pete roper

Unlike the Cali 14 and the 'Prilas that use a 'proper' RBW system where you have cables from the twist grip to a remotely positioned demand sensor, (A sort of four way TPS.) which then communicates with the ECU by Canbus and this in turn tells the TB butterflies what to do the Engine management unit used on the V7's has cables that go to the unit which incorporates the ECU, the butterfly and the demand sensor. While twisting the throttle will open the throttle plate a tiny amount to enable a sort of 'Limp Home' mode if the RBW goes tits the main butterfly and fueling control is all electronic with the butterfly being operated by a servo motor under the command of the EMU. Pete

Essentially bulletproof. They are picky about a pipe but that is true of virtually all the current range. One thing that is good is that as well as the single TB and 'Semi RBW' system the pistons and rings have been re-designed and the new engines no longer seem to suffer from the 'Oh I think I'll drink my entire sump full of oil in 150km." Problem that seems to mysteriously strike the earlier twin TB models. I'd still fit a sump extension simply because the weedy oil capacity means that it is worked very hard but the danger of the motor suddenly self destructing seems to have abated. Pete

Cast wheels tubeless, wire wheels tubed. Pete

Early CARC bevel boxes had an issue with bad bearings, these were replaced with a bearing from a reputable manufacturer but the new ones also have two more balls. No more problems. Pete

I still drop in from time to time but I'm just busy with other stuff and my work nowadays is centred principally on the 8V 'Nuovo Hi-Cam' bikes. While I think the V11 is a fun machine it has never really 'Spoken' to me in the same way I never really understood the attraction of Loopframes. I think that is partly because the V11 design is so riven with a myriad of small design flaws that speak of the abject poverty of the factory when it was designed. Its the classic case of the ship being spoilt for a ha'porth of tar. That and their fragility, (They really don't crash well.) has always left me feeling a bit ambivalent about them. I'm not saying they are a bad bike, simply that I as an individual have never been able to develop a passion for them as many here have. Pete

The bearing used by Guzzi is particularly weird because its outer race had a hole in that would seem to be there specifically to allow the ingress of water! Removing the bearing can be done quite simply with the expanding puller tool used for removing the needle roller bearings from the five speed gearboxes used on earlier models. With this, and the box on the bench, its a five minute job. The bearing is a generic type apart from the bloody stupid hole! A visit to any bearing factor will get you a new one for not much money WITHOUT the bloody stupid hole. Just replace it and grease it regularly. Pete

I knew he was somewhat disenchanted with his G8 and had bought a Doso to keep it company. Thing is I and a colleague have been developing maps for the G8 and I was wondering if he'd like to try one out. It might make him fall in love again! Pete

Is Dave still hanging about here? Has he still got his Griso? Pete

Yes, its a straight swap. You'll probably need to put on longer HT leads if you want to run them over the top of the covers like the Griso and you'll also need the lead cover, the plug protector and the correct length bolts. Pete

I had an email meltdown just before X-mass. Three were sent out to people I received payment from Tim Noble, Dennis Hall and Andrew DiMizio. Anyone else wanting one please contact me again but they won't probably be shipped until after 06/01/14 as I'm going to the beach to drink beer for ten days! Pete

The CPS lives just forward of the LH cylinder at the top of the timing chest. On the Nuovo Hi-Cams they can be a bit fiddly to get to because of the exhaust header, bodywork or frame tube. I can't offhand remember how difficult it is on the Stelvio but it is neither a difficult or time consuming task. Be aware that the depth to which the sensor is installed is controlled by shims. Make sure that when you remove it you either remove the shim with it or make sure it remains installed on the case or sensor. As for sealing it? A thin smear of silicone RTV usually does the job around the sensor plate before re-installation. If you look at this picture while the sensor is not installed its location can be seen in the top left, (As perceived when sitting on the bike so top right in the picture.) of the timing chest. The hole in the outer edge of the dummy-shaft gear is adjacent to it. Pete

If anybody needs one I have just done another run of V11 sloppage sheets. While I endeavour too keep these in stock the fact is that the cost of producing them increases dramatically with small production runs and for a comparatively rare and now obsolete machine there are times when I simply can't justify a small run. Anyway, they're available at the moment if anybody is interested. Just email me motomodaoptusnet dot com dot au Pete

On your 1100 it may well be that the knocking is coming from the face cam shock absorber which on early models was in adequately sprung. Pete

Recently completed a three month tour of the USA on the 'Touring' variant. Fantastic bike, doesn't speak to me like my Griso and Mana do though. No issues beyond the sidestand switch failing but when I lent it to a mate the exhaust crossover cracked. This is the second Cali I know of its happened to. Probably wouldn't of happened if I'd de-stressed the system at the first service. Pete

J? When you did the TB balance did you close both of the air bleeds before doing the high speed balance? If not that will explain your idle problems. Pete

What he said. Get the TB's balanced correctly and keep the idle speed at 1100 or above. Pete

If it hasn't had a proper TB balance and TPS re-set it will be a bit of a dog. Even when it has it'll be less than easy to live with at first. Did we discuss what map it has in? I can't remember. They do take a while to break in, as all Guzzis do, at 60,000km mine, apart from the horrid racket it makes, is a joy. On the oil thing I have no idea how to ship it to you! I can't believe Oz Post would take a drum of oil. How the @#!#$# do you ship oil? What do Penrite say? Pete

Really? What a weird, buggered up world we live in! Pete

Its a Moto Guzzi. Nobody steals Moto Guzzis! How many are there in Denmark? Twelve? Leave the keys in it and a sign on the clocks saying "I dare you!" Any normal thief will shit himself and run away. Pete PS. One of the big advantages of living where I do is that we rarely lock anything. I couldn't find the keys to my Aprilia yesterday. Two hours later I found the spare, went out and found the *Real* key in the bike. It had been there for five days! nobody steals 'Prillas' either..... Might be different if it was a TV-4 but probably not! Pete

I can supply the Penrite if you want. Best bet is to buy a 20 litre drum, comes in at about $220 I think. Dunno how to send it to you though and it would be spendy. Pete

Good trick with boogered Allen bolts is to hammer the next oversize Torx bit into 'em before using a socket on the Torx fitting to undo 'em. The biffing in will also tend to loosen the corrosion making them easier to spin out. Yes you need to buy new bolts. Big deal. Bolts are cheap! Pete

No I'm lying. Carry on. Pete

Do a search. Its well documented. Poor pick up placement and design leads to oil starvation under hard launches. Pete

Torched big ends. Betcha.

Nah, there was room, it just wasn't deemed necessary. The 1400 needs twin plugs, the 1200 can get away without them. Pete