer here has V100's on the floor, all base models.

[Dave Swanson]

It was the same value equation when the V85 was introduced.  Another grand for the Adventure that had $2,000 worth of bags and racks on it.  Pretty simple math.  The V100S has extras that are worth more than the asking price as well.  A standard Ohlins setup without power adjustments would be over $2,000 by itself plus the install if you did not do it yourself as well as the shifter which I have no idea what that is worth.  It just seems like a better value to me.  If you are already committed to spending $15,500, what's another 2 grand?

To retrofit a base V100 with the Ohlins will cost about $4500, which includes a "S" ECU, if I remember Enzo correctly. 

[Dave Swanson]

I just got back from my first proper ride.  This bike is loads of fun.  It is very refined, but it still retains some Guzzi character.   The handling of this bike is stellar.  I haven't had a bike this confidence building in the handling department since my CBR 954RR.  The quick shifter is a nice thing.  It requires a bit of brain realignment to produce smooth shifts.  Q/S is very cool when hammering the back roads. 

My only niggle is the well documented Harley type clunk when shifting in to first from neutral.   

[Huzo]

It’s gonna’ need that better screen.
Yes ?

[Dave Swanson]

It’s gonna’ need that better screen.
Yes. ?

So far from my limited exposure, no.  I prefer screen down for back road corner scratching.  Winglets out and screen up on the B road home seemed very tolerable for long distance. 

[blu guzz]

When I test rode that white one that Enzo has, I was amazed at how smooth everything was even with the little stock screen.

[Moparnut72]

The first to second gear clunk is due to the wet clutch. Guzzi owners of past are spoiled by the dry clutch which doesn't clunk or very minimally. My Harley Slim was so bad it would leave small marks on the garage floor. My Triumph clunks, cold or hot, bit worse cold. Nothing to be concerned with.
kk

[Dave Swanson]

The first to second gear clunk is due to the wet clutch. Guzzi owners of past are spoiled by the dry clutch which doesn't clunk or very minimally. My Harley Slim was so bad it would leave small marks on the garage floor. My Triumph clunks, cold or hot, bit worse cold. Nothing to be concerned with.
kk

The clunk is from neutral to first.  1st to 2nd is just fine. 

And I am not concerned with the clunk.  Just a very minor annoyance.  Very reminiscent of my Harley Road King days.

[lucian]

Congrats Dave , the more you ride the v100 the more you will like it. There is so many subtle things about it that improve the ride experience  and take miles to appreciate. The fueling improvement as stock over previous air cooled mills is astounding. Seacoast picked up mine yesterday for the first service and I should have it back end of next week. Looking forward to seeing what the upper rev range has to offer I spoke with the sales person I deal with and asked how they were selling and he said they can't keep them in stock. Looks like another winner for Piaggio.    Buy the way, did you trade the Griso? 

[egschade]

>SNIP< The fueling improvement as stock over previous air cooled mills is astounding. Seacoast picked up mine yesterday for the first service and I should have it back end of next week. Looking forward to seeing what the upper rev range has to offer >SNIP<

The V100 I rode ran beautifully even at 10K ft altitude. Upper rev range has a LOT to offer. The engine is just waking up around 5K RPM and really sings from 6-8K.

[Dave Swanson]

It’s gonna’ need that better screen.
Yes. ?

Reading the mail from fellows with big miles on their V100s.  One of the favorite screens for better coverage is the Powerbronze Touring Screen.   Should be more Goldwingish with this one.   

https://www.powerbronze.co.uk/moto-guzzi-v100-mandello-22-23-420-m102.html

[LowRyter]

It’s gonna’ need that better screen.
Yes. ?

Seemed OK to me, but you have get into the menu to adjust it, so I never raised.  Didn't buffet.  I rode it in Touring mode but the movable wings were out of my vision, then I kicked it up to Sport (wings stay flat).  The screen bolts on easily. 

[blackcat]

If you roll the bike back a foot or two will it still clunk going into first?

[Huzo]

What about putting the bike in gear and starting with the clutch pulled in ?
Also, does anyone have any early reports if the Stelvio is going to have wire wheels ?
The Powerbronze screen looks good and I’m pretty sure it will improve the visual balance of the bike, but I’d like to see the angular shape around the top edge softened a bit.
Also to my mind, the tint looks cheap. Prefer the clear.
What’s on the go for a tail tidy ?

[Huzo]

When I test rode that white one that Enzo has, I was amazed at how smooth everything was even with the little stock screen.

That’s why it’s smooth, you are in the steady stream of air.

[lazlokovacs]

while we're on the subject of screens/buffeting I will throw in my 2c...

I spent years fiddling with windscreens, all the way up to the massive H&H fairing from harpers which worked really well. But the best screen I've ever had on any bike is no screen at all and a big tankbag in front of you to take the blast off your chest. Keeps the head in delightfully clear air at all speeds up and beyond the ton.

Apologies for thread drift

Keep the V100 reports coming, I'm very interested in this engine

 

[GmaninAZ]

That would be disappointing.  In my (so far imaginary) ownership, I would have something like that re-painted/powdercoated. 
I have not seen this point definitively addressed yet, so I withhold any judgement.

Something like this?

[GmaninAZ]

To my Eye Palate, I think the Mandello would look much better with a black motor and trans/swingarm. The Gold Valve Covers make sense with the Gold Rims on the Base Red, but not with other color combos. Over time, the silver gets stained and is harder to keep looking pristine (if that matters to you).

My 07 Griso has a very interesting bronzish color on the swingarm and CARC that I wished translated to the engine and valve covers. But I like uniformity.

As for those who think this is NOT "Guzzi" enough, I'm wondering what else on the market is 'more' Guzzi? I think this is a perfect modern evolution of the Marque, if 5 years late. There is obviously a ton of 'parts bin' happening with Aprilia/Piaggio but it is what it is, and I think they did a great job overall. Will be interesting to see what they do with the Stelvio and possible other derivatives.

I had an issue with the paint on my left side head cover, it could be scratched off with a thumb nail, and isopropyl alcohol disolved it also, so I powder coated them and had the screws finished with Black Nitride + process. I thought the gold was out of place with the black wheels and all the other black bits:

[LowRyter]

so far as painting .... the local shop took the white demo bike and had the calipers painted the same red/orange as under the aero flaps.

[dguzzi]

  I vote black,   possibly the green but that might be weird, satin black is it. (dang it)

[lucian]

Just received a custom made double socket to fit both front and rear axle nuts on the v100,  What a beautifully cnc machined piece of of work from Todd at Guzzitech   .   A must have if venturing off on the V100 as most shops would be unlikely to have a metric socket large enough to change the rear in a pinch.  Well done Todd !

[Huzo]

  I vote black,   possibly the green but that might be weird, satin black is it. (dang it)

How would they go polished ?

[SIR REAL ED]

  I vote black,   possibly the green but that might be weird, satin black is it. (dang it)

I vote a flat Olive green military color.  At least on the green V100.

[Huzo]

I can promise y’all this…
Photo shoppers.



Remove the overhang on the rear fender.
Do the cam covers polished alloy OR do the front and rear calipers the same gold as the rocker covers.
A clear and (tastefully) larger screen.
Forks the same colour as the cam covers.
Norge style metal mirrors.
Add an Ohlins rear shock…(just for the bling).

It will look a LOT better.

[dguzzi]

I vote a flat Olive green military color.  At least on the green V100.

   Agree!  I need a sample, but you might have the answer!

[GmaninAZ]

so far as painting .... the local shop took the white demo bike and had the calipers painted the same red/orange as under the aero flaps.

Do you have any pictures of this?

[djkid]

In a previous post on this forum I wrote about my experiences after 2000 km with my V100 Mandello. My preference was for a white with gold wheels. I didn't want a quick shifter on it and I hoped to be satisfied with the standard suspension.

The counter is now at 9000 km. And many of the experiences and opinions after my previous report are still true. But the quality of the standard suspension began to bother me more and more. And as has happened to me more often if you start paying attention, the shortcomings seem to me to be increasingly difficult to digest and accept. In a first step I had the suspension adjusted by a professional company. Since it was immediately noticeable that the suspension at the front was much smoother than the suspension at the rear, I had a spring mounted with a lower spring rate as a next step. Although front and rear were much more in harmony, the whole thing was too soft and the rear damping too harsh.

After my V100 Mandello also had to stay at the dealer for a few days due to a water leak, I got the chance to get a V100S Mandello home as a loan bike. During these days I was once struck by how enormous the differences are between the V100 with Kayaba suspension and with Ohlins suspension. After this experience, I can confirm that the V100S Mandello is certainly worth the extra price, but unfortunately not available in the color pearl white. The color of my preferences.

In the meantime I received a message from Matris, having previously sent them an email about this, that their suspension kit for the V100 was available. Although not yet visible on their website (now it is) I got an overview of their possibilities.

Now the Matris suspension kit for my V100 is mounted. I opted for the most cost-effective option, namely to only replace the front fork springs and replace the rear KYB shock absorber with the simplest Matris shock absorber.

First of all I want to share the measurements of the sag with you. Please note that these values only apply to my rider weight of around 70 kg.

Front
Static sag / Riders sag V100 factory setting: 40mm / 49mm
Static sag / Riders sag V100S factory setting: 29mm / 36mm
Static sag / Riders sag V100 Matris springs 30mm / 38mm

Rear
Static sag / Riders sag V100 factory setting: 13mm / 30mm
Static sag / Riders sag V100S minimum preload: 21mm / 39mm
Static sag / Riders sag V100 Matris shock: 16mm / 38mm

The measured values now approach the values of the V100S fairly accurately. In addition, the riders sag front and rear is now exactly the same value, namely 38mm.

For those who want to apply the same adjustment, I will name all the settings here.

Front: springs 36/320/10, air chamber 130mm (instead of 150mm as mentioned by Matris in the instruction manual. Motorex SAE 10W oil, rebound damping 6 clicks, preload 6 turns.
Rear: Spring 57/150/135, preload 4 clicks, rebound damping 26 clicks.

Meanwhile I have made some kilometers with the new Matris suspension kit. I like the steering better, the front of the bike dives much less during braking. The previous harshness of the rear suspension has been replaced by an adequate damping. The damping at the rear wheel is really a huge improvement. I notice that especially on roads where the asphalt is not so smooth, but with holes and cracks. At the front end I didn't have much to complain about the damping in the original set up. But the suspension has improved enormously after mounting the front fork spring set.

The assembly is done by a professional company. But I was allowed to just stand and watch it while working. The original front fork is filled with what appears to be thinner oil than the Motorex 10 that is now in it. In the left front fork there are only two spacers stacked on top of each other and a roughly finished spring. All damping is in the right front fork. The damping is fine adjustable for my taste. The new springs are longer than the original springs so that there is considerably more preload in the front fork than before. I can imagine that even more improvement can be achieved with the Matris front fork cartridges. But in the coming year I will gain experience with the current set up. If I feel that there is more need for improvement, the front fork cartridges are always worth considering.

[rocker59]

Just received a custom made double socket to fit both front and rear axle nuts on the v100,  What a beautifully cnc machined piece of of work from Todd at Guzzitech   .   A must have if venturing off on the V100 as most shops would be unlikely to have a metric socket large enough to change the rear in a pinch.  Well done Todd !

that's very cool!

[coast range rider]

Nice post, @djkid. I like the white and gold also. Too bad the S isn't offered that way. You add more weight to the theory that the S model is worth the $ premium.

[blackcat]

djKid,

Nice write up about the suspension, I don't know how much money you have spent on this upgrade but I wonder if it would have been less expensive to buy the S model and have it painted white?  I understand that the cost from Guzzi for the gold rims is pretty reasonable.