Lori defects

[Eric]

I have given up the fight. I can't make the lil Breva run like she should. I'm all out of ideas and Lori has been sidelined for too long. She is the owner of a brand spanking new 2015 BMW F 800 R. I will keep on working on the Breva as time permits but at least Lori can get back on the road. I imagine she can still keep up with my Norge. 

[Lannis]

Whew!   I thought the post was about LORI's defects and you were in serious trouble ....

.... but I do understand just getting frustrated with a bike and calling it quits and going to the dealer and getting his commitment that he's going to support you and make everything right with no shop time on your part if you buy an expensive new bike from him, and just getting out and enjoying the ride.   

I rode the other Eric's F800S a couple years back and boy what a nice bike that is .... I'm sure you'll have no regrets ....

Lannis

[kevdog3019]

What's going on with the Breva?  Tell us your tale.

[Eric]

Whew!   I thought the post was about LORI's defects and you were in serious trouble ....

.... but I do understand just getting frustrated with a bike and calling it quits and going to the dealer and getting his commitment that he's going to support you and make everything right with no shop time on your part if you buy an expensive new bike from him, and just getting out and enjoying the ride.   

I rode the other Eric's F800S a couple years back and boy what a nice bike that is .... I'm sure you'll have no regrets ....

Lannis

It didn't take a lot of committing on the dealer's part. I bought my Norge there with an EV in trade and my 11 Ural with an 05 Ural in trade. They're pretty well rounded and we have been looking at the V7 for a long time. But the f 800 R, just fourty feet across the floor, was  the same price, includes some nice features like ABS and stability control, and is a lot of bike for the money. I'm not useless in the garage, if a bit insecure, but it was time to try something new. It's not nearly as pretty as the Breva and, engine wise, it doesn't feel like the Breva. But it's really quite a blast to ride and I hope it is more or less trouble free, like my Norge has been. He offered to take in the lil Breva on traded pretty convinced they could get it running well and put it on the floor, but I like it and hopefully I can get it running well when I'm not under so much pressure - the kind of pressure you feel on a sunny pleasant riding day when a bike is stuck in the garage.

[Eric]

What's going on with the Breva?  Tell us your tale.

I've been on and off the board with this issue for a few years now, Kev. You've given me some good advice along the way, as a matter of fact. It ran wonderfully for 10,000 miles and then it started with short periods of hesitation followed by a burst of power to bring it up to speed. it got really bad on a trip to the Black Hills. Lori just couldn't keep up. Very frustrating. What we've done (not necessarily in order): new fuel filter, new fuel pump, new fuel lines, new tps, new rpm sensor, new computer, cleaned injectors, searched for leaks, all the air issues explored, updated maps several times including the no-lambda map. It may go a hundred miles with no issue. It may start bucking in the driveway on the way out. Cold, hot, uphill, downhill, corners, straightaways, but under acceleration mostly - not always. In my more frustrated moments I had lots to say about dealers, manufacturers and design, but best kept to myself - get out and enjoy the road again. Did many fun miles on the Ural with Lori but it's time to go back to four wheels between us two.

[Noguzznoglory]

I acquired an f800gt which I believe is the same engine as the st, s and r(correct me if I'm wrong).
I found out on my last service visit that if the valve clearances need adjusting its not just a matter of turning a couple of screws but the cams have to be pulled and clear ce set with shims. Sounds involved and expensive.
Love the bike but that bit of info confirms my initial skepticism about owning the brand. Heck they don't even publish a maintenance schedule in the owners manual. They apparently don't want you touching your own bike

[Eric]

I acquired an f800gt which I believe is the same engine as the st, s and r(correct me if I'm wrong).
I found out on my last service visit that if the valve clearances need adjusting its not just a matter of turning a couple of screws but the cams have to be pulled and clear ce set with shims. Sounds involved and expensive.
Love the bike but that bit of info confirms my initial skepticism about owning the brand. Heck they don't even publish a maintenance schedule in the owners manual. They apparently don't want you touching your own bike

Agreed, it looks complicated. BMW puts out a factory DVD with instructions on all these details and it looks like a lot of steps, but it doesn't seem difficult. That said, with adjustment intervals of 12,000 miles, assuming it's reliable otherwise, it may be a bargain to have the dealer do it. Maybe I'm getting old, but $500 every two years for the 12,000 miles service might not be a heartbreaker.

[M0T0Geezer]

Eric,

You don't say what year your Breva is.  We don't know for sure if it is running non-stock items like different mufflers, K&N type air cleaner, Power Commander, Fat Duc (O2 spoofer) and etc. 

Any or all of these mods will require a different fuel map, and probably not any version that the Guzzi Dealer will have or install (EPA Rules and all that bs).

My 2004 Breva 750 - with Mistral cans and a K&N style air filter - just turned 35,000 happy miles.  No bucking or surging, easy starting and great fuel economy (about 55 mpg) .

How?  I had Todd over at GuzziTech reflash the ECU  with the proper fuel map for my setup.

Best $$$ I ever spent on the bike (about $300).  Besides, the new map does not care if the O2 sensor is good or bad because it is ignored. 

'Geezer   

[Irn]

Purchased a 2007 F800ST last summer on a fly and ride in Colorado and rode it 4200 miles the long way back to San Francisco.  Sold my Baby Breva.  While I never did experience the issues you had for my Breva, it had its quirks.  Ran like shite until warmed up, stratus interputus wiring issues, while an easy fix, it was a joke for electrical engineering.  Stock suspension sucked.  Once I got these issues sorted, it was a nice bike however the BMW is a much nicer ride.  More power, much better suspension, amazing power band, one sweet ride.  The valve adjustment is kind of a do it once at 12k and when things settle in most owners never have to adjust them again.  There are issues of intermittent stalling that some owners never solve, and belt drive bikes had serious rear bearing problems that BMW finally recalled, and fried stators which new design fixed.  The biggest bummer about the BMW is that it is kind of soul less compared to any Goose, and the owners don't seem to want to turn a wrench.  The engine sounds like a sewing machine with bad bearings, and it is mistaken for well just about anything. But once under way, what a ride.  Just a warning, spare parts give new meaning to BMW, bring more wallet!  Enjoy the ride.

[Eric]

Eric,

You don't say what year your Breva is.  We don't know for sure if it is running non-stock items like different mufflers, K&N type air cleaner, Power Commander, Fat Duc (O2 spoofer) and etc. 

Any or all of these mods will require a different fuel map, and probably not any version that the Guzzi Dealer will have or install (EPA Rules and all that bs).

My 2004 Breva 750 - with Mistral cans and a K&N style air filter - just turned 35,000 happy miles.  No bucking or surging, easy starting and great fuel economy (about 55 mpg) .

How?  I had Todd over at GuzziTech reflash the ECU  with the proper fuel map for my setup.

Best $$$ I ever spent on the bike (about $300).  Besides, the new map does not care if the O2 sensor is good or bad because it is ignored. 

'Geezer

Yes, been around the block on all that. Bone stock. To the dealer for updates. Updated it myself with Guzzidiag. I was in touch with Todd who was very good when I was working with the old VDST system. I didn't hear back from him on reflashing but I'm sure it's not that. A stock bike should run on stock maps and many people have brevas that do. I'll start on the Breva again this fall when there's time - going through all the wiring first.  I have an issue or two on the Ural that needs work now. Lori just left the driveway, so it's worth it, I think.

[Eric]

Purchased a 2007 F800ST last summer on a fly and ride in Colorado and rode it 4200 miles the long way back to San Francisco.  Sold my Baby Breva.  While I never did experience the issues you had for my Breva, it had its quirks.  Ran like shite until warmed up, stratus interputus wiring issues, while an easy fix, it was a joke for electrical engineering.  Stock suspension sucked.  Once I got these issues sorted, it was a nice bike however the BMW is a much nicer ride.  More power, much better suspension, amazing power band, one sweet ride.  The valve adjustment is kind of a do it once at 12k and when things settle in most owners never have to adjust them again.  There are issues of intermittent stalling that some owners never solve, and belt drive bikes had serious rear bearing problems that BMW finally recalled, and fried stators which new design fixed.  The biggest bummer about the BMW is that it is kind of soul less compared to any Goose, and the owners don't seem to want to turn a wrench.  The engine sounds like a sewing machine with bad bearings, and it is mistaken for well just about anything. But once under way, what a ride.  Just a warning, spare parts give new meaning to BMW, bring more wallet!  Enjoy the ride.

I heard about the stalling and someone claims to have found a fix by disabling tipover safety features. Still, I heard it was fixed in the 2015s. I agree on the sound and soul. But I have a few personal philosophies on that topic that aren't worth getting into. Suffice it to say that, for me, it's about the ride, not the machine. And it's a nice ride.

[charlie b]

I'd get an extended warranty for the little Beemer, that covers regular services, and let the dealer handle it.

I almost bought the ST version a few years (2010) ago, but, the vibrations in the bars killed the deal for me.  It was a wonderful feeling package for running curvy roads.  I wanted the bike for longer distances so I passed on it.