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New 2014 Norge. 2,000 miles.All was well (with the clutch) until yesterday afternoon. Then, two miles from home and without warning, my clutch began slipping terribly. I barely made it home (to the smell of burning clutch). The dealer is picking up my bike tomorrow for warranty work.Is this what I have to look forward to, not being able to rely on my new bike? Fortunately, I was able to ride my wife's Vespa today. However, I commute on my Norge, and I no longer have an automobile. I need it to be dependable.My wife says, "That is two strikes!" (the first one being a faulty spark plug cap, which caused arcing to ground, running on one cylinder, and intense heat in the exhaust system.) One more strike, and she will not look favorably on me keeping the Norge, let alone getting a second Moto Guzzi.What say you?
Have you before now ever owned any motorcycles? Modern scooters don't have a clutch you have to work. Both these calamities could be simple adjustments a regular MC owner could do themselves if they were familiar with what it takes to ride a MC. Sometimes new MC owners respond to issues as if it was a car instead of a MC where small things can be dealt with by the new owner instead of needing a dealer to fix it. Warranties are for real issues, not adjustments. Just saying.......... :-\
While it's possible he's done something doltish I can't see it meself unless he's done a gearbox oil change and grossly over filled it.Pete
Can't see it being Jeff's fault unless he rides with the clutch half engaged the whole time. The clutch actuation isn't *Adjustable* in any real way Wayne, it's hydraulic.If it's slipping it will either because it's oil-fouled or it has to be jammed somehow partially engaged.While it's possible he's done something doltish I can't see it meself unless he's done a gearbox oil change and grossly over filled it.Pete
This isn't a bike issue, it is a relationship issue. If my wife is at strike 2, it is just a matter of time before strike 3 hits and the Norge is out. It could be tomorrow or a year from now.Unless I've missed something, the clutch on the Norge isn't something that fails regularly or so soon.It really doesn't matter why it failed at this point, it is strike 2 and a headlamp going out while riding two up will be strike 3.Looks like few choices:1. Get an alternative means of transportation. Even a flat tire on a bike isn't a 10 minute fix unless you also replace or fix your tires on a car. Yeah, there are plenty of people who take it in stride and pull the wheel and go at it but realistically, not everyone does or wants to, you have to have some other means of transportation.2. Get rid of the Norge. That is a husband and wife thing and unless one side already has divorce papers in progress, it isn't even a choice, spouse wins.3. Get a new wife. This time make sure she knows how to work on MGs. Hard to find and probably even harder on you if you do find one.The next problem is strike 3 and it is coming, like it or not. It could be something very minor but when you start counting strikes, it really doesn't matter, every ride is nothing more than wondering if the bike is going to make the trip.Me? I'd get it fixed and if the dealer you bought it from sells other brands, I wouldn't even ride the thing off the lot, trade it on the spot. I'm not saying that because of any reason other that the perspective of dealing with a strike 1,2,3 thing because it is strike 2. No matter how much you might like MG generally and the Norge in particular, none of that matters. Keeping it at this point just postpones the inevitable. Then, after you get something else, maybe a different MG for kicks.
Hi Jeff. Sorry this has happened to you and on a new motorcycle, no less. Kind of dispiriting, for sure."Lemon" motorcycles DO exist; I had one. Not saying your Norge is one, but major clutch problemsso soon should not have happened. I had an '07 Calif. Vintage that had a number of odd and hard to solveproblems, even by the selling dealer. It spent over 50% of its time during the first 18 months in the SHOP.Which qualified it under the CA Lemon Law. Dealer and Piaggio exchanged the bike for a new '09, which I still have and has been basically flawless. Wish you the best with your Norge, and hope they can getit sorted out ASAP.
My wife and I have a great relationship, and she really does allow me to ride or drive what I want. She would not force me to dump the Norge if and when there is another problem, but she is rightly concerned about the Norge's dependability a this point--and so am I. I think the key for me will be what the issue turns out to be and how long it will take to repair it. If it is a simple fix and I am back on the road tomorrow, that is one thing. But if will require a new clutch two months to fix, I will definitely dump the Norge and move on. (That would be a shame because I have really been growing to love Moto Guzzis.)
Thanks, Bobby and everyone else!The Norge is safely and securely off to the dealer in an enclosed trailer. I will report back as soon as I hear what the problem is.In the meantime, I'm off to my office again on my wife's red Vespa (which is actually hugely fun to ride!).And yes, wives have a way of cutting to the chase at times! (No offense taken!)
