Appreciation for the resource know as wildguzzi

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

This post is long and rambling. You’ve been warned!

So as some of you know, my road trip was cut short because the rear bearing failed on my non Guzzi, a 2003 Victory V92c. I’m in the middle (still) of sorting my Quota. I didn’t want to rush repairing the Quota and take it on a 2,000 mile road trip relatively untested. My Victory is quite reliable so I figured I’d take it instead. Unfortunately a series of unfortunate events doomed the trip.
The Victory needed a rear tire, the Shinko 777 had 10k miles on it and needed replacing. Also, since last summer whenever the temperature got hot, the bike started squeaking on long rides. I’d clean the belt, it would stop for a few hundred miles then start squeaking again. The wheel didn’t show any side to side play, so I ruled out the bearings. When I went to remove the rear wheel to take it to have the new tire mounted, I discovered my first rude shock. The shop that had changed the tire before had not inserted a cotter pin, and they had tightened the wheel with an air impact wrench WAYYYYY beyond the 65ft pounds the manual specified. I had to use a three foot breaker bar to get the axle nut loose! I rarely have to that with anything. I’m 6’1” and can squat over 500#s. I’m rotund, but not flabby, if that makes sense. The axle nut was so tight that the rear swing arm spread out quite a lot before the axle nut was loose. Manual specifically says TTY 65ft lbs do not over tighten!
The other rude shock I got was I specifically paid the shop to replace the rear brake pads. The bike has bags and it’s a pain to remove and reinstall them so just replace The pads while the tire was off so I don’t have to worry about it. They did not do a thing to the rear pads!!! They took my money and didn’t do crap! Now you might say “you might have worn them out, or you have a sticking piston”. Nope. I am a sport bike/standard rider at heart, I hardly use my rear brake at all. I try to do 90/10 f/r. I use it in addition to front brake when slowing from high speeds, as trailing brake if I’m in the mountains, or when on gravel. The rotor shows no signs of warping or heat fatigue. That’s why I am now FIRMLY in the “I’m working on my own crap whenever possible” camp.

As mentioned in my road trip failure post I’ve decided to sell the Vic. Why? Not because the bearing failed. That happens. It’s due to the difference in community support. Guzziology is invaluable in knowing little tricks that make an novice like myself much more capable. The search feature here returns threads that are actually beneficial. The searching I had to do on Victory forums convinced me that this site is rare indeed. The name-calling, insults, and flaming on the other sites is notably absent here. I know we have our differences, and I’m not including calling each other fool, idiot, nincompoop, or the south end of a north bound moose in the name calling category. Rather I’m referring to things that shouldn’t be said on a family site. I have not found anyone here that I actively dislike, and that’s due in part to the work the mods do, and the members also!
I’m trying to avoid buying a new bike and having a payment. I’m not to a place financially where I can spend 7-9 grand on a new V9 bobber sport (if I had it would in a heartbeat) So my option is to make the best of my older bikes and keep them on the road. I don’t really have time to wrench on two bikes. Or the money. The Vic is now eating into funds that could go to the Guzzi. Or vise versa. So if I’m going to go back to a single bike, I’m going to choose the one with the most resources available to help me be successful in keeping that bike rolling so I don’t have to cage in to work except when I want to. That resource is this website. So kudos to all of you for helping keep the Moto Guzzi brand relevant to at least one younger generation of rider. And thanks too to the thankless job the mods have in trying to herd us cats.

I’m looking forward to getting my Quota on the road and my goal is to get her over 100k miles.

[Lannis]

I’m looking forward to getting my Quota on the road and my goal is to get her over 100k miles.

With the way you're approaching it, you should easily be able to meet that goal.

With the help of the forum, you ought to be able to look at every component and unit on the bike and say "What would keep this part from going 100,000 miles from right now?"   

You can review Chuck's wiring harness overcheck and overhaul, and do a leakdown test on the engine, and redo the cables and wheel bearings, and overhaul the ignition and sidestand switches, and do the whole bike like that, and it should be better than new, because we know that the Guzzi factory didn't even do a few things right like grease the headstock and swingarm bearings ...

Hope you can hang in there and finish it, it takes some stick-to-it-tive-ness.   But given your circumstances and desires, it's absolutely the right way to go!

Lannis

[Guzzi Gal]

Yeah.  What Lannis said.

Seriously, you are correct about WG, it is a rare bird!     

[Cdn850T5NT]

WG is fantastic!

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention the Quota evokes feelings. I’ve been starting it up and riding it on my driveway a few times today trying to diagnose issues. I enjoy riding the bike! Like a kid with a new license that wants to drive just to drive! I don’t have that feeling with the Vic. I’m keeping the Guzzi! 😀

[inditx]

 

[Dharma Bum]

You nailed it, GG.  Best of luck with the Quota.

[wirespokes]

That's exactly how I feel about my goose - I'm constantly looking for an excuse to get it out. Riding the same old road again somehow isn't boring.

I've seen and heard too many horror stories like yours to trust a shop with my bike. Besides, I love my tools and working on the bike is a way to fondle them.

As a side benefit, working on your own bike builds rapport with it and will make you a better rider.

[Canuck750]

WildGuzzi is an incredible resource for anyone with an interest in Moto Guzzi and many of those who post here have experience with other Italian motorcycles.
I frequently follow other Italian motorcycle forums and few are as helpful or as knowledgeable as this group. Not to say there is not some great help available for a classic Laverda, Moto Morini or Ducati but WG information requests are typically answered right away with excellent advise. Plus I like how WG is not full of the stupid name calling and crass remarks of some other bike forums.

We are very fortunate to have the generosity of LUAP!

[Huzo]

It’s the mod/s  that make/s the difference, or it would degenerate....

[Chuck in Indiana]

So if I’m going to go back to a single bike, I’m going to choose the one with the most resources available to help me be successful in keeping that bike rolling so I don’t have to cage in to work except when I want to. That resource is this website. So kudos to all of you for helping keep the Moto Guzzi brand relevant to at least one younger generation of rider. And thanks too to the thankless job the mods have in trying to herd us cats.

Well said.. and I see you have donated in 2020. I make it a habit of donating to WG.. and I see Luap is currently $627 short of the 2020 goal.
Believe me, knowledge is *expensive.* Grandkid Max is just starting at Iowa State. He received some scholarship money, but 40K+ a year? (!)
Everything I know about Guzzis has been learned here. 10 or 20 bucks is cheap. (Guzzi content)  I gladly make a small donation to keep this place running every year, and hope everyone else that has been helped will also.
Besides that.. there is the Wild Guzzi yacht that needs the barnacles scraped off .. 

[guzzi4me]

It’s the mod/s  that make/s the difference, or it would degenerate....

Except for that Dusty character....keeps spending money on taking out the WG yacht and going to the Bahamas in the WG jet.

Won't even get into the amount of time he uses the WG helicopter.

AVGas is expensive!!!

Jeff


really, thanks Luap and all for this board. It is like a family...dysfunctio nal but still a family!!!