2015 V7 Stone Adventure in getting it to work

[Haze]

It has been about a year since I have posted to this forum. I bought my V7 Stone in the Late Fall of 2014. I had problems from the first time I rode the bike with the clutch freeplay closing to the point that the bike would drag into intersections. I took it back to the dealer five times and they were never able to fix the problem. I also had a problem with the bike stalling randomly, sometimes at speed. It was completely unrideable, totally unsafe, and having found no help from my dealer I tried Moto Guzzi by both e-mail and phone multiple times. Their customer service never got back to me. I took the bike to a second dealer who was at least able to properly set the clutch freeplay and Moto Guzzi I guess did its part by pulling its distribution agreement from the dealer that I bought the bike from, not that I think that had anything to do with me. At this point, I had had the bike for almost two years, had never been able to ride it more than fifty miles without it quitting, and it spent as many miles being towed to dealers as it did being ridden. I had about 900 miles on it. I finally wrote Piaggio North America a letter on legal letterhead (I'm an attorney) requesting a buy back. I did hear back from them, although I have to say that the response was moronic, and I won't go into that further. I also rode the bike to a BMW dealer thinking of trading it in for anything I could get and disclosing to them the problems I was having with the bike. Once I got home I noticed a line of motor oil all the way up my driveway. The rear main seal had eaten itself. Armed with the new symptom, I took the bike back to the second dealer and told them not to try to put a main seal in it and give it back to me. That there was something seriously wrong with the bike and that they needed to keep digging until they found it, which they did. It turns out that the crank shaft was missing a thrust washer, and the crank had chewed its way through the journals and was pushing out of the crank case at the back.

That's all the bad. In the good, Moto Guzzi didn't bat an eyelash at putting a new motor in the bike, which runs great, along with a new clutch and a few other bits. I now have 400 miles on that motor, and I can finally say that I love my new Moto Guzzi. It is a really fun bike to ride, and what I was hoping to get when I bought it in the first place. I wish that their customer service was a more real organization and they could have at least talked to me about the problems I was having, but I am happy to have gotten it fixed and found a dealer who was really willing to put the work in to fix my bike and try to help me. I completely admit that the problem with the crank is not something anyone would naturally think of having gone wrong, and finding that problem was not easy without the damage showing itself outside of the crank case. I also will say that every manufacturer has problems like this come up. Anyone can make a mistake.

I just post this because I asked a lot of questions on here over a year ago about the bike, and got some attempts to help. I thought some people might want to know how it worked out. I have a new engine, and a bike that works the way it was supposed to when I first bought it. Can't ask for more than that.

[lost]

Glad to hear you got the problems straightened out. MG is not very responsive when it comes to customer service and parts can take a long time to receive. I also had some problems when I bought my Norge, but I went in expecting to have some problems since MG is not a mainstream bike in the US. Once the problems were resolved I have now got a fantastic bike. I keep at least one other bike in the stable to have something to ride if the MG is down. So far since getting it straightened out I have had no problems with it running reliably. I really love the bike and am willing to put up with some hassels for the joy of riding it.

[Kev m]

Wow, I just don't know what to say except you're a better man than me. I can't imagine having that much patience, but I'm duly impressed and the payoff is likely quite worth it.

May you sail the karma ship on trouble-free waters for many a year!

[oldbike54]

 Yes Haze , you are an amazing example of patience and rational behavior , kudos to you sir 

 Oh , and we hope like for so many V7 owners , it turns out to be a favorite ever motorbike 

 Dusty

[Triple Jim]

Kevin is right, Haze.  You put up with the problems for a long time, stuck with it and got it fixed.  All that's left is to have lots of happy riding.  I can't tell where you live, but if you're around north central NC, let's go riding!

[trippah]

It's so nice to hear when someone plays by the rules and actually gets rewarded.  Congrats

[Cam3512]

I assume your warranty started over with the new lump?

[Dofin]

You have the patients of a saint!!  I would be in tears if I had a new motorcycle for two years that I could not ride and it would sour me on a brand.  The problems with my 2015 V7 is minor compared to yours.  I am torn between the good points and the bad points I have with this V7.  Still up in the air about keeping it.  It is great that you are now happy with your purchase.

[neverquit]

The error in assembling the engine is unforgivable but I have to say that it would be a difficult problem to trouble shoot.  It's like the rare disease that is improperly diagnosed because no one has seen it before.  Never in my life have I heard of such a problem.  But service departments should go out of their way, especially at the distribution level, to listen to complaints and make a real effort to solve repetitive problems like you experienced. 

[OlDogface]

Steady as she goes. I've got just over 2k miles on my 2013 Stone (purchased with 350 in September) and have had no issues beyond a loose hose clamp.

Love it.

[Tom]

Good to hear that it worked out for you.  Sorry to hear that the original dealer was not able to fix the problem.  How did your state's Lemon Law work into the problem?

[Haze]

Glad to hear you got the problems straightened out. MG is not very responsive when it comes to customer service and parts can take a long time to receive. I also had some problems when I bought my Norge, but I went in expecting to have some problems since MG is not a mainstream bike in the US. Once the problems were resolved I have now got a fantastic bike. I keep at least one other bike in the stable to have something to ride if the MG is down. So far since getting it straightened out I have had no problems with it running reliably. I really love the bike and am willing to put up with some hassels for the joy of riding it.

I've got a 2001 Triumph too. Part of the idea of the new bike was to give me a chance to overhaul the Triumph. Instead I spent most of my energy trying to get the new bike to work, and I sent the Triumph off to the dealer because they could fix that. Kept me moving though. :)

[Haze]

Wow, I just don't know what to say except you're a better man than me. I can't imagine having that much patience, but I'm duly impressed and the payoff is likely quite worth it.

May you sail the karma ship on trouble-free waters for many a year!

Hey Kev! You were one of the people who told me to be strong while I was in the heart of this. Thanks for that support. Meant a lot.

[Haze]

It's so nice to hear when someone plays by the rules and actually gets rewarded.  Congrats

I don't really consider it a positive experience since I had to write a letter on my stationary to get the company to talk to me. I don't believe someone should have to hire a lawyer just to talk to customer service about a problem with a product. Piaggio should take a hard look at how they operate in the US, although I guess that they might be? I got an e-mail customer service questionnaire from them before I wrote them asking how I felt about their customer service. I did not give them a positive rating.

[Haze]

I assume your warranty started over with the new lump?

1 year warranty on it as a "replacement part".

[Haze]

Kevin is right, Haze.  You put up with the problems for a long time, stuck with it and got it fixed.  All that's left is to have lots of happy riding.  I can't tell where you live, but if you're around north central NC, let's go riding!

I'm in PA, but thanks for the offer. Always happy to have a buddy to ride with.

[Haze]

Good to hear that it worked out for you.  Sorry to hear that the original dealer was not able to fix the problem.  How did your state's Lemon Law work into the problem?

Lemon law does not apply to Motorcycles in Pennsylvania, but that doesn't mean they haven't breached the law by failing to provide the product that I contracted for.

The original dealer got killed by Piaggio. Pulled all of their stuff out of the store, and again, I don't think that had anything to do with me. Not sure what it did have to do with, but when I went back to try to get them to help me with Guzzi, it was like a ghost town. No bikes ... no staff, dead.

[Tom]

Bummer.  Lemon Law exempts the same out here too but applies to new and used cars.  On used cars there are some limitations.

[Mr Pootle]

Well persevered, Haze. Most of us would have given up and got rid of the bike. I'm pleased you're enjoying it now.
I got mine at the end of June, and have put 2000 miles on it without any problems. I think my local dealer is one of the good ones, but it's only when the problems occur that you find out.

[jas67]

I'm in PA, but thanks for the offer. Always happy to have a buddy to ride with.

Where in PA?   There are several of us in PA.    I try to organize one or more Guzzi NAR (Not a Rally) rides each year, hopefully you can make it to one.

[Kev m]

Where in PA?   There are several of us in PA.    I try to organize one or more Guzzi NAR (Not a Rally) rides each year, hopefully you can make it to one.

And he'll have to drop by a NJ smallblock mafia event too lol.

[redhawk47]

Apparently this is now a known problem.
I bought a V7II in August. Took it in for first service in October. Told the shop manager that I had had to adjust the clutch at the engine end because there was not enough adjustment at the lever. He said "Oh, there are a couple of tests we will run".

Next day he called and said "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that there was lots of metal in the engine oil. The good news is that you are getting a new engine, under warranty." Timing worked just right for me. I was headed out for a two week trip with a different motorcycle. Two days after I got home I picked up my V7 with a new engine. Great service from Moto Guzzi and my dealer, Moto Italia of Northern Colorado.

[TBShorty]

I have 3500 miles on my 2014 Stone with no problems.  I pray nothing major ever comes up because my Moto Guzzi dealer in Salt Lake City dropped Piaggio entirely and they make me feel like the red headed step child when I inquire about service or parts.  I would need to tow all the way to Vegas or Reno for authorized service.  I hate those guys.  Plenty of places to buy a jap bike but only one for euro brands.

[Fuzzy]

You handled it beautifully. It's a shame that you had to such great lengths to get it right. You have used up a lifetime's worth of patience with MG. I hope it is nothing but a joy from here on out.

[oldbike54]

You handled it beautifully. It's a shame that you had to such great lengths to get it right. You have used up a lifetime's worth of patience with MG. I hope it is nothing but a joy from here on out.

 Just to prove you wrong 

 Dusty

[Haze]

Where in PA?   There are several of us in PA.    I try to organize one or more Guzzi NAR (Not a Rally) rides each year, hopefully you can make it to one.

Near Philadelphia. Always happy to go for a ride if I can get away. :)

[Haze]

Apparently this is now a known problem.
I bought a V7II in August. Took it in for first service in October. Told the shop manager that I had had to adjust the clutch at the engine end because there was not enough adjustment at the lever. He said "Oh, there are a couple of tests we will run".

Next day he called and said "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that there was lots of metal in the engine oil. The good news is that you are getting a new engine, under warranty." Timing worked just right for me. I was headed out for a two week trip with a different motorcycle. Two days after I got home I picked up my V7 with a new engine. Great service from Moto Guzzi and my dealer, Moto Italia of Northern Colorado.

Well, that is interesting. Sorry for your troubles, but boy did that go easier for you than for me! I have to admit that I am shocked that other engines are having problems like this. There must have been something going wrong at the factory.

[jas67]

Near Philadelphia. Always happy to go for a ride if I can get away. :)

There is a pretty good sized Guzzi contingent in South Jersey too, Cam3512 (NJ Rep MGNOC), Kev M, and several others.

[Kev m]

There is a pretty good sized Guzzi contingent in South Jersey too, Cam3512 (NJ Rep MGNOC), Kev M, and several others.

And we get up to the North Jersey/New Hope area a couple of times a year too.

[sib]

From what information is available so far, the OP's original engine was assembled incorrectly, with a thrust washer missing, and this caused rapid failure of the oil seal because the crankshaft ground its way backward through the engine casting.  Also, from what another post described, this wasn't an isolated example of this particular engine assembly error.  Fortunately, these failures are/were rare and occurred well within the warranty period.  Also, one way or the other, in these cases, the problems were eventually resolved by Piaggio.  At least it wasn't a design error, like several previous models had.

Of course, these things should never happen, and when they do, the manufacturers should not require us to lawyer up before we get satisfaction.  But, engines aren't always assembled perfectly and manufacturers don't always behave perfectly.  Such is the real world.

I think the missing part must be one of these, of which 2 are required per engine:

https://www.stein-dinse.biz/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=27066460&x=7&y=7&categories_id=&inc_subcat=1

After 13,000+ miles, I'm very happy with my V7II, which seems to have its engine assembled correctly.  And there are probably a few other V7 and V7II owners who feel the same about their motorcycles.  The few minor warranty issues I've had were resolved quickly and to my total satisfaction, no lawyers needed.