My V9 update

[mjptexas]

I first did a detailed report on my V9 Roamer experience back in February, and said I would report back when I hit 2,000 miles.  Due to several circumstances it has taken me this long to accumulate that many miles.  A household move and an extended out of town work assignment really messed up my riding time this summer, so I have not had nearly the riding time I've had in previous years.

And unfortunately the V9 has spent a considerable amount of time in the shop due to an electrical gremlin,  that has required the dash to be replaced 3 times.  I'm one dash replacement away from triggering the Texas Lemon Law.  So what started out as a promising relationship has turned a bit bumpy.

I did my first long ride (250 miles) on the V9 in months last Saturday. 









It went pretty well, but we've not quite bonded yet.  I had an OEM windshield installed at the 600 mile service.  My experience with that windshield has been abysmal due to an amazing amount of turbulence.  I finally took it off tonight and did a 70 mile ride.  I found the experience much more pleasant.

Here's my current dilemma:  There are a number of things I'd like to do to the bike - suspension work, C-Bow bag mounts, maybe a new seat, etc.  As we all know, this can add up to real money.  I'm hesitant to do anything until I'm a bit more confident that the electrical gremlin has been banished.  I've only ridden the bike about 4 times since the last replacement so I'm not confident that it's fixed.

Watch this space for more information.   

[Tom H]

I hope all works out. They look like they should be nice bikes!

Good Luck!!!!!
Tom

[kingoffleece]

I'd be concerned either way.  Seems strange that 3 fixes maybe didn't fix anything.  Do they even know what the real issue is?

[blu guzz]

I sure hope they get it squared away for you.  At least you have a longer riding season.  I have a cali custom 2015 and did the touring windshield option.  I had a similar experience as you with turbulence.  Probably not as bad, but bad enough.  I added an attachable, adjustable wing to the top which took care of the turbulence, but it makes it tall enough to be in the sightline.  As such, I find the bike much nicer with the flyscreen on and it will stay that way except for trips and when it gets cold here.

[greer]

Can you tell us more about the gremlin, Mike?

Sarah

[Scott DeRoss]

Can you tell us more about the gremlin, Mike?

Sarah

Yes please, I would love to know this because I have a V9 and I have my own issues with it even though they are different (right now at the dealer for final drive leaking). Just one more thing to watch for. Thanks Scott

[Lcarlson]

I sure hope they get it squared away for you.  At least you have a longer riding season.  I have a cali custom 2015 and did the touring windshield option.  I had a similar experience as you with turbulence.  Probably not as bad, but bad enough.  I added an attachable, adjustable wing to the top which took care of the turbulence, but it makes it tall enough to be in the sightline.  As such, I find the bike much nicer with the flyscreen on and it will stay that way except for trips and when it gets cold here.

I have the OEM Touring windshield on my Custom. Beautiful piece but the top fell right in my line of sight -- very annoying. So I had it cut down 2", much better. Still looks like stock. Also, adding the OEM winglets eliminated any significant buffeting, which had been considerable.

[mjptexas]

I'd be concerned either way.  Seems strange that 3 fixes maybe didn't fix anything.  Do they even know what the real issue is?

There is some debate between the dealer and MG-US. Dealer thinks there is a short somewhere in the wiring harness, snd that the harness should be replaced, MG-US doesn't agree.

[mjptexas]

I sure hope they get it squared away for you.  At least you have a longer riding season.  I have a cali custom 2015 and did the touring windshield option.  I had a similar experience as you with turbulence.  Probably not as bad, but bad enough.  I added an attachable, adjustable wing to the top which took care of the turbulence, but it makes it tall enough to be in the sightline.  As such, I find the bike much nicer with the flyscreen on and it will stay that way except for trips and when it gets cold here.

I tried a couple of options on my Cali 1400 Custom and ended up with the fly screen too.

I put an adjustable wing on the top of the V9 shield, which helped a great deal.  Unfortunately the result still was not acceptable.

I'm thinking about putting a Dart fly screen on the V9.  All I really need is to take some of the wind off of my chest so I don't have to hang on so tight at 75 mph.  I prefer to have my helmet in clear air so I don't really want a big screen.  I'll probably wait a while and see if the electrical gremlin comes back.

[mjptexas]

Can you tell us more about the gremlin, Mike?

Sarah

Problem first manifested itself as a 2 amp parasitic power draw at the dashboard, even when the key was off.  Needless to say, the result was a dead battery every morning.

Later manifestations included the left front turn signal staying on all the time - even when the key was turned off.

[wittangamo]

No significant issues for my V9 Roamer at 1600 miles.

I did have a dash short that drained the battery on my 2010 Cafe Classic, possibly because I misjudged the arrival time of a hurricane, but that's mostly irrelevant. A replacement dash and a Dart flyscreen corrected the problem.

I also noticed water getting into my Griso dash at every wash, despite low-pressure rinses. Had the OEM flyscreen on that one, and never had electrical problems.

As for the Roamer, I rode it without a screen until the 900-mile service then added the OEM flyscreen. Hated it. The wind hit me right at eye level, making noise and buffeting significantly worse at all speeds.

The dealer kindly offered a refund, and I ordered a Dart classic as a replacement. It takes just enough wind off the chest to help at interstate speeds, and keeps the rain out of the dash.

Good luck with chasing down your gremlins. Hope the third time is the charm, but if not it should at least prove the dealer right and motivate MG to do the right thing.

[mjptexas]

...As for the Roamer, I rode it without a screen until the 900-mile service then added the OEM flyscreen. Hated it. The wind hit me right at eye level, making noise and buffeting significantly worse at all speeds.

The dealer kindly offered a refund, and I ordered a Dart classic as a replacement. It takes just enough wind off the chest to help at interstate speeds, and keeps the rain out of the dash....

Thanks for the input on the Dart Classic.  I had one on my T100 Bonneville.  It did the job, so I have contemplated putting one on the V9.   I'm also thinking about the Dart Marlin to get a bit more protection, but I'm concerned that it may produce too much turbulence.

[wittangamo]

Thanks for the input on the Dart Classic.  I had one on my T100 Bonneville.  It did the job, so I have contemplated putting one on the V9.   I'm also thinking about the Dart Marlin to get a bit more protection, but I'm concerned that it may produce too much turbulence.

I went through the same mental exercise. I opted to stick with the Classic because I knew what it would and wouldn't do. The Marlin was tempting, and I've been looking for a review that compares and contrasts the two. The Marlin is bigger than the Classic, but smaller than the OEM. Might be just right, but I didn't want to risk a second disappointment.

[greer]

There is some debate between the dealer and MG-US. Dealer thinks there is a short somewhere in the wiring harness, snd that the harness should be replaced, MG-US doesn't agree.

Has MG-USA shared the reasoning behind the decision to replace the dash X 3?  That doesn't seem very reason-able.

Sarah

[mjptexas]

Has MG-USA shared the reasoning behind the decision to replace the dash X 3?  That doesn't seem very reason-able.

Sarah

Nope

[Adan]

No issues at 3,000 miles on my V9 Bobber.  Rode it 500 miles over the weekend and really started bonding with towards the end. 

The flyscreen is a bit buffety, but not exceptionally so.  The Dart, which I had on my V7, would probably do a better job of just taking a noticeable amount of pressure off the chest without buffeting.  But the OEM flyscreen looks so good  . . .

[wittangamo]

The Bobber flyscreen is shorter than the Roamer and has black trim instead of chrome. They have different part numbers but look like they mount the same and should be interchangeable.

The Bobber screen would probably have been a better match for me, but I didn’t want to push my luck after the disappointment with the Roamer screen. The Dart is doing the job, and was a simple install.

[Noguzznoglory]

when the left turn signal stayed on was it dim? that usually means a bad ground. the electrons manage to find a new route nad hence the dim light.

[Steph]

I also noticed water getting into my Griso dash at every wash, despite low-pressure rinses. Had the OEM flyscreen on that one, and never had electrical problems.

Is shooting any water at your dash good at anytime?

Speed reading through this thread, I have so many questions.
Yes, a screen will deflect turbulence in and around your face, I've learned that the hard way. Personally, I have found that I am better off with nothing.
I prefer clean air around my helmet (and ears).
Unless I'm travelling at 80+MPH on a consistent basis, I don't need a fairing.

[wittangamo]

Is shooting any water at your dash good at anytime?

Speed reading through this thread, I have so many questions.
Yes, a screen will deflect turbulence in and around your face, I've learned that the hard way. Personally, I have found that I am better off with nothing.
I prefer clean air around my helmet (and ears).
Unless I'm travelling at 80+MPH on a consistent basis, I don't need a fairing.

The point was that both previous Guzzis had a problem with water getting into the dash in wet weather or a simple wash. Flyscreens fixed it.

And the small size of the Dart means you don’t notice it at low speeds, but you get less wind on the chest at highway speeds for a more comfortable ride. It doesn’t do much to protect you from the weather, but it does protect the guages and their electronic innards.

[mjptexas]

when the left turn signal stayed on was it dim? that usually means a bad ground. the electrons manage to find a new route nad hence the dim light.

It was not particularly dim.  Big issue was that it  stayed on when the key was turned off. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Has MG-USA shared the reasoning behind the decision to replace the dash X 3?  That doesn't seem very reason-able.

Sarah

Hah! Sarah used MG-USA and reasonable in the same sentence.. 

[jrt]

Hah! Sarah used MG-USA and reasonable in the same sentence.. 

Well, technically there was a dash between "reason" and "able". 

[Kiwi_Roy]

Problem first manifested itself as a 2 amp parasitic power draw at the dashboard, even when the key was off.  Needless to say, the result was a dead battery every morning.

Later manifestations included the left front turn signal staying on all the time - even when the key was turned off.

Did you check to find which fuse was drawing the current, 2 Amps is unlikely to disappear into the dash board without letting out some magic smoke.
Perhaps the left turn signal is the problem.
We don't have a schematic for the V9 yet, the V7 is probably similar, that might give a clue.
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/2013_V7_Series.gif
I do know the later dashes do act as the flasher,
The flasher is initiated by pulling pin 1 or 9 to ground
Makes 7 or 24 flash
May be water in the switch causing a partial turn on.

3 dashes, what's common, the switch maybe.

Read the pinout, see how pin 21 of this dash turns On with the key, find the equivalent pin on the V9 and make sure it turns fully Off with the key, nothing other than Zero Volts.
Anything other than zero could be caused by tracking across in a wet switch.

[mjptexas]

Did you check to find which fuse was drawing the current, 2 Amps is unlikely to disappear into the dash board without letting out some magic smoke.
Perhaps the left turn signal is the problem.
We don't have a schematic for the V9 yet, the V7 is probably similar, that might give a clue.
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/guzzi007/schematics/2013_V7_Series.gif
I do know the later dashes do act as the flasher,
The flasher is initiated by pulling pin 1 or 9 to ground
Makes 7 or 24 flash
May be water in the switch causing a partial turn on.

3 dashes, what's common, the switch maybe.

Read the pinout, see how pin 21 of this dash turns On with the key, find the equivalent pin on the V9 and make sure it turns fully Off with the key, nothing other than Zero Volts.
Anything other than zero could be caused by tracking across in a wet switch.

Since it's under warranty I'm letting the dealer sort it out.  They're pretty competent.

Both the dash and the turn signals are on the Canbus. I assume this is why MG-US has wanted to replace the dash every time.

Left side turn signal and left side switch were replaced last time too.  I've got a few hundred miles on it without the problem re-occuring.  I'll wash the bike this weekend and see if it fails again (and no, I don't use a power washer, just a garden hose with no nozzle).

Watch this space....

[Bonaventure]

There is some debate between the dealer and MG-US. Dealer thinks there is a short somewhere in the wiring harness, snd that the harness should be replaced, MG-US doesn't agree.

Somewhat unrelated but that ended up being the fix for an intermittent electrical glitch with my 2013 Ducati.  The dealer had to try hard to get it authorized by DNA (Ducati North America) buth they (DNA) finally caved and approved a complete wiring harness swap out.  Problem solved.  What you mentioned is exactly what the dealer told DNA, "if we have to chase it (the glitch) again, you'll probably be getting this bike back..." as in I'd had it in three times within the necessary time frame that another could qualify it for state lemon law buy back.  On that bike it was a problem repeating in the electronic "skyhook" suspension.  Never another glitch whatsoever on that bike after the new harness.   I say lobby the dealer hard for the harness swap and make sure they let Piaggio or whoever know that they strongly feel that's the permanent solution and without it they (Piaggio) will likely be buying it back.