Breva 1100 - broken rear shock conrod

[Gazdok]

2. Thread tonight.
When I was looking at my rear brake I thought I was not looking properly. My conrod seemed to have a funny shape. Lying under the bike with light the conrod had cracked fully on the right side. I do not know when this might have happened and how long I had been going round with just half a conrod linkage.
I ordered a new one, put extra grease into the bearing which seemed economically filled with grease, fitted it and the bike rides o.k. - no different from a couple of days ago when I noticed the cracked conrod.

Is this a common thing or was I just unlucky.

 

[GTM®]

Always start with a search. Not directly applicable link below, so maybe just bad luck. Worth a check with your importer.

Rear suspension recall

Hi guys, After the recent rumors of an imminent recall, I guess this makes it official. ultimatemotorcycling.com/2013/08/08/moto-guzzi-stelvio-ntx-1200-norge-1200-griso-1200-recall/ Haven't heard yet from the local dealer here in Dubai but inwill be in touch with them next week. I am curious as...

www.guzzitech.com

 

[GTM®]

I now remember that the recall was only for the double conrod/dog bone #3 (GU05560330), not the single con rod/wishbone #14 (GU05562430).

 

[Gazdok]

I did a search for conrod and broken conrod and got lot of links to engine conrods, but thanks for the link. Googling this recall now my VIN doe not seem to be affected.

 

[scottmastrocinque]

From what I can see in the photo albeit very blurry, it looks almost precisely like corrosion and stiction are your proximate cause.

Time and again we see here on GT, images of motorcycles from the UK, that just have been seriously beat up by the English weather.

If you have never disassembled that linkage before to grease it, all it takes is just enough stiction to work against a sudden major blow to the rear suspension, and that thin rod will snap exactly like yours did.

I do not believe this is an inherent problem or being “unlucky” but rather one of lack of maintenance and proper lubrication.

In fact, this is WELL DOCUMENTED in both the Owner’s Manual and the Service Manual as a required service at least every 2 years. Your motorcycle should have had that component serviced at least 5+ times by now.

Owners Manual Reference: (Suspension)





Service Manual (Suspension):




Almost without exception, every Moto Guzzi that came into my shop for service or repairs, the owners freely admitted that they were “unaware” that there was such an extensive amount of maintenance items requiring periodic service because they NEVER actually ever read the REQUIRED MAINTENANCE section of their Owner’s Manual.

It’s highly likely that yours falls into this exact category as well.

European motorcycles will last literally almost forever, IF you perform maintenance ON SCHEDULE religiously.

Unfortunately again, most Moto Guzzi maintenance is only “maintenance by crisis” such as this.

It has always struck me as peculiar that BMW and Ducati owners are 10x more fastidious at keeping up with maintenance as opposed to Moto Guzzi owners. I’ve never been able to wrap my head around that.

Now you really know why this happened.

Had it been disconnected, cleaned and molybdenum grease been applied to both inner sides of the linkage supports and the bearing, as well as the top eyelet, 5+ times by now, I am 100% positive that this would never have happened.

PLEASE…do not presume to think that I am saying this as a pejorative to you. I am not.

I am just extremely blunt and do not candy coat my answers to these types of questions. I tell people, the unvarnished TRUTH. Even in my Signature at the end of every post I make, it says, ”Very direct and to the point individual. I do not candy coat stuff.”

In your case here, I am simply postulating out loud, that lack of maintenance due to ignorance (this DOES NOT IMPLY STUPIDITY WHATSOEVER ) of the necessity of it, is the single most common cause of equipment failures like this.

Going forward from here, I encourage you to read both manuals paying particular attention to Scheduled Maintenance items and now perform PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE as opposed to repairs by crisis. You will enjoy trouble free operation and your motorcycle will last much longer than you realize.

I hope this helps you out.

 

[V700Steve]

In your search use the word 'wishbone' is what some call it. Won't confuse it w/motor.

 

[Kevin.NZ]

My 2006 Breva 1100 has done around 100,000Kms and I've had no issues with the "wishbone" . It is regularly stripped, cleaned and repacked, Definitely check your CARC/swinging arm bearings

 

[scottmastrocinque]

To support my point, I offer this post by our member Chris Jessop.

If you have never read this post, it is enlightening and inspirational at just what a Moto Guzzi can achieve in terms of longevity

Both he and his wife have insane mileage on their Breva motorcycles.

Breva 1100: 100,000 Mile Report

Our Breva V1100 clocked up 100,000 miles on Saturday 12th September 2020. It is our second Moto Guzzi to reach this figure. My wife, Jane’s 2006 Breva 750 currently shows 130,399 miles and it is still going strong. We have owned the Breva V1100 from new and took delivery from Moto Strada in...

www.guzzitech.com

Also, I personally replaced the fuel injectors in Bill Hagan’s 107,000+ miles, V11EV.

The Mod, Mob, & More to the Rescue: Reviving a '98 EV

Howdy from the Moto Grappa at the top of Virginia. My ’98 EV has been hors de combat with unspecified “don’t run right” issues for almost a year. The right cylinder ran when it felt like and it didn’t feel like it much. The left ran, but was hardly perfect. This, despite a recent VA, TB...

www.guzzitech.com

Preventative maintenance is EVERYTHING on a Moto Guzzi motorcycle and it pays off dividends in spades!

 

[Nordicnorm]

One Griso 11 and one Breva 11, 2006. Both have 110K km. Over the years, rear suspension linkages have been re-packed once and recently swing arm bearings replaced and of course greased. They were both in need of attention. I ride through the winter with salt on the roads on Canadas west coast. Once you get it repaired and re-packed with good grease, you should be good for a long time, but it does need attention.

 

[Gazdok]

I have had the Breva since 2006 but have only done just over 30000M. I have the maintenance schedule and I have regreased the needle bearings a couple of years ago. The new wishbone has also been repacked with grease.

I do ride through the winter and there is definitely salt on the roads but I try and clean regularly, but I know that this still gives the salt time to work on the bike.

 

[Nordicnorm]

Havin done the linkage on both, and the swing-arm bearings as well, it seems the lack of grease from assembly has more to do with water getting in, causing corrosion, rather than wear from lack of lubrication, as there is so little movement in these bearings.
My focus was to make sure I got lots of grease in there.
Pleasant work giving great peace of mind. Yours must have been an accidental break, if the wishbone etc. was still moving freely.
I use a product called "SaltAway". You may find it on line (Amazon?).