1998 California V11 EV Questions

[someguy]

Greetings All.

Yeah this is long-winded, so shame on me in advance. And thanks for peddling through all the fluff.

Have been away from motorcycles for a few years and looking at getting a 1998 California V11 EV.
Spent YEARS and MILES on many bikes in the past. Mostly sport touring and straight sport bikes. Have ridden from Alaska to Honduras and pretty much everywhere in between. Even did multiple Nevada 1100's and Utah 1088's etc. In the mid 90's I had a LeMans III that had been fully worked over engine, suspension etc. LOVED that bike. Actually sold it to fund my HoneyMoon trip to Italy that even included a personal tour of the MG Factory in Mandello del Lario. How cool is that? But I digress, those crazy years are behind me now and looking for something a little tamer, unique and very 2-up capable.

I have found a 1998 California V11 EV with seriously low miles. (She's Blue). Has the side bags, not sure about a top case.

Will make the trip to see and pick her up next week.

Anyhoo, I have been considering a few things/possible upgrades and wonder what input the Lords Of Guzzi Lore care to share.

First off is the top case. With the saddle bags included was the top case as well? The bike does have a "large" plastic attachment plate for a top case.

I have heard several people mention the early EV bikes had some EFI mapping issues. Is this a concern? Are there programming updates available?

Thinking about some aftermarket pipes. I love the Guzzi sound but I don't want the neighbors pictures falling off the walls either. What are the choices still available?

With an aftermarket pipe is there EFI reprogramming needed? See above question.

How about the integrated braking/floorboard scenario? I didn't have the integrated brakes on the LeMans but rode several friends bikes that did. Seemed OK to me but since then I have further ingrained the std brake configuration in my head.

Wrapping up are there any "Standard" type upgrades that pretty much everyone does?

Oh, and I found a Corbin seat practically new as well. Have spend more time in a Corbin than many people spend in their office chair. But I really don't like the way they look on this bike and I have heard the altered riding position isn't enhanced. Any seat specific input?

Thank Y'all! That's all for now.

[guzzisteve]

Hey, I got a Blue one and also a LM3. Got the EV to replace riding the LM3. It's still off the road from wreck 18yrs ago.
The top case plate in plastic sounds like a Givi. Hepco Becker top case rack is metal tube.
I also have X over and Mistral mufflers, open but not real loud. Airbox top has 2  2 1/2" holes and K & N
ECU is P8 and needs chip to change fueling. I put a fuel box on mine to add fuel to accel & top end. Faster than a Power Commander. I also have a MyECU computer for it that I mapped, it's the ultimate control box. I needed one when I bought it.
Brakes are great but I'm used to the Integrated system.
I also use a Corbin, came on mine from 1st owner.
Good Luck, 98's are GREAT  Welcome back to Guzzi!!!!!!!!!

[JoeB]

When I got mine the Hepco top bag was separate from the saddle bags.
Relay's were a common problem back then. At the time http://dpguzzi.com was the place to get upgrades. The site also has an online efi manual for this model.
Many disabled the side stand switch since it would activate when riding. Can be disconnected under the tank.
If the fuel cap was hard to get off  from tank suck the tip over valve in front of the tank would need repositioned. Some judicious lubrication of the cap itself may also be needed.
An extra ground from the regulator was said to help longevity of the unit. Did it after replacing one and it seems to have helped.
If the rear tire is a 140, careful what you replace it with as many 140's were too wide and rubbed the swingarm. I went to a 130/90 and haven't looked back.
The seat has been discussed quite a bit. A search here will give you allot of info.
Two recalls I remember, one replacing the rear rim and one adding a return cable on the throttle.
Recommend lubing the splines and the cush drive when replacing rear tire.
The so called colostomy bag on the exhaust system, actually considered a third muffler, under the tranny, was replaced sometimes with a H pipe. Not only for sound but better access to the tranny drain.
As far as efi mods there were a couple after market chips available. Tried them, went the power commander route with all the usual changes, but for me it just wasn't what I wanted. Quickly went back to stock.
That's off the top of my head, some of our more learned members may chime in.
Have a good one.



 

[rocker59]

The Hepco and Becker bags were an accessory up until the EV Touring came from the factory with them.  Givi cases were added by some owners.  Pictures would help.

The Topcase and its mounting, likewise, is are accessories that would've been  added by a previous owner.  The Hepco topcase mounts are tubular steel.  You may have a Givi topcase mount.  Pictures will help.

The Corbin seat is "different" on the Californias.  You may like it, but may not.  Of course, the stock seat is a torture device, so the Corbin may be better in this case.

There isn't a lot of industry support for these 28 year old machines.  MG Cycle and Harper's have been the big go-to suppliers.  Some people use a hole saw to drill out the baffles on the stock mufflers.  There are crossovers available to replace the pre-muffler under the transmission.  My '04 California has both. 

The EFI is pretty primitive by today's standards, so not a lot of tuning will be going on.  You sort of have to take the early EFI Guzzis like The Rock Island Line, "ride it like you find it".

[PeteS]

I had a Blue ‘98. I just had leather bags and no top box. I did make some extensions for the passenger backrest but that was it. I prefer a big duffle bag that can double as rider backrest.
As for fueling, stock they have lot of dead spots. I tried the Misano chip and one from Moto International. Both richened up the range, killed gas mileage and blackened plugs. Just moved the dead spots to a different place in the RPM range.
Then put the stock chip back in and installed Todd’s PowerCommander. That got rid of the dead spots, boosted power in the mid range along with some Dunstall Mufflers, and gave about 45 MPG. Wins all around. i didn’t have it dyno tuned as Todd had maps on his site and one was close to my bikes setup. Not sure you can do that today if it hasn’t already been done. I think I put a Ned’s seat on it. The stock seat was designed by a proctologist to drum up more business,

I enjoyed that bike a lot for touring and even did a track day on it.

Pete

[someguy]

Pics added
The seller just confirmed no top case is included.

I also have X over and Mistral mufflers, open but not real loud. Airbox top has 2  2 1/2" holes and K & N
ECU is P8 and needs chip to change fueling. I put a fuel box on mine to add fuel to accel & top end. Faster than a Power Commander. I also have a MyECU computer for it that I mapped, it's the ultimate control box. I needed one when I bought it.

Clarification: The "fuel box" you added is the "MyECU"?

Relay's were a common problem back then. At the time http://dpguzzi.com was the place to get upgrades. The site also has an online efi manual for this model.
As far as efi mods there were a couple after market chips available. Tried them, went the power commander route with all the usual changes, but for me it just wasn't what I wanted. Quickly went back to stock.

Awesome, thx for the link. Already downloaded the EFI mnaual, will get some relays and stash them on the bike somewhere.

The Corbin seat is "different" on the Californias.  You may like it, but may not.  Of course, the stock seat is a torture device, so the Corbin may be better in this case.
Some people use a hole saw to drill out the baffles on the stock mufflers.  There are crossovers available to replace the pre-muffler under the transmission.

I'm probly going to get the Corbin and see how it goes.
I cored the cans on my KTM. May go that route, and I found a cross over pipe as well.
Will the EFI system be able to handle these mods without chipping/New ECU option?

Then put the stock chip back in and installed Todd’s PowerCommander.
I think I put a Ned’s seat on it.

Will be investigating both of these options, hopefully they still exist.

Thanks for the info so far gentlemen, appreciate it!

[guzzisteve]

I had a Blue ‘98. I just had leather bags and no top box. I did make some extensions for the passenger backrest but that was it. I prefer a big duffle bag that can double as rider backrest.
As for fueling, stock they have lot of dead spots. I tried the Misano chip and one from Moto International. Both richened up the range, killed gas mileage and blackened plugs. Just moved the dead spots to a different place in the RPM range.
Then put the stock chip back in and installed Todd’s PowerCommander. That got rid of the dead spots, boosted power in the mid range along with some Dunstall Mufflers, and gave about 45 MPG. Wins all around. i didn’t have it dyno tuned as Todd had maps on his site and one was close to my bikes setup. Not sure you can do that today if it hasn’t already been done. I think I put a Ned’s seat on it. The stock seat was designed by a proctologist to drum up more business,

I enjoyed that bike a lot for touring and even did a track day on it.

Pete

I worked on that bike here in GA, sweet EV. Can't remember who but was at the Hill dealer in Dahlonega
Blue ones are too pretty, but mine only had 9Kmi on it, now 70K.

Top case rack looks Givi' nice looking EV, I have same fairing(touring). that came on later models, it uses a bigger headlight
The fuel box is a Techlusion, made by Doebeck.  They sent me 4 to sell & set-up, and give them the settings & wire coloring. I have it hard wired in loom by ECU. It shuts off easy. You don't need much acording to the settings.
The MyECU is a computer made in AUSTRALIA by Cliff Jefferies, it reads Microsoft word & fully adjustable, even what each sensor does. The ultimate. I sent him 4 15RC'c from bad bikes under warrenty. I deposed of them for Guzzi. I got a dash board shows real time what everything is doing. Lots of info for mapping.

[ridingron]

The top box rack looks somewhat like a Givi. Maybe a knock off Givi? I bet a Givi would fit the rack.

In my opinion, the only Guzzi paint scheme better looking than that blue one is my V85 TT red/white/blue!

[PeteS]

I worked on that bike here in GA, sweet EV. Can't remember who but was at the Hill dealer in Dahlonega
Blue ones are too pretty, but mine only had 9Kmi on it, now 70K.

May have stopped there. My wife’s cousin used to live there. One place I would have considered moving too. Although it may have been the guy I sold it to who lives in Alabama.

Pete

[guzzisteve]

May have stopped there. My wife’s cousin used to live there. One place I would have considered moving too. Although it may have been the guy I sold it to who lives in Alabama.

Pete

That's the guy , who bought it, He loved it, was a nice rider.

[PeteS]

That's the guy , who bought it, He loved it, was a nice rider.

This was my bike on its way to its new owner. Among other things the painted boomerangs makes it unique.






Pete

[rocker59]

 

Thanks for the info so far gentlemen, appreciate it!

You have Hepco Becker side case mounts and a Givi topcase mount.

You also appear to have a California EV Touring fairing from 2022-2024.

[someguy]

You have Hepco Becker side case mounts and a Givi topcase mount.

You also appear to have a California EV Touring fairing from 2022-2024.

Good to know on the fairing. That seems an unusual upgrade for a bike that has hardly been ridden in 27 years.
All in all sounds like this model is a good one to grab. Will maybe be picking her up day after tomorrow!

[rocker59]

All in all sounds like this model is a good one to grab. 

1998 was a high water mark for Guzzi.  In the USA I think total Guzzi volume was around 1200 units and the V11EV California was a hot new update on the California 1100.

Even today they are well represented at any Guzzi rally or campout you might attend.