Norge bending side stand (PICS) Fixed.

[bad Chad]

Something is amiss.  No way the side stand will bend.

[canuguzzi]

Something is amiss.  No way the side stand will bend.

Yes way, the stand can bend. Mine isn't the only one that has bent, mine just happens to have bent more than some others.

Bolts are tight. Even the dealer verified the stand was bending, hence the warranty claim. As some know, once something like the stand bends, it simply doesn't stop on its own accord and as the lean angle increases so does the leverage on the stand.

No way the stand can bend. Add that to all the other things that get claimed to be impossible.

Bike gets serviced regularly, inspected frequently and is never abused, hasn't been dropped.

[George_S]

It is possible. I have heard of this on a couple of BMW models back about 10-15 years and seen it myself on a BMW R1200C.

[MGrego]

Post a picture if you get the chance --

I mostly use the centerstand myself, but did notice the bike leans over pretty far when on the sidestand, but I'm thinking this is normal.

I checked to make sure the sidestand and all related bolts are tight --  On mine, there is a bend in the area of the stand you are describing, but I assume this was intentional as the "foot" of the stand is parallel with the ground when using it, and no buckled paint at the bend.  Also, I would think the foot wouldn't be flat with the ground if the sidestand was bent as you are describing, but that the "toe" would be sticking up --

Curious to see what condition your stand is in, thanks --

[bad Chad]

Ok, I'll retract my statement.  I'll instead go with, I find in very unlikely that the stand would bend unless put under far greater stress than it was designed for.   

[canuguzzi]

Post a picture if you get the chance --

I mostly use the centerstand myself, but did notice the bike leans over pretty far when on the sidestand, but I'm thinking this is normal.

I checked to make sure the sidestand and all related bolts are tight --  On mine, there is a bend in the area of the stand you are describing, but I assume this was intentional as the "foot" of the stand is parallel with the ground when using it, and no buckled paint at the bend.  Also, I would think the foot wouldn't be flat with the ground if the sidestand was bent as you are describing, but that the "toe" would be sticking up --

Curious to see what condition your stand is in, thanks --

I'll take a pic today or tomorrow and post it.

I'm uber careful with my bikes, had over 35 of them, none ever had a bent side stand.

It been said there had to be far more weight put in it that it was designed for. That would assume MG never makes ammistake in design, never had a faulty weld of a strengthening piece and everyone else that experienced a bent stand was a fault instead.

Just as likely, the welding of the strengthening piece was bad or the stand itself was bent incorrectly in manufacture and had a greater lean from the start than it should have, thus creating an over stress problem.

If someone reports a problem in design or materials manufacture on a Guzzi, the last thing I think is that the person is wrong and MG didn't screw the pooch. There are too many examples of poor design in accessory or other areas of their bike to think otherwise. Otherwise, MG bikes would not need sitting out to the extent they do.

[bad Chad]

Maybe your right and it is a defective part.  Seems unlikely to me, but the unlikely does happen.

Yet, my biggest reason for pause is your persistent rip on Guzzi QC.   As someone who has owned and ridden only Guzzi for 17 years and purchased New a 99 & 07 Im comfortable in stating the newer bikes are better put together, with higher quality parts in almost all areas.  Is it the best in the industry, I doubt it, but Guzzi has come a looking way in recent years.

When I read so many of your post ripping a brand I have a lot of respect for it gets a bit tiring.  How about making a plan for 16 to notice more offten the joy you get from your Norge, and less complaining as to why an Italian motorcycle manufacturer can't seem to behave like Toyota?

[Groover]

Make sure you're using unleaded fuel. If it's leaded the bike will weigh a ton more and certainly bend the side stand if the tank is full... 

(I'm kidding of course!)

Has the side stand been powder-coated or anything that you are aware of? Thinking heat treatment loss here of some sort.

Good luck.

[Cool Runnings]

Maybe your right and it is a defective part.  Seems unlikely to me, but the unlikely does happen.

Yet, my biggest reason for pause is your persistent rip on Guzzi QC.   As someone who has owned and ridden only Guzzi for 17 years and purchased New a 99 & 07 Im comfortable in stating the newer bikes are better put together, with higher quality parts in almost all areas.  Is it the best in the industry, I doubt it, but Guzzi has come a looking way in recent years.

When I read so many of your post ripping a brand I have a lot of respect for it gets a bit tiring.  How about making a plan for 16 to notice more offten the joy you get from your Norge, and less complaining as to why an Italian motorcycle manufacturer can't seem to behave like Toyota?

Yeah, only have 200 miles on my Norge and after coming here I wonder if MG's are just sour lemons?

[rocker59]

Yeah, only have 200 miles on my Norge and after coming here I wonder if MG's are just sour lemons?

It only matters if YOUR bike is, or isn't a lemon.

Odds are it isn't.  Odds are you will be fine.

The internet forums for all brands are full of complainers.  Happy people don't post as much, for some reason.

[blackcat]

It only matters if YOUR bike is, or isn't a lemon.

Odds are it isn't.  Odds are you will be fine.

The internet forums for all brands are full of complainers.  Happy people don't post as much, for some reason.

I have no major complaints about my 07 Norge and yes I've had a minor few problems. My side stand is rarely used so it could be a bad one but it's not something I'm going to worry about at this stage of ownership. 

If this side stand is one of a bad production batch, this is the first time I have read about it but if it's just a one off, what in the world could have happened in the making of this side stand?

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have no major complaints about my 07 Norge and yes I've had a minor few problems. My side stand is rarely used so it could be a bad one but it's not something I'm going to worry about at this stage of ownership. 

If this side stand is one of a bad production batch, this is the first time I have read about it but if it's just a one off, what in the world could have happened in the making of this side stand?

Manufacturing process is my game, but without one in my hand to look at I can't help.

[George_S]

All you doubting Thomases who " have never heard of such a thing" should do a simple 'net search and you'll find this problem on BMW, Honda, Ducati and advrider forums.

Lots of stories about warranty refusals for this problem too. One guy says a Ducati rep told him the side stands are made of aluminum and only designed to hold the weight of the bike, and not designed for anyone to sit on it while it's on the sidestand.

[canuguzzi]

Maybe your right and it is a defective part.  Seems unlikely to me, but the unlikely does happen.

Yet, my biggest reason for pause is your persistent rip on Guzzi QC.   As someone who has owned and ridden only Guzzi for 17 years and purchased New a 99 & 07 Im comfortable in stating the newer bikes are better put together, with higher quality parts in almost all areas.  Is it the best in the industry, I doubt it, but Guzzi has come a looking way in recent years.

When I read so many of your post ripping a brand I have a lot of respect for it gets a bit tiring.  How about making a plan for 16 to notice more offten the joy you get from your Norge, and less complaining as to why an Italian motorcycle manufacturer can't seem to behave like Toyota?

I have often posted about the virtues of the Norge and taken to task those that said they wouldn't buy a post flat tappet model for fear if that problem along with oil leaks.

The fact of the matter is that MG quality assurance stinks, why else are we fixing things like loose fasteners (luckily not me but nearly everyone else), questionable wiring (status interrupts, really?) Windscreen adjusters failing, inadequate bearing lubrication, dipsticks on models that are guesstimates, yes, flat tappet fiascos, trashy spark plug caps and wires put so they rest on cylinder heads, deforming fuel tanks, crappy ECU maps, fuel gauges that arent reliable to the point many just give up and so on.

Not bad if you buy used bikes that cost a few grand and wrenching is the idea of a good time. Not when you pay more than 11 grand plus for a brand new bike that is supposed to be top of the line.

Who can really look at those sorting issues as they are called and then say quality control is even close to #1 ? Let's be honest with each other, it is so accepted that QA is not even a given, it gets joked about.

At first I thought I was the lucky one, that the seal leaks, the problems others reported were just them, my Norge was a trooper that I could ride anywhere anytime so long as I made sure it got regular maintenance.

I'm finding out that instead, it is more likely that all the problems come around anyway and sweeping it under the proverbial carpet does nothing except perpetuate things under the guise of ease of maintenance.

The bending stand is a fact, verified by a dealer who knows Moto Guzzi and is well respected.

If you want to say my bike must have been subjected to far more than design loads when you haven't seen it, how does that work? My Norge never gets close to max weight, I'm maybe 165 after a big dinner and check every fastener I can touch, check tire pressures, steering function, suspension function, brakes, lights, horn, battery charge, the swing arm for drips, the oil pan for leaks, all the hoses for the oil cooler, plug wires each and every time I ride. If something isn't right, it gets made right before it goes out or goes straight to the dealer to be made right if I don't want to mess with it.

Riding the Norge is a great experience but as far as confidence it would go to NY and back without some more than minor thing? No way.

If more people said something, maybe, just maybe MG would pay attention but woe be the person who doesn't just sort it out. What gets better if no one says anything?

I posted about the bending stand because it is happening, has been verified by a dealer and gets worse while waiting tobhear about the warranty claim. Nonone is making this up and the bike isn't now and never has been subjected to any load other than an unladen bike with maybe a full tank of fuel.

The stand is crap. Maybe just this one but that isn't likely. Go look at one, really look. Its a second design because prior designs bent too. Same with the center stand, they used to bend too , was that due to overloading? It was a crappy stand then too.

I like riding the Norge, say so often, right here on WG and anyone that asks.

MG quality control is crap and I will say that too, here and if someone asks, tel them the issues and let them decide.

This was about an bending side stand, nothing else. What is the problem with posting about it? Nothing except you said it couldn't happen, then retracted the statement but then said it had to be some fault other than quality. OK, then what, you meaning was clear.

[Xlratr]

.........One guy says a Ducati rep told him the side stands are made of aluminum and only designed to hold the weight of the bike, and not designed for anyone to sit on it while it's on the sidestand.

I think that's pretty standard. The motorcycle handbooks that I've read have all said something similar, regardless of brand. In my Stelvio handbook it also says the following:

"The (side)stand should not be used to support the weight of rider and passenger"

Not saying that is what happened here though!

The angle of modern bikes when on the side stands is actually quite steep, so most of the weight stays on the wheels. Hard to imagine what would cause one to bend.

John

[rss29]

Does the Norge have both US and Euro sidestand options? On the V7, the standard Euro stand is short and straight. The US version is long and has a bend in it. If that's the case with the Norge as well, then I'd swap to the Euro version.

[blackcat]

All you doubting Thomases who " have never heard of such a thing" should do a simple 'net search and you'll find this problem on BMW, Honda, Ducati and advrider forums.

I don't doubt that NP is telling the truth and I'm sure there are multiple stories for those brands with bending side stands.  Just out of curiosity I plugged into multiple search engines: "moto guzzi norge side stand bending" and only this thread pops up. Of course that isn't the final word as there easily could be hundreds of Norge owner's across the world who have had this problem.

[ohiorider]

I look at pics of the USA stand vs the Euro stand for these bikes, and can see how the USA stand would have more load placed on it, vs the 'stumpy', almost BMW like stand on the Euro bikes.  My 1200 Sport hasn't bent, but could imagine how that could happen, simply from the weight of the bike on the very long side stand that sticks way out from the bike.

Brings up another question ........ what was it about USA bikes that required the extra long stand with a few more kinks in it?  I look at it and think the USA stand just might keep my bike from falling, IF I parked on soft asphalt, and the side stand began sinking into it.  Because the flat area of tubing before the stand foot just might rest on the asphalt and keep the stand from continuing to sink.  But is that why?  Was Guzzi that thoughtful about where I might have to park?

I've owned a few Beemers with nearly-vertical side stands and tiny feet that would be more than happy to sink into hot asphalt and then drop the bike on its side.  I remember running from a restaurant when a customer asked who was riding the Beemer.  "Me."  "Well, your helmet is on the ground, and I think the bike is about to fall over!"

[Chuck in Indiana]

I remember running from a restaurant when a customer asked who was riding the Beemer.  "Me."  "Well, your helmet is on the ground, and I think the bike is about to fall over!"

Yeah, BTDT with my R100RT. Did about $800 worth of damage. 

At first I thought I was the lucky one, that the seal leaks, the problems others reported were just them, my Norge was a trooper that I could ride anywhere anytime so long as I made sure it got regular maintenance.

Personally, I'd say you drew the short straw. My 07 (other than the recall on the low beam headlight wiring which the dealer sent me the stuff and I fixed it myself) was assembled *very well*  and was trouble free while I had it. I posted at the time at how far Guzzi had come with QC since my Centauro. I also posted at the time that the *only* reason they assembled the Centauro was to make sure that you got all the parts. 
NP, you would *not* have liked it. 

[bad Chad]

Good luck Norgepilot, your going to need a whole lot of it if you stay with this brand.

It's clear to me that you will not, and likely can not be made a happy campier while owning a Moto Guzzi.

[lucian]

I don't know about side stands, but if I'm gonna have a flat tappet failure I prefer to have the Italian variety vs. Japazuki. 

[Cool Runnings]

Good luck Norgepilot, your going to need a whole lot of it if you stay with this brand.

It's clear to me that you will not, and likely can not be made a happy campier while owning a Moto Guzzi.

Think he needs a 'wing'. 

[MLR]

Sure he is a little picky, but all in all I think Norge Pilot is an OK dude. Really seems to love his bike, & wants to see things improve for the brand.

[rocker59]

One guy says a Ducati rep told him the side stands are made of aluminum and only designed to hold the weight of the bike, and not designed for anyone to sit on it while it's on the sidestand.

That is true.  Has been for decades. 

Sidestand on Guzzi's Daytona / Sport 1100 / V11 Sport is the same way.

But the bikes are designed to be ridden, not lounged on, so I completely understand.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sure he is a little picky, but all in all I think Norge Pilot is an OK dude. Really seems to love his bike, & wants to see things improve for the brand.

Oh, I think so, too. To me, though, it's much ado about nothing.  I'd just take it off, post a couple of pix of the fix, put it back on, and forget it. <shrug>

[bad Chad]

I have a side stand off my Breva, it's the same as used on Norge.  I replaced the stock us with the Euro stand.  If someone wants it I'll let go for cheap.

[rocker59]

I have a side stand off my Breva, it's the same as used on Norge.  I replaced the stock us with the Euro stand.  If someone wants it I'll let go for cheap.

Are you offering a warranty on that?

 

[bad Chad]

Warranties are only as good as the company or in this case the punk ass offering it!     But I think it's a good as new!

[canuguzzi]

Here are two pics I took. Ground is flat, as flat as you'll find most places. I pulled the bike out because it is going out, sun is shining, air is crisp and cars are staying home for some reason.

First pic has 1 2x4 blocks under the stand.
Second pic has a 1/4" thick piece of ABS under the stand.

The lean is so great that where the bike with loaded luggage, it would be with great difficulty getting it upright.

Never sat on the bike with it on the side stand
No one else did either.
Rarely use the side stand and usually if I must, a 2x3 block goes under the stand tip. Now of course, 2 2x4 blocks.
Bike has not been overloaded, ever.

This is now worse than it was just 2 weeks or so ago and the side stand was only used to park it at the dealer for service. It was not left alone, it went from parked to shop and when it came back out, I was there.

Dealer verified stand was bending, they see the bike for regular service.

At times I have used a flat rock under the side stand (maybe thrice) because I forgot the 2x4.

[canuguzzi]

You're *sure* the bolts are tight, right? 

Absolutely. I checked them, dealer checked them, I checked them before I started the thread, I checked them before I took the pictures.

I've checked them before long rides (I also check all other bolts I can touch)

There is no wobble when the stand is up. It swings out smoothly.

Norge has never been dropped or been hit or hit anything.