My first moto guzzi! Er I mean tractor? 1998 ev11

[Gusable]

Hi my names Gus I've always been an adventure bike guy.  Several bmw's etc. I've always wanted a guzzi as I think the V is a superior design to the boxer (imho). Anyway while looking for a stelvio or quota and admiring cali's/eldo' I stumbled across this 2 tone blue ev11.  Not my cup of tea BUT it is guzzi and I don't know that I might be a cruiser guy!! I can't condemn cruisers as I always have without owning one.  33,700  miles 3 owner bike with good maintaince. New Michelin on front and rear is about 80%.  Price was decent so I pulled the trigger.  Let me say I have tailbone type pain issues lately (I don't know what's going on) but this stock seat is KILLIN me!! Yikes. It's off the bike getting boxed to go to Ned's seats this week. I need bags for it but we ll see what happens.  My initial impressions are this is what a tractor must be like to drive! I thought me GS was buzzy!!! This isn't buzz its vibes!you can't use the mirrors at all. You can see a car in them but can't tell what it is.  That being said my first floorboard/heel toe bike was fun on the highway.  I get it that it's a highway touring bike which I need.  I need the seat and some "seat time". Dang thing does have character! And best part.  I rode to Walmart on this first ride and a 20 year old kid stopped me and said "nice bike mister"!! Big grin on his face! What? Your supposed to like crotch rockets and street fighters! Lol. I'm going to be bothering everyone here with a million questions so please excuse me. I hope it's a life long love affair! Caio!






temporarily upload pics

[rtbickel]

Congratulations on entering the realm of the slightly demented.  Yes, that stock seat is a concrete cactus and my Neds seat was the answer.  Get some bar end weights or a Throttlemeister and that should tone sown the vibes a bit and maybe have the throttle bodies synched as well.  When properly sorted, they are generally pretty smooth.

[fotoguzzi]

Tune it starting with valves & TPS then sync throttle bodies. I never have any vibration problems as long as it was tuned right. maybe balance the front wheel too.

[twowings]

Welcome...nice bike! I like that color...

[Gusable]

Thank you.  Yes the valve check is next on the list and maybe a throttle body cleaning? Plugs. Throttle sync I dunno how that goes down on the guzzi. I have a manomter.  I'm used to demonic BMW cable adjusters that hate me.  Lol. This is threaded rod yes?   Do I need a scan tool?

[guzzisteve]

Wow, same bike I got.  Where in FL are you? You can tune a 98 w/o software, you may need a volt meter if you have one.

[Gusable]

I live in Dallas Texas.  The p o was from Florida.  I do have a voltmeter where can I find the tuning throttle sync info?

[LowRyter]

first, the EV is only a cruiser in style, not in the riding experience.  Certainly nothing like a Harley or Beemer R1200C.  You might try to the drag the floorboards and see.   

second, if the bike has vibes, you might need to follow the maintenance instruction (above) but you might be lugging the engine.  Unlike most air cooled Beemers, the Guzzi has upper range performance.  Make sure not to lug the engine under 3500 rpm and 4k on the highway.  So you might check your riding style and  perhaps re-evaluate.     

[guzzisteve]

Here's the important one

http://www.thisoldtractor.com/mg_manuals/workshop_manual_electronic_ignition.pdf

Scroll down to 97-03 California, it's a zip file

http://guzzitek.org/gb/ma_us_uk/1100/

Enjoy

[Gusable]

Awesome thank you!

[shaka]

Your new Guzzi is the exact year and color as mine. I'm having lots of fun on it.
I don't get any unusual buzz, but its well-tuned and I keep after it as needed.
As was already said, it needs to sing. I had to learn to keep the revs up and not drop past 3,500.
Have fun and ride safe.

[oldbike54]

 Oh hell , another Texan 

 Gus , we have some members in your area , a couple of them are quite normal , in time you will figure out which ones aren't  Welcome to the family .

 Dusty

[Orange Guzzi]

Just because it looks like a "cruiser" does not make it a cruiser.  Under the tank and covers is a race bike frame that has one many races.  As far as vibration, down shift and quit chugging the motor along.  5th gear is reserved for 65 mph and above.  And the seat, it sucks even for a skinny guy like me. 

[Gusable]

I can tell already I'm going to have friends here :) thank you for the warm welcome

[SmithSwede]

Howdy Gus!

To echo another poster, those things only look like cruisers.  They actually have excellent frames, plenty of ground clearance, handle well, and have good brakes.   The engine likes to rev.

If you care to meet a bunch of Texas Guzzi riders, ride down to the Guzzi rally in Lindale, Texas.  I can't remember the date, but think it's sometime in late Sept. 

Dusty, one of the mods on this forum, has a custom seat on his V11 which looks pretty comfortable.   Not sure, but he may have done the upholstering work himself.   Dusty may have some tips as to seat mods.

[oldbike54]

 

Howdy Gus!

To echo another poster, those things only look like cruisers.  They actually have excellent frames, plenty of ground clearance, handle well, and have good brakes.   The engine likes to rev.

If you care to meet a bunch of Texas Guzzi riders, ride down to the Guzzi rally in Lindale, Texas.  I can't remember the date, but think it's sometime in late Sept. 

Dusty, one of the mods on this forum, has a custom seat on his V11 which looks pretty comfortable.   Not sure, but he may have done the upholstering work himself.   Dusty may have some tips as to seat mods.

 Last weekend in Sept for Lindale , but maybe that isn't the best rally for a new member , much safer to wait until next weekend for the Okie . More normal folks 

 Seat mod won't work , completely different seat 

 Dusty

[SmithSwede]

Gus:

Maybe you need to do both the rally in Lindale, Texas and then the Oklahoma rally at Talimena State Park in Oklahoma.    Compare and contrast.

[Gusable]

I will be at both.  Even if I'm walkin!

[guzzisteve]

AND if you need more----http://www.mgnoc.com/rally_calendar.html

[Gusable]

I'm not seeing the Oklahoma rally date? If it next weekend I'm off and I want to go!

[oldbike54]

I'm not seeing the Oklahoma rally date? If it next weekend I'm off and I want to go!

 Oct 6-8 Gus , Talimena State park .

 Dusty

[Gusable]

10-4 thanks

[Tom]

Reset the ECU behind the handlebars.  Try this for shifting points.  5K rpm's.  Cruise at 4K.  You won't hurt the bike.  5th gear is over drive.  You'll love it on the open highway.  Just make sure the speed limits are more than 70mph.     If you decide to try and ride it near red line, the rev limiter will kick in.  "No harm.  No foul."  Try it on a long straight.  You won't regret it.

[azguzzirep]

free pic hosting sites



free unlimited photo hosting


I love mine!  It's a real freight train.  Rock steady at 125MPH (indicated)

[Tom]

Blue EV in Schweinfurt area.  It's owned by Arthur Seissinger.  He works for SKF bearings in NC right now.

[Gusable]

Ohh a blue goose! They are real! Lol.  Good looking bikes you have!

[guzzisteve]

I thought the blue ones were too pretty for a motorcycle, then I bought one. I'm still getting used to it.

[Mackers]

 Throttle Position Sensor setting procedure for California and Bellagio: http://www.bikeboy.org/tpssetting.html

[Zoom Zoom]

You will be real happy with a seat from Neds. I have had a couple of them on two EV's that I had.

The stock seat was designed during the inquisition as a torture device. I know only one person who liked it for comfort. (I think maybe being JAG and sitting in those wooden chairs may have tainted his butt.)

Oh yes, congrats on the bike!

John Henry

[fotoguzzi]

Throttle Position Sensor setting procedure for California and Bellagio: http://www.bikeboy.org/tpssetting.html

that's an excellent write up, OP note step 16 ! where it talks about the trim screw.. adjust it by 1/4 turns and ride for 15 minutes or so before turning again, the bike needs to run awhile to get settled in the trim adjustment.