galaxiid

oh well worth a stir, thought it would generate some debate given how beaut the bmw switchgear is. To me its clean and tidy and... intuitive...for a bipolar cixelsyd.

........but I much rather be riding my moto guzzi! Having sold my previous Bimmer which hummed rather than sang along one thing I do miss is the teutonic switchgear. The left/right thumb stabs for indicators and the integrated heated grips were great. This despite the constant trashing the traditional BMW switch gear gets from reviewers. If I could transplant a set of the switch gear to replace the fiddly Aprilia gear on my Cafe Sport I'd be pleased. Anyone know if this is at all possible? The Cafe sport has the gold tapered bars on it. I have a oxford heated grips kit which sticks out like dogs.. its about to crap out as well, I can tell. Heated grips BMW switchgear

I'm glad this thread popped up. I had a very similar "no start" problem which has occurred intermittently with my Cafe Sport. It is so intermittent it is difficult to convince anyone that the fault exists. Exactly the same symptoms as described. Press starter: nothing. It can take from 5-60 mins to get some life out of the starter button, carry out all the usual jiggery-pokery and underseat fiddling with relays etc. Nothing appears to help. Although bystanders are impressed with the bike being pulled to bits. Looks as if I am "in control" "What sort of bike is that" they normally ask. It's an Italian one I answer.... But the last time this happened it was at a friends place and he suggested pulling in the clutch while thumbing the starter. Bang the engine fired, started no problems. So I am guessing it is clutch switch related, the advice further back seems to be worth following up.

excuse the poor image, you all know what to look for anyway, but me I'm pleased just to see it, the red cover is over the grease nipple. View is north towards the motor along the drive shaft

Pic of the thing in question

You are all correct. The grease nipple myth is no longer. Poking about flicked off some gunge and the red plastic cap of a grease nipple cover appeared. Highly inaccessible as described but definitely there. I even took a picture to prove it and will post it if I can work out how to. Rear wheel will definitely have to come off.

Thanks for all the good advice, I just need to track down a decent stand now (for rear wheel removal) and I'll be away...will report back

Why? does it help being cack (left) handed? Is this because the bike was constructed by itilians in the northern hemisphere and everything down here is back to front? For this particular job I think fingers of a midget would be useful to feel for the nipple.

Thanks for all the advice, haven't yet been back to the bike to check, savouring the moment. (Revenge is a dish best served cold????) Will get rear wheel off for starters, sounds like a point to begin. I love these puzzles MG built in to make life interesting. Chris

That's 4 against one (me) so far so I'll take that you all win, the nipple must exist. I'm gonna stick my finger in there and feel for it. I really did have a good look for it with the cover off (or loose) and looking all over it with a torch. It's located in such a b of a position to find. I guess it's pretty critical to grease that's why I'm keen to get to it. Bike has 27000 km on it now. Is there a decent thread here that describes the procedure with pics maybe? Not a thread starting with a disbeliever like myself. Probably all I need to know is the easiest way to access it. I don't have a bike lift or stand so rather not get the rear wheeel off let alone the swingarm. Chris (galaxiid)

On my '03 Cafe Sport I have greased the two rear unijoint grease nipples (on the driveshaft). No worries. This is straight forward. The front unijoint is suppossed to have a grease nipple. This topic is discussed in one thread here. I went to much trouble to remove the three allen bolts that secure the cover over the front unijoint. This to move it back and around to try and locate a grease nipple. And does one exist? No, I could see nothing at all. So is this a myth or did MG drop the nipple off this model? I can see if a nipple did exist then it would be incredibly difficult to access it. But I honestly searched and looked and mulled over this before deciding that no there is no front grease nipple on the unijoint. Am I right? Is there a thread someone can point me to that can resolve this issue once and for all? Thanks in anticipation...

I guess where you are a southerly brings warm currents of balmy air from the mediteranean... here it comes off the south pole!

How far are you from "Bungendore?" (and OMG, is really a place??) Bugendore? Where the heck??? Nowhere near this neck of the woods. I am in Wellington NZ, which is da kapital of Nouvee Zealandia. Thanks for the advice. Shop advises it was of course a relay. Beauty fixed! Now I know where to look first. Shop man with pliers and soldering iron advises phase sensor checked and OK. Bundles of wiring to be soldered back together and stuffed back under seat where it all belongs. Long may the seat stay on I say. I am much wiser now will stay in touch with progress. Now the BMW will definitely be sold! No need now I have a reliable V11. As we say here "kia ora" Chris

Thanks for the replies so quickly from around the globe. these are very useful points for me to pass on to the bloke with the wire cutters and soldering iron. I am very eager to get the bike up and running. I had to resort to my BMW 1150GS, so reliable but not quite the same you will agree. The bike has only done around 25000km and I do think it is neat but sad being dead right now. Wish I knew more about ohms and things. Thanks again, I hope you have good riding weather on the other side of the globe. Here autumn is deccending with a nasty southerly front whipping up from the antarctic today to remind us that winter is not far off. Time to get some more riding in, just..... Chris

My 03 Cafe Sport died after a short open road ride. Just stopped dead so coasted to the road side. restarted after 10 mins. Rode on a short way stopped to check verything OK. Would not restart. Turned over but appeared no spark. Trailered bike home. Now in shop. Is there anything obvious we should be looking for here? Battery is fine. Just no spark. Any hints gratefully recieved. Getting desperate to get back on the thing. Oh the bike has a power commander fitted. Electrics are black magic to me aside from fuses. The bike is in a shop now and they could do with some pointers I reckon. Thanks Chris

Thanks for the advice for a newby. Sounds like it is possible to locate them in NZ. At least not Russia according to the Vespa forum! Like suggested yes there are a few on e bay, lense sets plus bulbs for Aprilia Tuono. Look exactly the same, so I might buy a couple of hundred and sell them on to the MG dealership and Vespa club, at inflated prices, make a fortune and retire. Chris

Ok thanks, e bay here I come. Funny the local HD/Buell dealer didn't recognise them. Figured they might be common to Aprilias but the Aprilia dealer basically said: "computer says no". The MG dealer figured dipping some clear bulbs in orange paint would do the trick(!). At least I got to see the Stelvio up close. Almost as nice as the Moto Morini Granpasso.....I saw yesterday Looks like the bulbs are still common on new Bellagios and Grisos, from what I could see peering through the lenses

I'm new here and could do with some pointers re the indicator bulbs for my '03 V11 Cafe Sport. One blew on me on a recent trip here and I have been trying to track down a supplier. I have called at Repcos, Supercheap Auto, service stations, four bike dealerships including the MG agent here in Wellington. No luck. Everyone scratches their head and go "oh thats a weird one". The bulb is a Philips 12093RY10W (amber). It has the offset bayonet fitting To make matter even worse I went to the MG shop undid the clear lense cover to get out the bulb. Did it back up before riding off to go to the next shop. Of course it fell off on the way. By the time I had backtracked round the block, the lense cover was lying shattered into a gazillion pieces under the traffic. So I get home no closer to getting a bulb and one clear lense down. Great morning. The ride there and back was OK though. I know the Vespa crowd have the same issues, looks like a Piaggio thing. http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic35037 An option is to replace all indicators with LED fittings, but I'd rather stay with the originals if I can get a source of bulbs. If anyone can suggest a good LED replacement at a good price I'd give it a go maybe. Any suggestions of where to go? Anyone out there have clear lenses/bulbs for sale off their MG?? Willing to post out? Payment to arrange. I'd be most appreciative. Thanks, Chris the galaxiid