2004 Ballabio Surging - New Owner

[dangerous]

Best thing you could do is ditch that front cross over for straight header pipes and also loose the stock mid crossover for a Mistral or Stucci x-over (under the tranny) .

 

now why do some of you guys dis the front balance pipe? its there for a reason, beter down low grunt, theres a trick to sealing the bastards tho, easy as

[lvgs]

Best thing you could do is ditch that front cross over for straight header pipes and also loose the stock mid crossover for a Mistral or Stucci x-over (under the tranny) .

 

AND REV THAT MOTOR, it loves cruising at 5k and above. shift at 5 k or above too.

 

I will definitely explore replacing the header pipes ad mid-crossover.

 

In the meantime, has anyone removed the from crossover and 'plugged' the holes in the header pipes?

 

Will definitely not be shy about revving at higher RPMs.  Although the problem is most pronounced at lower speeds and in lower gears when the bike is hot...

[docc]

In the meantime, has anyone removed the from crossover and 'plugged' the holes in the header pipes?

Best result I've seen, by Bjorn in The Netherlands, Fabricating a 2-1 Exhaust

[GuzziMoto]

 

Best thing you could do is ditch that front cross over for straight header pipes and also loose the stock mid crossover for a Mistral or Stucci x-over (under the tranny) .

 

AND REV THAT MOTOR, it loves cruising at 5k and above. shift at 5 k or above too.

 

I will definitely explore replacing the header pipes ad mid-crossover.

 

In the meantime, has anyone removed the from crossover and 'plugged' the holes in the header pipes?

 

Will definitely not be shy about revving at higher RPMs.  Although the problem is most pronounced at lower speeds and in lower gears when the bike is hot...

 

Yes, people have removed the balance pipe and welded the holes shut. Or you can buy a replacement header pipe without the holes, that may end up looking better and being more durable. Todd at GuzziTech sells replacement head pipes without the balance pipe, or I would think stock pipes from an earlier model would fit.

What Bjorn did with the two into one was pretty cool, but the results were less than stellar. There is a company that makes an off the shelf two into one for the V11 if you are not as ambitious as Bjorn. You may also be able to adapt something based on the newer CARC style Guzzi's. The best results in my opinion would be from a two into one with a real merge collector. Be for-warned, a two into one changes the exhaust sound. I prefer it but some do not.

 

As I said, rpms are a touchy subject. You can certainly rev a V11 and it wil like it. But I laugh when people call it a high reving motor. I have ridden more than a few high reving motors, the V11 is not one. Maybe compared to a Harley, but a motor that revs to 8 grand is not high reving. And the wife's V11 pulls clean from around 2500 rpm, starts pulling harder around 3500 rpm, really kicks in at around 5000, and is starting to taper off (you might as well shift) around 7-7500 rpm. It will pull to redline, but you would go faster if you shifted before. My FZR400 was dead below 8 grand, and didn't start pulling hard until 10 grand. The V11 does not even make it to 10 grand. Even my Daytona is more of a rev'r than the V11, but it is also very much a mid range motor.

[docc]

Just to clarify the post above linking to Bjorn's exhaust build thread: link goes directly to the post that details plugging of the headers and elimination of the cross over pipe.

[dangerous]

OI... explain guys, why do people rid of the front ballance pipe?

Its odd cos the very 1st LeMans had it, then they tried it in different places BUT the very last LeMans has it back again... tells me theres something in it???

[GuzziMoto]

I think it is mostly for noise reduction. But it may also help power in some regions at the expense of power in other regions.

People get ride of them because it makes for fewer problems and sometimes better overall power. Look at it this way, how many other 90 degree V twins have them?

[dangerous]

I think it is mostly for noise reduction.

THATS IT... its gone 

[Bjorn]

I got rid of it because it had more negative effects then positive ones. ''In theory it should help at lower to mid rpms where most guzzi have the ''typical'' dip around 3500-4000''  the tuner said to me . I did not test my bike with and without the balance pipe. I would like to test it but it was unpractical at that moment. So it remains a theoretical topic....

 

Practical side: I dont notice any difference with or w/o the balance pipe during riding.

 

Back to the surging, I find the advice to ''increase rpms'' in order to make the ride better b*llshit. Its just fighting the symptoms instead of the origin. Besides its far from practical. For example when you ride in higher gears (around 80-100 kph) and are stuck behind traffic or are unable to overtake. You are kind of forced to ride constant speeds with small throttle openings yielding the surging (at least in my case)

 

my advice is unaffected: get the mechanical side OK first, and take it to a fuel specialist afterwards.

[lvgs]

Thanks again everyone.  I have a appointment to take the bike into the local Guzzi dealer for a full service next week and have printed off this thread to review with the tech.

 

Unfortunately, it does not appear from the Guzzi Tech website that they have sell any V11 exhaust-related parts, including head pipes.  Perhaps a call is indicated.

 

Once sorted (and I prey we get to that pointed), I would like to install new cans and a cross over.  From what I've read, a fuel controller will be required.  That being the case, it looks like there is only one Power Commander offering (http://www.powercommander.com/powercommander/powercommander_maps_installs_product_buy_options.aspx?mdlyrid=706-411&make=30&model=253&make-n=Moto%20Guzzi&model-n=V11%20Sport&year=2001&mk=30&mdl=253&yr=2001) for the 2000 and 2001 model years.  Is this the same one used on the newer model years such as mine?

 

I took the bike out for a ride again yesterday and its getting worse...the surging and bucking were very pronounced across a much broader range than I previously stated.  I desperately need to get this resolved as its such a beautiful bike with, I suspect, the potential of being an amazing ride.

[lvgs]

With respect to my question re:  Power Commander, I found this thread:  http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16877

 

Thanks.

[dangerous]

Lugs... if its in the shop get a leak down test done first, duno if ya seen a thread by me reguarding similer issues on a cafe sport v11 turned out to be worn valves.

 

IMO we went of topic on the balance pipe.

[docc]

IMO we went of topic on the balance pipe.

True, that . . .

[lvgs]

Lugs... if its in the shop get a leak down test done first, duno if ya seen a thread by me reguarding similer issues on a cafe sport v11 turned out to be worn valves.

 

IMO we went of topic on the balance pipe.

Will do, thanks.

[Twocati]

Where in Canada are you Lugs? Altitude could be a factor as well. A lot of Alberta and BC as you know is quite elevated. Calgary is 3400 ft above sea level. If you're getting your air mixture adjusted for Saskatchewan that could be a contributing factor. The MG's FI is not exactly "state of the Art" compared to your other bikes (excepting the R100RS ) My MG likes to rev and is happiest above 5 thou.