1998EV rides like crap

[rodekyll]

Over tight steering head ?!? For the love of gawd, there is literally no end play in a properly setup steering head. If it was too tight then they have certainly Brinnelled the races and need to be replaced.
Just my two cents. The list of changes you listed was huge and it is hard to tell from my arm chair where the handling went south.

Skippy

It depends on the type of steering head.  On the guzzi big block the free play is in the order of 0.004 - 0.006-ish".  Nobody can accurately measure that on a fully assembled, angled vertical steering post, so we do it by feel.

[Strom]

It depends on the type of steering head.  On the guzzi big block the free play is in the order of 0.004 - 0.006-ish".  Nobody can accurately measure that on a fully assembled, angled vertical steering post, so we do it by feel.

Yep... handling just went south slowly during the years, but for the past few.. I have been searching for a reason and slowly replacing stuff that needed replacing anyway and tried to get a better ride.

I talked to a friend a few days ago... this poor handling seems a pretty common issue in Calis around here. At around 60k miles with some serious riding people just give up and sell them, or take them apart to cafe them, but give up and they gather dust in corners. Heard of 3 such cases (besides mine). The others I know of do not have that many miles.

...should have bought a blue/blue 98EV from a neighbor last year... 6k miles from new, one owner. :/

[Chuck in Indiana]

Yep... handling just went south slowly during the years, but for the past few.. I have been searching for a reason and slowly replacing stuff that needed replacing anyway and tried to get a better ride.

I talked to a friend a few days ago... this poor handling seems a pretty common issue in Calis around here. At around 60k miles with some serious riding people just give up and sell them, or take them apart to cafe them, but give up and they gather dust in corners. Heard of 3 such cases (besides mine). The others I know of do not have that many miles.

...should have bought a blue/blue 98EV from a neighbor last year... 6k miles from new, one owner. :/

Sorry, I'm not buying that.. the Tonti frame has been noted for good handling from it's inception. I know of many with over 100K miles that are still fine.

[rodekyll]

Yep... handling just went south slowly during the years, but for the past few.. I have been searching for a reason and slowly replacing stuff that needed replacing anyway and tried to get a better ride.

I talked to a friend a few days ago... this poor handling seems a pretty common issue in Calis around here. At around 60k miles with some serious riding people just give up and sell them, or take them apart to cafe them, but give up and they gather dust in corners. Heard of 3 such cases (besides mine). The others I know of do not have that many miles.

...should have bought a blue/blue 98EV from a neighbor last year... 6k miles from new, one owner. :/

If everyone's poor handling is specific to your area (and it must be -- mine handle fine), I'd find out who everyone's mechanic is and go somewhere else.

[jacksonracingcomau]

I’m pretty certain factory addressed this before op bike was made but the weak link after suspension in early Tonti frame design was the pissy tin frame suport frame (under battery).
Every hard ridden one & maybe even every single one that I laid hands on in 80 s had cracked
This is engine mount so is important, easily fixed with alloy plate as most have been
I know factory fixed this with a cast alloy bolt on and through bolt to frame, but don’t know year of fix.

Other than that I agree with Chuck & RK, nothing to wear out only crashing will bend them.
Wonder if all the handling expired ones get sold cheap, be interesting to find common denominator,

[oldbike54]

Yep... handling just went south slowly during the years, but for the past few.. I have been searching for a reason and slowly replacing stuff that needed replacing anyway and tried to get a better ride.

I talked to a friend a few days ago... this poor handling seems a pretty common issue in Calis around here. At around 60k miles with some serious riding people just give up and sell them, or take them apart to cafe them, but give up and they gather dust in corners. Heard of 3 such cases (besides mine). The others I know of do not have that many miles.

...should have bought a blue/blue 98EV from a neighbor last year... 6k miles from new, one owner. :/

 Mine has 140K miles and still handles well , in fact the idea that at 60K miles the handling goes bad is ludicrous . Something hasn't been maintained or is worn out . Shocks , neck bearings , swing arm bearings , something .

 Dusty

[guzzisteve]

Mine has 140K miles and still handles well , in fact the idea that at 60K miles the handling goes bad is ludicrous . Something hasn't been maintained or is worn out . Shocks , neck bearings , swing arm bearings , something .

 Dusty

Find a better mechanic.

[oldbike54]

Find a better mechanic.

 Yeah , my guy is kind of a Richard 

 Dusty

[Strom]

Find a better mechanic.

Haha :D

Anyway, the battery tray plate thingie looked OK. A bit corroded, so I cleaned it up and re-sprayed it.

Here is a pic of the bottom side of the gearbox with modified H pipe and subframe connection. Had to clear external rear facing oil filter. Also a pic of the footpeg/exhaust holder bracket... cracked on the bottom.

[geoff in almonte]

A more definitive description of the symptoms would help.

Ya gotta obey the laws of physics.  Check out the following article.

file:///C:/Users/Geoff%20Helmes/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/IE/BZCD7UJC/Suspension101eBook.pdf

G

[geoff in almonte]

oops - try this....G



http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/Suspension101eBook.pdf

[Strom]

oops - try this....G



http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/Suspension101eBook.pdf

Awesome! Static sag was set, I played with compression and preload front and rebound rear... Will try higher tire pressure and set suspension by this guide. :)
Today I was busy with the dash... stupid white vaguelias kept on dying, so I replaced everything with a cheap chinese speedo/rev counter, that was utterly useless. Finally got another job and could afford a speedhut set. :P