Hello from Virginia

Hi,
My name is John, I joined this forum several weeks ago but haven't introduced myself yet. I live in Virginia, I’ve been away from motorcycling for many years. To give you an idea, my last bike was a ’92 907 Paso—purchased new!  Marriage and kids came along and there was just no time to ride so i made the decision to step away from the sport. That worked for about 10 years or so until a buddy asked me to test ride a bike for him… then the bug bit again! Not much i could do though, kids were still in pre school so i let it simmer. Then about 6 months ago My wife agreed that i could get another bike in the spring--as a birthday gift!

I’ve owned a variety of bikes in my youth but i’ve always been partial to Italian bikes—particularly old tractors since owning my first Goose, a '69 V7 Ambassador and later a '73 Eldorado. I love the abject simplicity of those machines!  Aside from the Guzzis and the Paso, I had a ’73 Ducati 750 Sport that i turned into a cafe bike. Of all the bikes, the 4 Italians are the ones i regret parting with the most—particularly the 750 Sport! She was a bitter, uncomfortable b’tch and left me stranded more than a few times—but i loved her.

I parted with the notion of getting another Ducati though, quite frankly, they are everywhere these days and the guys i know that own them are always adjusting valves or replacing belts, etc... Besides, I’m happily married w/ two wonderful kids. Peppy, high-reving divas are just not my thing anymore.

The only choice for me was a Moto Guzzi! I toggled between buying old or new… Simple carb machines are within the realm of my modest understanding but they have proven to be temperamental creatures in the past, jealously guarding their slumber on cold mornings. A new bike promises greater reliability but, with all those wires, blinky lights and computer thingys, they remain a dark & scary mystery to me! However, when I stumbled upon the GRiSO i was pretty much sold! Not too many Guzzis in my neck of the woods but I managed to find a dealer with a new GRiSO 1200 8V that was left over from 2013 inventory. The price was right so I rode it home!

I did encounter one pitfall however, the heads spit oil after just a couple hundred miles! I took it to the closest dealer Winchester Motosports (50 miles away) and posted my problem on this board. Steak, Pete Roper, Bill Hagan and others were quick to offer help and advice I am so appreciative for their assistance, it’s reassuring to have such a supportive community of fellow Guzzi/GRiSO lovers! The shop was able to fix the problem (under warrantee) and also performed a suspension recall that wasn’t done.

I’m now back in the wind!

Oh, sorry for the lengthy story!

here's a pic of my new darling
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-john

It's a great intro John, and it's always good to get an insight into people's motorcycling history and the journey to owning a GRiSO. Glad all is sorted and welcome from me.

Welcome John. I joined the board a couple of weeks ago as well and the folks on here are really cool and forthcoming with advice / suggestions.

I have the same MY GRiSO and it's a dream. Do you have the stock fuel map?

Welcome John, enjoy your GRiSO and the fine cast of characters that frequent this great forum.

Thanks for the welcome guys!
@Akshaydeo, I presume I have the stock map. I did purchase a Mistral High Pipe from MG Cylcle straight away. I like the way it tightens up the rear and displays the s/s swingarm so nicely! It came w/a DB killer which i was told does not require altering the map--something this lesser mortal knows nothing about! seems to run fine, no popping or roughness. Down the road i might explore the possibility of a remap w/out the DB killer but for now I'm content!

Here are a couple pics:
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-John

Hello John;

nice bike. Guess for your exhaust is an alternative map available. Just ask beetle.

Welcome!

Sven

What Sven said. Beetle (mark) and Pete should be able to hook you up with a map for the mistral hi-pipe if you are interested. You can read more about it on the Exhaust and beetle tec threads. I spent an entire week just going through the content on this forum.

Your ride looks sweet. Enjoy it.

Akshay

The Mistral Hi-Pipe is the only pipe Mark has specifically built a 'No dB killer' map for as far as I know. I've run my bike with both the 'In' and 'Out' maps and am firmly in the 'In' camp.

Pete

If you need help with installing a map let me know - I'm in Silver Spring, MD and have the cables, etc. We could compliment each other on the choice of bikes (I also have the Diavolo Nero color scheme)

Thanks tocino, that's very generous of you! Nice to know you're in the DC area, I might take you up on your offer at some point!
Pete, I'm definitely curious to know your take on the difference in the maps. I'm pretty much a newb here, I wouldn't know performance if it slapped me in the ass! Besides twisting the throttle and grinning, I haven't logged enough miles to have an educated opinion beyond that!

-John

Welcome. You have chosen the absolute best pipe for the GRiSO.

beetle wrote:

Welcome. You have chosen the absolute best pipe for the GRiSO.

Welcome John,

Mark is right. Magic is in the extra length and the bends. Roper and Mark knew this for a long time but I found out first hand last week after making a similar connecting pipe for the Agostini. Monumental difference.

Al

Welcome, John and Congrats on the "new" bike.

Congrats on the bike. I'm in Ashburn and got my GRiSO 12 days ago. We should have a group mapping day. While I plan on putting the stock pipe back on my bike till I choose which exhaust I want I would like to see if there has already been any fiddling done with my bike.

-Hugh

Thanks Guys!
sounds like a great idea Hugh!

roam wrote:

Congrats on the bike. I'm in Ashburn and got my GRiSO 12 days ago. We should have a group mapping day. While I plan on putting the stock pipe back on my bike till I choose which exhaust I want I would like to see if there has already been any fiddling done with my bike.

-Hugh

I'll bet you'd be pleasantly surprised by Mark's stock muffler map.

Let me know if / when you'd guys like to do a mini GRiSO Cabal. Updating a map is a 5 minute affair (half to d/l and save the current map, half to upload a new one), and if the results are not to your liking (not that that's likely ) the orig map can be put back.

The downloaded map can be compared to the stocker I saved from my bike to see if it's the same (most likely it is)

beetle wrote:

Welcome. You have chosen the absolute best pipe for the GRiSO.

beetle, you and Pete should be paid for this endorsement.  This morning MG Cycle had 5 in stock.  I bought one and now they're back ordered, five total sold today.

Hello, lots of bicycles in the photos, do you trade in them or have lots of kids?

Welcome to the Ghetto. Just wondering if that high pipe is too close to the turn signal? My GPR's heat distorted mine until I added an extended piece of pipe.

Canyon Carver wrote:

Welcome to the Ghetto. Just wondering if that high pipe is too close to the turn signal? My GPR's heat distorted mine until I added an extended piece of pipe.

The pics of the high pipe installed sure look like the tip is close to the l/h turn signal.  Maybe some that have the pipe can comment. Or possibly this should be continued in the exhaust thread.

Won't hurt it. The carbon can doesn't get that hot. The output port gets pretty hot, but I can see there is an air gap, so unless it's sits idling for a very long time, it won't get hot enough to bother it. It dissipates quite quickly. I have a Spaceclam tail tidy, so when I installed mine I added a slight bend to the indicator mount so it would have more clearance. I needn't have bothered.

beetle and Pete,

Thanks for the info on this Mistral high pipe and other assistance you guys have provided generously to help us make the GRiSO what it can be.

If we didn't enjoy doing it we wouldn't. It's that simple. Getting the best out of bikes for people is very rewarding in most ways apart from financially!

Pete

Extending a sincere Laurel and Hardy welcome to the Ghetto Grappa. You have fine taste in two wheel rubber mounted transportation devices. Have a great season!