Traction Control V9

[Lowflying]

‘17 Bobber. Only had it for a week or so.

I’m finding the TC way too intrusive. Only used it on dry roads, but finding it annoying. So, turning it off most of the time.

Is that typical?

[faffi]

In rain mode (2) it is very intrusive, but I rarely notice it in the normal (1) mode. If the bike is set to rain mode, it will go back to that every time you turn off the ignition.

[Lowflying]

I find it intrusive in 1 too. Never used 2, yet.

Maybe I twist the throttle too hard!  I do like the torque hit on this bike. 😉

I can see how it would be useful in the rain.

[faffi]

Maybe your engine is more powerful than mine Or the TC is a bit more sensitve? Is it when leaving a stoplight, or will it kick in also when already rolling? I personally find mine intrusive on gravel on level 1, and unrideable in level 2 on slippery surfaces, when the bike just bogs constantly and goes nowhere. On rain I was disappointed, because twice the rear would spin up and hold a slide without level 1 kicking in at all, meaning I had to do the throttle control myself like on a bike without TC.

[Alfetta]

Although I'm on a V7,  I have a similar problem.

My first time trying to get across a busy intersection quickly, and the TC shut the engine off, SHUT IT OFF,  half way through.  It is only briefly, but it will still make the poop come out !

I have my bike set to the default no.1 setting, and just had to train myself to shut it off when getting spirited ( Ironic ), or find a different path to avoid this problem.
Another "for the sake of safety" frustration...

This is about as help full as the headrest air bag in my Jeep going off while sitting at a drive through window. It about took my head off, sure glad it didn't do this while doing 75 on the highway...
It's all getting over the top and out of control.

[bad Chad]

Interesting. I seldom notice it, and I’m hard on the throttle.  Petit has much to do with the type of road surfaces one typically rides?    I only feel it when running on sketchy dirty road.

[faffi]

After reading the various experiences, plus having watched a few videos, I am inclined to blame inconsistent settings/production tolerances for the TC from one bike to the next, with some being more eager to engage TC than others.

[Kev m]

I wonder if recalibration would help you guys.

Because it's never activated for me unless I was in dirt.

[Lowflying]

Maybe different years are differently calibrated too.

How would one recalibrate?

[faffi]

It depends on how it is made, I presume, although I do not know a lot about electronics. Can it be adjusted/programmed, or is it "set for life"? If the former, one can hook up a computer with the correct interface and adjust the settings. If it is set permanently, there is not much "ordinary people" can do about it, nor Guzzi - they will just fit and forget on the production line. However, as with everything, there are production tolerances. As there is in the whole ECU, and here I suppose there are wheel sensors from the ABS, throttle position sensor, servo motor for the throttle and ignition timing involved. Depending on how wide or narrow those tolerances are, you can either have a product with minute or noticeable behavior variations.

[Lowflying]

I’d like a way to turn it off, so that it doesn’t automatically default to “on” every time you start it. And while I’m wishing, I’d like it not to give a yellow idiot light on the clock when it’s “off”. Sigh.😞

But, hey, I can live with it. Every bike has its foibles. Way more positives about this bike!

[Kev m]

Maybe different years are differently calibrated too.

How would one recalibrate?

I doubt there are significant software differences across the smallblock line, but regardless the calibration I'm talking about is a live setting where the individual bike learns the speed of both wheels. It should be performed anytime a tire is replaced, and if it is not done there is a chance the system is misreading the relative speeds (which could in theory make it more or less sensitive).

So you've got nothing to lose to try a recalibration to see if it helps.

See your owner's manual (this is from the one for my V7III):

WARNING
THE MGCT SYSTEM IS BASED ON THE RECOGNITION OF SPEED DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR WHEEL. @@ FOR THE SYSTEM TO PERFORM
CORRECTLY IN ALL CONDITIONS, THE PROCEDURE MUST BE
PERFORMED EACH TIME A TYRE IS REPLACED - EVEN IF ONLY ONE OF THE
TYRES.
FOR THE CALIBRATION OF THE CONTROL UNIT PERFORM THE PROCEDURE
BELOW.

· BUTTON (1) (with the engine running): press and hold to activate / deactivate,
press briefly to toggle between levels 1 and 2.
· ICON (2): operating indication icon.
Flashing mode:
- Off with the vehicle in gear:: the system is working, but is not active (normal condition).
- Flashing quickly with moving vehicle: the system is up and running (conditions of low
grip and intervention to reduce engine power); we recommend the utmost caution
because the grip limit has been exceeded; restore the vehicle safety conditions by
gently reducing the throttle opening.
- Lit with moving vehicle: the system is disabled and will not intervene in case of loss
of grip.
· @@ If the system was disabled deliberately by the user (by pressing and
holding the on/off button (1) with the engine running), it is highly advisable to
reactivate the system as soon as possible.
· If the deactivation was NOT voluntary, there is an MGCT failure: in this case
you must contact an Authorised Service Centre for the diagnosis and the
reactivation of the system.

To ensure maximum safety of the vehicle it is advisable to keep the system active.
Deactivation may only be necessary if starting on very low grip surfaces (mud, snow,
gravel) on which intervention of the MGCT could prevent the vehicle from moving.
Description of MGCT levels

The MGCT offers the user a choice of two levels (1 and 2):
- "1" Suitable for normal use with normal grip conditions. The response of the system
is less invasive than in level "2".
- "2" Suitable for poor grip conditions, such as riding on wet roads or on slippery or
particularly dirty tarmac. The response of the system is more invasive than in level "1".

CAUTION
THE STATE OF THE MGCT SYSTEM CAN ONLY BE MODIFIED WHEN THE ENGINE
IS RUNNING.

NOTE
AT VEHICLE START-UP THE MGCT WARNING LIGHT FLASHES AT THE SAME
FREQUENCY AS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, INDICATING A DIAGNOSTIC
PHASE OF THE SYSTEM. IN THE ABSENCE OF ERRORS, BOTH WARNING
LIGHTS TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME WHEN EXCEEDING 5 km/h (3.11 mph).
IN CASE OF ABSENCE OF FLASHING AT START-UP, THE SYSTEM MAY NOT
WORKING, PLEASE CONTACT AN AUTHORISED SERVICE CENTRE.

WARNING
AT EACH KEY-ON, THE MGCT SYSTEM IS RE-ACTIVATED AT THE LAST LEVEL
SET.

IF DISABLED BY THE USER, THE MGCT SYSTEM KEEPS THE STATE OF INACTIVITY
ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS OFF BY USING THE ENGINE STOP SWITCH
(RUN-OFF); AT THE NEXT KEY ON, THE MGCT SYSTEM IS ENABLED AUTOMATICALLY
AT THE LEVEL SET BEFORE IT WAS DEACTIVATED.

CAUTION
IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THE RIDING AUXILIARY SYSTEM CANNOT CHANGE
THE PHYSICAL LIMITS OF GRIP AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER
MANAGEMENT OF POWER, BOTH ON STRAIGHT STRETCHES AND IN TURNS.
THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO ALWAYS USE THE VEHICLE WITH THE
UTMOST CARE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS IN FORCE.

NOTE
WHEN GOING OVER ROAD JOINTS, RAILS AND/OR ROADS FULL OF POTHOLES,
BRIEF ACTIVATION OF THE MGCT SYSTEM MAY OCCUR. SUCH
EVENT APPEARS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION CONDITIONS OF THE VEHICLE.

CAUTION
A POOR STATE OF MAINTENANCE OF THE TYRES (PRESSURE TOO LOW OR
FLAT TYRES/WEAR) CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE MGCT
SYSTEM.

IN CASE OF REPEATED INTERVENTIONS OF THE MGCT SYSTEM, EVEN ON
ROAD SURFACES WITH GOOD GRIP OR SMALL THROTTLE OPENINGS, IT IS
NECESSARY TO CHECK FOR WEAR AND/OR THE STATE OF INFLATION OF
TYRES FIRST. IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, DEACTIVATE THE MGCT SYSTEM
AND CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTRE.

CAUTION
IN THE EVENT OF MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY, THE ABS - MGCT SYSTEM
TURNS OFF.


MGCT SYSTEM CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

In order to maintain the effectiveness of the MGCT system following the replacement
of one or both tyres or in the case of serious wear, causing a non-compliant behaviour
of the MGCT, a calibration procedure of the system must be performed as follows on
a straight flat stretch of road.
Check that the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure before calibrating the
MGCT system.
• Allow the engine to idle for at least 5 seconds.
• Check that the MGCT is activated at level 1 or 2. Otherwise, activate it.
• Pull the clutch lever while pressing the starter button (3) for at least 5 seconds. The
activation of the process will be confirmed by the MGCT warning light (2) turning on
with fast flashing.

• Accelerate to a constant speed of 30 km/h (18.64 mph) in second gear, and maintain
this speed for at least 8 seconds.
• The end of the procedure will be indicated by the MGCT warning light (2) turning off.
The MGCT system is active.
• Once the procedure is completed, it is necessary to switch the ignition key to (OFF)
and wait for at least 60 seconds before being able to switch again to (ON).
• In case of failure to complete the procedure within 2 minutes, the MGCT warning
light (2) will stay on steady and the MGCT system will remain off until switching to
(OFF).
• To reactivate the MGCT system, it must be switched again to (ON). It is however
necessary to repeat the process until it succeeds.

CAUTION
IF NECESSARY, CONTACT AN AUTHORISED SERVICE CENTRE.

Characteristic
Distance between tone wheel and front sensor
0.3 - 2.00 mm (0.012 - 0.079 in)
Distance between tone wheel and rear sensor
0.3 - 2.00 mm (0.012 - 0.079 in)

[Lowflying]

Thanks Kev.

I found that procedure in my manual. I’ll give it a go. Just bought the bike recently and it did have brand new tires on it so this is sounds like a likely solution, assuming everything working correctly,

Cheers.

[Lowflying]

Followed the procedure to the letter, and it worked first time.

Initial impression on MGTC 1, it seems improved. I’ll give it a good blast and see how it goes.

Was away for a few days for work, hopping on and riding today reconfirms that I really like this bike. That 850 motor sure feels better than the spec numbers! 

[Kev m]

Nice! If the continued result is happiness, that would help explain the differences in perception of other owners... Ride safe my friend!

[Lowflying]

Thanks Kev.

Just back from a good ride where I gave her some solid handfuls of throttle, using MGTC1. Before the recalibration the power delivery would often stutter with a good handful. Now, it just pulls, so, job done!

Thanks for the tip.