BLUF: They are Great Motors and have an extra surge of power above 6K that the 4V Motor lacks. A bit of a rattle can sound from the upper cam mechanism, but as dead reliable. I wouldn't hesitate with a factory roller motor, and wouldn't pass on a rollerized version if I was confident in the history.
As others have said, the 8V motor does benifit from a Beetle Tune. I am on my 2nd 8V Norge, and still have my 1100 GRiSO, and 1200 Sport. All are running Beetle Maps. Benefits all around, especially if you swap the exhaust or remove the CAT. One other thing I do is remove the EVAP system and connect the air ports with a line. This smooths out the idle and response of the motor kind of acting like an exhaust crossover, but on the intake side. Is one of the first things I do.
You're tracking on the roller cam issue. Not much of an issue from 2014 on, but even they can be caught. My first Norge was a 2014 (Mahogany Brown) I picked it up for pennies on the dollar with 800 miles on it when the first owner found it too big and powerful. He never mounted the bags, and had dropped it several times. He traded it on an 883 Harley (need I say more)..... Anyhow, I soon discovered that the motor would not spin past 6K. Because it was still under warranty, I let Moto International have at it to no avail. Pete Roper mentioned something he came across on the Griso Ghetto about a bike coming in with a botched rollerization and that one cam was off one tooth and created this problem. I took it back to MI and wallah, problem solved.
I say all this because it was a 2014 which was supposed to come from the factory rollerized, but this bike did not. It was evident that the motor was taken apart and rollerized after the factory. Things like evidence of red RTV, etc. I rode it probably 2K miles before that was fixed. Once fixed I put another 6K on it over the following 2-3 years.
I've waxed eloquent on this (ok maybe ineloquently) on the differences between the 4V and 8V motors. I prefer the feel and feedback of the 4V motors. At the time, I only had the GRiSO and Norge 8V. I just didn't like the feel of the 8V motor though it clearly had more power. Something lacked character, and it felt sleepy. Working with Beetle, making changes to the exhaust, removing the CAT, and sending the tune for adjustments made it just right. FOOLISHLY, I was sucked in by the allure of the MGX 21, and I did a 250 mile ride and ride to take delivery of the MGX to which I modified perfect for my needs. It came out exactly as I planned, and was a fantastic bike above 30MPH and below 80MPH. Below and above it was an unstable mess. Fast forward a year, and the labrum finally tore out on my hip, and found out I needed a total hip and knee injury (Thankyou Queen of Battle). I figured a 900lb bike was not what I needed with these surgeries so I sold it while under warranty.
I regretted selling the Norge, but came on a 1200 Sport in 2020. I love it, but wanted more fairing and windscreen/weather protection, so bought a 2012 Pearl White Norge in April, and am currently going over it. It is getting the exhaust and CAT removal and Beetle Tune from the 2014 Norge. Of course I haven't sold anything yet
CARCS in general are solid units, the motors are bullet proof and reliable. Typical for Guzzi need a bit of TLC to fiddle and get right, but high miles are not an issue. The 2012 I bought had 48K miles on it, and was rollerized around 20K. I flew to Florida and took it on a 2000 mile ride home. I expect to keep it well past 200K.
Not sure if I will pull the swing arm to check the bearings this season, maybe next, but the 1200 Sport and Griso have been checked and done.
If I could I'd have one of each of the CARC models, even though the Stelvio is as ugly as my wifes cousin.........
The MGX
The 2014 Norge
The 2012 Norge - During the ride home. I've removed 90% of the striping, was too much. I'm thinking of adding some Martini Racing Stripes and having Carabinieri Lettering added to the Saddlebags for fun.
