Author Topic: 98 ev11 questions (Read 8648 times)

ivantheterrible · « **on:** July 08, 2020, 12:27:21 PM »

1998 ev11 with 24,464 miles. Just purchased last week (my first Moto Guzzi!) and finally ridden some this week. A few questions that I'm hoping y'all can help me with.

Will the bike really not start with the sides stand down?! What's involved with bypassing this 'feature'? Maybe I'm missing something. Do people really lug it up onto its center stand when they want to start it and let it warm up?

Love the floorboards but not how I have to hold my foot to cover my brakes. I used the little pivot stub when I was in traffic but that's not going to work for me for more than several minutes. Anyone else has this issue and found a solution?

Those notorious relays....don't know if they've been replaced. Change them out ASAP?

What are those black vertical cylinders near the rear shocks?

These are the first of what I'm sure will be many questions.

Great site and I've read through a lot of it and even searched for these issues but found no answer. sorry if these are common questions asked many times. My google-fu is weak.

n3303j · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2020, 12:38:56 PM »

Light the fire with the left throttle lever advanced. Start a moderate departure 1 minute later. No need to leave bike running on its stand. Sidestand hits a switch to disable ignition. Pull the chrome panel and it's obvious how to disable. I've ridden off with T3 sidestand down. Sidestand disable is probably a good thing.

Black canisters are to capture fuel vapors and add another 4 feet of hose to the spaghetti under the tank. It is all removable and will not effect the bike performance. Keep the old parts if you want to ride in California.

Relays are cheap. Link somewhere here for source. Just toss the originals and replace all. Cheap insurance and a confidence builder.

Yup, the brake is unique.....

nsmith · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2020, 12:39:58 PM »

Side stand switch, on my 2001 Bassa I just unhooked the wire going to the stand. Have never had an issue with relays but I have seen that a lot of people do. The Bassa has a diff. type of rear brake pedal. I don't know anything about cylinders by the rear shocks, maybe they are not original??

nsmith · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2020, 12:42:20 PM »

Oh yeah the vapor canisters, they been in the box in the corner for 20 years now. How and yes warm up can pretty much be done while driving.

PeteS · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:16:13 PM »

The foot brake is funky for sure. I rarely used it as the single front worked well enough most of the time. There used to be a forum member who made a kit that changed the location of the pedal further forward more like a Harley. I considered getting it but sold the bike before making the purchase.
Some replumb the second front disk to the hand brake but believe that entails a new master cylinder with a larger diameter piston.

Pete

pehayes · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:19:14 PM »

Quote from: n3303j on July 08, 2020, 12:38:56 PM

I've ridden off with T3 sidestand down. Sidestand disable is probably a good thing.

Just to clarify, I'm pretty sure you are saying that the 'kill' function is a good thing. Not that disabling the function is a good thing. Many people do but I won't. Regina and I each ride EV and the sidestand switch is still active on both. 100K miles each. Just drive off gently without the warm-up wait.

What I have done on each bike is remove one of the two sidestand springs. Guzzi used the same stand for many years. Guzzi used the same stand spring for many years. A lawyer came along and suggested it might be dangerous if the spring broke. So Guzzi just installed a second, identical spring. Makes it hard to deploy and retrieve. Hurts if it hits you. Will work more gently and just as effectively with only one spring, just like an old Eldorado.

Do a Google for "pyro dan relay" to get this:
http://www.dpguzzi.com/
First internal link is for a relay set.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

n3303j · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2020, 01:29:51 PM »

Riding down the highway one day on the T3 just looking at everything and having a motorcycling good time.

Look at my feet and there's the sidestand hanging way outboard of my Left foot. The solo retract spring broke leaving the stand free floating. Bound all up with bungee cords and rode home.

Bought the EV a bunch of years later and noticed the dual sidestand springs. Thought (to myself) "Glad they eliminated the hazard of a dropping sidestand shutting off the engine mid turn just because a single spring failed enroute".

Craig in Alabama · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2020, 02:21:40 PM »

Hi Ivan,

Great bike! I'm on my second one...

You'll get used to the rear brake set-up. It's actually a very good system.
Let's see some pictures!

Cheers!
Craig

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2020, 02:29:20 PM »

Quote from: ivantheterrible on July 08, 2020, 12:27:21 PM

Will the bike really not start with the sides stand down?! What's involved with bypassing this 'feature'? Maybe I'm missing something. Do people really lug it up onto its center stand when they want to start it and let it warm up?

What is this 'let it warm up'?

Tom · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2020, 02:55:16 PM »

He doesn't know FI bikes.

ivantheterrible · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2020, 03:37:09 PM »

wow, thanks for all the helpful replies.

Yes Tom, I've mostly ridden carburated bikes. a force of habit to let it warm up. I'll try just riding soon after starting it before I disconnect anything.

Seems most people just learn to deal with the foot brake. i'll give it some more miles.

Removing those canisters will be happening soon.

Thanks, again everyone.

Kiwi_Roy · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2020, 03:43:02 PM »

Quote from: ivantheterrible on July 08, 2020, 12:27:21 PM

1998 ev11 with 24,464 miles. Just purchased last week (my first Moto Guzzi!) and finally ridden some this week. A few questions that I'm hoping y'all can help me with.

Will the bike really not start with the sides stand down?! What's involved with bypassing this 'feature'? Maybe I'm missing something. Do people really lug it up onto its center stand when they want to start it and let it warm up?

Yes it should if the bike is in Neutral or the side stand is folded in, I find its a nice feature once you get used to it./
BTW the relay actuated by the Idle Switch aka Neutral Switch is called the Sidestand switch, that's to confuse the hell out of new owners lol
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/1998_EV.gif
The EV is a great introduction to Guzzi, almost every one I see seems to be a 98, yes we need pictures.

Tom · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2020, 04:01:19 PM »

Quote from: ivantheterrible on July 08, 2020, 03:37:09 PM

wow, thanks for all the helpful replies.

Yes Tom, I've mostly ridden carburated bikes. a force of habit to let it warm up. I'll try just riding soon after starting it before I disconnect anything.

Seems most people just learn to deal with the foot brake. i'll give it some more miles.

Removing those canisters will be happening soon.

Thanks, again everyone.

As stated earlier, start bike and take off. There is no need to warm up the engine. The ECU and FI should take care of that even in cold weather. The ecu (you) behind the handlebars might need warming up before taking off. This model bike is one of the better Moto Guzzis to own and ride. It's BOTY for Cycle World in '98.

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2020, 04:28:33 PM »

There's a trick to the center stand and it's not a lug it up once you get it. Unless your really light weight just step on the tab with some weight and the bike will rock up and back in one smooth move.

Hopefully the seat has been changed or fixed, Luigi had to make one thing on the bike unbearable and the placement of the ECU under your tailbone is it. You can move the big box into the battery area if you get a slimmer battery like an Odyssey. then you can fix the saddle to get rid of the hump in the seat pan.

ivantheterrible · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2020, 05:32:28 PM »

worlds ugliest but quite comfortable seat. Needs lower handlebars. The bars look to be 7/8?

Tom · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2020, 05:35:19 PM »

How tall was the PO? Yeah, the handlebars are 7/8".

LowRyter · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2020, 05:37:05 PM »

I've got a '98 EV and really don't what you're asking and what answers you need.

BTW, I like the rear brake nub, it gives the rider more control. My bike has the sidestand switch disabled. I ride with my toes on the back of the floorboards and flick the gear lever up or down with my toe. I'm comfortable with the linked brakes. Keep her over 3500 and don't shift to 6th on the highway until it's reading 80mph (which is really 70).

n3303j · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2020, 06:05:04 PM »

Quote from: fotoguzzi on July 08, 2020, 04:28:33 PM

*SNIP*
Hopefully the seat has been changed or fixed, Luigi had to make one thing on the bike unbearable and the placement of the ECU under your tailbone is it. You can move the big box into the battery area if you get a slimmer battery like an Odyssey. then you can fix the saddle to get rid of the hump in the seat pan.

Brought this ECU issue up in an earlier post. One day while supremely bored I filled the ECU trough in the seatpan flush to the surface with modelling clay. I then reinstalled the seat and bounced my butt up an down on it a bunch as if times as if I rode off a twelve inch curb. I then removed the seat to inspect the dent the ECU made in the modelling clay. THE CLAY WAS UNMARKED! On my '98 V11EV with a stock seat that fat old ECU does not go up into the notch in the seat whatsoever. Not even a little bit! No need to move the ECU or change the battery! Just hack away at the lump in the seat pan until it is gone. I found a Dremel with a router cleared all away fine. I did leave an angled inch at each side to retain some seatpan rigidity. This remaining bit is far from your tail bone. I then proceeded to ride cross country 7,500 miles (3 weeks) with a good relationship between me and my seat.

Tom · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2020, 07:15:27 PM »

Add a National Cycle Plexistar II and you'll be able to ride into Winter. Foul weather and all.

Vagrant · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2020, 07:37:58 PM »

Brake nub can be cut off. I have an (i think ) advanced brake pedal. NLA BUT U MIGHT FIND A used one.
My buddy herd the side stand plea . Looked at it an used a relay and some wires to make it start on the side sta d.

ivantheterrible · « **Reply #20 on:** July 09, 2020, 07:05:04 AM »

another question....has anyone successfully fixed the tach on the ev11's long term? Seems to be a good bit of frustration with the tachometers on these bikes. My tach isn't working. I don't really need it but I'm willing to dig into it if there's a reasonable chance of fixing it without too much drama.

n3303j · « **Reply #21 on:** July 09, 2020, 07:09:03 AM »

Quote from: ivantheterrible on July 09, 2020, 07:05:04 AM

another question....has anyone successfully fixed the tach on the ev11's long term? Seems to be a good bit of frustration with the tachometers on these bikes. My tach isn't working. I don't really need it but I'm willing to dig into it if there's a reasonable chance of fixing it without too much drama.

Tach is electronic. I thought it always worked??
It's the mechanical speedometers that routinely fail both in odometer and mph functions.

PeteS · « **Reply #22 on:** July 09, 2020, 07:25:14 AM »

Quote from: ivantheterrible on July 09, 2020, 07:05:04 AM

another question....has anyone successfully fixed the tach on the ev11's long term? Seems to be a good bit of frustration with the tachometers on these bikes. My tach isn't working. I don't really need it but I'm willing to dig into it if there's a reasonable chance of fixing it without too much drama.

Not worth fixing. I got mine working twice. The first time the hair thin wire the suspends the movement broke. I was able to solder another to it get it working. Then the lead pellet counterweights turned to dust. I put another blob of lead in its place but guessing at the weight it never read the correct RPMs. Finally it broke And I replaced it. Save yourself the frustration and just get an aftermarket one. The Veglias were not made for a motorcycle or anything that has to deal with bumps and vibration.

Peye

LowRyter · « **Reply #23 on:** July 09, 2020, 08:48:10 AM »

Quote from: ivantheterrible on July 09, 2020, 07:05:04 AM

another question....has anyone successfully fixed the tach on the ev11's long term? Seems to be a good bit of frustration with the tachometers on these bikes. My tach isn't working. I don't really need it but I'm willing to dig into it if there's a reasonable chance of fixing it without too much drama.

If the tach rattles, that mean the counterweight has come loose. It can be glued back in place. Unfortunately removing the bezel and getting it apart and back together is a real PIA. If it's not rattling, then it's the winding and that's a lot more difficult.

So far as a repair source, I've used this guy https://joellevinecompany.com/Speedo-Tach-Repair

n3303j · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2020, 09:15:42 AM »

https://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GR338-TACH-02/1/Tachometer-8K-RPM-Shift-light
Available in white face for same $.
Cheap way out.

Lannis · « **Reply #25 on:** July 09, 2020, 09:56:04 AM »

I've ridden other people's EVs with the stock rear brake pedal/stub setup and I hate it. I'm not riding with my foot up on the stub, and my muscles just aren't happy raising my whole leg into the air to brake rather than just rotating my foot on a peg.

I HAVE ridden one with the modified brake pedal where you just slide your foot forward a bit and you're on the brake pedal. Two, actually, one was bought and one was homemade .... If I had a footboard Guzzi, I'd install one of those before I even rode it!

Lannis

Tom · « **Reply #26 on:** July 09, 2020, 01:50:07 PM »

Quote from: n3303j on July 09, 2020, 09:15:42 AM

https://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GR338-TACH-02/1/Tachometer-8K-RPM-Shift-light
Available in white face for same $.
Cheap way out.

I'd do this. "Cheap way out." Stick it in the oem housing and make a cover to fill in the blanks. Silicone sealant is your friend for this or whatever.

ivantheterrible · « **Reply #27 on:** July 09, 2020, 03:23:40 PM »

Does anyone have a picture of the modified foot pedal?

Tom · « **Reply #28 on:** July 09, 2020, 04:02:15 PM »

How tall are you? How much do you weigh? Relevant questions for the EV.

Bill · « **Reply #29 on:** July 09, 2020, 04:19:27 PM »

I have no super hero capabilities, but it took me 2 rides to conquer the brake pedal stub. Loved it ever since. It gives you a supportive pivot point for your foot to make precise braking action. Maybe I do have super hero traits.

Bill

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Author Topic: 98 ev11 questions (Read 8648 times)