New To Me 2016 Eldorado 1400

[TN Mark]

I was finally able to get out at night on what’s become the world’s most enhanced 2016 Moto Guzzi Eldorado. Love this bike by the way.

Now all forward lighting is LedPerf LED replacement bulbs. In a word: PERFECT

Seriously love the improvements.

Low beam:





Low beam w/driving lights:






High beam w/driving lights:





Yea, I know the phone camera doesn’t do them enough justice. In practice, on the road, they’re fantastic!

I was only on a poorly lit 2 lane backroad. With my Low beam and driving lights, I had an incredible light spread. On both sides of the road I could see the entire grassy part and somewhat in to the trees. Exactly what I want to see to watch for the few deer we have around here. Not a single oncoming car flashed their high beams at me which is also excellent.

[Skysailor64]

Excellent!  Thanks for the photos.  I also finished upgrading to all LED and had a similar night riding experience last night.  Only difference is my high beam is an OSRAM Easy brand also available from LedPerf and it has a slightly different throw pattern from what your photos show.  I do feel the low beam is still lacking a little and it must be due to the headlight/reflector/projector design rather than the light itself.  But with the driving lights on to help the low beam I'm getting more than acceptable coverage. Good job and thanks again for sharing.

[TN Mark]

I agree. The Low beam reflector design must limit the light output and/or pattern of the LedPerf LED bulb. It’s still MUCH better than the OEM halogen. Just not as much of an improvement as I would have expected.

But when I add in the LedPerf LEDs in the driving lights, it’s amazing.

The LedPerf LED High beam is well beyond all expectations.

[bad Chad]

I'm thinking you're keen on this, but be aware of how bright your set up will be for on coming traffic.  It's not such a concern with a high beam set up, as any responsible operator will dip them when needed.   But I have run into so many vehicles who's low beam LEDs are set up with little thought as to how blinding their set up is to on coming traffic.

[TN Mark]

Yup. So far I’m 0 for about 150 oncoming vehicles that have flashed their lights at me for having the Guzzi lights either too brite or aimed too high for them.

That’s a great start.

[TN Mark]

Doh!!!

I went for a nice 90 mile loop ride last night to get me past the 2500 mile mark. The idea was to change the oil and filter since the bike is so new. 'New' as in so few miles on it. I'm treating it like I'm breaking it in. I last changed the oil at the 1500 mile mark. I 'thought' I also changed the oil filter, but I did not. I put the bike on the Becker-Technique stand, which is perfect for most maintenance tasks on the 1400 line.

The oil was draining and I went to remove the oil filter. Nope. I have four different cup oil filter tools, 3 for a Moto Guzzi and 1 for my Victory. None fit the 76mm 14 flute oem Guzzi oil filter. So, I ordered one on Amazon and it will complete the job tomorrow when it gets delivered.

I have two oem filters needing the 76/14 and three HiFlo HF-565. I bought the oil filter tool for the 565. Obviously that wouldn't fit the oem oil filter.   

I'll use 3.5 liters from the 4 liter Motul 7100 jug to pre-fill the oil filter and then pour the rest in the engine sump. Then I'll address the engine oil again at 5,000 miles. At that time I'll also change the transmission (gearbox) oil. The differential oil change will have to wait for the next rear tire install.

Why in the world Piaggio/Moto Guzzi engineers decided to make you remove the rear wheel to change the differential oil is beyond me. IMHO, that change went well beyond a bad/unnecessary idea. They can, if they want to make things beautiful. At the same time, they have a penchant for making things much more complicated then they need to be.

[TN Mark]

Another point on the LedPerf LED upgrades: YES, they are without a doubt, FANTASTIC and well worth doing. I would absolutely positively do this same upgrade again.

Understand though, they ship to your door, in a few days from France. Therefore, a week or two after delivery you will very likely get a email or a text message from FedEx saying you owe import duties. It's NOT a scam, you do owe import duties. Follow the link in the email or the text and it takes you to the FedEx website and then it says why you owe the duties and tax.

My import duty and tax total came to $34.60. Not a deal breaker by any measure. Just know, the US government will always get theirs.

[Vagrant]

That BS should be over now.

[TN Mark]

You’d think an oil change wouldn’t be such a hassle. I’m ‘guessing’ the oil filter I removed from my Eldo was installed at a dealer called Flying Tigers in/near St. Louis.

The 76mm 14 flute oil cup wrench came in on Friday as it should have. It fits the OEM Moto Guzzi oil filter perfectly. But, the oil filter installed on my Eldo wasn’t an OEM Moto Guzzi oil filter.

I had to use a piston ring compression tool to get around the oil filter. Once I tightened it up, the existing oil filter came off without issue.

Once off, it was easy to see why my OEM Guzzi oil filter cup tool didn’t work. The filter I removed had 12 indentations that needed a different oil filter cup tool. It has a part number printed in it but I can’t make it out. It also has MV written on it. MV for MV Augusta? No idea.

Anyway here’s the oil filter and the piston compression tool I used to take it off. Fortunately, this is the one and only oil filter of this type I’ll have to mess with. I have additional Moto Guzzi OEM oil filters as well as HiFlo aftermarket oil filters on my parts shelf.

[Moparnut72]

I can't say whether it is true or not but I would guess that HiFlo makes the filters for MG. Those are the only two filters for the1400, at least when I had mine.
kk

[Bill W]

Bosch 3330 is a good alternate filter and slightly longer to which you can remove the filter by hand if needed. Wix 51348 also works though the differential pressure relief on the filter is slightly higher

[TN Mark]

That Bosch oil filter may be a nice alternative as well. I like that it’s slightly longer.

It’s a shame the Piaggio/Moto Guzzi engineers haven’t made the oil changing process easier. Frankly, there’s simply no valid reason not to.

Moving the oil drain to the left bottom and the oil fill to the right would make the process easy on the bikes’s side stand. The oil draining directly onto the 1400 frame crossbar is simply unforgivable. The engineers and designers should be ashamed of themselves.

[guzzisteve]

Bosch 3330 is a good alternate filter and slightly longer to which you can remove the filter by hand if needed. Wix 51348 also works though the differential pressure relief on the filter is slightly higher

This is the filter that Guzzi told us to use in 09 when they were having seal rubber issues on the UFI filters.

[TN Mark]

Using 3.5 liters of oil with an oil and filter change results in too much oil in the engine. Exactly as what has been posted by many other 1400 owners. Last night I siphoned out 350cc which brought the oil level below the Full line.

On my next oil and filter change, I’ll do what has worked best for many other 1400 owners. I’ll use 3 liters total including filling the oil filter prior to installation.

[Bill W]

Half full on the stick is where mine always ends up.

[TN Mark]

I was able to go on a great 106 mile loop ride yesterday afternoon. A nice combination of interstate, two lane and single lane backroads. Speed on the interstate was definitely ‘elevated’ in spots. I refilled the tank upon return and averaged 37.23mpg.

I was a bit concerned about oil in the airbox after using 3.5 liters of oil on the 2,500 mile oil/filter change. After siphoning out .5 liters, the oil level on the stick is about 3/4 of the way between Add and Full. I filled the filter separately from the engine oil. Thankfully the oil drain tube from the airbox is bone dry.

At my next oil/filter change I’ll use 3 liters including pre filling the oil filter.

The Guzzi ‘Comfort’ seat isn’t as comfortable as the Victory OEM seat. Hopefully it will soften a bit over time.

The Urgent Service warning came on again. It took a few times resetting it with the service code 34534. I’ll have to research what triggers that warning after resetting it a couple weeks ago.

[TN Mark]

I’m ‘guessing’ my Urgent Service and Service notices could be the beginnings of another all too common Demand Sensor issue.

It’s now happened 3 times. Resetting with 34534 takes a few attempts. Never a running issue of any kind. Others have reported a ‘limp mode’. None of that on my 2016 … yet.

I know Piaggio doesn’t make the sensor and I’ve read where there was a ‘bad’ batch that was installed on bikes. With a high failure rate level. I’ve read the exact same sensor is used in a Fiat car. At a cost less than half of what a Guzzi dealer charges.

Part of my issue in buying a replacement from Piaggio is the chance of getting another ‘bad batch’ one they’ve had on their parts shelf for 10 years.

Others here know better than me.
Can a replacement demand sensor from Moto Guzzi be trusted?

[Bill W]

Mark
Do you have a part # for that Fiat sensor ?

[TN Mark]

Bill,

     I tried to verify a suitable aftermarket demand sensor, FIAT or otherwise, and came up short. Grok AI says there isn't one. A previous Google search said there was a FIAT alternative. I now doubt Google was correct.


     Grok also confirmed what I suspected, the oem demand sensor (872664) is in the beginning stage of going completely bad. My Eldo runs perfectly fine even with the SERVICE notice and the red triangle. But it takes several service clearing cycles with 34534 to get it to reset.
     The next stage of 872664 failure is the erratic running and limp mode. Many other 1400 owners have experienced this exact same failure path. Thankfully, the new item number, B044414 demand sensor seems to fix this issue. The MSRP on B044414 is $551.10. My very local dealer, 5 miles away, has never seen a 1400. They're really a CF Moto dealer with about 5 or 6 Moto Guzzi bikes and 2 or 3 Aprillia bikes. But, they give me a nice discount on parts and accessories and I don't have to pay for shipping. They claim little love for Moto Guzzi due to very poor to nonexistent support. The story hasn't changed a bit since I bought my first Moto Guzzi in 1978. Decent motorcycles - terrible US support network.
     The Atlanta dealer is really a Royal Enfield dealer with a few Moto Guzzi bikes in the corner. Bummer for me I'm so far from Cadre Cycles. I'll likely have to buy a Windows based computer, get GuzziDiag and replace the sensor myself. My 2016 Eldorado certainly isn't under any warranty.

     What I'll likely have to do now is save up for the new demand sensor, plus a Windows based laptop while checking the other things like the ground connections, electrical connections and the clutch switch etc. I can't really trust the Guzzi at this point to be reliable out on the road. I'm five months past total right knee replacement and two months away from total left knee replacement. At this point, I couldn't push Bella up my driveway. Thankfully, I have AAA RV Plus so they'll tow me up to 200 miles. Yay!

     I knew in the back of my mind the demand sensor was a weak link from reading WildGuzzi and GuzziTech. Looks like my beautiful Bella is no different in needing this known part replaced.

     I also knew in the back of my mind that a 'modern' Moto Guzzi with their horrible dealer network and 'Italian electrics' was not to be a solo act in my garage. Thankfully, my Victory motorcycles have been, and continue to be 100% reliable 100% of the time for the last 135,000 miles. If I could only keep one, the world's most enhanced 2013 Victory Hard-Ball would stay and Bella would be gone. As much as I love it, it's now proving what I worried about. It's not a reliable motorcycle. After this Demand Sensor issue is addressed, it will take Bella many 10's of 1,000's of miles to get lost trust restored.

[Bill W]

I hear you Mark
I have a second bike for the same reasons along with a parts 1400 to keep my baby going in the future. Other than cracked headers$$ and a ignition failure my Cali has been rock solid, However my bucketlist has me taking a ride out west and I think I stand a better chance on my Honda ( CTX1300 ) as far as reliability and support along my way.

[blu guzz]

Erie insurance owns my totaled bike. It never threw codes.

[TN Mark]

I bit the bullet and ordered the new demand sensor (B044414, $495.00, ouch) at my very local dealer this morning.

They confirmed they’ve never seen a 1400. But, they can connect Bella to their Pads system to read and then hopefully reset any error codes. I’ll ride her over there tomorrow before lunch to see what codes are present. It’s a bummer error codes can’t just be read right off the speedometer digital display. Yes, I know, it’s too simple so it’s not the Guzzi way.

[Bill W]

Mark
Don't you have the GTM re-flash tool? You can read and reset codes with it.

[blu guzz]

Best of luck with your plan.  You have put so much care and attention into your machine and I know that When it is sorted, you will it.

[TN Mark]

Mark
Don't you have the GTM re-flash tool? You can read and reset codes with it.

Bill,

     Yes. I do have the GTM re-flash tool from the previous owner. I’ll have to get it out and read up on how to use it. I’ve not ever looked into using that tool. Thank you for the suggestion and your post!

[TN Mark]

Local Moto Guzzi dealer HBR Powersports, Cleveland, TN treated me and Bella great. Their technician, Ryan, connected to the Pads system to record and then reset all the fault codes.

This is what they found and then reset:















Now, with everything reset at 2630 miles, I’ll see if/when the Service warning system comes back.

[TN Mark]

Is it even possible, or wise, to stay mad at a beautiful 2016 all black Moto Guzzi Eldorado 1400? No, no it isn't.

It's too good looking, it runs too well and I feel great when I'm on it. So, no, not 'mad'.

If/when the SERVICE issue makes another appearance, at least I'll know I have the part on order.