Author Topic: Are Guzzi's inherently more risk? (Read 22568 times)

tazio · « **on:** March 21, 2015, 06:48:43 PM »

Hit most of the local motorcycle Dealerships in the area today as it was some fine vintage bike weather,
last stop was Marietta Motorsports, a "dealer-alternative, maintenance and performance shop" about a door down from the old Zen Moto place.
Boss comes out to eyeball the Ambo and says "Ahh, guzzi, only bike we had blow-up on our Dyno.."
So I'm asking you all, am I in some kind of danger here. I mean, are these things blowing-up on the regular?
Rode up next to a pal of mine last year doing about 80mph and he asked me never to do that again as he was very concerned about
a jug getting shot threw his skull.
Now it's in my head that every ride may be the last time I see my kneecaps..

Does anyone here have a first hand account of a motor blowing-up? (BSA's don't count)

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2015, 06:57:02 PM »

Bwwwaaaahaa.. you're kidding, right? A Guzzi engine is about the least likely to "blow up" of any motorcycle engine that I can think of. They are robust almost to a fault.

Perazzimx14 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2015, 06:58:21 PM »

No offense but your "buddy" is an idiot.

jackson · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2015, 07:00:12 PM »

The guy is probably pissed because Riders Hill has probably beat him out of quite a few potential sales. Add to that, there is another new Guzzi dealer in that area and they are also probably beating him out of a few potential sales.
The Guzzi engine is a very robust engine.

lucian · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2015, 07:03:46 PM »

Hate to see what you would loose if a harley motor "blows up"

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2015, 07:15:07 PM »

How many engine blocks has that POS Ambo exploded?

Oh wait, you are trying to angle a new Norge out of this somehow aren't you.

Yes, that Ambo will explode any second. The only hope is to get a new 4 valve engine like the new Norge. The cam chain holds them together.

;-T

~;

rocker59 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2015, 07:49:31 PM »

Quote from: Perazzimx14 on March 21, 2015, 06:58:21 PM

No offense but your "buddy" is an idiot.

:+1

Rich A · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2015, 07:53:04 PM »

The danger of a small n, as in: "I knew a guy who knew a guy..."

--the engine probably did blow, but that's just one data point.

Rich A

NorthRider · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2015, 07:57:26 PM »

Quote from: lucian on March 21, 2015, 07:03:46 PM

Hate to see what you would loose if a harley motor "blows up"

:o true that! The rear cylinder of my Buell is about an inch from my....manhood!

Kev m · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2015, 08:00:35 PM »

Too few data to speculate.

Shy of racing, most motors don't suffer catastrophic failures.

bib · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2015, 08:14:18 PM »

One can 'blow-up' any motor in any vehicle, its real simple... the hard part is to get the best out the motor WITHOUT destroying it.
Avoid that dealers dyno if you enjoy your bike.

Lee Bruns · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2015, 08:34:08 PM »

Quote from: Perazzimx14 on March 21, 2015, 06:58:21 PM

No offense but your "buddy" is an idiot.

Yep, I have to agree. Least likely of ANY engine to blow. WAY overbuilt. Whatever his bias is, its not based on reality.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2015, 08:41:17 PM »

That's about the goofiest thing I've ever heard. The guy is nutty as a squirrel turd. If an old Guzzi engine could blow up, Ace Mallot from St. Joseph, Mo. would have blown 3 or 4 by now. :bike

Joliet Jim · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2015, 08:47:38 PM »

I know when my centauro was on the dyno the mortar holding the bricks in the building started to blow out.

Turin · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2015, 10:36:23 PM »

I've never heard of a guzzi blowing up either. I've been riding the crap out of them for almost 25years and never had an engine issue.

Penderic · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2015, 10:52:48 PM »

Hmmm this reminds me ....... T shirt suggestion!

Change to read: I am a Moto Guzzi Mechanic. DUCK!

John A · « **Reply #16 on:** March 22, 2015, 03:54:04 AM »

[/URL[URL=http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/jdalthaus/media/JOHN-PC/Camera%20Uploads/2013-03-22131452_zps51974157.jpg.html]

This one leaked out some parts

Vasco DG · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2015, 05:42:30 AM »

'Are Guzzis inherently more risk?' (Note lack of apostrophe, it isn't the risk of Guzzi is it?)

What does this question mean? What is the inate symbolism encapsulated by the term 'Guzzi'? What form of artistic interpretation, (Presumably tragic!) can be drawn from this question steeped in ambiguity and craving an answer to salve the soul?

Or, alternatively, why are you talking bollocks?

Pete

Cam3512 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2015, 05:53:11 AM »

I'd expect that absurd question from a new guy with no clue, but you've been around a while.

You fall and bump your head recently?

56Pan · « **Reply #19 on:** March 22, 2015, 06:13:54 AM »

Quote from: Lee Bruns on March 21, 2015, 08:34:08 PM

Yep, I have to agree. Least likely of ANY engine to blow. WAY overbuilt. Whatever his bias is, its not based on reality.

I'm betting if you had called him on it, he couldn't have backed it up with date, time, picture, or any other witness. If BS was music, he'd be a brass band.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2015, 06:51:45 AM »

Quote

This one leaked out some parts

If he had a Guzzi powerplant in there, it wouldn't have done that.. ;D So. What's the story? I was just cruising along, no indications of anything amiss, and then I heard this noise and the motor stopped? ;D :BEER:

John A · « **Reply #21 on:** March 22, 2015, 08:17:00 AM »

He was over Wabashaw, that's about 40 miles from here when the engine got quiet. He dead sticked it in, they were from western Mn. His passengers didn't want to fly home,electing for a rental car instead. We put in a factory remanufactured TIO 550 if I remember rightly. I think a piston broke and that rod got to flailing around which is what broke the cam. That's the alternator drive gear ready to escape from the oil pan. The rod and a lifter and part of camshaft fell out of the hole. It would have been interesting to tear that one down! All done !

Tobit · « **Reply #22 on:** March 22, 2015, 08:48:45 AM »

Miss a shift on a V50 and yes, bad things are likely to happen. Otherwise, Guzzi seems pretty bomb proof.

I'd steer clear of that shop if for nothing else than getting the impression they're skittish about Guzzis. Your friend? If he was serious, he should stay on the couch and watch riding videos on youtube. Motorcycles are dangerous pal, you never know when they'll just explode and kill you.

Follow up by telling Guzzi crankcases were salvaged from the Italian navy after WWII, that they used to be depth charge launchers mounted on the fantail. They were called Ambassadors, a tongue in cheek reference to a diplomat, making his country's wishes know.

Back to the coffee and steel cut oats. Haven't had my morning constitutional yet, so yes, I'm full of it.

Tobit

John A · « **Reply #23 on:** March 22, 2015, 08:56:06 AM »

If you are an idiot running a motorcycle on a dyno and you blow it up you obviously blame the motorcycle. Idiots should be kept away from machinery and stick to basket weaving and less dangerous activities.

dilligaf · « **Reply #24 on:** March 22, 2015, 09:06:38 AM »

Well nothing more to add. I think everyone has just about covered it. :BEER:
Matt

acogoff · « **Reply #25 on:** March 22, 2015, 09:08:31 AM »

I once found a good tablespoonful of metal chunks in the oil screen of an amphibious Cessna 185 and told the owner it needs to come apart for a look see.
The owner wouldn't have it and proceeded to continue flying it for another 50 hours before two rods came through the top of the crankcase. Luckily he was not over the bush as they ain't no glider and landed hard on a roadway.
The main cause of catastrophic failure is very poor understanding of the laws of physics or Stupidity.

Cam3512 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 22, 2015, 09:33:51 AM »

Dyno bike probably had perfectly good chrome bores?

guzzisteve · « **Reply #27 on:** March 22, 2015, 09:40:31 AM »

Sergio blew up his Lario twice.
I had a customers Mille GT pop under me as I was doing WOT jetting. He complained it would not go over 80mph. Newly acquired from a guy in WI.
I pull off heads, it had new head gaskets & oval cylinders. Seems the bikes PO went down, bike laid on it's side roaring w/no oil. He broke cyl's free and sold it as good.

LowRyter · « **Reply #28 on:** March 22, 2015, 09:41:14 AM »

I'd listen to the guy. It's just a time bomb.

I'll take it off your hands for $100. No worries.

;D

nc43bsa · « **Reply #29 on:** March 22, 2015, 09:54:45 AM »

IIRC, some CX100s had bad rods.

News:

Author Topic: Are Guzzi's inherently more risk? (Read 22568 times)

Penderic

Vasco DG

56Pan

dilligaf