belfastguzzi

See those croc clips? Attach them somewhere round about where the sun don't shine, press the red button. It's good for about 100 metres.

How do you and others (Jaap?) feel about copying content off web posts and putting it into correspondence with Piaggio or anyone else - having removed all names and other identifying text. Although these posts are all public, is it a discourteous or dangerous thing to do? Are there privacy or data protection issues? Could there be any bad repercussions for individuals of the Forum itself? Perhaps I should create my own webpage for discussion and charting developments.

Obviously I do think that this is something not to give-up on and give-in on. I was and am prepared to own a V11 without MG support. It's a 'previous generation' machine and can be fixed with a heavy hammer. It came from the factory with an axle-spacer that was the wrong size, which caused subsequent damage. It took more that a year, yes – more than a year, for that simple little part to be ordered under warranty and then arrive with me. But, hey, meantime I can got out the heavy hammer and made my own fix. It came from the factory with the wrong size of gear spring / pawl boss: but never mind... get out the hammer. It blew out through the defective chest gasket, etc etc. It's got one of those disintegrating flywheels... Joy But this is supposedly a new tarted-up era. On that basis I invested in the fancy, tarted up, new era machine. This time I can't and shouldn't have to disregard the factory after-care that should be available. I shouldn't have to throw away the warranty, take the bike off the road and break the engine apart myself. That's for sure – so what's the big deal here? Moto Guzzi are making a mountain for themselves, out of a molehill.

Hi Pete have you heard any more news on the grapevine about this whole situation? Any sign that Piaggio is considering the further issues of damaged bikes? Any other reports circulating, such as the one that J-M mentioned above? I am writing to 'Moto Guzzi' House in Kent UK, now, and will copy to Moto Guzzi Customer Care at CustomerService@piaggiogroup.com Those are the only contacts that I have been able to get. The Piaggio Group UK Aftersales Manager is being 'silent' on my concerns, just like the dealer who simply never gave any response. It's a pity that Guzzi / Piaggio don't seem to realise that we are the people who actually market and publicise and blow the trumpet for the marque. Moto Guzzi would be nowhere without a loyal customer base who are committed to the name and the machines, who spread pictures and enthusiastic stories, create magazines and websites, organise events and meetings... Their own publicity is essentially invisible. It's us who create the brand awareness. And it's us who have to provide our own After Care (particularly aided by a few individuals). So anyway, I'll try them one more time – any more info on other cases will be gratefully received. D

I doubt that it's common. Can you post some pics? Not of your pantaloons, – of your gearbox bits. Your motorbike gearbox bits.

Piaggio tech-pic update:

Zeb said that, "They were already damaged, engine was making noises on the left side 2 days before the recall have being done." That's the same as mine. Noise on the left side, before the recall work.

"The notches on the body of the rods themselves must face the rocker (fig. 1)" Hop etis h elps I transla ted it back to Ital ian and retrabslatedit toEn glis. Orrather I gotamach ine todo. It. Like most things in life, it's all to do with balance, or not. "OPERATION 15 Refitting rods. Particular care must be taken when the refitting rods. The notches on the body of the rods must address the balance (Fig. 1)"

In that case you would think that when the cams were first taken out, they would notice further damage, or the potential for further damage, through shrapnel/debris and additional grinding wear and tear. Is there any more detail in the report that you have seen about this?

The official recall notification MG tech update: Tech notice 1 A further tech update about installation of tappet rods. Some engines must have been incorrectly reassembled on recall? Tech 2

That was the same with mine, a lot of noise on the left side – and you can see why. As for faulty re-assembly: maybe that is why Guzzi have issued another technical bulletin to emphasise that the tappet rods have to be put back in the right way. There must have been cases of them being assembled wrong. The notice, thanks to Pete: a further 8V tech update

Thanks for that. I just asked the question somewhere else: if I carry on riding the bike with new parts but no inspection for further damage to bearings etc, could something nasty like that happen? Do you know what condition the cam and tappet bowls were in when they were taken out for the recall?

I don't know for sure about 'stronger', but the V11 is a faster ride, I think. Certainly the 12008V is a stronger, faster motor. However the riding position doesn't lend itself to prolonged 'fast'. With the V11, especially with clip ons and a bit of a screen, you're more down on and with the bike and you're more tucked in. On the Griso you're more up, out and blown off. It gets to be hard work. And the 1100 version must be a bit worse with its wider bars.

8V cam-tappet problem - web reference Forum threads related to the subject Re cam-tappets, technical V11lemans.com 8V cam recall: http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14516 Illuminati Guzzisti Greg, Todd, anyone else...: http://illuminatiguzzisti.forumcircle.com/...php?t=9289& Wildguzzi.com Taking the cams out of an 8V: http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=24953.0 Re Piaggio and MG Importers / agents Squadra Guzzista Importers: Rest of the World: http://guzzista.wetpaint.com/thread/117475...RLD+GUZZISTI%21 Importers, an exploration: http://guzzista.wetpaint.com/page/Moto+Guz...+an+exploration

I want to keep track of discussion, findings and development on this issue. Can you please post any references that you come across, into this thread? Some web boards don't have a clear structure and you really need to be a regular user to know where things are, or there might be important info in a non-English language forum... I'd be grateful to see any references that you find. Thanks

yes, and I'm just a wee customer from the back of beyond far out on the north-west fringe of Europe. – That's what they think. But this is 2009, not 1909 or 1999, and in this day and age, no company can afford to think like that.

It's hard for me to know how to proceed, in a manner that is appropriate and justified. I know how I feel. I have a Scura sitting here with a 'disintegrating clutch/flywheel' issue that is still being swept under the carpet by Piaggio/Guzzi. I have bought another expensive new Moto Guzzi and had nothing but atrocious service from the very start. Now, partly because of the lack of Customer Care/Service, I'm in this situation with an engine clearly damaged because of defective original parts. I feel that the situation has not been resolved in a satisfactory manner. I feel that the Guzzi-Piaggio system has not been helpful or caring and that their insistence that an oil flush is all that is required, well, as Pete says – it stinks. With ever increasing ease of world-wide communication, things can't be hidden the way they used to be, even a few years ago (eg Scura clutch). I want to press for a replacement bike, or engine, or they can take the bike back and give me the money. Should I proceed as an individual, over this one case; or should I make it a 'world-wide' issue, gather opinion and make publicity (which will reflect badly on Moto Guzzi)? David

I don't know, John. If I remember, there was some mention of adding something for Robert, but I'm not aware of any developments. I love this picture of Jim Dunlop and Joey. It's so evocative of the time.

Here is the damage. The tappet bowl is severely scraped, gouged and generally worn. The whole of the bowl foot has been worn in a bumpy concave shape and is worn away by about half its thickness! The cam lobe is also clearly gouged, scraped and worn. According to Guzzi, an oil flush is enough to put things right, as far as the liberated gouged metal is concerned. I hope that they are as wise and correct as they think.

Seems better here, rather than the silly banter forum. Destination: Joey Dunlop Memorial Garden Castle Street, Ballymoney BT53 6JR, Northern Ireland

I've added an outline schedule. Please comment, add suggestions, queries etc etc

New NW200 website www.northwest200.org See Visitors' Guide and photos in History Gallery etc

There is an updated site for Barholm. Accommodation still available:– Will at Barholm still has 4 family rooms and 2 large dorm rooms available. If you are happy to share a room, there are beds in the mini dorm. I expect that more people will be looking for beds nearer the time and that one of the family rooms may then be used as an ensuite dorm as well as the mini dorm. You can see full room details and availability, and make on-line bookings on the website, www.barholmportaferry.co.uk or send him an email, info@barholmportaferry.co.uk Best thing is to give him a call on 004428 42729598 although he'll not be there much this week. It will probably be next Monday, 20th, before you get him. Let me know if you book. Thanks.

Did it happen? Is it on iPlayer? I don't see it.

Everybody's waiting. No race what a big disappointment daft night racing