Living with a Breva 1100 questions?

[frogeye100]

Friend has a 2007 Breva 1100 he is selling for $3600, 13k miles. Hes a old guy like me, buys lots of bikes, gets board and sells them. He has ridden this very little. I'm going to look at it this week. I have a BMW R1100R that I like but curious and intrigued by the Guzzi. Would really appreciate your learned insights on the 07' Breva 1100. I ride leisurely on rural roads to relax not explore my limits.
Thank you,
Dean

[Kiwi_Roy]

Walk Away, don't buy it.








It will ruin you for any other brand

[mojoe]

Never had a Guzzi before my B1100, had most of the jap bikes at some point.
Was thinking to get a Triumph, legend, America or similar, spotted the Breva on ebay owner was looking to sell swap, due to his height 5ft 5", age and weight of the breva. I had a fazer 600 he tried mine I tried his and we done the deal.

So back to your original question; if you like the look it will pootle around when you want and can do point and squirt when needed, I love mine, use it to commute, 50mls round trip 2-3 days a week and weekends with mates, it gets looks and comments aplenty. it aint no heavier than your beemer probably a bit lighter, low maintenance.
Try it hopefully you will get smitten like me.

[guzzisteve]

Fir price. Some are possessed. If you like it, buy it, deal w/the glitches that happen if they do.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Don't know the 1100 Breva but I have the next year Breva 1200 Sport. BIFL  Bought it for life! Love it more than any other bike. I'm the second owner. I've put 21,000 fantastic miles on it.

[frogeye100]

Forgot to mention my friend did not buy it new so service history is a bit murky. I am going to check the vin for CARC recall but should be beyond that.

[Mackers]

Check that it has two keys and obtain the personal key programming code.

[pete roper]

Expect at this age that its swingers and shock linkage bearings will be toast due to lack of grease but they are a comparatively cheap fix.

pete

[ohiorider]

Check that it has two keys and obtain the personal key programming code.

Good advice!

Bob

[frogeye100]

Thank you all. Anxious to take it for a ride Friday morning!

[old head]

I bought mine new in Dec 07, its an 06.

Had several issues early on, but by 7k, it seemed to have found its stride.  Just turned a little over 50k a couple of weeks ago and its been rock solid ever since.

Just oil and filters, tires, a couple of spark plugs, and an oil sensor.  I get middle to high 30's around town.  upper 40's on the road.  I pulled the pan? last week to put a helicoil in the oil drain bolt, it had been weeping for  awhile.  found nothing in the pan, very clean.

Recently installed a new ECU map, what a difference.  It used to ping in hot weather, now it starts easier, idles better, and just runs sweeter.

I do need to replace the shock, go through the front forks, and have the seat rebuilt. 

So, get the throttle bodies balanced, get an updated map, and ride it.

Old Head

[flip]

Recently installed a new ECU map, what a difference.  It used to ping in hot weather, now it starts easier, idles better, and just runs sweeter.

Old Head

May I ask where you got the map from? I still have the stock map in my 07 Breva 1100.

[tris]

Go in with your eyes wide open and have a search for
a) sacred or no-touchy screw if its been molested walk away
b) misty dash - appears to be largely fixable now (unless the LCD is fully dead) but be aware as its expensive to fix

That being said even with its peccadilloes mine (pre me) had its screw molested and had a misty dash, but its won its way into my heart as my favourite bike so far

[frogeye100]

Did some searching on the B11 "sacred screw and foggy dash". Is this a single screw or one per TB? And is there a way to tell if its been tampered with?
Secondly, in the archives the dash issue has actually discouraged some from buying a used B11, hmmm. Upon inspection if the dash is not foggy and functions properly is the waterproof coating described a reliable solution to prevent failure?

[Mackers]

May I ask where you got the map from?

A couple of months ago, Roper put Beetle's Sport 1200 2V map (I think) on my '06 Breva 1100 and it goes like a cut snake.  In fact, I think he was experimenting with my bike - but I'm sure that he's got heaps of corporate insurance! 

My wife follows me on her Ducati GT1000 (navigation issues) and says the difference in performance is remarkable, especially coming out of corners and bends.  The bike feels much more controllable.

I'd suggest that you seek advice from Beetle or Roper before taking my ignorance as gospel.

http://www.griso.org/

PS I forgot to mention that I have a Staintune muffler on.  We had some discussion about replacing the restrictor but I haven't.  Please don't mention "backpressure" to Roper or he may have a coronary.

[tris]

Did some searching on the B11 "sacred screw and foggy dash". Is this a single screw or one per TB? And is there a way to tell if its been tampered with?
Secondly, in the archives the dash issue has actually discouraged some from buying a used B11, hmmm. Upon inspection if the dash is not foggy and functions properly is the waterproof coating described a reliable solution to prevent failure?

One screw on LH TB and if the yellow paint is missing its been tampered with

I guess if moisture is still getting in/condensing out for long enough the coating might fail - its not a magic bullet

However, the expert on conformal coating the dash PCB is Moto who wrote a long thread about it a while back.

My dash is off to Carmo soon to hopefully get the intermittent LCD sorted out and it will come back conformally coated - I have no concerns and I'm sure it will help.

[pete roper]

There is also a second sacred screw on the RH throttle body but it takes truly dedicated shaved apery to find and bugger about with it, but, yes, I had a very costly 1200 Sport 8V that some Rhodes Schollar had managed to find and *Adjust* to his liking. Problem was the motorbike didn't like it one little bit.....

Pete

[Texas Turnip]

Of the 40 some Guzzis I've owned since 1971, the Breva 1100 has caused the most trouble and the most breakdowns in the million (verifiable) miles I've put on Guzzis.

First was the wacky dash problem and then the starter interuptus that Mike Haven solved.
My biggest beef is why the first gear has to be that tall on a 6 speed! Most of you don't know that the 1st gear on the old 4 speed is lower than 1st on the 6 speed. It is no fun taking off on a steep hill or trying to ride at 20 thru some hick towns. Forget about parades.

Another nightmare is having the low beam go out on a twisty road at night. On the older Guzzis you hopped off the bike and pushed the headlight down so you could continue with the high beam shining down. On the B when the low goes out you can't see in front of you. Even if you have a spare bulb you can't change it alongside the road. Don't ask about the fill plug on the final drive. DUMB! Oh, and have the special allen wrench when you want to remove the front tire. The saddlebags leak. What do you expect for $1,200?

A few good things about the B is the stock seat is good for 1,000 mile days. Big gas tank that will easily give you 200 miles plus. Easy to change rear tire. The best thing will be signing my name on the title.

Tex

[old head]

Of the 40 some Guzzis I've owned since 1971, the Breva 1100 has caused the most trouble and the most breakdowns in the million (verifiable) miles I've put on Guzzis.

First was the wacky dash problem and then the starter interuptus that Mike Haven solved.
My biggest beef is why the first gear has to be that tall on a 6 speed! Most of you don't know that the 1st gear on the old 4 speed is lower than 1st on the 6 speed. It is no fun taking off on a steep hill or trying to ride at 20 thru some hick towns. Forget about parades.

Another nightmare is having the low beam go out on a twisty road at night. On the older Guzzis you hopped off the bike and pushed the headlight down so you could continue with the high beam shining down. On the B when the low goes out you can't see in front of you. Even if you have a spare bulb you can't change it alongside the road. Don't ask about the fill plug on the final drive. DUMB! Oh, and have the special allen wrench when you want to remove the front tire. The saddlebags leak. What do you expect for $1,200?

A few good things about the B is the stock seat is good for 1,000 mile days. Big gas tank that will easily give you 200 miles plus. Easy to change rear tire. The best thing will be signing my name on the title.

Tex

I have agree with most of this.  I had the dash issue, not real crazy about the keys and transponders, and it is geared too high in first.  The headlight is a pain to change, and would be nice if it were easier to  adjust.  Inside spark plugs are a pain.   Been riding 40+ years and the first two years were problem plagued, all handled by MPH under warranty, but lots of issues.  More so than any other brand I have owned.

I haven't had any problem getting the front tire off or the final drive fill hole, but this is my first Guzzi so my experience is very limited when compared to other Guzzi products.

But over all, it hasn't put me off the brand.  If the issues had continued or if MPH wasn't so easy to work with, maybe.  I think if I buy another motorcycle it would be the 750, I just don't need the extra weight or power, but it sure is fun.  If  they would do 750 ADV bike, I would have to really look at that, hard.

Old Head

[frogeye100]

If things check out, is $3600 a good value?

[guzzisteve]

Don't know where you are from but there are some nice ones that have been checked out, like this one---

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/mcy/d/moto-guzzi-breva/6224815005.html

[rdbandkab]

I think the $3600 sounds good for the mileage..

We ABSOLUTELY loved our Breva 1100.  We had the hard bags and trunk and used the bike for many a 2up trips.  We ended up selling it at around 53,000 to get a Stelvio.  I should have kept the B!!!!

We had a close call with a "no start" once,  then promptly installed the "Startus Interuptus" mod.   No issues after that.   We also had a Mistral cross-over and Mistral Carbon Oval out back.   That was the sweetest sounding bike ever...

[Kev m]

A day late... but ...

It's tough. My Breva was a great bike (for me) and then not so great for my little bro (Jas67).

Reflash to prevent pinging, new crossover to reduce heat, plus clutch, slave cylinder, dash failures, tank deformation... that could quickly double $3600.

But when it was running it was functionally a great bike.

[Huzo]

A day late... but ...

It's tough. My Breva was a great bike (for me) and then not so great for my little bro (Jas67).

Reflash to prevent pinging, new crossover to reduce heat, plus clutch, slave cylinder, dash failures, tank deformation... that could quickly double $3600.

But when it was functionally a great bike.

I've got a faired Breva, had it from new '07 done around 130,000 k there's not much to say other than the startus mod and the usual greasing of the swingarm/drive splines/ suspension linkage thing. Being an '07, make sure the oil pump is ok, then try to wear the bugger out! Good luck with that.
Sorry, I’ll have to change that a bit..
It’s now 180,000...
What would you like to know...?

[Moto]

I guess if moisture is still getting in/condensing out for long enough the coating might fail - its not a magic bullet

However, the expert on conformal coating the dash PCB is Moto who wrote a long thread about it a while back.

I did do a lot of reading and learning about it. The conformal coatings are pretty close to magic if they are applied correctly. They actually allow water molecules to travel right up to contact the printed circuit board components (since this is essentially impossible to prevent), but they keep the molecules from forming droplets if the coating is well-adhered to the board.

The military has its own specs for conformal coating application that would be impossible to meet without specialized equipment. Good electronics shops may do a good job, but I have no way to judge this except my observation that electronics types are strong proponents of such coatings. I think they are the best bet for the dash problem, and are likely to last the life of the motorcycle, but i'm guessing.

Moto

[Jimmy Z]

I have an  '07 Breva and really like it.  Bought it used with 5000 miles- 6 years later it has 61,000.   I've had a few minor electrical issues- shorts, loose connections but nothing major.  The bike is comfortable and fun to ride. 

Previously I owned a couple of BMW RT models (1100 and 1150).  Bought both of those new, and put 150,000 miles total over 10 years but had  4 major driveline failures costing an average of $2000 per incident.  I'll take a few broken wires on the Goose any time.

[Huzo]

I've got a faired Breva, had it from new '07 done around 130,000 k there's not much to say other than the startus mod and the usual greasing of the swingarm/drive splines/ suspension linkage thing. Being an '07, make sure the oil pump is ok, then try to wear the bugger out! Good luck with that.
Sorry, I’ll have to change that a bit..
It’s now 180,000...
What would you like to know...?

Bump.
Sorry, I did 50,000 in between posts.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Mine has been a gem

1. You will need the 'startus interruptus' mod....  Not if but when. Easy fix and a lot of info here.
2. tank deformation is not a huge issue on these, I think it can be exacerbated by the tendency of water to fall in the tank due to an easily blocked drain hole in the filler neck.. make sure that drain stays clear.
3. I believe dash issues on the Breva are overstated...  I believe that was a much more prevalent issue on 1200Sport with the white face guages...  Mine has gone wonky once in hard pouring rain (turn signal wouldn't turn off) but otherwise it's worked great. I got my bike with a spare NIB dash that the PO had purchased because he was paranoid about it.  If you really search the issue, I am only seeing a handful of effected Brevas/Norges, but lots of 1200 Sports... YMMV
4. If your '07 has a centerstand, it's likely an 06 production bike and prob also has a very soft spring on the rear shock... a stiffer spring is available, or you can replace the shock... or you can simply ride it as is. Mine only wallows or bottoms out if I have me, a pillion, and a top box full of stuff loaded in it.
5. Bike pings in hot weather, can be fixed with a new map... I have never been able to get Guzzidiag to work, but everyone else seems to use it just fine... I'm sure i'm just an anomaly.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Bump.
Sorry, I did 50,000 in between posts.

25000 per year pretty impressive

[Huzo]

25000 per year pretty impressive

Yeah, but not every year.
Only average a bit under 18,000 a year..
A guy has to sleep sometime y’know...ZZZZZZZZ......