What did you do with your GRiSO today?

Finally got round to fitting the spoked wheels back on my bike at the weekend, after having new tyres fitted (Dunlop Roadsmart III). Realised I'd misplaced the centre cap (or maybe the tyre fitter did, not sure which?), so I sourced a chrome tube insert which fitted perfectly and I think looks quite good.

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Today is the day, finding my way to the timing chain on the GRiSO. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

My GD headlight tried to kill me!

The reflector and bezel decided to jump out of the bucket, hanging by the wiring and banging on the front fender and forks.
This of course happened in a high(ish) speed right hander distracting me from what I should have been doing.
I then departed the pavement across the opposing traffic lane and into a handy yard and driveway.
Lucky, I count myself lucky.

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I kinda rigged it up and made it back to camp.

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Seems bumpy conditions may have caused failure of this little guy.

Jim Hamlin walked by as I was applying tape to secure everything and noted that he's seen this failure a few times.
One of the guys in his shop is currently waiting for the bucket also.
He noted the earlier buckets were metal and he's seen them fail similarly.

Lead time on a stock replacement from AF1 is something like 4-6 months.
Used are in the $200+ range.

So, WTF to do now?

I could attempt a repair, I have access to the sheet metal shop at work. Fabricate a new tab I was thinking.
Is there and up graded replacement?
One suggestion was to 3D print a new bucket. This seems an excessive amount of work.
Jim said he was adapting a new LED unit but it was shorter than the stock lamp and reflecting back in his face off his fly screen/fairing.

I'm open to suggestions. I have time and some resources for repair or replacement.

yowzerrrs!!!

that's a totally stock headlight right???

Yes, original factory set-up.

Twenty-eight and a half thousand miles.

Shorts dud remain unsoiled.

Yikes!


Fit a LED unit.

ratso88 wrote:

My GD headlight tried to kill me!

The reflector and bezel decided to jump out of the bucket, hanging by the wiring and banging on the front fender and forks.
This of course happened in a high(ish) speed right hander distracting me from what I should have been doing.
I then departed the pavement across the opposing traffic lane and into a handy yard and driveway.
Lucky, I count myself lucky.

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I kinda rigged it up and made it back to camp.

Seems bumpy conditions may have caused failure of this little guy.

Ha I had a similiar issue riding across Florida on my SV650. I stopped to take a break and realized the headlight was starting to fall out. I had a cargo net and secured it the same way

Not today, but over the past weekend, put 700 miles on Pearl, on mostly twisty roads. So, after16 weeks, 2500 miles, and some thoughtful sorting....and I will say unequivocally say this is the most fun I've had owning a bike. I can't stop thinking about riding. I create excuses to go to the (detached) garage just to see her and caress her hips...

The bike has raised my game. I'm thankful to all of you for generoulsy sharing your knowledge: Roper, Beetle, Ratso. There are a couple peripheral bits to manage, but the important stuff is dialed in, and smiles abound.

Yes Sir, the Kentucky weekend was all out awesome and fun!

Despite my own personal challenges I made it through with a LOT of help from my friends and fellow Guzzi people.

I'm glad you had a good time. I was dragged out of retirement to help one of our tenants with harvest. His dad normally runs the harvester, but he just had knee surgery and his mom is having health issues too, so dad can't leave her. Now I'm riding a combine rather than the GRiSO.

Flushed through the clutch fluid. Here is a sample of what came out!!

Bike has done 6400 miles. Probably the original fluid?

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Sadly, that's not unusual.

Sort of a twice a year ritual here.

Took it out for a ride to Llandudno while the weather was still good.

Exhaust blow is getting a bit hard to ignore now. Starts to sound like a "bubble bike" above 2k.
Got home, WD40ed the nuts, only for the studs to come out with them - they were pretty bad and had been that way since I'd gotten the bike. Still, the threads inside were fine and only one nut snapped!

Got the headers off and both of the seals were in poor condition. One of them disintegrated once i'd gotten it out. Wil be getting new seals, studs etc. tomorrow.

Went with a friend for a ride out to Llangollen, then up to the horseshoe pass to visit the Ponderosa Cafe for the first time.
It gets Pretty windy up there!
The last photo was taken closer to home.

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Very nice sunset

Not much in the grand scheme of things. Shortish ride for data logging the next 'geegaw'. Looked at the dash when I pulled up into the garage as I went to turn the key off. 63,188 Km. Not huge 'mileage' by any stretch of the imagination, but it occurs to me that I've owned the GRiSO longer than any other motorcycle I've owned, plus done more kilometres on it than all the other bikes I've ever owned combined.


I love this bike.

Hey Beetle
I get it, started with a Monza, then a California comfy as, then the GRiSO 1100.
Had a Vstrom 650 one great all rounder, need to sell off one as relocating.
Come to the time when I needed to choose.
Rode both, Vstrom as always a Japper, a great bike but, the GRiSO just RAW.
Nothing can come close for me.
A mate asked me once whats the difference between the Vstrom and the GRiSO.
Vstrom you turn up at a do in a suit, GRiSO you turn up at the pub, leather jacket and if you have them the tatoo's out.

Harry

I feel the same way about mine..I have only had this a year and have spent more time on it than the last 100..yes around 100 bikes I've had in my 55 years riding...
I love this bike as well!!

Unravelled the really nasty exhaust wrap the last owner had put on.

Despite being pitch-black on the outside it appears they'd used a white wrap initially!

Pipes are very mucky, will need a decent clean before going back on.

Today the GRiSO is packed and ready for the national New Zealand guzzi rally.

Not today, but I just recently, after a stint in rush hour traffic this week, installed a Brembo RCS clutch master and my hand is loving it. I also installed my cheapo ebay "handguards" to act as wind blockers now that it's getting colder out.

Got the exhausts polished and refitted following a bad blow in the system. Under the wrap that the last owner put on, they were almost pitch black near the headers. Had to take it all the way down to 80 grit before working up through 120, 400, 600, 1000 and then finished with a polish. Definitely a satin look over the mirror shine it would have come with.

Still, when you compare before

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and after

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It was worth the hassle!

Looks Great!

Look good...Wrap SUCKS.