Well, I’ll post my “story.” Note - it’s still evolving, but as of yesterday, a plan is in place.
As I posted a couple posts back, my Verde came in on 4/21. I picked it up on 4/26. Delighted to have it, I rode it home (~5 mi), did a few things and went out for the first ride (6 miles on the odometer). Maybe 8 miles into a ride on familiar southern Ohio roads, the bike died. Felt exactly like it ran out of gas. Pulled into a business lot, and looked things over - no leaks or obvious issues. Hit start and fired up. Since the TFT said I had about 50 miles until I needed gas, I went to a gas station immediately, to eliminate that as a potential cause. Took off, and it ran fine. Until it died again. I called the shop, but they were gone for the day. It seemed to happen on deceleration or taking off right after I started it. At various times I noticed weird things on the display, … a very rapidly flashing ABS icon, and a brief “urgent alarm” pop up at the bottom of the screen. The bike died 10-12 times before I made it home.
Once home, I looked online for any other instances of this happening. Only saw the glowing reviews that made me so anxious to get mine! I looked through the manual (which I had just laid on the kitchen counter before the ride). On pg 67 there was a reference to the urgent alarm… I felt there may be something related, and that maybe the bike was shutting itself down as self preservation step. pic post attached.
Next morning, I got a call from Enzo (Cadre in Cincinnati) about the bike (after he heard my msg), and he offered to come over with the laptop and software to diagnose. There were several codes, which he cleared, and what appeared to be a setup step that had not registered - linking the ride by wire throttle to the ecu, or something like that. Anyway, when he left, all codes were clear and nothing showed up as a problem. I had a MC buddies lunch scheduled that day, and asked if he thought the bike would make it the 40 miles to Harrison. He said go for it. I told him I’d call if it didn’t make it - he said he’d come with the truck. I took the bike. It ran fine until I exited I-275 … decelerating off the exit ramp - it died. I started and restarted 4 times to get to a BP station, and called the shop. Joe came in the truck. Dropped me off at home 40 mins later, then took the bike back to the shop. This was Thurs - about 24 hrs after I got the bike.
So, Fri, Enzo and Joe worked all day on it, rode it. Got it to happen to them. Sat morning got a call - now the bike won’t start at all. But, apparently, a Guzzi tech in Germany ran into this exact same issue on a V100, and the problem turned out to be the rpm sensor. A $24 part… but probably none in the US for this bike! So, one is on expedited order for my bike (hopefully, a couple extras in case THIS is the mystery recall). Apparently, the sensor isn’t consistently communicating the rpm’s once the bike gets hot (maybe why my problem didn’t occur until I had ridden a few miles). I don’t know the full explanation, but I’m sad it was my bike that fate chose to be the Guinea pig! Anyway, waiting on the part to, hopefully, resolve the issue. 2nd Pic below shows front case cover off, and the sensor part centered between the gears, above the rotation arrow. I have faith in Enzo’s expertise… More to come.
So, Glen - it could be worse
As I posted a couple posts back, my Verde came in on 4/21. I picked it up on 4/26. Delighted to have it, I rode it home (~5 mi), did a few things and went out for the first ride (6 miles on the odometer). Maybe 8 miles into a ride on familiar southern Ohio roads, the bike died. Felt exactly like it ran out of gas. Pulled into a business lot, and looked things over - no leaks or obvious issues. Hit start and fired up. Since the TFT said I had about 50 miles until I needed gas, I went to a gas station immediately, to eliminate that as a potential cause. Took off, and it ran fine. Until it died again. I called the shop, but they were gone for the day. It seemed to happen on deceleration or taking off right after I started it. At various times I noticed weird things on the display, … a very rapidly flashing ABS icon, and a brief “urgent alarm” pop up at the bottom of the screen. The bike died 10-12 times before I made it home.
Once home, I looked online for any other instances of this happening. Only saw the glowing reviews that made me so anxious to get mine! I looked through the manual (which I had just laid on the kitchen counter before the ride). On pg 67 there was a reference to the urgent alarm… I felt there may be something related, and that maybe the bike was shutting itself down as self preservation step. pic post attached.
Next morning, I got a call from Enzo (Cadre in Cincinnati) about the bike (after he heard my msg), and he offered to come over with the laptop and software to diagnose. There were several codes, which he cleared, and what appeared to be a setup step that had not registered - linking the ride by wire throttle to the ecu, or something like that. Anyway, when he left, all codes were clear and nothing showed up as a problem. I had a MC buddies lunch scheduled that day, and asked if he thought the bike would make it the 40 miles to Harrison. He said go for it. I told him I’d call if it didn’t make it - he said he’d come with the truck. I took the bike. It ran fine until I exited I-275 … decelerating off the exit ramp - it died. I started and restarted 4 times to get to a BP station, and called the shop. Joe came in the truck. Dropped me off at home 40 mins later, then took the bike back to the shop. This was Thurs - about 24 hrs after I got the bike.
So, Fri, Enzo and Joe worked all day on it, rode it. Got it to happen to them. Sat morning got a call - now the bike won’t start at all. But, apparently, a Guzzi tech in Germany ran into this exact same issue on a V100, and the problem turned out to be the rpm sensor. A $24 part… but probably none in the US for this bike! So, one is on expedited order for my bike (hopefully, a couple extras in case THIS is the mystery recall). Apparently, the sensor isn’t consistently communicating the rpm’s once the bike gets hot (maybe why my problem didn’t occur until I had ridden a few miles). I don’t know the full explanation, but I’m sad it was my bike that fate chose to be the Guinea pig! Anyway, waiting on the part to, hopefully, resolve the issue. 2nd Pic below shows front case cover off, and the sensor part centered between the gears, above the rotation arrow. I have faith in Enzo’s expertise… More to come.
So, Glen - it could be worse