V100 Mandello Merged Threadfest

[bronzestar1]

Just rode one of these today for the first time. Definitely on my radar but have to move a couple of bikes to make room. There was talk of the transmission woes at the demo rides but the newest ones seemed to have that fixed. The bike I rode was as easy shifting as my V85.

Pete

That's good to hear!  I don't think I've ridden mine since my post on 1 Jun, that clunky, jerky shift into first is enough of an annoyance that I'll take one of the other bikes out instead.  I'll have it for a year in a couple of weeks, I think it has about 400-425 miles on it.  Maybe I'll put more miles on it once I retire for good, we'll see... 

[PeteS]

I admit not following this thread as didn’t think one would be in my future but the did the bikes that have the clunky first gear clunk from new or is that something that develops with use?

Pete

[Dave Swanson]

I admit not following this thread as didn’t think one would be in my future but the did the bikes that have the clunky first gear clunk from new or is that something that develops with use?

Pete

Its a characteristic they all share.  A definite clunk when shifting from neutral to first.  For me, its not annoying at all.  All my Harleys have the same charming clunk. 

To complain about a clunk that happens once during a ride, would be like meeting Sophia Loren and afterwards only talking about 1 hair she had out of place. 

[Huzo]

only talking about 1 hair she had out of place.

That would depend on where it was…

[bronzestar1]

Its a characteristic they all share.  A definite clunk when shifting from neutral to first.  For me, its not annoying at all.  All my Harleys have the same charming clunk. 

To complain about a clunk that happens once during a ride, would be like meeting Sophia Loren and afterwards only talking about 1 hair she had out of place.

As I said, if the clunk was between 5th and 6th, I could live with that, since I've rarely been in 6th so far.  But from neutral to 1st, which doesn't just happen once during a ride, is pretty poor design and execution from Guzzi.  Again, for what this bike costs, I would expect the transmission to shift as well or better than my V7 Stone, which costs thousands of dollars less.  Maybe as the miles go up, and the first service gets done with fresh fluids, it'll be less annoying, I'll just have to wait and see...   

[kingoffleece]

It's a different design.  It will never shift like a V7 or V85.

[Dave Swanson]

As I said, if the clunk was between 5th and 6th, I could live with that, since I've rarely been in 6th so far.  But from neutral to 1st, which doesn't just happen once during a ride, is pretty poor design and execution from Guzzi.  Again, for what this bike costs, I would expect the transmission to shift as well or better than my V7 Stone, which costs thousands of dollars less.  Maybe as the miles go up, and the first service gets done with fresh fluids, it'll be less annoying, I'll just have to wait and see...   

It is hard for me to believe that this is so off putting for you, because honestly, it doesn't bother me in the slightest.  It is there on mine, but it barely registers in my brain.   Everyone has a different tolerance factor I guess. 

[blackcat]

"...the V100 shares the engine oil with the clutch you will need to use oil formulated for wet clutches."

If it was me, I'd dump the oil and install new oil then ride it for a while and see what happens. I'd also lower the idle and see if that makes it any better. 

[Moparnut72]

The shifts to 4th, 5th and 6th are hardly noticeable to me, 2nd to 3rd is the worst which is common on a lot of motorcycles. The transmission shifts a lot better than the Harleys I owned. In fact I had rubber marks all over my shop from shifting the last one I had into first. I tried all kinds of primary case and transmission fluids to improve the whole thing. Harley's Syn3 worked the best in the primary and BelRay Vtwin was absolutely the best for the trans. Of course this doesn't apply here.
kk

[Clifton]

If it was me, I'd dump the oil and install new oil then ride it for a while and see what happens. I'd also lower the idle and see if that makes it any better.

Transmission will shift a little nicer with fresh oil but changing oil won't affect the clunk/lurch going into 1st. Lowering the idle might help a little but is that even possible?
 

[kingoffleece]

Not being snarky.  Just live with it.  One could do all this and all that.  For what?
it is what it is.

[Huzo]

A very slight increase in the master cylinder size would increase the clutch throw marginally.
It will of course make it a little heavier, but the extra separation of the plates might make a difference.
If I owned a V100 or Stelvio and could source one, I’d be likely to try it.

[bronzestar1]

It is hard for me to believe that this is so off putting for you, because honestly, it doesn't bother me in the slightest.  It is there on mine, but it barely registers in my brain.   Everyone has a different tolerance factor I guess.

It bothers me because out of all the bikes I've owned over the last 40 years, that shift from neutral to first on the V100 is about one of the worst I've ever had.  For being a '24, and for what this bike costs, it shouldn't do that.  And since I can compare that neutral to first shift with the V7 Stone and Triumph Scrambler 400X in the stable, it's by far the worst, doesn't do the V100 any favors.  That old parable of the emperor that has no clothes comes to mind with this discussion.  Just because it's a Guzzi doesn't mean it should get a pass. 

[kingoffleece]

Again, not being snarky.  The proof is in the odo.  You continue to bypass riding the bike.  Life is short.
Bite the bullet and move on from it.  It's obvious you don't care for it.  Yes, losing on the sale sucks.  Seriously.  Ask yourself and be honest-no matter what I get for the bike will I be happier in one year from now?

Chalk it up-move on-lick your wounds if you must-but ride something you like.  Sometimes we miss.  It happens.

[PeteS]

As I said, if the clunk was between 5th and 6th, I could live with that, since I've rarely been in 6th so far.  But from neutral to 1st, which doesn't just happen once during a ride, is pretty poor design and execution from Guzzi.  Again, for what this bike costs, I would expect the transmission to shift as well or better than my V7 Stone, which costs thousands of dollars less.  Maybe as the miles go up, and the first service gets done with fresh fluids, it'll be less annoying, I'll just have to wait and see...   

Pretty sure the bike I rode was a 2024 as the 2025s aren’t here yet AFAIK. I had to shift to first numerous times at stop signs and zero clunk. It was as smooth as my V85. Anyone else who may have done the Guzzi demo rides could chime in.

Pete

[blu guzz]

I have ridden several of these at Cadre. Their demo was a standard model and they had a very low mileage used one, and S model (400 or so miles) that I took for a long ride.  I think they were 23's.  My regular ride at the time was a V85.  Going on memory, nothing jumps out at me about the shifting.  But it may just be peculiar to me.  When I started riding Euro bikes, I had an airhead beamer.  I often had to push the lever and roll the bike an inch or so for it to engage first gear (or apply a little power and a little more clutch for a second or two and roll it into gear)  I didn't think anything of it at the time, but got into the habit.  I still have to do this on the Eldorado from time to time.  I could not really figure out the "quick-shift" on the S model.

[bronzestar1]

Again, not being snarky.  The proof is in the odo.  You continue to bypass riding the bike.  Life is short.
Bite the bullet and move on from it.  It's obvious you don't care for it.  Yes, losing on the sale sucks.  Seriously.  Ask yourself and be honest-no matter what I get for the bike will I be happier in one year from now?

Chalk it up-move on-lick your wounds if you must-but ride something you like.  Sometimes we miss.  It happens.

If I wasn't so upside on the loan on that bike, I'd take your advice.  I'm in the process of getting a '26 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory, and wanted to trade in my V100.  But I'm not going to roll $3500 of negative equity into a new loan, so I'm trading in my V7 Stone, which I own free and clear.  It is what it is, so I'm "stuck" with the V100 for now.  The Navale is actually a pretty cool edition of the V100, which has been its saving grace for me.  When I take it in for its initial service, I'll definitely tell the dealer about how unhappy I am with that shift into first, and maybe a change in fluid and more miles will help.  Certainly couldn't hurt...

[Dave Swanson]

I think a couple of visits to a hypnotist could be an amazing return on your V100 dollars!  It worked for me.  I am blissfully unbothered now.   

[blackcat]

The Navale is actually a pretty cool edition of the V100, which has been its saving grace for me.  When I take it in for its initial service, I'll definitely tell the dealer about how unhappy I am with that shift into first, and maybe a change in fluid and more miles will help.  Certainly couldn't hurt...

I would just embrace it and put some miles on it, especially since you are underwater on the equity. Not riding it is not going to possibly change the shifting, though that may be a long shot but what do you have to lose? When I bought my Norge it banged into first gear too, then I dismantled the stepper motor and learned to back up the bike a few inches at a traffic light and it then slipped into gear. Now it rarely does it but it was annoying, so I understand your dislike.

[Moparnut72]

Put some miles on it. Mine was pretty terrible when new. It is a low vin number for the Navales. I am at about 8,000 miles and the shift into 1st is still a bit of a clunk with a very minor forward lurch. Nowhere near the Harleys I owned. Put some miles on it, you may be pleasantly surprised. Bikes with wet clutches are going to be a bit clunky, however with a larger spinning mass the V100s will probably be worse than most. Too nice a bike to dump it for something so minor. JMHO.
kk

[Vagrant]

You’re going to be sorry if you don’t ride it until the warranty is up and something breaks.

[MGrego]

I'm with Moparnut72 and Dave Swanson on this one, I have 5000 miles on my V100 and the clunk doesn't bother me in the slightest, or detract from the enjoyability of the bike at all.

If you look at the parts diagram you can understand why it makes that clunk, and the worrying goes away.

[bronzestar1]

I think a couple of visits to a hypnotist could be an amazing return on your V100 dollars!  It worked for me.  I am blissfully unbothered now.   

Oh man, like Peter in the movie "Office Space"!  Guzzi life would be good then! 

[Littlefield]

Shifting into 1st rather than neutral as your rolling to a stop may eliminate the clunk.

[bronzestar1]

I've had my '24 V100 Navale 12 months as of July 9th...has 473 miles on it...

[ridingron]

I've had my '24 V100 Navale 12 months as of July 9th...has 473 miles on it...

Are you bragging or crying?

[bronzestar1]

Are you bragging or crying?

Crying...how did 12 months go by so fast?!  'Course it doesn't help me put the miles on this bike when I've got other wheeled-things to take care of as well.  I gotta get that 1000 mile break-in service done before the warranty runs out! 

[ridingron]

Are you on the 2nd or 3rd tank of gas? 1000 miles is about 5 tanks worth. Tomorrow is Saturday. Go for a ride. Top off the tank and ride it until it's time to fill up again. Fill it up and head home. That's 2 tanks down and only a couple more to go! What else you have to do on a Saturday?

[bronzestar1]

"...What else you have to do on a Saturday?"

Well, since you asked, and this is an example of why I probably haven't ridden the bike much.  I have a '99 Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas with the 4.0 V8, and these cars are notorious for having catastrophic failures of the timing chain tensioners and chain guides.  I had an upgraded water pump (metal impeller) and a timing chain kit (new metal chain tensioners, new chain guides, new chains) installed a few weeks ago.  The CEL came on soon afterwards, so I went to Harbor Freight and got a code reader.  Checked the codes yesterday, and it was a rich condition on banks 1 and 2.  I cleared the codes, removed the intake tube sensor, cleaned the wire sensor with some MAF cleaner, and put it back in.  I'm in the process of getting a '26 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory, and already have some parts for it (full exhaust, aluminum muffler bracket, tail tidy).  The dealer said to bring them on up and they'll install them before I get the bike in a couple of weeks.  So I figured this would be a nice long road test for the XJ (the shop is about a 90-minute drive).  Traffic was bad about 30 miles away from the dealer in both directions, so it took me longer than I had planned on getting there.  On the return trip, I decided to take a different route back, which is more scenic and would avoid the backup.  Good news is the XJ ran fine, no codes, coolant temp was normal.  Bad news is I didn't get back home until 3:30, so riding today was out.  Weather looks decent for tomorrow, but I need to take my '81 Lancia out, since I haven't even started that car in about a month (it has intermittent starting issues, but that's another story).  So you can see how these other things that occupy my storage spaces can squeeze out any riding time I might have on the weekends.  I spend about every other weekend at the "retirement" home down in NC, and the only bike I have down there is the Triumph Scrambler 400X, so that affects how much weekend time I have available for riding the Guzzis.  I'm planning on retiring for good late next year, so I'm hoping to have all kinds of riding time on my hands, weather-permitting! 







   

[ridingron]

Well, it has sat this long what's another week or 2 or 3 or 4 and all the sudden, the warranty has expired with 473 miles on the bike.

If you don't have time for a long ride, jump on it and go ride 20 miles or what ever. It sounds like you just really don't want to ride the bike. I have 5 plated and insured bikes and 3 cars myself. Getting a loaf of bread? Take a bike. Getting a hair cut? Take a bike.

You mentioned retirement. The '26 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory looks like a fold up and hunch over the tank bike. Do you plan on riding it?  How long can you ride it? I'd last about 20 minutes myself.

Where do you live? Want me to come to your place and put some miles on it? You can try my V85.