I am a silly lying stack of poop - Griso content

[bpreynolds]

Couple months back I sold the lovely V7III following much documented issues with my bad back.  After selling a Griso, FZ1, Roamer, and V7III all for this same issue, I said goodbye to the board here and goodbye to bikes that were not totally up and down upright ergos.  Several of you smartly laughed at me, saying I would return soon.  Several of you are smart.  That�s all I�m saying.  With those bikes I had trouble justifying owning a plus 5 grand bike in the garage that I could only ride comfortably (due to my back, not the bikes) for about 60-90 miles.  Not long after selling the V7III, and by not long I mean like a week    I started missing a Guzzi like I always do    and began thinking it would be okay for me to have a Guzzi in the garage I could only ride for that amount if and only if it�s a low budget bike and, since I would be looking at it as much as riding it, it�s other qualification would have to be that it�s a Guzzi I find uncontrollably gorgeous.  Enter this bike below, a one owner 2009 Griso with about 2500 miles.  Regardless of what I said about my previous 8VG, the supreme thing I never ever knocked - and still adamantly believe - is that it is truly one of the most gorgeous motorcycles ever manufactured.  Here it is below, one shot sitting nicely with the KTM.  And just like the previous Griso I once owned, I can�t stop staring at it.  In fact, with the other one I owned that I paid A LOT more for per se, I would often open the garage and just shake my head wishing I could ride it further because it was so damn sharp.  Got this one at what appears on the surface like a very well kept and very lucky price so I ain�t gonna bemoan the back thing with it.  I�m not planning any round the world adventures on it and have basically settled it in my chaotic mind to be satisfied with weekend rides. 

Setting up a time for Enzo and Cadre to roller it in the coming weeks.


3B94F012-737F-4951-BBE3-52BB5A20781F by Brian, on Flickr
7ED1E94B-7CC0-4830-87E2-9BF827C8BF0E by Brian, on Flickr
B6C841EC-81D7-4C82-BFEB-558E97EE3C1C by Brian, on Flickr

[oldbike54]

 Bipper , one of these days you'll learn to listen to us 

 Nice bike , now go wear out the tires 

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

  Well, that didn't take long.. welcome back.

Should I be worried about this?

Yes. It's not good for an engine to be that rich.

[dl.allen]

Welcome back
What is specs on that KTM?
Looks like you have it set up like a sport touring bike?

[Kiwi_Roy]

I'm sure that Beetle can sell you a nice map to match that muffler and make it run even better.
Then all you need is a friend with Guzzidiag to load it for you.

I found the stock pegs too high for me so I purchased a pair of lowered ones from Knight Design, made the world of difference.

Welcome back

[inditx]

Beautiful bike, welcome back to the fold!

[John Croucher]

I expect to see you and the bike at the Wednesday bike nite at the Barret so all the Guzzi Gearheads can drool. 

I'm with you, my back is biked out.  I just told my wife I found a 3,500 mile bike for $1,000 and she reminded me of the 4 bikes in the garage and my bad back. 

[guzzinka]

... the supreme thing I never ever knocked - and still adamantly believe - is that it is truly one of the most gorgeous motorcycles ever manufactured.

This :1:

[SED]

Welcome back!     even short rides are fun. 

[wymple]

" truly one of the most gorgeous motorcycles ever manufactured."

I never cared for the Griso at all, not my style. But after looking one over in person it changed everything, and I kind of agree with you.

[pete roper]

A strong smell of fuel in the garage is unlikely to be a result of it running rich. Black smoke and a sooty exhaust pipe would be the result of an overly rich mixture. A smell is going to be down to fuel escaping from somewhere. What you have to do is work out where.

One thing that is easily visible is that the charcoal canister has been removed. Now that is all well and good but the question has to be asked as to what has happened to the tank vent hose and the ports on the inlet manifolds? If you habitually fill up before parking the bike up residual heat from the engine will cause the fuel to expand and if the tank is full it can vent out of the overflow. If there is no longer a hose on the vent nipple this will simply drip onto the hot motor and cause a stink. Also I can see that the hoses that go from the manifolds are still in place but where do they go to? If they go to a splitter and then the third hose which should go to the canister to draw the vented hydrocarbons back through the motor has simply been left open to atmosphere it will not only affect the bike�s running, especially at idle, but when switched off will vent any fuel residue from the last few cycles once the engine is killed out to atmosphere from there.

In all honesty though I think it most likely to be either the first scenario or possibly just a leak from another source. If the tank has deformed from ethanol abuse it may be weeping from the pump gasket or maybe the quick disconnect from the pump isn�t seated fully and may be dripping.

From this remove it is obviously hard to give a definitive answer but the logical thing to do would be inform the blokes who are performing the rollerisation of the issue and get them to fix it. It shouldn�t be too hard.

Once it�s rollerised it will be tuned correctly as obviously a tune is part of the rollerisation so getting it remapped is as simple as ensuring it doesn�t have any sort of stupid air temp sensor fooler on it and slipping a new map into it. You�ll need to find someone with Guzzidiag and Reader and Writer plus the cables but from there it�s a fifteen minute job. Mark has a map for the Zara. Just make sure you leave the dB killer in the pipe.

Oh, and get the shop to grease the shock linkage and skin arm bearings while it’s in there. They’ll need it if they haven’t been done. May need replacing.

Pete

[pete roper]

Oh, and if you need to be more upright Onur in Turkey makes great riser-lifters in 1.5 and 2.0 cm lifts and Rizoma and others have a plethora of bar bends and widths that can be used to ease the pain.

Pete

[ohiorider]

I owned a 2012 Griso 8vSE in Tenni Green with tan saddle.  The most beautiful machine I ever owned.  I miss it.

Bob

[jas67]

Congrats on the G11!    Beautiful bike!     The 2-valve 1100 CARC motor is one of the finest motors made.   I loved that motor in my B11.

[pete roper]

Errr. It’s a 1200 Jas. Look at the rocker covers.

[jas67]

Errr. It�s a 1200 Jas. Look at the rocker covers.

Ooops.     Does that mean it's got flat tappets? 

[Lannis]

Ooops.     Does that mean it's got flat tappets? 

Yes, but in his first post he mentions that he's getting the bike rollerized .... so it's all good!

Lannis

[pete roper]

And at only 2.5k miles it’s unlikely that any damage would be severe enough to cause a worry. As always though the earlier they’re rollerised the better!

Pete

[bpreynolds]

And at only 2.5k miles it�s unlikely that any damage would be severe enough to cause a worry. As always though the earlier they�re rollerised the better!

Pete

Let�s hope so, Pete.  Your advice always valued and appreciated.  I sent you a reply pm just then.  You are already fantastically correct on one point above; that is, the smell of the gas was not in fact the bike running rich, rather, it is live gas running out onto the engine when tank full or near full.  When I pulled the tank today I found both holes in the rear of the tank wide open and missing the nipple unions with tubes that would have run to the canister.  I guess?  Gas had been just running out of these holes when tank full or near full.  I had just filled up the tank about 16 miles prior to parking it in the garage so I guess it was/is the overfill dripping out onto the engine, even made a small puddle of gas overnight by the bike. 

Worried more overfill gas might leak out, but apparently not worried enough about me becoming a flaming ball going down the highway, I took the bike out for about 40 miles tonight to burn off the top of the tank so to speak.  It sure does seem to be running pretty well despite all this.  I returned with a giant Italian steak smile on my face. 

[bpreynolds]

Welcome back
What is specs on that KTM?
Looks like you have it set up like a sport touring bike?

It is.  In fact, I just got back from an 1800 mile roundtrip to Arkansas on it 2 weeks ago.  It would take a long while to list all the mods on it but the 3 pictured are invaluable Madstad touring shield, KTM handguards, and Renazco seat. 

I expect to see you and the bike at the Wednesday bike nite at the Barret so all the Guzzi Gearheads can drool. 

Good to hear from ya, John.  Hope all is well.  This week is out as I have to go to Bowling Green for a library conference extremely early on Thursday morning.  I will definitely get up there soon on Wednesday night. 

[Rosso Woody]

Brian,

I have the perfect map for the bike and can load it up at Cadre when you bring the bike for the rollerization. It is the same map I put in your '15 - turned that bike around good!

I also picked up a '07 Griso 2 valve 10k miles 2 weeks ago....really nice. Said I would pick up another if 2 valve and priced right!

You still got my number?

Woody

[bpreynolds]

Brian,

I have the perfect map for the bike and can load it up at Cadre when you bring the bike for the rollerization. It is the same map I put in your '15 - turned that bike around good!

I also picked up a '07 Griso 2 valve 10k miles 2 weeks ago....really nice. Said I would pick up another if 2 valve and priced right!

You still got my number?

Woody

Hey dude!  I’ll let ya know when I’m bringing it up to Enzo.  My hope is I can just ride it until he gets the kit, schedule a time for rollerizing, and get it knocked out in a day.  Enzo says should only take about 4-5 hours tops, maybe less depending. 

[egschade]

I'm sure that Beetle can sell you a nice map to match that muffler and make it run even better.
Then all you need is a friend with Guzzidiag to load it for you.

I found the stock pegs too high for me so I purchased a pair of lowered ones from Knight Design, made the world of difference.

Welcome back

Do what Roy says. Guzzi Diag, load a Beetle map, get the 1" lower pegs and for goodness sake, get it rollerized ASAP. Also remember to check VIN for recall work.

I also found that the Corbin saddle lifts you up a tad more than the stock seat and is far more comfortable. Dig up your old Griso Ghetto link for all the latest news. Lastly, consider installing bar risers and Stelvio shock to help your back.

Oh, and I believe the expression is 'sack of poo', not 'stack'. You also forgot 'steaming' but now I'm getting picky.

[bpreynolds]

Bipper , one of these days you'll learn to listen to us 

 Nice bike , now go wear out the tires 

 Dusty

Listen to you guys?  But you all say different things on the same point 

Do what Roy says. Guzzi Diag, load a Beetle map, get the 1" lower pegs and for goodness sake, get it rollerized ASAP. Also remember to check VIN for recall work.

I also found that the Corbin saddle lifts you up a tad more than the stock seat and is far more comfortable. Dig up your old Griso Ghetto link for all the latest news. Lastly, consider installing bar risers and Stelvio shock to help your back.

Oh, and I believe the expression is 'sack of poo', not 'stack'. You also forgot 'steaming' but now I'm getting picky.

Well, I also left out finicky, ugly, and tempermental in my description, but who is keeping score?  

As for the other stuff, I greatly appreciate the info but I�m done throwing money at the back.  I tried all that stuff before with my former Griso, and my FZ1, and my V7III, and my Roamer...and my back never complied.  I completely adore the Griso the way it is.  When I had 2 inch peg lowers, bar risers, and big windscreen on the �15 I used to own - and still had back trouble - I honestly kinda thought I had changed the bike beyond the gorgeous pure thing it is.  Absolutely not knocking folks who wanna do that to their G but I purchased this one knowing it would just be a Sunday rider for me and I�m content to leave it as that.  I might get a larger fly screen.  Or not.  I drove it 60 miles last night, parked it, stared at it, and smiled. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I drove it 60 miles last night, parked it, stared at it, and smiled.

Well, there ya go. <shrug> 

[Lannis]

And don't be so hard on yourself.   You're not silly ... !!

[Kev m]

How'd I miss this first time through? Oh yeah, I don't read threads with the word GRISO in it.

Anyway, I have to get this out of the way, YOU KNOW... with all the money you wasted buying and selling new Guzzis, you could have kept any of them in this role without feeling guilty about the money that was tied up...well the earlier in the process the better but you get what I mean.

Now with that said, I'm the last guy in the world who should be casting aspersions about money wasted on bikes. I have done it (and will do it again) wantonly.

So, Congrats, "she's a beaut clark" enjoy, maybe hold onto this one just for the F of it!

[Dilliw]

She's a looker!

How about a Moto-K seat cover for that black beauty? 

https://www.motok-seats.com/store/default/moto-guzzi/seat-cover-for-moto-guzzi-griso-850.html

[kidsmoke]

literally laughed out loud when I saw this thread. Life is short, man, do what you gotta do. Griso's are beautiful machines. Really glad to have you back on board.

[bpreynolds]

How'd I miss this first time through? Oh yeah, I don't read threads with the word GRISO in it.

Anyway, I have to get this out of the way, YOU KNOW... with all the money you wasted buying and selling new Guzzis, you could have kept any of them in this role without feeling guilty about the money that was tied up...well the earlier in the process the better but you get what I mean.

Now with that said, I'm the last guy in the world who should be casting aspersions about money wasted on bikes. I have done it (and will do it again) wantonly.

So, Congrats, "she's a beaut clark" enjoy, maybe hold onto this one just for the F of it!

Man oh man do I know this    But I�ve obviously never looked at bikes as investments of anything other than smiles, and even to this day I don�t see it remotely as money wasted.  Even the ones I was frustrated about due to my back, it wasn�t the bikes� fault - pretty much any Guzzi can be an around the world bike (one of the reasons I�ve loved them so much over the years); rather, those bikes still gave me more pleasure than pain.  In fact, how ridiculous does this sound, I feel blessed and lucky I could waste all that money on those wonderful bikes 

For me, it only vaguely involves bikes specifically.  More than anything, I think it just took a long time, decent bit of money, (but all worth it, I�d say) for me to fully accept that I have physical limitations that are different now than my younger self.  And that�s an ongoing thing that exists even outside motorcycling. 

literally laughed out loud when I saw this thread. Life is short, man, do what you gotta do. Griso's are beautiful machines. Really glad to have you back on board.

I know, right?      And thanks.