Leaderboard

Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello | Technologically Advanced and one-of-a-kind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDQ8Kpbqdvs

I'm far from the cesspool of corporate marketing strategy, but I do know that sometimes things are done to lose money on purpose. This bike does not look like a part of such a scheme. Quite the opposite. To me it looks like a big push to the future success of the marque, otherwise the r&d was all wasted. The first "major" upgrade to the classic MG motor. Harley Davidson's resurrection came from two (well, 3) things. The American bad-ass biker gang wana-be persona, and the 1984 Evolution motor, IE; the beginning of HD's dependable long running (yet still classic) line of engines. (the third thing was that tariff thing) Everyone knows how well it paid off. HD and Guzzi are not so different historically really to think this a poor example to look at. Guzzi, as HD, has always been "behind" the rest. So if this is truly a new beginning, why wouldn't they put all the cards on the table? This 'could' be a great motor. This 'could' be a great chassis. How it looks to Guzzi people of the past (me) plays a very small part. As I've said, they didn't build it for me. Why would they not continue with a v-twin? Ducati still relies on a v-twin. Guzzi could never compete with the Japanese multi cylinder, multi designed, multi line, hyper-engineered motorcycles. It worked for Willie Davidson... "stick with what worked for us and make it better, a lot better." It worked pretty well for John Bloor's Triumph as well. Add to that the sound of a V twin.. heartbeat, passion. Italian. When the V11 spine frames were being produced, they were the best technology MG was willing, or capable, of marketing. At the end of the spine run Ducati came out with their version of essentially the same bike, the Sport 1000 classic series, which was considered, and labeled "retro". So for Duc it was a step back and a nod to the past to grab a burgeoning market, while for MG the spine/old motor was their top of the line, the best they had to offer. Guzzi couldn't "retro" because they hadn't come far enough to go back. I had the same feeling in 2002 when I bought my V11 new. I knew it was "behind" technically. I loved it for that. It was the perfect new/old bike. I'm sure it was not their intention, but they made it for me. I don't feel any of the same for the V100 because it serves a different purpose for the company. It ushers (hopefully) a new era. If I were a 20 or 30 something Italian boy I would likely be drooling for the arrival of this this new bike. Heritage, national pride, and whatever the Italian equivalent of macho biker dude is, could be what sparks "the beginning of a beautiful friendship" for a lot of riders.

Oh just to add @MartyNZ thanks for the experiment and for sharing the outcome Really appreciate when people take the time to post up insights into the engine in any shape of form John

As with many of my experiences with these machines................ I would need to see it first and for most I'm thinking its going to take time to really appreciate what it has to offer. They will be fine I believe as long as they don't go too far out on that ME TOO branch and end up as just another soul less appliance as many manufacturer's have succumbed to unfortunately. JMHO is all. Its good to see them staying in the game. Ciao

Ok, I can be the poster child for hearing aides. As Scud said, I should have been a little smarter about it, but I wasn't. Industrial noise, flying, motorcycling, rock concerts, you name it, have taken their toll. I have a medical condition called, "deaf as a post." I've been wearing them for 30 years (or more) and the tech involved is amazing. They used to be not much more than amplifiers of what you couldn't understand anyway. 10 years ago, the person that fitted you was the difference between Roper working on your Guzzi and the local Japanese emporium "tech" working on it. Now, computers take much of the "skill" out of the equation. Fast forward to today, and with micro electronics, computers and "real ear" hearing tests, I can engage in conversations again instead of smiling and nodding. . Until this latest set, I still had to have close captioning on all TV programs. Conversation in noisy areas was unlikely. These bluetooth to the TV, and my phone, and give me the ability to listen to music again. There is still a learning curve for your brain. Is it the same as normal hearing? No. Still amazing, though, and can be a life changer. Rechargable. These happen to be Phonak Paradise, but I imagine other manufacturers can be similar.

Un po' di foto... https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX9Joua

Well, like a blind hedgehog shuffling about in a sack, I’ve finally found the light… Problem traced to one of the two bullet connectors by the headstock. I got stranded far from home yesterday and after checking over all the usual suspects I poked a finger down the front of the tank to wiggle the cables and boom baby! Repeated and got the same result- had to start the bike a few times during the journey and it worked every time, fired up strong and instantly. At this stage I haven’t had the tank off for a closer look so I can’t say whether it’s the black or grey, or both, wires that’s causing the problem. But I’m going to cut and replace with spades when I do. So, long story short: It was a knackered starter and bad bullets. But I’ve been thru everything and so the starter system should be 👍 from now on 😀

The starter solenoid will draw at least 30 Amps while it is pulling the gear into mesh, I doubt any of the wiring is up to that, first off they start with a 15 Amp fuse then send the juice all the way to the front of the bike and through some tiny wires to the ignition switch and back, I doubt the ignition switch is rated at much more than 10 Amps and it increases in resistance with age as the grease goes hard. When you do a Startus Interuptus fix you bypass all this wiring and the solenoid will likely draw 50 Amps and operate 5 times as fast engaging with a healthy clunk. The fix most recommended was to feed the starter relay with a feed direct from the battery through a fuse bypassing the ignition switch, this caused a few problems for owners not familiar with wiring, Lately I have been suggesting adding an extra relay mounted near the starter, one side of the contact is fed from the large live terminal, the other contact goes to the solenoid spade terminal. The original trigger wire goes to the new relay coil while the other coil terminal is grounded. Doing it this way the bikes loom stays original, no logic is changed.

I have had mine for about 3 years now. Tinnitus in one ear and the other one is just getting old. When there is a TV for example in the next room and I listen to it with my bad ear only it might as well be in a foreign language as I cannot distinguish anything. I put this down to loud motorcycles and work related noise exposure over the years. Before getting them any socialising was hard. With a lot of background noise I found it near impossible to clearly understand and follow the flow of the conversations. My wife eventually made me go and get mine. I went to an Audiologist who owned the business himself. I ended up with an inexpensive pair, about $2300, Oticon is the brand. After my hearing test the hearing aids were tuned for frequency responses which best matched what I can't hear. I have annual hearing tests and the process is repeated. Overall I am very happy with them, the batteries last about 2 weeks, they are turned off at night. There are other disposables you will need like earbuds and filters. As an aside, at work there are other people who have hearing aids from franchised operations who are not happy with their devices. I can only assume that theirs are not tuned correctly for their needs. There is a multitude of options out there now in hearing aids, Bluetooth models you can adjust with your phone and use as speakers for your phone or music, rechargeable ones you plug into a dock to charge. Back to the original question I take them out when riding and have never worn earplugs which in hindsight may have helped slow the decline in my hearing. Mine fit behind the ear and unless you look really hard you cannot tell they are there. Putting a helmet off and on will dislodge them as I found out. I find the sound just a little bit tinnier then normal but that is understandable you can't get bass out of a speaker the size of a gnat, wind can be a problem sometimes but it is not the end of the world. Overall it was the right thing to do and have no regrets with my choice in provider and the appliances themselves. Rob

Here, in Moto Guzzi's centenary, there has been much anticipation, discussion, and hopefulness about the direction the company is going and what the current ownership has planned for this impressive, and pressing, time. EICMA, in Milano, has long been the venue of introductory products and vision for Moto Guzzi (among others). With no EICMA 2020, this year is even more important to present this vision and direction to Guzzisti, and to the world. So, next week: EICMA 2021 ! Please share your links and images and comments here! I am so very hoping our man on the scene, @v11_meticcio, will have first hand reports for us!

Finally, some information on availability; Summer 2022. Prices are still being worked on. Activate the subtitles and choose "Auto-Translate" English. It is actually quite good. The Piaggio manager explains that Moto Guzzi wanted to combine the current market's orientation favoring Adventure bikes, and at the same time trying to preserve the strong Moto Guzzi identity. All models will have adaptative aerodynamics according to the ride mode selected, with up to 22% better protection with the lateral appendixes fully deployed.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX9Joua

I would expect anything that speeds up burn rate would require the ignition timing to be retarded. Dual plugs speed up how long it takes to burn the air/fuel mixture, so you run less ignition advance. This should fall into the same category, a faster burn means less ignition advance. Some of the harshness may simply be from the fuel burning faster and developing pressure before the piston is past TDC. That would be more likely at lower rpms. It reminds me of Honda using an exhaust valve and free radicals that it traps in the combustion chamber to self ignite a two stroke engine. Kinda halfway between a gasoline engine and a diesel engine. https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/quick-take-honda-exp2-15170.html

back to my point, are these parts going to be unobtainable?

Dynamic presentation, no narration....

Harpers is my vender of last choice. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Hmmm. I thought I mentioned that earlier in the thread. Maybe it was on another post? I've seen that one first hand.

We all know what happens when you leave an iron H-D or old English dry sump sit a month, don't we? ...don't we...?

Well here, 'clan' carries only a little baggage, particularly if you grew up around any UK communities. I'll give them latitude for being Italians. clan (n.) "a family, a tribe," especially, among the Highlanders of Scotland, a form of social organization consisting of a tribe holding land in common under leadership of a chieftain, early 15c., from Gaelic clann "family, stock, offspring," akin to Old Irish cland "offspring, tribe," both from Latin planta "offshoot" (see plant (n.)). The Goidelic branch of Celtic (including Gaelic) had no initial p-, so it substituted k- or c- for Latin p-. The same Latin word in (non-Goidelic) Middle Welsh became plant "children."

Gear pumps are flow through. I used Sundyne pumps early in the 80's. They were equipped with by-passes and regulation valves at the outlet. But after use, you had to isolate them, else you could get flow back.

That was a lucky find, I remember Docc telling us about that years ago. The two bullet connectors (60) connected to the clutch switch (17), I think that's a common fault. Also on high milage bikes the wires work harden and snap under the insulation where they constantly bend back and forth around the headstock, you can find the broken ones by pulling hard on them one at a time, if they stretch the copper core is broken.

No problem Weegie, I was just surprised by how easy it was to pump oil through the oil pump.

First vehicle I bought as a seventeen year old was an original (with patina) 1939 Ford pickup small truck with V8 side valve motor, 3 speed, running boards, big bullet lights, split window that an old retiring Italian used for decades carting sandalwood. Loved it! Then I was stoopid...

My first car was a '62 Volvo PV544 built from two ( one and a parts car) frame up rebuilt by my father and me total cost including a newly found interior maybe $1200. I loved that car and still have dreams about it. Crashed it in 1989. Unit bodies are nearly impossible to straighten out... My present car is just a box with 4 wheels.

This could open up all kinds of cans of worms; how about a V8 with a modernized dustbin fairing?

Good point on the "noise cancelling" docc..I was thinking that risk.

"Now that I am getting older, I realize the wisdom of all the advice I ignored when younger (and not just hearing protection, you could pick just about any topic".... Updates welcome!!

https://www.af1racing.com/OEM-Moto-Guzzi-Intake-Manifold-Hose-GU03114370 https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=94 so?

Very interested in this sharing. Thanks for the topic @KINDOY2! Many years ago, I learned to go to my local audiologist (who fit hearing aids) and had them mold my ears for dedicated and fitted ear plugs. These have been the best "hundred bucks" I have spent on any motorcycle gear. Regarding "noise cancelling", realize that the physiologic (and potentially damaging) effects of the noise remains even though the perception of the noise is being "cancelled" through waveform interference.

Now that I am getting older, I realize the wisdom of all the advice I ignored when younger (and not just hearing protection, you could pick just about any topic...). As for now, It's foam earplugs as much as possible (goal of 100%). I tend toward my Stelvio with extended windscreen on longer rides - because there is such a drop in wind noise. However, I've just seen the latest in hearing aid tech from my brother-in-law who has spent about 40 years as a press-operator for the LA times. Worker's Compensation insurance just got him a $10,000 pair of hearing aids that you can barely see. He's about to have the final calibration done, but he says the pre-calibrated devices have already removed most of the ringing and hissing in his ears. I'll see him later this week and will get some more information. On a related note... does anybody ride with noise-cancelling earbuds or in-helmet speakers? Seems like that would be good tech for inside a helmet.

Nope. Quite easy.. MG and Harper's should readily have them. Had to change the ones on my LeMans out a while ago.

I ordered some from Harper's five weeks ago and still waiting. Yet, that may be down to their system issues and backorders that "reportedly" are seeing improvement. Time for our resourceful membership to create a substitute part? A length of hi-zoot silcone turbo-charger hose?

I've only seen and heard it once: loud as f*ck! Defo illegal on Dutch roads. And to be honest, not that good looking as well

I do like the Krauss/Plant collaboration. Especially that new backing band! Bob Weir, though, I find a bit draggy. Here is about the opposite end from draggy . . . (and I always thought they were singing, "His dog! / Hates banjos! ")

Can anybody really think of anything more embarrassing than wishing to have a 'Card' that has to be shown to indicate you are a member of a business sponsored advertising program called a 'Clan'? It is so monstrously cringeworthy it deserves a triple facepalm in a darkened room! Do these people have no dignity to loose? Just looking at the awful 'Presentations' used in early 'Clan' promotions made me feel soiled and my gorge rise. How dreadful can it possibly get?

Very tasteful! I would still love to find a source for lithographs of the Ettore Gambioli work featured in Moto Guzzi 1921-2021, produced by FBA MotoItaliane . . . Example: If anyone can find of source of these Gambioli works lithographed or finely printed . . . @p6x ??

The "wide sump" (regardless of which gearbox) was designed for the round access plate to access the filter without removing the entire sump as in all prior Guzzi Big Blocks. It's value and use is the matter of some differing opinions. It is removed with a 27mm hex drive. While I don't recall Moto Guzzi actually built a special tool for this, there have been several aftermarket. One of the 27mm axle nuts can be put to task, as necessary. Be diligent and mindful re-installing it so as not to cross thread into the sump! Eh, well, my speedo is in miles. I had been trying to figure out how to get my Speedhut to display kilometers, but have not gotten there. So, while "124,274.2 miles" doesn't really look very interesting, I did get this on the lead up:

https://www.motociclismo.it/francobollo-celebrativo-100-anni-moto-guzzi-poste-italiane-79498

Yep, if you aren't having fun with your toys, you don't have the right toys.