Guzzi reliability

[Guzzistajohn]

It can be a challenge just keeping the bugs off the old beaters!

The biggest issue I have had is tire wear , dang beemers and Guzzis seem to go through them at an alarming rate , and don't even get me started on gasoline and oil , sheesh . ;)
Dusty

[oldbike54]

It can be a challenge just keeping the bugs off the old beaters!

Who does that , a few bug splats just prove it is a rider and not a trailer queen   :o :D 
Dusty

[oldmxdog61u]

Hmmm. I raced a 1973 cz400 for many seasons, no DNF's. Supposedly unreliablecompared to more modern stuff.  I have raced a slew of "old bikes" and finally moved up to modern stuff, like 84, 85 bikes.  While I have owned a lemon, may w two, prep and service have served me well.  I just don't get all this reliability concern stuff.  Ride it. Fix it. Modify it if its a weak spot.  If you want vanilla, get something vanilla. Some of my best moments were on so called unreliable vehicles. Those are great memories.
Although I still get ill around Lucas electronics, Stromberg carbs, and small head bearing sets.

[oldbike54]

Although I still get ill around Lucas electronics, Stromberg carbs, and small head bearing sets.

You forgot to mention Jikov carbs and those early motoplat ignition systems .
Dusty

[biking sailor]

From what I have learned in the few short years of Guzzi ownership (55,000 miles on a new leftover 2008 1200 Sport, 10,000 miles on a used 750 Breva, and 6,000 miles on a new 2013 Stelvio NTX) and reading this and other Guzzi forums, the best approach is to buy a used, well sorted Guzzi from those owners that are well experienced with the brand.  The bikes will have all the problems worked out and will be in pretty good tune.  The only problem with this appraoch is those owners seem to put a bunch of miles on their bikes, so finding a low miles one is a bit tough.

Once sorted correctly, a Guzzi will be a pretty reliable machine only requiring basic regular maintenance and replacement of worn out/used up parts that a motorcycle enthusiast should be able to learn to do.

Darren

[Wistrick]

From what I have learned in the few short years of Guzzi ownership (55,000 miles on a new leftover 2008 1200 Sport, 10,000 miles on a used 750 Breva, and 6,000 miles on a new 2013 Stelvio NTX) and reading this and other Guzzi forums, the best approach is to buy a used, well sorted Guzzi from those owners that are well experienced with the brand.  The bikes will have all the problems worked out and will be in pretty good tune.  The only problem with this appraoch is those owners seem to put a bunch of miles on their bikes, so finding a low miles one is a bit tough.

Once sorted correctly, a Guzzi will be a pretty reliable machine only requiring basic regular maintenance and replacement of worn out/used up parts that a motorcycle enthusiast should be able to learn to do.

Darren

problem IMHO is when I spend 15,000 plus on a new bike I shouldn't have to spend 10.00 dollar replacing spark plug caps because I ride in the rain....Its a known issue that MG should just take care of.....and now my suspension might fail...WTF And thats why there is a new Yamaha Super Tenere in my Garage instead of a NTX....My buddy on the NTX at Humbug developed some kinda high pitch whine under load when coming off throttle...Now he has to it get it a dealer to have it looked at and the bike has 5000 miles on it......I am always fixing something on  the 09 Norge not so much on my UJM's

Dan

[WitchCityBallabio]

I have 70,000+ miles on my 04 Ballabio
I have nearly 45,000 miles on my 09 Stelvio
I have put about 38,000 miles on my restored Ambassador
My wife has put 25,000 miles on her Griso SE
We even had a V50III that everyone told us would be awful and never had one problem with it either.

We have never been stranded by any of them. The only "major" repair needed was a clutch on the Ballabio at about 55,000 miles. I have pro-actively addressed minor issues when they're discovered and just generally maintain them.

All of our Guzzi's have been more reliable than any Japanese motorcycle I have owned.

and now my suspension might fail...WTF And thats why there is a new Yamaha Super Tenere in my Garage instead of a NTX....My buddy on the NTX at Humbug developed some kinda high pitch whine under load when coming off throttle...Now he has to it get it a dealer to have it looked at and the bike has 5000 miles on it......I am always fixing something on  the 09 Norge not so much on my UJM's

The suspension link problem on the NTX was a fault at production of that piece. It was discovered and Guzzi is replacing the affected batches. It's basically a one hour fix that Guzzi is doing no charge. The spark plug boots are 7 dollars and takes 5 minutes to change. Some people can live with that kinda stuff, some can't. Personally it bothered me not one bit.

There are plenty of stories of Tenere's with vibration issues and the factory basically washing their hands of them.

Japanese bike infallibility is stuff of urban legend in my experience.

I have a buddy who rides new Triumphs and he always tells me how reliable they are compared to Italian bikes. He has 6000 miles on his 800XC (picked up once for electrical failure, and had a recall or two), and a 675R Street Triple. Picked up twice by the dealer for failures. 5000 miles.

Ask anyone and they'll tell you how reliable the new Triumphs are. Every manufacturer has issues.

[Kev m]

I have 70,000+ miles on my 04 Ballabio
I have nearly 45,000 miles on my 09 Stelvio
I have put about 38,000 miles on my restored Ambassador
My wife has put 25,000 miles on her Griso SE
We even had a V50III that everyone told us would be awful and never had one problem with it either.

We have never been stranded by any of them. The only "major" repair needed was a clutch on the Ballabio at about 55,000 miles. I have pro-actively addressed minor issues when they're discovered and just generally maintain them.

All of our Guzzi's have been more reliable than any Japanese motorcycle I have owned.

What do you consider "non-major"?

[oldbike54]

What do you consider "non-major"?

Trouble maker :D
Dusty

[rocker59]

What do you consider "non-major"?

For me,

"major issue" will end a ride or trip.

"minor issue" will not.

Of course, a rider's personal mechanical aptitude does count for a lot in the middle ground of those two.

One person's minor failure could be another person's call to AAA.  Flat tire being one example that's not bike related. 

Starter is minor for me.  I had a starter fail 300 miles from home, but rode home anyway, bump starting it at each fuel stop...  Some people wouldn't do that, so it would be a major problem.  Once I got home, I ordered up a starter, and bolted it on a few days later.

[oldmxdog61u]

Motoplat! Blew my coffee out my nose.  P.o.s.

Enjoying the thread!

[oldbike54]

Motoplat! Blew my coffee out my nose.  P.o.s.

Enjoying the thread!

Glad to be of service Dog . I owned 2 Pentons , a 125 six day replica , and a 175 'Piner , both damn reliable bikes , bought used , the only problem with either was the key on the crankshaft end that held the mag in place . 50 cent fix . CZs were pretty bullet proof , except for a few transmission issues , bent shifting forks mostly , and Maicos were really tough , despite there reputation . Met Brad Lackey at the AHRMA national , Hallet Ok , when he was racing a Maico , told me he had less trouble with it than the later model Kawaskis he raced for money .
Dusty

[WitchCityBallabio]

What do you consider "non-major"?

I consider anything that doesn't cause the bike to strand me non major. I consider anything that doesn't cause me to remove drivetrains or internal engine parts non major. I consider plug ends to be minor. I consider some remapping of fueling (usually because I've screwed around with exhaust and intake) minor. Loosening bolts over miles, that kind of thing.

My Stelvio's major issues so far in 45,000 miles were a pin coming out of the top box latch (replaced with a .30 cent nut and bolt) and a windshield adjuster knob that took off from vibration. I replaced my plug boots, but never had any problem with the stock ones. I did it preemptively. Oh yeah. I almost forgot. I had a real crisis when I had to tighten a couple of spokes up on the rear wheel in Alaska. It took me about 10 minutes. My rear shock is getting kinda tired now too. If I had bought a Japanese bike, the shock would never wear out. Damn Guzzi.  ;D

[WitchCityBallabio]

For me,

"major issue" will end a ride or trip.

"minor issue" will not.

Of course, a rider's personal mechanical aptitude does count for a lot in the middle ground of those two.

One person's minor failure could be another person's call to AAA.  Flat tire being one example that's not bike related.  

Starter is minor for me.  I had a starter fail 300 miles from home, but rode home anyway, bump starting it at each fuel stop...  Some people wouldn't do that, so it would be a major problem.  Once I got home, I ordered up a starter, and bolted it on a few days later.

This.

[Kev m]

Those are pretty good definitions - except that I SUSPECT the majority of the riding public would disagree with them from a "reliability of the marque" standpoint.

I mean - sure I can, and have, gotten a bike home when an ignition switch failed, or a starter, or a regulator, or _____________.

But I wouldn't tell someone I made "no repairs" to a bike that I'd had to do all of that to in relatively short mileage.

There's no reason why components like that shouldn't last A VERY long time.

[blackcat]

For me,

"major issue" will end a ride or trip.

"minor issue" will not.

 ;-T

A bad starter would depend on how far I'm out of town. A day ride and I'm not turning off the bike whereas a couple of days out or more I'll wait for a new starter because I've had such bad luck push starting Guzzi's unless I was in a group.

[blackcat]

Those are pretty good definitions - except that I SUSPECT the majority of the riding public would disagree with them from a "reliability of the marque" standpoint.

I mean - sure I can, and have, gotten a bike home when an ignition switch failed, or a starter, or a regulator, or _____________.

But I wouldn't tell someone I made "no repairs" to a bike that I'd had to do all of that to in relatively short mileage.

There's no reason why components like that shouldn't last A VERY long time.

Kev, the Ducati voltage regulator on my 1000S was a known problem and I failed to heed the warnings to replace the out of warranty unit. Fortunately I was only about 50 miles from home during the daylight hours so I pulled the wires on the headlight and made it home without any problems. All I did was pull a couple of wires so technically I made "no repairs" on the road. ;)

[rocker59]

Those are pretty good definitions - except that I SUSPECT the majority of the riding public would disagree with them from a "reliability of the marque" standpoint.

I mean - sure I can, and have, gotten a bike home when an ignition switch failed, or a starter, or a regulator, or _____________.

But I wouldn't tell someone I made "no repairs" to a bike that I'd had to do all of that to in relatively short mileage.

There's no reason why components like that shouldn't last A VERY long time.

Starter failed on the Nero Corsa at eight years old and 40,000 miles. 

It has been the only starter failure in six Guzzis and 100,000+ miles.

[WitchCityBallabio]

The clutch on my Ballabio was the only "failure" at 55,000 miles. I've had zero problems with my Ballabio. No relay problems, no shifter spring issues, nothing. Push button, get on, ride, refuel, repeat. Oil and tire changes. It has not been a bike that has been ridden gently or easily. Whenever it's ridden, it's flogged.

No issues whatsoever with the Stelvio. None. Also pretty harshly flogged.

No issues with the Griso whatsoever. None.

This picture was taken in the Spring. Guzzi's don't age well either.  :P  Doesn't look like 70,000 miles does it?

[blackcat]

Damn D, don't you ever wash that thing?

[WitchCityBallabio]

 ;D

[Kev m]

Starter failed on the Nero Corsa at eight years old and 40,000 miles. 

Jackal went in that range too..perhaps a bad few years for supplier parts.

[Stormtruck2]

I don't push start my bikes.  Ever ever ever.  I did in my younger days, but was "broke" of it in 1978 in Groton CT.  I had a 79 KZ 900 LTD and couldn't get it started, so I tried to bump start it.  Was pushing her down the hill from the EM club on base, got it rolling, REAL good, and went to jump on it to fire it up.  It was rolling faster than I though, and when I went to jump on it, my right foot caught the side of the seat.  We both flopped over, losing points for style, and I breaking my wrist in the process.  So now, I never ever bump start it if I am alone, except in extreme circumstances, like the wife is home alone, lonely, and has made me an offer I can't refuse.  :D

[rodekyll]

I don't push start my bikes.  Ever ever ever.  I did in my younger days, but was "broke" of it in 1978 in Groton CT.  I had a 79 KZ 900 LTD and couldn't get it started, so I tried to bump start it.  Was pushing her down the hill from the EM club on base, got it rolling, REAL good, and went to jump on it to fire it up.  It was rolling faster than I though, and when I went to jump on it, my right foot caught the side of the seat.  We both flopped over, losing points for style, and I breaking my wrist in the process.  So now, I never ever bump start it if I am alone, except in extreme circumstances, like the wife is home alone, lonely, and has made me an offer I can't refuse.  :D

Me, too.  'cept I have Converts that don't lend themselves to push starting, and your wife stopped calling me when she discovered Dusty. :D

[Stormtruck2]

Me, too.  'cept I have Converts that don't lend themselves to push starting, and your wife stopped calling me when she discovered Dusty. :D

Thats cold RK, :D thats cold.  ;) :D  I could have my wife give my ex-wife your number, but that would be cruel and ununusal punishment.  ::) :D

[oldbike54]

How did you find out RK , we were being so careful , dangit , I told her not to make that tape . ;D
Dusty

[Stormtruck2]

How did you find out RK , we were being so careful , dangit , I told her not to make that tape . ;D
Dusty

Tape?? Like duct tape?  Turning NO NO NO into mmphmmmph mpph since 1943.  ;) :D

[oldbike54]

Tape?? Like duct tape?  Turning NO NO NO into mmphmmmph mpph since 1943.  ;) :D

Well , betrayed once again , she promised to erase the "duct tape" section . Last time I let a woman do that to me . :o
Dusty

[Stormtruck2]

Well , betrayed once again , she promised to erase the "duct tape" section . Last time I let a woman do that to me . :o
Dusty

You loved it and you know it.   :D ;)  You can't wait to do it again. :D ;)

[Lannis]

True, but stuff happens even to the best of the bunch.

The Ducati voltage regulator prematurely went on my 93-1000S back in 96. Should I blame all Guzzi for this?
The rotor(s) warped on my 07 Norge-Should I blame all Guzzi's for this? And they sent me two.

Yebbut ... stuff didn't actually HAPPEN to the vehicles on that list.   Someone may have found ONE that had sort of defect, and the company lawyers said "We'd better recall all of them, just in case, because you know we'll get sued if there's another one out there and we didn't do a recall ...."

Lannis