MrKiwi's Backyard

[MrKiwi]

Earlier in the year after I bought the V85 and before --19 shut us down completely I managed to get a few runs in on the Guzzi. There are two local hills I like to ride.

This one is known as Paekakariki Hill.  A lovely route until they dropped the speed to 60km/hr 

Mostly I forget that as the ride takes on its own pace 





Once at the top of the hill, on good days the views are fantastic.


I have played a little bit on gravel, the bike is more than capable of handling itself on well formed gravel routes.

[MrKiwi]

Sometimes I dream about this farkle



But MrsKiwi doesn't like that idea 

Soon after I bought the V85 I got my first puncture on a motorbike ever, and I have been riding since 1979.



So I download the manual and read up on how to take the rear wheel off.



When I put it back on I left the side pannier racks off and and pillion brackets. Kind of looked cool. MrsKiwi stomped her foot, she wasn't having any of that.

(sorry about the pole in the way)


One of my favorite pics

[pebra]

You do live in an exctremely beautiful country, Mr Kiwi.
And your eateries seem to be a nice bonus.

Please keep the photos coming!

[Guzzi Gal]

Welcome. My gosh, that was a fun read!   

[wrbix]

Once at the top of the hill, on good days the views are fantastic.






[

Land of the long white clouds. Gorgeous!

[Huzo]

Great report/pics! Thanks!

All that countryside and not a sheep in sight - can’t really be NZ!

They’re like husbands..
All the good looking ones are taken...

[Huzo]

Sometimes I dream about this farkle

There seems to be bugger all triangulation in the mounting of that chair..
Do they stand up to the rigours of the forces involved ?

[bottler]

Mr Kiwi,

Thanks for the thread, seriously good countryside, and great burgers. I have been toying with the idea of trading my Stelvio for the V85 as old age makes the heavier bike increasingly like hard work. Perhaps I could buy a V85 in NZ and ship it home to AUS after touring north and south islands. Need to do more research on that to see how the numbers stack up. What does a V85 retail for in Wellington?

Cheers

Bottler

[Huzo]

Mr Kiwi,

Thanks for the thread, seriously good countryside, and great burgers. I have been toying with the idea of trading my Stelvio for the V85 as old age makes the heavier bike increasingly like hard work. Perhaps I could buy a V85 in NZ and ship it home to AUS after touring north and south islands. Need to do more research on that to see how the numbers stack up. What does a V85 retail for in Wellington?

Cheers

Bottler

Now what would anyone in Bungendore do when their Guzzi needs work.
You’d have to travel at least 500 metres to find a good mechanic..

[MrKiwi]

Mr Kiwi,

Thanks for the thread, seriously good countryside, and great burgers. I have been toying with the idea of trading my Stelvio for the V85 as old age makes the heavier bike increasingly like hard work. Perhaps I could buy a V85 in NZ and ship it home to AUS after touring north and south islands. Need to do more research on that to see how the numbers stack up. What does a V85 retail for in Wellington?

Cheers

Bottler

Around the low $20k. You might get it cheaper in Australia, although not sure how the exchange rate works out for you at the moment.

[MrKiwi]

There seems to be bugger all triangulation in the mounting of that chair..
Do they stand up to the rigours of the forces involved ?

To be honest, I don't know, have not seriously looked at it.

[oldbike54]

 Looks like that chair allows the motorbike to lean , the chair stays flat .

 Dusty

[Huzo]

Looks like that chair allows the motorbike to lean , the chair stays flat .

 Dusty

Refer to new post..”My chair has a tilt”

[oldbike54]

Refer to new post..”My chair has a tilt”

 We already knew that Peter .

 

[Huzo]

They do look “cleaner” with the brackets and mounting hardware gone..

[bottler]

Now what would anyone in Bungendore do when their Guzzi needs work.
You’d have to travel at least 500 metres to find a good mechanic..

Huzo,

Almost exactly 500 metres as it happens!! Well spotted mate.

[MrKiwi]

Installed a Christmas present (one to myself).  Have not tested it yet.

[Huzo]

I remember that bit about beets and Australia.  Those Aussies put beets on everything!  Our theory became, "If you're in Oz, and you ordered food, and you don't see any beets on it... it's because you haven't found them yet." 

Pardon..?

[Huzo]

Huzo,

Almost exactly 500 metres as it happens!! Well spotted mate.

I was up there recently and a bloke rode in on a Ronald McDonald V85.
Is he local to Pete’s ?

[inditx]

Yeah, I get asked that a lot.

The V85 is no Africa Twin on gravel that's for sure. The Africa Twin is a very accomplished bike which also looks good. The motor on it is reliable, refined and a good balance of torque and power. But is lacks character. Once modified it was an extremely good touring bike, comfortable and easy to ride. MrsKiwi lied being pillion on it.

But as mentioned, it was a heavy beast to pick up and I was dropping it in sand and mud. Time to move on.

The V85TT is a very different bike to any I have owned. That single plate dry clutch and air cooled motor is distinctly old school. It makes strange noises compared to any other bikes I have owned.

But there is much to like about it.

It is stunning look at.

That motor is a talking point.

I wanted a more road oriented bike still capable of short gravel runs, light and shaft drive.

The V85 has no plastic clutter on it. The Africa Twin was a pain to work on, you had to spend 45 minutes removing all the plastic clutter and junk that adorns the bike before you can lift the fuel tank to get to the air filter. On the V85 you lift t5he seat, undo one bolt and you can lift the fuel tank. But it gets even better than that because you don't need to lift the fuel tank at all, Just the seat and then a plastic cover and there is the air filter. The batter is easy to get to. Not so on the Africa Twin.

The V85 is not a power house. It is all about the ride, not speed.

I like it very much.

Thanks so much for the write ups and beautiful pictures MrKiwi!
I passed on a V85 for an Africa Twin DCT. I didn’t figure the weight to be very different, at least riding them. Have you dropped, gasp I know, the V85 and picked it up? If so is it that much lighter feeling or easier to pick up? Just curious.
And oh, I agree with the plastic bits, always a pain
RideOn!
inditx

[bottler]

I was up there recently and a bloke rode in on a Ronald McDonald V85.
Is he local to Pete’s ?

No V85s live locally that I am aware of, perhaps from Canberra?

[MrKiwi]

Thanks so much for the write ups and beautiful pictures MrKiwi!
I passed on a V85 for an Africa Twin DCT. I didn’t figure the weight to be very different, at least riding them. Have you dropped, gasp I know, the V85 and picked it up? If so is it that much lighter feeling or easier to pick up? Just curious.
And oh, I agree with the plastic bits, always a pain
RideOn!
inditx

I have not yet dropped the V85, but the day will come!

What I can say is I noticed straight away when I first picked up the V85 how much easier it was to push around, put up on the stand etc. The difference in weight feels more than what it is I suspect.

The V85 is smaller than the AT all round and with the set up I had with my DCT Africa Twin it was about 45kgs heavier than how I have the V85 set up.

The AT is more accomplished on gravel, has more power and is a good all round bike. But it became a little too heavy for me.

[inditx]

Thanks sir,
I know 100#’s makes a difference for sure.
Best riding to ya!
inditx

[Guzzistajohn]

Thanks for posting the photos. I enjoy seeing parts of the world I have not seen. 

[Huzo]

No V85s live locally that I am aware of, perhaps from Canberra?

Ok.

[MrKiwi]

Ummm, I sold the V85TT.

Well actually I traded it for another Guzzi, did a straight swap.

A 2014 California, first registered in 2016, with just less than 4,000km on it (much more now!).



Some nice farkles on it, love the red cylinder head covers.

[MrKiwi]

Now, tell me what I don't know about the 2014 model year Guzzi California 1400's?  What should I look out for maintenance wise?

[Huzo]

Now, tell me what I don't know about the 2014 model year Guzzi California 1400's?  What should I look out for maintenance wise?

Luap might have something interesting...

[lucian]

Great posts , really enjoyed seeing your beautiful landscapes and bike photos'  .  I have a 2014 1400 custom model with 30,000 miles on it so far.  Things to watch include;
-  exhaust crossover prone to cracking at the welds to the header pipes. Got 15,000 miles out of mine and then had it welded and reinforced.
-  lack of spline grease on rear bevel drive, prone to corrosion which can make a rear tire change frustrating. Clean up and grease whenever you change the rear tire and also change the rear drive gear lube at every rear tire change as it is the only time you can access the fill and drain plugs.
- swing arm bearings come lightly greased and should be inspected and greased right at some point
-  Keep your eye on the rear brake pads. they will wear much faster than the fronts depending on how you use them and if they get too thin the pistons can cock in the caliper bores and leave you with the rear locked up,  learned this one the hard way
-  A lucky few have had throttle demand sensors go bad , i haven't had any problems with mine but, should you get the urgent service icon and red triangle on the dash it could be the culprit
Really very few issues with the 14's to date and make a great road bike, not so great in the gravel . 
Looking forward to more of your adventures, 

[steveford]

Enjoyed your post and pics.. Thanks for sharing.